Border Tensions Flare: Si Sa Ket Residents Fear Third Round of Clashes, Plead for Government Action
Cambodian forces fired a mortar near a Thai military base in Si Sa Ket Province on May 14, prompting border residents to fear another clash and demand government action to secure the volatile frontier.
Border Tensions Flare: Si Sa Ket Residents Fear Third Round of Clashes, Plead for Government Action
May 15, 2026 – Tensions have escalated once again along the Thai-Cambodian border in Kantharalak District, Si Sa Ket Province, following a Cambodian military M79 mortar attack near Huay Tammaria military base on the evening of May 14. Although there were no reports of injuries or deaths, the incident has sparked renewed fear among local residents who have already suffered significant damage to their homes and livelihoods from previous clashes.
When reporters visited Sao Thangchai village in Kantharalak District, villagers were gathered in anxious groups, closely monitoring the border situation. Many households expressed concern that a third clash may be imminent, given no clear signs the situation is resolving. The previous clashes have left residents in a constant state of alert.
Sixty-two-year-old Nai Jantan revealed that since the Cambodian military's M79 strike, the atmosphere has returned to high alert. Residents are worried and lack confidence in the situation, fearing another confrontation. She noted that Cambodian forces have been observed moving and circulating along the Thai border regularly in the past.
Villagers are urging the government to decisively resolve the border crisis once and for all, preventing future incidents. Jantan suggested that constructing a border fence or wall would significantly enhance public safety, as several villages including Sambaet, Phu Phi, and Phu Makheua are located extremely close to the Cambodian border. Every time tensions escalate, border residents feel unsafe.
