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Thailand, Cambodia agree to immediate, unconditional ceasefire: Malaysia
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New Delhi
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to enforce an 'immediate and unconditional' ceasefire starting at midnight, aimed at ending recent deadly border clashes, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on Monday.
Anwar, who led the negotiations in his capacity as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional bloc, said the two countries had reached a mutual understanding to work towards restoring peace and stability.
Reading from a joint statement, Anwar said, 'Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai have agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire with effect from... midnight of July 28.'
At the end of the press briefing, both Hun Manet and Phumtham welcomed the outcome of the meeting and shook hands to mark the agreement.
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Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
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Cambodia, Thailand reach agreement on troops and future talks
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NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
Thailand Army Accuses Cambodia Of Violating Truce As Clashes Continue
Thailand's army accused Cambodia Tuesday of violating an hours-old truce, saying clashes continued despite a deal meant to end the bloody fighting that engulfed their jungle-clad frontier. Following peace talks in Malaysia on Monday, both sides agreed an unconditional ceasefire would start at midnight to end fighting over a smattering of ancient temples in disputed zones along their 800-kilometre (500-mile) border. "At the time the agreement took effect, the Thai side detected that Cambodian forces had launched armed attacks into several areas within Thai territory," said Thai army spokesman Winthai Suwaree. "This constitutes a deliberate violation of the agreement and a clear attempt to undermine mutual trust, he added in a statement. "Thailand is compelled to respond appropriately, exercising its legitimate right to self-defense." Cambodia's defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata insisted there had been "no armed clashes against each other in any regions". However, both sides said morning meetings scheduled between opposing regional commanders along the border as part of the truce pact had either begun or were still scheduled to start. "I saw photos of the two leaders shaking hands," said 32-year-old pharmacy worker Kittisak Sukwilai in the Thai city of Surin -- 50 kilometres from the border. "I just hope it's not just a photo op with fake smiles -- and that those hands aren't actually preparing to stab each other in the back." In Cambodia's Samraong city -- 20 kilometres from the frontier -- an AFP journalist said the sound of blasts stopped in the 30 minutes leading up to midnight, with the lull continuing until mid morning. "The frontline has eased since the ceasefire at 12 midnight," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a Tuesday morning message on Facebook. 'Good faith' Jets, rockets and artillery have killed at least 38 people since last Thursday and displaced nearly 300,000 more -- prompting intervention from US President Donald Trump over the weekend. The flare-up was the deadliest since violence raged sporadically from 2008-2011 over the territory, claimed by both because of a vague demarcation made by Cambodia's French colonial administrators in 1907. "When I heard the news I was so happy because I miss my home and my belongings that I left behind," Phean Neth told AFP on Monday evening at a sprawling camp for Cambodian evacuees on a temple site away from the fighting. "I am so happy that I can't describe it," said the 45-year-old. A joint statement from both countries -- as well as Malaysia which hosted the peace talks -- said the ceasefire was "a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security". A spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a statement Monday evening that "he urges both countries to respect the agreement fully and to create an environment conducive to addressing long-standing issues and achieving lasting peace". Both sides are courting Trump for trade deals to avert his threat of eye-watering tariffs, and the US State Department said its officials had been "on the ground" to shepherd peace talks. The joint statement said China also had "active participation" in the talks, hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister and ASEAN bloc chair Anwar Ibrahim in his country's administrative capital Putrajaya. Hun Manet thanked Trump for his "decisive" support, while his counterpart, Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, said it should be "carried out in good faith by both sides". Post-truce tariff deals Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn marked his 73rd birthday on Monday, but a notice in the country's Royal Gazette said public celebrations scheduled for Bangkok's Grand Palace had been cancelled amid the strife. Each side had already agreed to a truce in principle, while accusing the other of undermining peace efforts and trading allegations about the use of cluster bombs and targeting of hospitals. Thailand says 11 of its soldiers and 14 civilians have been killed, while Cambodia has confirmed only 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.
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Business Standard
4 hours ago
- Business Standard
Thailand, Cambodia ceasefire holds as displaced villagers return home
A ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia appeared to hold Tuesday as tensions lingered despite a truce agreement to end deadly border clashes following economic pressure from the US The ceasefire that was reached in Malaysia was supposed to take effect at midnight, but was quickly tested. The Thai army accused Cambodia of launching attacks in multiple areas early Tuesday, but Cambodia said there was no firing in any location. The Thai army later said fighting had stopped after military commanders along the border from both sides met. They agreed to halt troop movements, avoid escalation and establish coordination teams ahead of a joint border committee meeting in Cambodia on August 4, army spokesman Major General Winthai Suvaree said. Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Seiha said he spoke to his Thai counterpart about incidents that occurred during the implementation of the ceasefire but stressed the Cambodian army abided by the truce. 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President (Donald) Trump and I are committed to an immediate cessation of violence and expect the governments of Cambodia and Thailand to fully honour their commitments to end this conflict, Rubio said in a statement. Hun Manet said Tuesday that Trump had called to offer congratulations on the peace move. He posted on social media that Trump pledged the US would join the monitoring process along with Malaysia to ensure the ceasefire is implemented. Trump also called Phumtham after his return to Bangkok. Phumtham said Trump told him that Thailand's talks with Washington to negotiate tariff levels on Thai exports could now proceed and that he would seek to make them as favourable as possible. The ceasefire comes days before the US is expected to announce new trade tariff decisions. Cambodia and Thailand have both been two of the hardest-hit countries as a result of Trump's trade war, with a 36 per cent tariff on goods from both countries taking effect this coming Friday. Trump had warned that the US might not proceed with trade deals with either country if hostilities continued, giving both sides a face-saving justification for halting the clashes. Residents along the long-disputed border are wary Cambodia and Thailand have clashed in the past over their 800-kilometre border. The fighting began on Thursday after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Tensions had been growing since May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift and roiled Thailand's domestic politics. Residents on both sides of the border expressed relief about the ceasefire but remained wary, unsure how long the peace would last. I am very concerned that new fighting may break out. Thailand often provokes the fighting first, but then accuses Cambodia. Their aim is to occupy our temples (along the border). I really don't want to see any new fighting happen, said Soklang Slay, as he helped his daughter move back into her home in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchay province, where heavy fighting had occurred. Soklang Slay and his family dug a bunker to shield themselves from artillery when fighting started, but fled on the second day when bombings intensified. In Thailand's Surin province, village chief Kitsada Jindasri said he heard heavy firing and explosions Monday night before silence fell at midnight. "We are still cautious. We still don't totally believe (that it would stop). We still wait to assess the situation, said Kitsada, who had stayed back along with 60 other community leaders after some 400 villagers evacuated last week. His brother, Jirayu Jindasri, returned home after seeking refuge with relatives. I still don't feel comfortable, because they just announced it for the first day. I'm not confident. If it breaks out again, I'll have to go, he said. Analysts said the ceasefire remains tenuous and politically complicated. Kokthay Eng, a Cambodian researcher in history, politics, and international relations, said Trump's trade leverage and strongman mentality have helped save Thai and Cambodian people from further bloodshed. But he warned that the ceasefire may not last if the Thai government fails to secure lower US tariffs. It is risky and will require clear markers to build traction, said Southeast Asian political expert Bridget Welsh. A proper border survey should begin immediately. Right now, it's on pause because the roots of the conflict have yet to be addressed. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
