Thailand, Cambodia Exchange Accusations Over Armed Border Clash

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (KUNA) -- The Thai and Cambodian armies exchanged accusations on Sunday regarding the latest armed clash that occurred Saturday along the disputed border between the two countries, as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Interim Observer Team (IOT) began a field investigation at the scene.
In a statement, Thai military spokesman Major General Winthai Suvaree said that Cambodia provoked the confrontation in the Chong Puk border area, noting that the sequence of events was premeditated to make Thailand appear to be violating the ceasefire agreement.
Suvaree explained that Cambodian forces fired multiple rounds into Thai territory before quickly announcing the arrival of the IOT, and issuing public statements against Thailand, insisting that this coordination aims to mislead regional observers and the international community.
He added that Thai forces only responded after their positions came under direct attack, noting that the planting of anti-personnel mines by the Cambodian side constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law.
For her part, Cambodian Defense Ministry spokeswoman Lieutenant General Maly Socheata expressed "grave concern" in a statement regarding what she described as Thai provocations, asserting that Thai forces had initiated the attack.
Socheata called on the IOT to conduct a forensic and impartial investigation, including an examination of ammunition and gunfire directions, to provide "accurate and transparent facts" that do justice to both sides.
She added that the General Boundary Commission meeting on September 10 had already established the terms of reference for the observers' work, calling for the expedited establishment of a permanent ASEAN observer team to verify the parties' commitment to the ceasefire agreement with sincerity and transparency.
The IOT visited the sites of the recent clashes but has not yet issued an official statement. It is expected to prepare its report after the completion of its monitoring and verification.
This incident follows the bloody clashes that erupted last July, which left more than 35 people dead, dozens injured, and hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced as a result of an exchange of attacks between Thai and Cambodian forces.
These clashes resulted in an immediate and unconditional ceasefire agreement on July 28, brokered by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and attended by representatives from the US and China. (end)
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