Thai civilian areas endure more Cambodian strikes, says military

1,000 rai of farmland burnt after rockets fired into communities in Sa Kaeo

Cambodia is increasingly firing rockets and shells at Thai civilian areas along its border with Thailand and the Thai military has vowed to do its best to stop it.

On Wednesday alone, Cambodia fired over 120 rockets from its BM-21 launchers at civilian targets in the eastern province of Sa Kaeo, according to Rear Adm Surasant Kongsiri, spokesman for the Ministry of Defence Ministry.

“Many civilians’ houses were damaged. … It is cruelty for Cambodia to be aiming at civilians,” he said at the daily briefing on Thursday.

Cambodia fired heavy weapons at the Sam Ta area in Si Sa Ket province at 3pm on Wednesday and a Thai soldier was killed there, he said.

At 4pm on Wednesday, more than 1,000 rai of Thai farmland was burnt after BM-21 rockets were fired into Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaeo, two contested villages in Sa Kaeo that have been flashpoints for numerous confrontations in recent months.

At 6pm on Wednesday, more Cambodian heavy weapons struck Ban Nong Chan and another Thai soldier was fatally hit by shrapnel. The death toll of Thai soldiers from 11 days of fighting now stands at 21.

19 key battlefields

Col Richa Suksuwanon, deputy spokesman for the army, said the intensity of Cambodian attacks varied depending on the battlefield and objectives.

He said the Thai military now held control of four out of 19 key battlefields along the 800km frontier. They were Hill 677 in Ubon Ratchathani, Sam Ta in Si Sa Ket, and the Chong Kana and Chong Chom-Chong Pler-Chong Rayi communities in Surin province.

“Clashes were heavy at the Ta Khwai temple ruins (in Surin) where there is an important strategic location, which is Hill 350. Many Thai soldiers were killed there including two soldiers whose bodies have not been retrieved,” Col Richa said.

Intense clashes were also reported in the eastern province of Sa Kaeo, in Ban Klong Pang, Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaew.

Thailand and Cambodia have been firing artillery shells and rockets at each other as each side attempts to take control in the three areas, Col Richa said.

“Hundreds of BM-21 rockets were fired, not at soldiers, but at farmland and civilian areas. This is not right and we will surely retaliate,” he said.

“Thailand will do its best to destroy the support, firing and military bases that increasingly aim at Thai civilians whose hardship is escalating. The army will disable the military capabilities of Cambodia and stop the damage to civilians.”

It Trat, meanwhile, the navy retook Ban Nong Ri village after several days of fighting and found many anti-tank mines that had been modified to be anti-personnel ones, said Lt JG Napasakorn Thepso, assistant spokeswoman for the Royal Thai Navy.

The Chanthaburi and Trat Border Defence Command reported that 16 such mines had been found at a warehouse and many more were spotted in its vicinity.

The possession of anti-personnel mines violated international laws, said Lt JG Napasakorn.