Cambodia accuses Thailand of damaging ancient temple

Cambodia yesterday accused Thailand of damaging two ancient temples that were at the centre of fresh fighting between the two countries, which began last Friday and left 12 soldiers dead.

The latest fighting is the bloodiest since border tensions flared three years ago. Twelve soldiers were killed and tens of thousands of villagers on both sides were displaced as shelling and gunfire broke an unofficial ceasefire that had been in place since late February.

Yesterday afternoon, the fighting resumed, with heavy artillery being fired, while, as usual, both sides blamed each other for initiating the attack.

Cambodian soldiers at Ta Krabey temple.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called on both sides to exercise restraint.

The latest clashes occurred near two disputed groups of temples, known as Ta Kwai and Ta Muen in Thai and Ta Krabey and Ta Moan in Khmer. The two temples are located deep in the forest off the main tourist route.

Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense said yesterday that the Thai attacks had caused damage to ancient ruins. However, “we do not know the extent of the damage yet,” said ministry spokesman Chhum Socheat.

Cambodia also accused Thailand of using drones and poison gas in the fighting, which Bangkok vehemently denied. But Thailand recently admitted to using controversial munitions designed to burst into clusters when they exploded during clashes between the two countries in February. Thailand was also accused of firing more than 300 artillery shells at Cambodian villages.

Seven Cambodian and five Thai soldiers were killed in the latest clash. One Cambodian soldier has been missing since Friday.

In addition, 20,000 civilians have taken refuge in 16 temporary camps on the Thai side of the border, while 17,000 have been evacuated from Cambodian villages. Others, like Suwech Yodsri, 47, have stayed behind to look after their homes, despite the danger of shelling.

“I am very scared here but I have to stay to protect the village from being looted,” he said in the Thai village of Nong Kanna, about 5km from the border. “I believe the political conflict is the cause.”

The fighting has come at a politically sensitive time for Thailand, with Prime Minister Abhisit preparing to dissolve parliament early, paving the way for elections scheduled for early July. Abhisit said he hoped the border situation would improve before he is scheduled to meet his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen at a regional summit on May 7-8.

According to Dan Tri/AFP