(TAP) - Amid escalating tensions along the Thailand-Cambodia border, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has sent a letter to Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad — Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations and current President of the UN Security Council, requesting an emergency meeting.
On the Facebook page “กระทรวงสาธารณสุข” at 4:44 PM on July 24, Thai Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin stated that the conflict with Cambodia on the 24th had resulted in the deaths of at least 11 civilians and 1 Thai soldier.
Statement by Thai Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin on the Facebook page “กระทรวงสาธารณสุข”.
In the full statement posted on his personal Facebook page “Hun Manet” at 12:52 PM on July 24 (local time), the Cambodian leader accused the Thai military of carrying out deliberate attacks on positions along the border, including areas around the Tamone Thom, Ta Krabey, and Mom Bei temples located in the provinces of Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey. He emphasized: "Cambodia strongly condemns this calculated act of aggression. This is not only a blatant violation of the principles prohibiting the use of force as enshrined in the UN and ASEAN Charters, but also a blow to the spirit of neighborly friendship that we have consistently strived to uphold."
The letter from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to Mr. Asim Iftikhar Ahmad. Source: Facebook “Hun Manet”
According to Prime Minister Hun Manet, the escalating tensions persist despite the clear legal foundation provided by the 1904 Franco-Siam Convention, the 1907 Treaty, and related demarcation documents. The Cambodian Prime Minister criticized Bangkok for continuing to use an illegally self-drawn map to assert territorial claims, thereby violating commitments made in the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU-2000). Notably, Mr. Hun Manet accused Thailand of exploiting a recent landmine explosion to spread false information, while in fact, it was Thai soldiers who had illegally entered a mined area within Cambodian territory. He emphasized: "This action is even more reprehensible as it takes place at a time when Cambodia is persistently pursuing a peaceful resolution through both bilateral dialogue and international judicial mechanisms."
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. Source: Facebook “Hun Manet”
The letter to the United Nations was made public by the Cambodian Prime Minister amid escalating tensions along the Thailand-Cambodia border, particularly following an incident in which five Thai soldiers were injured (one critically) by a landmine explosion in a disputed area of Ubon Ratchathani Province on the afternoon of July 23, as previously reported by TAP News. In a post on the Facebook page “กองทัพภาคที่ 2” at 6:58 PM on July 23, the Thai military accused Cambodia of deliberately planting the landmines and called on Phnom Penh to take responsibility for the incident.
In addition, in response to the situation, Thailand has decided to expel the Cambodian ambassador and recall its own ambassador from Cambodia. In retaliation, at 2:33 AM on July 24, Cambodian Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra announced that diplomatic relations would be downgraded to the lowest level (Second Secretary) and that all Thai diplomats were required to leave the country.
While Cambodia was downgrading diplomatic relations, the Thai military made a surprising move at 10:58 AM the same day (local time) by announcing the use of F-16 fighter jets to strike military positions. Shortly after, at 11:24 AM on July 24, Phnom Penh confirmed via the Facebook page “ក្រសួងការពារជាតិ” (Ministry of National Defense) that two bombs dropped by Thai aircraft had landed on Wat Kaew Sikkhakirivoraram Road — an area under Cambodian control; Cambodia condemned the strike as a “blatant violation of the United Nations Charter and ASEAN norms” and warned of serious consequences if the conflict continues to escalate.
Hoang Nam