Malaysia Seeks To Deploy ASEAN Monitoring Team To Thailand-Cambodia Conflict Zone
He said the AOT comprises representatives from ASEAN member states and will be deployed continuously on the ground to ensure and monitor that there are no violations of the ceasefire agreement.
'This is a heavy task because there is a border of about 840 kilometres that needs to be monitored. For this assignment, we are receiving logistical support from the United States,' he told reporters after being inducted into the Hall of Fame of the National Resilience College (MKN) here today.
He said following the conclusion of the General Border Committee (GBC), the parties involved had agreed under the ceasefire agreement to form an Interim Observer Team (IOT), comprising defence attachés from ASEAN countries.
Mohd Nizam said the team is led by Malaysia's Defence Advisers in Bangkok and Phnom Penh.
'The first step for this team is to hold a briefing in Bangkok for 75 senior officers from Thailand on the measures that need to be taken.
'The same will be done in Phnom Penh tomorrow and the following day before they make visits to the conflict zones,' he said.
Mohd Nizam said the main mandate of the IOT is to ensure that the ceasefire is upheld and to investigate any reported violations from both sides.
Thailand and Cambodia had previously agreed to strictly observe the ceasefire along their shared border, with both sides maintaining their current troop positions and not increasing military strength.
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