Khmers continue on war crimes against Thai civilians

TNR Staff

9 months ago

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By Thai Newsroom Reporters

CAMBODIA HAS EVIDENTLY committed war crimes by launching rockets and artillery shells at civilian targets in Thai territory across from the shared border and landed on deserted houses of Thai villagers for a second day this morning (July 25).

Cambodia’s BM-21 Grad rockets reportedly hit the abandoned houses of the Thai villagers in Srivichian subdistrict of Nam Yuen district in Ubon Ratchathani across the border from Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province, according to deputy Thai army spokesperson Col. Ritcha Suksuvanon.

No fatalities or injuries were reported in the rocket-demolished houses since the villagers had deserted home for makeshift shelters provided by the authorities.

The event in which the Cambodian forces had intentionally aimed at Thai civilian targets since border clashes erupted yesterday (July 24) blatantly violated internationally-recognized humanitarian principles whilst the Thai air force’s F-16 Fighting Falcon jets effectively skipped over countervalue positions inside Cambodia.

The Thai army confirmed that the Cambodian forces did not only commit war crimes against Thai civilians in sheer violation of the United Nations’ humanitarian principles but used residential areas inside Cambodia as human shields to hide and fire their artillery shells across the border onto Thai territory.

Thai army spokesperson Maj.Gen.Winthai Suvari said Cambodia conducted a disinformation campaign to falsely blame Thailand for the border clashes which occurred for a second day today whilst indiscriminately opening fire at civilian targets in Thai territory.

In one incident yesterday, a Cambodian BM-21 rocket hit a convenience store in the premises of a gas station in Kantharalak urban area killing seven civilians and seriously injuring 14 others.

So far, a dozen Thai villagers and two Thai army soldiers were reportedly killed whilst 24 civilians and six army soldiers were seriously injured due to the clashes in Thai border districts including Kabchoeng district and Panom Dongrak district in Surin, Baan Kruad district in Buriram, Nam Yuen district in Ubon Ratchathani and Kantharalak district of Sisaket.

The Thai F-16 fighters conducted a few sorties of air strikes bombarding Cambodian army installations including the Eighth Army Brigade and Ninth Army Brigade in Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear areas.

Thai army drones bombarded Cambodian army installations near Pumakhua hill in Preah Vihear across the border from Sisaket whilst Thai army tanks engaged in combat with Cambodian forces with a couple of Cambodian tanks knocked out of action.

An estimated 25 Cambodian troops were reportedly killed and a number of others seriously wounded in yesterday’s border clashes.

CAPTION:

Thai civilian targets hit by Cambodian rocket and artillery fire since yesterday. Photos: Thai Rath