By Martin Petty
PHANOM DONG RAK, Thailand, April 26 (Reuters) - Hopes for peace between Thailand and Cambodia faded on Tuesday after fierce border battles raged for a fourth day, despite growing international calls for dialogue and an immediate ceasefire.
Explosions rang out across the frontier for more than three hours late on Monday as the two sides traded mortar and artillery fire close to two disputed 12th-century Hindu temples, intensifying the bloodiest conflict between the neighbours in nearly two decades.
It ended a full-day break in hostilities and followed the cancellation of a visit to both countries by a top Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) envoy who had brokered a U.N.-backed ceasefire deal in February after deadly clashes near another temple 150 km (90 miles) away.
Three Thai soldiers were wounded and a small skirmish took place about four hours after shelling subsided, Thai television reported. There were no known Cambodian casualties.
Although on the surface, the conflict appears to be a dispute over sovereignty and territory, many experts are sceptical and believe the fighting is being fuelled by political interests in Bangkok or Phnom Penh, or possibly both.
The two governments have been locked in diplomatic rows for two years and could be seeking to discredit each other and appeal to nationalists at home as Thailand prepares for a general election, expected by July. A change in government could be in Cambodia's interests.
Thailand reiterated calls for a bilateral solution to halt the bloodshed that has killed at least 12 soldiers on both sides but Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya acknowledged the window for dialogue was shrinking.
"We were hoping it would end in peaceful talks with the safety of civilians the heart," Kasit told reporters. "It's now beyond talks as friendly neighbours. In any case, we have to inform ASEAN countries that Cambodia is the aggressor."
ASEAN'S REPUTATION
Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan called for immediate dialogue late on Monday and said the reputation of the grouping was at stake if hostilities continued unabated.
The conflict and rhetoric from both sides has been a setback for ASEAN, a 10-member bloc modelled on the European Union that plans to become a regional community by 2015.
At the centre of the latest dispute are the Ta Moan and Ta Krabey Hindu temples in a heavily mined jungle area claimed by both sides. Thailand says the ancient ruins are in its Surin province, but Cambodia insists they fall in its territory.
Fighting has been heaviest around Ta Moan, a complex that contains three temples nestled in a mountain pass. Both sides are also positioned around Ta Krabey, where fighting first erupted on Friday and reignited late on Monday. Thailand accuses Cambodia of building military bases there.
In Phanom Dong Rak, about 30 km from the fighting, truckloads of evacuees arrived in makeshift camps after troops were deployed to clear villages in the line of fire.
Thailand's Foreign Ministry said more than 30,000 villagers in two border provinces had been evacuated, while Cambodia said 22,000 people had been moved to safety, accusing Thailand of attacking villages 20 km into its territory.
Analysts also say the Thai military could be flexing its muscles to preserve its sizeable stake in Thailand's political apparatus and satisfy conservative elites at odds with the country's powerful opposition forces.
"The army has nothing to lose in a border clash. They show their relevance and show who is wielding the power," said Karn Yuenyong, head of the Siam Intelligence Unit think-tank.
"The border and sovereignty issues matter to a group of conservative elites and this is one way the Thai army exerts its loyalty."
Monday's clashes followed a day of posturing by both sides, each accusing the other of aggressive acts and attempted incursions into disputed territory around the temples. (Editing by Ron Popeski)
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