Thailand and Cambodia agree to 'unconditional ceasefire' after at least 36 killed
The flare-up was the deadliest since violence raged sporadically from 2008-2011 over the territory, claimed by both sides because of a vague demarcation made by Cambodia's French colonial administrators in 1907.
Reading a joint statement from the leaders of both countries after peace talks, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said they had agreed "an immediate and unconditional ceasefire" with effect from midnight Monday. "This is a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security," he said at a press conference in Malaysia's administrative capital 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 August 4. As the deal was being announced, an AFP journalist in the Cambodian city of Samraong — 17 kilometres (10 miles) from the fraught frontier — reported hearing continuing artillery blasts. US President Donald Trump — who both nations are courting for trade deals to avert the threat of eye-watering tariffs — intervened over the weekend, and said both sides had agreed to "quickly work out" a truce. "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".
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The Australian
3 hours ago
- The Australian
Thailand accuses Cambodia of 'flagrant violation' of truce
Thailand accused Cambodia on Wednesday of a "flagrant violation" of a truce deal to end cross-border fighting, saying Cambodian troops launched an overnight attack on the frontier. The nations agreed a ceasefire starting Tuesday after five days of clashes killed at least 43 on both sides, as a long-standing dispute over contested border temples boiled over into open combat on their 800-kilometre (500-mile) frontier. But Thailand's foreign ministry said its troops in Sisaket province "came under attack by small arms fire and grenade assaults launched by Cambodian forces" in an offensive which continued until Wednesday morning. "This represents a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement," said a foreign ministry statement. Thai government spokesman Jirayu Huangsab also reported overnight clashes but said in a statement "the Thai side maintained control of the situation" and "general conditions along the border are reported to be normal" from 8:00 am (0100 GMT). Cambodia has previously denied breaking the truce, intended to end fighting which has seen the two countries evacuate a total of more than 300,000 people from the border region. At a temple in Thailand's Surin city serving as a shelter and field kitchen 50 kilometres away from the frontier, volunteer Thanin Kittiworranun said evacuees remain in limbo. "We don't believe Cambodia will hold the ceasefire," the 65-year-old told AFP. But an AFP journalist on the Cambodian side who heard a steady drumbeat of artillery fire since fighting began last Thursday reported hearing no blasts between the start of the truce and Wednesday morning. And Beijing said deputy foreign minister Sun Weidong hosted a Shanghai meeting with Thai and Cambodian officials where both "reaffirmed to China their commitment to abide by the ceasefire consensus". - 'Still fragile' - The armistice got off to a shaky start in the early hours of Tuesday, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of continuing attacks in "a clear attempt to undermine mutual trust" -- before peace generally prevailed. Meetings between rival commanders along the border -- scheduled as part of the pact -- went ahead, with Thailand's army saying de-escalation steps were agreed including "a halt on troop reinforcements or movements that could lead to misunderstandings". But later in the day a foreign affairs spokeswoman for Bangkok's border crisis centre, Maratee Nalita Andamo, warned: "In this moment, in the early days of the ceasefire, the situation is still fragile". Jets, rockets and artillery have killed at least 15 Thai troops and 15 Thai civilians, while Cambodia has confirmed only eight civilian and five military deaths. The flare-up has surpassed the death toll of 28 in violence that raged sporadically from 2008 to 2011 over the territory, claimed by both nations because of a vague demarcation made by Cambodia's French colonial administrators in 1907. The peace pact was sealed in Malaysia after intervention from US President Donald Trump -- who both Thailand and Cambodia are courting for a trade deal to avert his threat of eye-watering tariffs. tak/jts/mtp NewsWire Developer and former Melbourne Storm player Tye Alroe has died while exercising at a Gold Coast gym. NewsWire After 45 years of silence, Australia's Moscow Olympics athletes have finally received the welcome home they were denied during the Cold War boycott.
