This month, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet wrote to French President Emmanuel Macron, saying that Phnom Penh would also welcome expertise and advisory support from the former colonial power. "The prime minister firmly believes that France's continued engagement will serve the shared objective of achieving a just and lasting solution, allowing the Cambodian and Thai peoples to live side by side in peace, security, good neighborliness and prosperity for generations to come," Cambodia's Foreign Ministry said in a press release.
Cambodian and Thai officials were in their third day of talks at a border checkpoint on Friday, with defence ministers from both countries scheduled to meet on Saturday. However, Cambodia's defence ministry said Thailand's military carried out a heavy bombardment of disputed border areas in Banteay Meanchey province on Friday morning. From 6.08am to 7.15am, the Thai military deployed F-16 fighter jets to drop as many as 40 bombs, to intensify its bombardment in the area of Chok Chey village, it said in a statement.
The evacuation took place a day after a man identified as Dy Nai was said to have been killed in a shootout between Cambodian and Thai soldiers around the same frontier village. Three others were injured in the incident, according to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. Both sides blamed the other for what happened on Wednesday, claiming they were not the first to open fire.
Cambodian authorities say at least 29 civilians have been injured in the encounter with Thai troops at a contested border site. Dozens of Cambodian civilians were injured when Thailand's military used tear gas and rubber bullets during clashes in a disputed area on the Thai-Cambodia border, the most significant violence since both countries halted cross-border fighting in July. Local media in Cambodia reported that 29 people,