Both Thailand and Cambodia are seeking support and sympathy from the United Nations as the countries entered their fourth day of border clashes near the historic Preah Vihear temple.
The two countries began exchanging artillery fire Friday, each claiming that the other started shooting first.
On Monday, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva sent a letter of protest to the U.N. to counter a diplomatic letter sent Sunday from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, in which Cambodia asked the U.N. to stop Thailand’s “invasion of Cambodia,” reported the Bangkok Post.
According to the report, Hun Sen also asked for the aid of international peacekeepers to act as a buffer between Cambodia and Thailand.
On Saturday, field commanders on both sides allegedly agreed to a ceasefire, but shooting continued Sunday with both sides again accusing the other of instigating the exchange, according to the Post.
So far, thousands of people have been evacuated from border villages on both sides and three Cambodians and two Thais have been reported killed.
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki- Moon said he is concerned about the situation and called on both countries to “exercise maximum restraint” and find a “lasting solution to their dispute,” according to a statement by the U.N. press office.
The Preah Vihear temple, named a world heritage site by the U.N. in 2008, has been damaged in the clashes, according to the Post.
The U.N. said that tensions in the region began to build shortly after the site was given heritage status. From that point, both countries began to boost their military presence near the temple.
The two countries began exchanging artillery fire Friday, each claiming that the other started shooting first.
On Monday, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva sent a letter of protest to the U.N. to counter a diplomatic letter sent Sunday from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, in which Cambodia asked the U.N. to stop Thailand’s “invasion of Cambodia,” reported the Bangkok Post.
According to the report, Hun Sen also asked for the aid of international peacekeepers to act as a buffer between Cambodia and Thailand.
On Saturday, field commanders on both sides allegedly agreed to a ceasefire, but shooting continued Sunday with both sides again accusing the other of instigating the exchange, according to the Post.
So far, thousands of people have been evacuated from border villages on both sides and three Cambodians and two Thais have been reported killed.
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki- Moon said he is concerned about the situation and called on both countries to “exercise maximum restraint” and find a “lasting solution to their dispute,” according to a statement by the U.N. press office.
The Preah Vihear temple, named a world heritage site by the U.N. in 2008, has been damaged in the clashes, according to the Post.
The U.N. said that tensions in the region began to build shortly after the site was given heritage status. From that point, both countries began to boost their military presence near the temple.
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