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Perth Now
Thailand accuses Cambodia of new ceasefire violation
Thailand's military is accusing Cambodian forces of breaching a ceasefire agreement at three locations along the disputed border, warning that continued aggression could compel Thai forces to respond more decisively. The allegations on Wednesday come less than two days after both governments agreed to a ceasefire brokered in Malaysia, which came into effect at midnight on Monday. It aims to prevent escalation of the countries' deadliest conflict in more than a decade following five days of intense fighting that has killed at least 43 people and displaced more than 300,000 civilians on either side. The truce came after a sustained push from Malaysian Premier Anwar Ibrahim and US President Donald Trump, with the latter warning Thai and Cambodian leaders that trade negotiations would not progress if fighting continued. Thailand and Cambodia face a tariff of 36 per cent on their goods in the US, their biggest export market, unless a reduction can be negotiated. After the ceasefire deal was reached, Trump said he had spoken to both leaders and instructed his trade team to restart tariff talks. On Wednesday, Thailand said Cambodian forces fired on positions in northeastern Thailand's Sisaket province on Cambodia's northern border. "Cambodian forces used small arms and grenade launchers, prompting Thailand to respond in self-defence", Thai army spokesman Major-General Winthai Suvaree told reporters. "This was the second incident since the agreement and reflects a behaviour that does not respect agreements, destroys de-escalation efforts and hampers trust between the two countries." Cambodia rejected the allegations, saying it was committed to the ceasefire and called for observers. "Cambodia strongly rejects the ceasefire accusations as false, misleading and harmful to the fragile trust-building process," Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Chum Sounry told reporters, adding the government supports a monitoring mechanism and independent observation. The ceasefire, which also agreed to halt troop movement, paves the way for a high-level military meeting that includes defence ministers on August 4 in Cambodia. There have been no reports of any exchange of heavy artillery fire but also no reports of troop withdrawals by either side.
ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
Concerns Thai-Cambodia ceasefire may not stop fighting, as displaced residents fear going home
On Cambodia's north-western border with Thailand, some displaced residents staying in makeshift shelters are still waiting to head home despite the signing of a ceasefire that mostly stopped five days of intense clashes between the two countries. At least 38 people, mostly civilians, were killed and more than 300,000 people displaced during the fighting. The two neighbours agreed to an "immediate and unconditional" ceasefire at a meeting in Malaysia on Monday, effective from midnight. The peace talks came after a sustained push by Malaysian Premier Anwar Ibrahim and US President Donald Trump, with the latter warning Thai and Cambodian leaders that trade negotiations would not progress if fighting continued. Although Thailand's military said there had been attacks by Cambodian troops in at least five locations early on Tuesday, violating the ceasefire that had come into effect from midnight, commanders from both sides met and held talks, a Thai army spokesperson said. Cambodia denied the charge, insisting that its troops had strictly abided by the ceasefire since midnight and continued to uphold it, according to a statement by Defence Minister Tea Seiha. At the refugee camp, residents were still wary. "I really wanted to return home but I dare not go now yet," said Seun Ruot, a 47-year-old housewife. "I'd rather wait until later today or tomorrow to see what the situation looks like." Greg Raymond, from the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at ANU's Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, said there was a "decent chance" there would be more clashes on the border, which follows a tall escarpment. Dr Raymond said the previous border conflict between 2008 and 2011 was marked by a pattern of violence punctuated by agreements and ceasefires followed by more shooting. "I think the most we can be is cautiously optimistic," he said. Lowy Institute South-East Asia program director Susannah Patton agreed that more fighting was likely. Ms Patton said the ceasefire was brought about by international pressure from a range of sources, including from within ASEAN, as well as the US and China. However, the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia were under strong domestic pressure from their fiercely nationalistic populations not to appear weak or to be making concessions to the other side, Ms Patton said. "It's definitely positive that there is a ceasefire, but I'm not too confident about whether or not it will hold simply because I think there are still going to be incentives for both sides to continue this conflict, albeit at a low level," she said. "I don't think either side is willing to escalate it to become a major war, but I think if we look also at the pattern of how things unfolded in 2008 to 2011, it did drag on for quite some time there." One of the measures proposed during the ceasefire negotiations was independent international observers. However, Dr Raymond said this was unlikely to be acceptable to Thailand — or at least its politically powerful military. "Thailand has a track record of not really allowing these sorts of situations to be internationalised," he said. "It didn't allow peacekeepers in, even though their foreign minister had agreed, in 2011 — the Thai military refused to implement that. "So, I think there's still some way to go before we actually see that happen." The decades-long border dispute between the two South-East Asian neighbours has been escalating since late May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a skirmish and both countries began reinforcing troops along their 800-kilometre border. Both sides accused the other of starting last week's fighting. Ms Patton said the situation on the ground at the border remained unclear. "So, there isn't good reporting on whether either side has made sort of important tactical gains, but I think the assumption is that no, there hasn't been a lot achieved by either side," she said. Dr Raymond said that following the flurry of violence — which included shelling and Thai jets launching air strikes — it appeared to be "back to the status quo". He said it appeared some of the infrastructure had been destroyed around Preah Vihear — a significant Cambodian-controlled temple on top of the escarpment — and the temple itself had also suffered some damage. "If anything, I think Cambodia may be in a slightly worse position than it was," he said. ABC/Reuters
