Thai forces are only prepared to stop firing when the Cambodian troops stop their shelling and ask for a ceasefire, Thai Army deputy spokesman Colonel Richa Suksuvanon said Sunday.
The duty of the Thai military is to continue its operations, in accordance with its strategy, while negotiations for a ceasefire are the responsibility of the Thai government, he said.
This was apparently in response to a call by US President Donald Trump for Thailand and Cambodia to quickly reach a ceasefire, with a warning that failure to do so would mean that his administration would not conclude trade deals with either country.
Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told Trump that Thailand is ready to negotiate a ceasefire, if Cambodia shows its sincere intent have one.
At about 4am today, the colonel said that Cambodian forces opened artillery fire on Ta Muen Thom ancient temple in Phanom Dongrak district of Surin and at An Ma pass in Nam Yuen district of Ubon Ratchathani, in an attempt to wrestle back lost territory.
Numerous houses, in Phanom Dongrak, Chong Chom and Prasart districts in Surin, were either burned down or severely damaged after being hit by BM-21 rockets, the deputy spokesman said.
There are no reports as yet of civilian casualties as a result of the most recent shelling.
On Saturday, Ban Sum Meng subdistrict hospital in Kantharalak district of Si Sa ket province was struck by artillery fire from Cambodian forces engaged in clashes with Thai troops.
It was the second to be struck by artillery shells from Cambodian forces, following the attack on Phanom Dongrak Hospital in Surin province, which sustained structural damage.
