RAdm Surasant Kongsiri, spokesman for the Defence Ministry, said yesterday (Dec 14) that Thailand conducted its retaliations in accordance with the internationally recognised rule of engagement and international practices, reports the Bangkok Post.
According to him, from 10pm Saturday to 1am Sunday Cambodia sent drones into Trat province in eastern Thailand and at 4:15am fired rockets and shells into the northeastern province of Si Sa Ket. At 5:15am Cambodia resumed attacks all along the border with Thailand’s Northeast and East.
“Cambodia has not ceased fire as it claimed,” RAdm Surasant said, referring to the report that Cambodia agreed with a proposal from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim who chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for Thailand and Cambodia to cease fire by 10pm on Saturday.
He added that the Royal Thai Navy would impose a curfew from 7pm to 5am in four districts of Trat - Khlong Yai, Bo Rai, Khao Saming and Muang. Earlier a curfew was imposed in four districts of Sa Kaeo in the East.
Deputy army spokesman Col Richa Suksuvanont said Thai forces maintained full control of key border areas, including Chong An Ma (Hill 677) in Ubon Ratchathani, Sam Tae in Si Sa Ket, several passes in Surin, and Ban Nong Ya Kaew in Sa Kaeo.
Thai troops, he said, had secured the Prasat Khana temple ruins in Surin, where they found trenches previously dug by Cambodian forces. He described this as a serious breach of international principles.
Col Richa also outlined Cambodian military losses. He estimated that Cambodia lost at least 221 soldiers, 51 military bases, a BM-21multiple rocket launcher, 10 tanks, nine armoured vehicles, four anti-aircraft systems, seven mortars, five anti-drone facilities, 68 drones and three communication towers.
He said the Thai army remained determined to reclaim encroached border areas and neutralise threats to Thai forces and civilians.
“The army is still determined to retrieve previously encroached border areas and disable the military capabilities of Cambodia which evidently attacks and harms Thai military and people. This refers to military personnel, weapons, military bases and facilities,” Col Richa said.
Royal Thai Navy assistant spokesman Capt Nara Khunthothom said naval forces, supported by fighter jets, had retaken the Ban Chamrak area in Trat, which Cambodia had illegally occupied. Clashes continued as Cambodian troops resisted, he said, adding that the curfew was intended to protect Thai communities from ongoing attacks.