Despite calm calls, Thailand and Cambodia clashes extend for the third day

The fighting extended on the Thai boundaries of the Cambodian for the third day in a row, and new engagement points appeared today, while each side sought diplomatic support and said each country that it acted in self -defense amid calls from each party to stop the fighting and start negotiations.

At least 30 people were killed and more than 130,000 were displaced in the worst fighting between the two neighbor in Southeast Asia in 13 years.

The Thai navy said that clashes took place in the coastal region of Trat this morning, a new front, more than 100 km from other conflict points along the long -standing border.
A short period of time between the two countries occurred when a Cambodian soldier was killed in late May. Each country has strengthened its forces on the border amid a major diplomatic crisis that prompted the fragile coalition government in Thailand to the brink of collapse.

The number of Thai deaths remained at 19 today, while a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defense Cambodian Mali Suushita said that five soldiers and eight civilians died in the fighting.

The Thai Ambassador to the United Nations said at a meeting of the Security Council yesterday that soldiers were wounded by newly planted landmines in Thai lands in two facts since mid -July, accusations that Cambodia severely denied.

The Cambodian Ministry of Defense accused Thailand, the day before yesterday, of launching a “deliberate, unjustified and illegal military attack” and said it is now mobilizing military forces and equipment on the border.

The ministry said in a statement today that “these deliberate military preparations reveal the intention of Thailand to expand its aggression and continue to violate the sovereignty of Cambodia.”

Cambodia called on the international community to “condemn the aggression of Thailand in the strongest terms” and prevent the expansion of Thai military activities.

Bangkok again said it wanted to resolve the conflict with the bilateral dialogue and told the Security Council that “it is very unfortunate that Cambodia intentionally avoiding a meaningful dialogue and instead sought to raise the issue internationally to serve its own political goals.”