"Thailand and Cambodia are each accusing the other of reigniting a border row over the weekend, with at least 20 people killed in the latest round of fighting and hundreds of thousands once again fleeing their homes. Dozens of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced since the decades-long dispute again turned violent in July. Bangkok and Phnom Penh each insist they are only returning fire to defend themselves."
"But as the bitter dispute drags on and tips into yet another round of deadly fire, analysts say Thailand and Cambodia's leaders are reaping political dividends at home, pushing prospects for peace into the distance. "Domestic drivers of this border clash are paramount, meaning that they are setting the tone and the direction," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a professor and senior fellow with the Institute of Security and International Studies at Thailand's Chulalongkorn University."
"In Cambodia, the Hun family has dominated the country for the past four decades, crushing any genuine political opposition and wiping out most independent media. In 2023, Hun Manet succeeded his father, Hun Sen, as prime minister after an election widely seen as rigged. Thitinan said that has left their "dynastic dictatorship" with little political legitimacy, making a fight over disputed territory a useful tool for rallying support."
Fierce fighting along the Thailand-Cambodia border has killed at least 20 people in the latest clashes, with dozens killed since violence resumed in July and hundreds of thousands displaced. Bangkok and Phnom Penh each claim they are returning fire to defend their territory. Analysts contend leaders in both countries gain domestic political benefits from the confrontation, reducing prospects for peace. Domestic motivations are described as paramount in shaping the clash's direction. The Hun family in Cambodia retains tight control after four decades, with Hun Manet succeeding Hun Sen following a widely criticized election. Authorities face international criticism and sanctions tied to scam networks, money laundering and trafficking, creating incentives to divert public attention.
Read at www.dw.com
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