Listen to the audio version of this article (generated by AI).
UPDATES:
3:40 pm: Cambodia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhonn spoke with Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, who expressed France’s steadfast support of the peace process, particularly for the July 28 ceasefire agreement and the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration on October 26.
During his talk with Barrot, Sokhonn spoke about the deterioration of the humanitarian situation, which resulted in the displacement of over half a million Cambodian civilians, as well as damage inflicted on Cambodian cultural heritage sites amid the hostilities.
3:25 pm: Thai military used a T-50 aircraft which dropped four bombs on a civilian residential in Banan district, the provincial authorities which led to the closure of 241 primary and high schools in four border districts: Komrieng, Phnom Prek, Sampov Loun, and Samlot. It has affected more than 40,000 students and nearly 1,800 teachers, according to the head of the Battambang Provincial Department of Education, Youth and Sports.
3:20 pm: France and Australia urged both sides to implement an immediate ceasefire and abide by the Joint Declaration to de-escalate tensions from the ongoing conflict.
The call comes amid intense Thai military bombardment using aircrafts in the northwestern provinces of Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Siem Reap.
“The conflict between Cambodia and Thailand has already caused the displacement of nearly one million people. I have called my Cambodian and Thai counterparts to encourage an immediate ceasefire,” according to a post by Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday.
“A just and lasting peace can only be achieved through negotiation,” he said.
The Australian Government expressed deep concern about ongoing military clashes between Cambodia-Thailand, including the rapid escalation in the scale and intensity of the conflict, the use of heavy destructive weapons and the growing humanitarian impact of the fighting on both sides.
“We express our condolences to those who have lost family and loved ones, and ask that both sides ensure the protection of civilians, civilian infrastructure and cultural heritage,” read the statement.
They urged both to strictly meet their obligations under international law, de-escalate tensions, and take fast and effective steps to cease hostilities, including through the implementation of the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration.
3:07 pm: A Thai T-50TH aircraft dropped a bomb in Banan district, Battambang province at 14:02 p.m., according to the National Defense Ministry.
1:15 pm: Thai military used T-50TH fighter jets to drop cluster bombs in the area of Sla Kram commune, Svay Chek district in Banteay Meanchey province from 12:15 pm to 12:26 pm, according to the National Defense Ministry.
11:12: pm: The Thai military used a fighter jet (T-50TH) to drop four bombs on the territory of Srei Snam district, Siem Reap province at 11:00 am, the National Defense Ministry said.
1:10 pm: The Thai military fired 26 shells into the area of Sampov Loun commune, Sampov Loun district in Battambang province at 10:28 am. The shells caused damage to Chan Deang pagoda, according to National Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata.
10:45 am: The Thai military used a T-50 aircraft which dropped four bombs on a civilian residential area where civilians were residing, further deep into Cambodian sovereign territory in Banan district, Battambang province, at 10:00 am.
Two people were injured in a densely populated area in Kon Trie, O’Chrov district in Banteay Meanchey province as Thai forces attacked Cambodia’s fourth and fifth military regions prior to the General Boundary Committee (GBC) meeting kicking off today (December 24) in Chanthaburi, Thailand.
National Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata said at a press briefing on Wednesday that Thailand launched attacks in the military regions of Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, and Banteay Meanchey provinces, marking the 18th day of armed conflicts.
“At 9:40 a.m., the Thai military fired one shell into a densely populated civilian residential area in Kon Trie, close to National Road No 5 in Banteay Meanchey. The attack caused injuries to two innocent civilians,” the ministry mentioned.
Earlier at 9:12 a.m., the Thai military fired two shells into a densely populated civilian residential area in Poipet, with one shell landing near the 58 Roundabout, and another in Nimitt District, Poipet Municipality.
Additionally, Thai forces fired artillery and drone attacks in areas around Preah Vihear Temple, Phnom Trakorl, and Chan Krahom from Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning. Artillery shells were fired while drones were deployed to spray a large amount of toxic gas in the Preah Vihear Temple area.
“These brutal acts are indiscriminate attacks by the Thai military, which is a serious violation of international humanitarian law,” Socheata said.
As of Wednesday, 21 civilians were confirmed dead with another 83 injured in Cambodia.
Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin stated in a post on Wednesday that China supports ASEAN’s mediation efforts and the important role of its observer team in ceasefire monitoring.
“The top priority now is to achieve a ceasefire at an early date, restart dialogue and resolve the border dispute through peaceful means,” he wrote on his Facebook.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Special Envoy for Asian Affairs Deng Xijun conducted another shuttle-diplomacy trip to Cambodia and Thailand to mediate the recent border conflict.
