Tens of thousands of people are displaced in the Cambodian-Thai border region. Both countries are appealing for national unity. Will the fighting escalate into war?

Heavy weapons and artillery, apparently used by both sides: Fighting has been raging in the border region between Cambodia and Thailand since Thursday morning – and again today. An end to the conflict is not in sight.

Cambodia is calling for an immediate ceasefire and reiterated this during a UN Security Council meeting in New York. Cambodia wants a peaceful solution to the conflict, according to the Cambodian ambassador to the UN. However, Thailand rejects this at this time, citing primarily Cambodia's repeated attacks on residential areas in the Thai province of Surin.

130,000 people have now been evacuated from there. According to Nikorndej Balankura, spokesperson for the Thai Foreign Ministry, it is too early to say when the conflict will end."We absolutely want this; a ceasefire is the wish of the Thai government. But it is now up to the Cambodians," says Balankura."The inhumane attacks on civilians represent a breach of all international principles."

Old dispute over the border

Kummoon Sriprahom, 63, lives in Surin Province. He sits thoughtfully in front of his house as he talks to a Reuters reporter."I don't want this war. I don't want fighting, but that's what governments decide. And their interests have triggered this conflict," he says. Those interests are"arguably legitimate" – and it's not just about the border.

Both sides are therefore calling for unity. National interests take priority, says Thailand's caretaker Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai:"We need national unity at this time. What is happening now is a kind of invasion that endangers the lives of our people. This conflict can escalate further and escalate into a full-blown war. We will defend our sovereignty."

Meanwhile, blood donations are taking place in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hun Many is also in attendance. The willingness to donate blood shows how determined the people of Cambodia are, the politician says."It shows our strength based on national unity. Our army is now on the front lines." Appeals to national consciousness on both sides show that this is primarily about nationalism.

"It wasn't so bad in 2011"

The dispute over the border, which is based on a map from 1907 – from the colonial era – is highly symbolic. It is a dispute that must be resolved precisely for this reason, says political expert Thanapat Chatinakrob of Thammasat University in Bangkok."This is a long game that won't end today or tomorrow." The border conflict can only be resolved calmly and with plenty of time.

"We need to find a political solution, return to the border commission established in 2000," says the political expert. However, this has so far been unsuccessful. There have been several clashes on the border between Thailand and Cambodia, for example, in 2011. At that time, the conflict was over the Prear Vihear Temple, a World Heritage Site.

Lukkana Namprakhon recently fled Surin Province with her daughter and still remembers that time."This time is different than last time. In 2011, it wasn't as bad. This year, it's very, very violent. The explosions never stop. You hear them all the time." Lukkana currently lives with her daughter in a small camouflage tent in a refugee camp. She wants to return to her hometown, just four kilometers from the border with Cambodia, as soon as possible.