Thailand and Cambodia agree to ‘unconditional’ ceasefire
More than 138,000 people have fled Thailand’s border regions, while around 140,000 have been driven from their homes in Cambodia.
PUTRAJAYA: Thailand and Cambodia’s leaders agreed to an “unconditional” ceasefire to take place on Monday, July 28, after five days of combat along their jungle-clad frontier that has killed at least 36 people, local media reported
More than 200,000 people have fled as the two sides fired artillery, rockets and guns in a battle over the long-disputed area, which is home to a smattering of ancient temples.
This was the deadliest flare-up, since 2008 when violence first broke out over contested territorial claims along the border region.
Thailand says nine of its soldiers and 14 civilians have been killed, while Cambodia has confirmed eight civilian and five military deaths.
More than 138,000 people have fled Thailand’s border regions, while around 140,000 have been driven from their homes in Cambodia.
US President Donald Trump intervened over the weekend, and said both sides had agreed to “quickly work out” a truce.
Malaysia took the lead to host peace talks between the two countries. Reading a joint statement from the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia, countries Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said they had agreed to “an immediate and unconditional ceasefire” that is set to take effect from midnight local time.
Malaysia is the current chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), to which all three countries belong.
“This is a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security,” he said at a press conference in Putrajaya, flanked by Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet.
Anwar said a meeting of military commanders from both sides would take place on Tuesday morning, before the countries’ cross-border committee would meet in Cambodia on Aug 4.
“Today we had a very good meeting and very good results,” said Cambodia’s Hun Manet, thanking Trump for his “decisive” support and saying the truce would serve as “a foundation for future de-escalation”.
Thailand ‘s Phumtham too hailed the the truce, saying he hoped it would be “carried out in good faith by both sides”. “Thailand decides for peaceful resolution, while continuing to protect our sovereignty and the lives of our people,” he said.
US Hails Ceasefire
The United States on Monday welcomed the ceasefire declaration. A statement released by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington said that “The United States applauds the ceasefire declaration between Cambodia and Thailand announced today in Kuala Lumpur,” adding that Washington helped to organise the talks alongside Malaysia.
“President Trump and I are committed to an immediate cessation of violence and expect the governments of Cambodia and Thailand to fully honor their commitments to end this conflict.”
Trump has threatened both countries with high levies in his global tariff blitz unless they agree to independent trade deals – but said he would “look forward” to signing them once “peace is at hand”.
– With inputs from agencies
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