Second Army Area orders evacuation in four provinces after border clash

The Second Army Area on Sunday ordered the prompt evacuation of villagers along the border in four provinces following a clash with Cambodian troops in Si Sa Ket.

After a half-hour clash at Phu Pha Lek - Phalan Hin Paet Kon area in Si Sa Ket, the Second Army Area instructed the evacuation of people living along the border in Buri Ram, Si Sa Ket, Surin and Ubon Ratchathani.

Villagers were moved to evacuation centres prepared for their safety.
The Second Army Area said the clash, involving rifle fire, broke out at 2.16pm and ended at 2.50pm.

It added that although the fighting had stopped, further and more intense clashes were expected, so people had to be moved out of the border areas as a matter of urgency.

Later, Royal Thai Army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree said the border clash had created an unstable situation and that it was highly likely the fighting would escalate.

As a result, Winthai said the Second Army Area decided to order the evacuation of people living along the border in Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani, which fall under its responsibility.

Winthai also provided further details of the fighting. He said the first task force of the 13th Infantry Battalion clashed with Cambodian troops using rifles at coordinate VA 5417 8739, located in the Phu Pha Lek–Phlan Hin Paet Kon area of Si Sa Ket.

He said the clash occurred while Thai troops were improving a patrol route from the Phu Pha Lek post to the Phiang Fah post, when Cambodian troops approached the barbed wire and opened fire on Thai soldiers who were protecting engineering personnel.

Winthai said the Cambodian shots injured two Thai soldiers:

Sgt Anuchart Ruankham, who was shot in the leg

Pvt Pornchai Jampachum, who was hit on his bulletproof vest, causing severe bruising to the chest

The two injured soldiers were taken to the Ban Don Aor command post and then to Don Aor Tambon Hospital before being transferred to Kantharalak District Hospital.

Winthai added that Cambodian troops also used recoilless rifles during the clash, which ended at 2.50pm.