Thailand Bombs Casino Hub in Cambodia Targeting Scam Centers Used By Military

Thailand has bombed Poipet, a casino hub on the Cambodia-Thai border, this week, with Thai forces stating the attacks targeted casinos and scam centers that have been used as military hubs.

Cambodia’s defence ministry said Thai forces dropped two bombs on Poipet. Colonel Richa Suksuwanon, Deputy Spokesperson of the Royal Thai Army, released a statement on Thursday confirming that the bombs are targeting military hubs, not civilians.

Suksuwanon, however, admitted that some of the bombs may have been dropped on casinos and buildings used as “scam centers,” which run illegal gambling operations.

He stated, “Thailand affirms that the Thai military targeted only military objectives. Areas attacked, such as casinos or scamming locations, have been proven to be used as military bases, drone command centers, and weapons storage facilities, which Cambodia uses as operational bases against Thailand.”

Thai Air Force spokesman Air Marshal Jackkrit Thammavichai said no civilians were killed in the bombings, but renewed fighting between the countries this month is estimated to have killed at least 38 people and displaced more than 800,000.

Why are Thailand & Cambodia Fighting?

Tensions have been rising between the two nations since May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash. After five days of fighting in July, President Donald Trump, Malaysia, and China brokered a ceasefire, but that was soon broken, and fighting has escalated again.

Trump claimed the countries had agreed to a new peace deal, but Thai forces denied this and have continued to mount attacks on the border.

The conflict dates back more than a century, when French colonialists drew the border between the countries. Thailand objects to some of the area being part of Cambodia and has violently opposed attempts to claim the land.

Over the last 100 years, there have been sporadic clashes, with soldiers and civilians killed on both sides. In 2008, fighting ramped up after Cambodia tried to register an 11th-century temple located in the disputed area as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Poipet: Popular Gambling Destination

Poipet is a popular destination for Thai gamblers as it hosts around 150 casinos, making it one of the biggest gambling hubs in Southeast Asia. It is also claimed to be a hub for illegal online gambling operations.

Thailand has been actively battling against scam cities, and earlier this year extradited Chinese national She Zhijiang, who allegedly ran illegal gambling operations in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos.

Cambodia permits foreign nationals to gamble at its casinos, resulting in Poipet attracting a diverse international community from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and China.

Casinos are prohibited in Thailand, and the new Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, has taken a strong stance against gambling. The Thai Senate rejected a bill to legalize casino resorts in the country in September amid mounting opposition.

As a result of the latest bombings, Cambodia closed the border, leaving an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 Thai nationals stranded. Many of them may have been in the area to gamble at the casinos.

Malaysia & China Call for Ceasefire

Officials from Malaysia and China have called for an immediate ceasefire to restore peace to the area. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with his Thai and Cambodian counterparts, urging a “ceasefire as soon as possible.”

In comments reported by AFP News, he stated, “The intensity of this round of clashes has far exceeded previous incidents,” adding that both sides should “ensure the safety of Chinese projects and personnel” in their countries.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also called on the countries to work towards securing peace. He stated, “We are appealing to them to immediately stop this frontline offensive and, if possible, (have) an immediate ceasefire.”