PLHIV and deadly gunbattle between Cambodian-Thai troops at the border

A young lady draws a cart full of her belongs while her sister is pushing from behind. Hundreds of Cambodian villagers, including People Living with HIV (PLHIV), living along the Cambodian-Thai border evacuated their homes after deadly fighting between the Cambodian and Thai troops on 15 October, 2008.

By Chhay Sophal

People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and AIDS workers living and working near the Cambodian-Thai border expressed their satisfaction that the two nations had agreed to resumes talks for peace after the outbreak of deadly fighting in three different places along the border in the northern part of the country on 15 October. They said if the gunbattle had become more serious and extended, it would have caused mass evacuations and interrupted services and food supplies for PLHIV.

The more than one-hour exchange of rocket and gunfire resulted in casualties on both sides. It happened after the four-month standoff along the Cambodian-Thai border, near the ancient temple of Preah Vihear. The standoff started in mid July after the temple was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, which angered Thai nationalists who argue the site belongs to Thailand and who accused their political leadership of caving in by agreeing to the listing.

After the clashes, thousands of Cambodian civilians, including PLHIV, not only near disputed areas but also in some other places along the border evacuated their homes for safety, while Thai citizens in Cambodia also fled after their embassy in Phnom Penh urged evacuations.

“Fearing of fighting eruption, our PLHIV living next to the border moved to the city center for safety,” said Yorn Nath, a HIV-positive widow, living in Pailin, a town several kilometers away from the border in northwestern country. Nath, who is also an HIV peer educator in her community for Battamabng Women’s AIDS Project (BWAP), said she and other PLHIV are happy to hear of the ceasefire. “When fighting erupts along the border, our people fled their homes to escape bullets and artilleries. Such fleeing is affected to our PLHIV who get ARV and food supply from the WFP.”

Ms Ing Siv Heng, BWAP Director, said her organisation covers more than 150 PLHIV just in Pailin. She said she is happy to hear that the two sides are seeking peaceful talks to return to a normal situation. “If fighting happens and extends, our PLHIV are facing challenges with their health.”