Martial Law Imposed in Chanthaburi & Trat as Thailand–Cambodia Conflict Intensifies

Bangkok (The Uttam Hindu)- The war going on for two days between Thailand and Cambodia is not stopping. Even Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Vechayachai has said that the conflict may soon turn into a war.

Thailand has declared martial law in 8 districts bordering Cambodia. A Thai army commander has said that Cambodia is trying to enter Thai territory using force. An emergency meeting is also to be held on this conflict in the UN Security Council. The long-standing border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand turned into a violent conflict on Thursday. Several shells were fired from Cambodia on Friday, in which one person is reported dead. While 5 others were injured. Thailand has evacuated 1.38 lakh people living in border areas.

Thailand has said that it wants to move towards an agreement, but if the situation worsens, a situation of war may arise. Thailand's acting PM said that we have instructed the Thai army to take action as per the need. Thailand has offered talks with the help of Malaysia. Cambodia's PM Hun Manet has also said in a Facebook post that he had no choice due to Thailand's sudden attack. He has written in the post that Cambodia always believes in resolving disputes peacefully, but if there is an armed attack on us, then it becomes our compulsion to respond. He has also asked people to vacate the border area. He has written that leave the border area, because we are at war. Continue your activities normally in other areas.

Actually, both the countries share a border of about 800 kilometers. Many kilometers of this area is disputed. Both the countries suffered a lot in the conflict that lasted from 2008 to 2011. Later in 2013, the UN Court settled this dispute, but the conflict started again in May.