Fresh border clashes leave 1 Thai soldier dead: commander

BANGKOK, April 29 (Xinhua) — Fighting between Thai and Cambodian army continued on Thursday night only a few hours after the two sides agreed to a ceasefire, a senior Thai commander said Friday.

The fighting, the eight straight day since April 22, has left another Thai soldier dead, the Thai Rath online on Friday quoted Lt Gen Thawatchai Samutsakorn, commander of Thai Army Region 2 as saying.

The commander said that the cambodia fired at Thai army first and the latter fired back.

“Last night (Thursday), there was a small fighting between Thai and Cambodia and we have talked over night, our commander tried to contact and talk (with them),” he said. “Both sides claimed that their soldiers did not fire, I do not understand. So, I asked field commander to talk with them.”

The fighting happened only a few hours after Thawatchai and his Cambodian counterpart Major General Chea Mon, commander of Military Region 4 agreed to a ceasefire over the border areas at the 13th century Ta Moan temple and Ta Krabei temple.

Meanwhile, Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, Thai Army spokesman said on Friday morning that Cambodia threw bombs onto Thai side around 9:00 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday which left two Thai soldiers wounded and there was another fighting between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. Friday.

The last several days of clashes have killed seven Thai soldiers, and one Thai civilian, and several dozens injured, and forced 60,000 civilians of both countries to flee home.