Why do Thailand and Cambodia fight along their borders?

Thailand and Cambodia have been working on their worst battles in over a decade, exchanging a heavy artillery fire on their controversial borders, with at least 16 people killed and tens of thousands of displaced.

Tensions have begun to grow between the neighbors of Southeast Asia in May, after the assassination of a Cambodian soldier during a brief shooting and have escaped steadily since they triggered diplomatic houses and now armed conflicts.

What is the current situation?

The conflicts broke out between the two countries early Thursday in a controversial area that comes into contact with an ancient temple, which quickly flows into other areas along the controversial border and heavy artillery exchanges continued for a second consecutive day.

Thailand reminded its ambassador to Penh on Wednesday and excluded the Cambodian envoy, responding to a second Thai soldier who lost one end to a land claiming that Bangkok had recently been put in opposition. Cambodia called this category unfounded.

Both sides accuse each other to shoot the first shots that started the conflict on Thursday, which so far claimed the lives of at least 15 civilians, most of the Thai.

Cambodia has developed rocket launchers installed on trucks, which Thailand says they have been used to target political areas, while Thailand’s armed forces sent the F-16 fighter aircraft, using one to bomb military targets.

About 130,000 people have been evacuated from the border areas in Thailand in safer locations, while about 12,000 families on the Cambodia side have shifted away from the front lines, according to local authorities.

Where does the dispute come about?

Thailand and Cambodia have for more than a century of disputed sovereignty in various unjustified points along their 817 kilometers of land borders, originally mapped by France in 1907, when Cambodia was its colony.

This map, which was later challenged by Thailand, was based on an agreement that the borders would be delineated along the natural watches between the two countries.

In 2000, the two countries agreed to create a joint committee of boundaries to face peacefully overlapping claims, but there has been little progress to establish disputes.

Claims on the ownership of historical sites have caused nationalist tension between the two countries, mainly in 2003, when riders sparked the Thai embassy and Thai businesses in the PCNX in a supposed observation by a Thai celebrity.

What were the previous ignition points?

An 11th -century Hindu temple called Preah Vihear, or Khao Phra Viharn in Thailand, has been at the center of the controversy for decades, both with Bangkok and the Pennx claiming historical property.

The International Court of Justice was awarded the Temple in Cambodia in 1962, but Thailand continued to claim the surrounding Earth.

The tension escalated in 2008, after Cambodia attempted to record the Preah Vihear Temple as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, leading to skirmings for several years and at least twelve deaths, including a weekly artillery exchange in 2011.

Two years later, Cambodia demanded the interpretation of the 1962 verdict, and the ICJ again ruled to its advantage, saying that the land around the temple was also part of Cambodia and ordering the Thai troops to withdraw.

What is behind the recent problems?

Despite the historical rivalry, today’s Thai and Cambodia governments enjoy warm ties, partly because of the close relationship between their major former leaders, Thaksin Shinawatra in Thailand and Hun Sen.

But the nationalist feeling has grown in Thailand, as the Conservatives have questioned the government’s plan to negotiate with Cambodia to investigate the energy resources in unauthorized marine areas, warning that such a move could be warned.

Tensions also risen in February, when a group of Cambodians accompanying the troops sang their national anthem to another ancient Hindu temple claimed by both countries, Ta Moan Thom, before stopping Thai soldiers.

Until then, Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin’s daughter, to weaken the situation in a call last month, with Hun Sen spectacularly behind a recording of the discussion initially leaked and later was completely released by Cambodian leader.

In the call, the 38 -year -old prime minister seemed to criticize a Thai commander and Kowtow to Hun Sen, drawing on public fury and a complaint from a group of senators, which led to his suspension by court ruling on July 1.

Have there been resolution attempts?

Following the Conflict of 28 May, both countries quickly promised to facilitate tension, prevent more conflicts and seeking dialogue through their joint border committee at a meeting on 14 June.

Neighbors have issued diplomatically worded statements committed to peace while swearing to protect sovereignty, but their soldiers are mobilizing near the border.

In the meantime, Cambodia said that existing mechanisms were not working and planned to refer to differences in four areas of the border at ICJ to settle the “unsolved and sensitive” issues that said they could escalate tensions.

Thailand has not recognized ICJ’s decisions in the series and wants to settle it bilaterally.

Since Thursday’s clashes, Cambodia has written to the United Nations Security Council, urging the House to convene a meeting to stop what it describes as “non -caused and deliberate military aggression” from Thailand.

Thailand, on the other hand, wants to resolve the conflict through bilateral negotiations, but says that talks can only take place after Cambodia ceases.