Thai Military Force Thousands of Cambodian Students Out of the Classroom
As Thailand intensifies its attacks into Cambodia, more than three million children are being pushed out of school, with over 600,000 Cambodians displaced as the conflict rages.
Even more students are being pushed out of education as Thailand intensifies its attacks against Cambodia, with officials reporting more bombings in Battambang’s Banan district this afternoon.
As the conflict enters its 19th day, Cambodia says Thailand’s aggression has intensified, continuing their armed aggression further into Cambodian sovereign territory in the 5th Military Region, Banan District, according to the Ministry of Defence of Cambodia.
On December 25, the ministry reported that at 2.02pm, Thai forces deployed a T-50TH fighter jet to drop one bomb on Banan district.
As of December 24 at 10am, the Thai military used T-50 fighter jets to drop four bombs on Battambang’s Phnom Sampov area, forcing students who were studying out of classrooms and civilians along Phnom Sampov to evacuate to safety.
In response, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS), released a statement closing schools in Banan and Phnom Sampov temporarily for safety reasons.
The Impact of Education Continues to Rise
MoEYS reported that as of December 25, a total of 1,311 schools in Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Battambang, Koh Kong, Pursat and Siem Reap provinces have closed, affecting 15,034 teachers and 3,221,033 students.
The Ministry of Interior has reported that since December 7, Cambodia has been the target of an “open and deliberate military aggression by the Thai armed forces along its western border”. “This is neither an isolated incident, nor an accidental clash, nor an uncontrolled escalation,” it said.
The ministry added that the war has been “planned, acknowledged and carried out by the Thai State. Land, air, and naval forces have been deployed simultaneously”.
It added, “The attacks strike not only military positions but also civilians, essential infrastructure, temples and historic Khmer monuments. Considering these facts, five fundamental truths must be stated.”
As of today, the Ministry of National Defence reported that the Thai military forces are continuing their violation in a civilian residential area, in the 5th Military Region, firing heavy artillery into Tuek Thla village, Angkor Ban commune, Sampov Lun district in Battambang province, resulting in one damaged house.
At 8.41am, the ministry said that the Thai Military fired 155mm artillery shells into civilian residential areas, injuring one Cambodian civilian residing in Ta Lei village.
The ministry reported that more than half a million citizens have been evacuated following the border clash on December 7. In addition, 30 Cambodian civilians have been killed, including an infant, and 87 injured.
The Ministry of Defence reported that during the invasion, Thai forces have used various types of heavy and destructive weapons and equipment, including F-16 fighter jets, DTI-2, advanced drones, cluster bombs, toxic gas and T-50s.