A fresh warning has been issued to Australian travellers amid concerns over a clash between Thailand and Cambodia.
The Australian government has updated its travel advice after Thailand and Cambodia exchanged fire in a sharp escalation of a decades-long border dispute.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has urged Australians to reconsider their need to travel to border areas of Cambodia and Thailand, citing “deep concern” over the escalating tensions.
Both countries accused each other of starting the clash early on Thursday, which quickly escalated from small arms fire to heavy shelling in at least six locations along the border.
Thailand positioned six F-16 fighter jets in an uncommon combat deployment, one of which was mobilised to strike a Cambodian military target — among measures Cambodia’s foreign ministry called “reckless and brutal military aggression”.
Thailand said there had been 12 fatalities in three Thai provinces, 11 of them civilians, including an eight-year-old boy. Authorities said 31 people were injured on Thursday.
The number of Cambodian casualties was unclear.
TRAVEL ADVICE FOR THAILAND AND CAMBODIA
As of Friday, Smartraveller advised Australians to reconsider their need to travel to the Thai border areas of Buriram, Si Saket, Surin and Ubon Ratchathani provinces near the Cambodian border due to armed conflict in the area.
This includes “reports of military strikes, violence and landmines”, the advice says.
“Follow the advice of local authorities, monitor local media for updates and pay close attention to your personal security. Border crossing points along the Thai-Cambodian border continue to be closed at short notice.”
Smartraveller continues to advise travellers to exercise a high degree of caution when travelling to Thailand overall.
In Cambodia, Australians are urged to reconsider travelling to the border areas of the northern and north-western provinces of Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey, while exercising normal safety precautions overall.
A DECADES-LONG BORDER DISPUTE
Thailand and Cambodia have for decades disputed the jurisdiction of several undemarcated points along their 817km land border.
Ownership of the ancient Hindu temples Ta Moan Thom and the Preah Vihear have been central to the disputes.
The clashes came after Thailand recalled its ambassador to Cambodia late on Wednesday and said it would expel Cambodia’s envoy in Bangkok.
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
In the region, the Philippines and Vietnam have called for restraint and China expressed willingness to help promote de-escalation.
The United States, a long-time treaty ally of Thailand, called for an immediate end to hostilities.
“We are… gravely concerned by the escalating violence along the Thailand-Cambodia border, and deeply saddened by reports of harm to civilians,” the US state department’s deputy spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, told a regular news briefing.
“The United States urges an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and a peaceful resolution of the conflict.”