A brief exchange of gunfire between Cambodian and Thai troops along a contested section of the border on Wednesday left one Cambodian soldier dead and several others injured, according to Cambodian military officials.
Royal Cambodian Army spokesperson Mao Phalla confirmed the death, saying that fighting broke out while Cambodian soldiers were conducting a routine border patrol in Preah Vihear province, which borders Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province.
“One of our soldiers died during the fight, and there were some injuries, but we don’t have detailed figures yet,” Phalla said. He alleged that Thai soldiers had initiated the attack. “Our soldier died in the trenches. The Thais came to attack us,” he added.
Thailand’s military presented a different account, saying Cambodian forces fired first. In a statement, the Royal Thai Army said its troops returned fire in response, and that the exchange lasted around 10 minutes before the Cambodian side requested a ceasefire.
Thai Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said later that the situation had been resolved and that both sides had no intention of escalating the violence. “Both parties did not intend to open fire at each other,” he said, adding that communications between local commanders had restored calm.
The clash occurred in an area long marked by overlapping territorial claims along an 800-kilometer (500-mile) border, much of which was demarcated during the French colonial era.
The border has been a recurring source of tension, most notably in 2008, when heavy fighting near the Preah Vihear Temple left dozens dead and displaced thousands. The temple site was awarded to Cambodia in 1962 by the International Court of Justice, but both nations continue to dispute the surrounding land.
As of Wednesday evening, there were no reports of further fighting. Local media in both countries said military officials were maintaining contact to prevent additional incidents along the frontier.
The incident quickly drew attention in regional media, raising concerns about the potential for renewed clashes between the two neighbors with a history of long-standing border disputes.
Shongjog 