Thailand-Cambodia: Border villagers dig in

NONG KUN NA, 27 April 2011 (IRIN) - In the Thai village of Nong Kun Na along the disputed border with Cambodia, security forces are digging in, building bunkers and training volunteers to act as defence guards.

The development comes as Red Cross officials report close to 60,000 now displaced.

Fighting between the Thai and Cambodian armies over the past six days in the surrounding jungle has killed at least 13 soldiers on both sides and injured dozens more.

"Before the fighting started, I was a security guard for an apartment building in Bangkok," said Wonbik Chai, 42, one of the village's newly recruited defence volunteers. "Now I've come to protect my village."

Of the 1,200 residents of Nong Kun Na, just 80 remain, with the rest evacuated to temporary shelters, mainly temples and schools.

Three districts of Surin Province - Phanom Dong Rak, Kab Choeng and Prasat - have been declared disaster zones.

"I don't know when the residents will return here," said Su Thai Pim, chief of Nong Kun Na, who has chosen to stay. "Right now we are just waiting for the situation to improve, but there is fighting every day."

Most of the 80 residents remaining, including Wonbik Chai, are now armed with shotguns.

According to Su Thai Pim, the villagers have not seen a single NGO or relief agency since the latest round of fighting began on 22 April, although they have received supplies such as food and water from the government.

But supplies are not sufficient for Nong Kun Na's remaining inhabitants, many of whom feel they have been forgotten.

"We need more, especially instant noodles and water," Su Thai Pim said.

Driven by domestic politics

The latest escalation of fighting now focuses on a disputed hill near the ancient temples of Ta Krabey and Ta Moan.

Tensions between the two countries first escalated in July 2008 following the build-up of troops near the Preah Vihear temple, which dates back to the 11th century and is located on the Cambodian side of the 800km border.

That same month, the Hindu temple was added to the UN World Heritage List. Close to three years later, with no resolution in sight, the conflict is fast becoming one of Southeast Asia's deadliest border disputes in years, observers say.

And though both countries lay claim to area, many analysts believe the conflict is actually being driven by the domestic politics, particularly in Thailand where the military has been raising its profile in recent months as the country prepares for general elections, likely to be held in June or July.

Tensions could abate after the elections, as Thai politicians will no longer be campaigning through the use of anti-Cambodian rhetoric, Paul Chambers, a Thai military affairs specialist at Heidelberg University, Germany, told IRIN.

But until then, as both countries dig in, fortify their positions along the border and appeal to nationalist sentiment - something the conflict has spurred in both countries - clashes will likely continue to bring bloodshed and hardship to both sides.

According to Thai and Cambodian Red Cross officials, as of 27 April, more than 58,000 people have now been displaced, including 31,500 in Thailand and 26,572 in Cambodia.

"The fighting has increased the number of displaced since last night," Sam Ath Uy, the director of disaster risk management for the Cambodian Red Cross, confirmed.

Theme (s): Conflict, Early Warning, Refugees/IDPs,

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]