Thailand rejects international mediation to end fighting with Cambodia
Simmering border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have flared into open hostilities at multiple locations along the frontline, with exchanges of artillery for a second straight day.
At least 16 people, most of them Thai civilians, have died so far in the heaviest fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbours in over a decade.
The United States, China and Malaysia, which is the current chair of the Asean regional bloc, have offered to facilitate dialogue but Bangkok is seeking a bilateral solution to the conflict, Thai foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura told Reuters.
"I don't think we need any mediation from a third country yet," Nikorndej said in an interview. Cambodia and Thailand accuse each other of starting the conflict early on Thursday at a disputed site, which quickly escalated from small arms fire to heavy shelling along a border where sovereignty has been disputed for more than a century.
"We stand by our position that bilateral mechanism is the best way out, this is a confrontation between the two countries," Nikorndej said, adding that the Cambodian side must stop violence along the border first.
"Our doors are still open."
Cambodia's government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Its Prime Minister Hun Manet asked the United Nations Security Council on Thursday to convene a meeting on the issue, condemning what he called "unprovoked and premeditated military aggression" by Thailand.
The body has said it will hold a closed-door meeting to discuss the issue today.
The fighting broke out a day after Thailand recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh on Wednesday and expelled Cambodia's envoy, in response to landmine explosions that injured Thai soldiers.
Thai authorities allege the mines had been laid recently by Cambodia, a charge dismissed by Phnom Penh as baseless.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the chair of 10-nation Asean of which both Thailand and Cambodia are members, said on Thursday he had spoken to the leaders of both countries and urged them to find a peaceful resolution.
"If the Asean family wants to facilitate a return to constructive bilateral negotiations, that's welcome as well," Nikorndej said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
6 minutes ago
- The Star
Philippine Supreme Court rules impeachment bid against vice president is unconstitutional
MANILA, Philippines (AP): The Philippine Supreme Court has ruled that an impeachment case filed against Vice President Sara Duterte violated the country's constitution due to a key technicality, a decision that blocks her upcoming trial over a raft of criminal allegations, including her threat to have the president assassinated . The House of Representatives, which impeached Duterte in February and sent the case to the Senate for trial, violated a rule that only one impeachment case could be processed by the lower chamber against an impeachable official in a single year, court spokesperson Camille Ting said. The House received at least four separate impeachment cases against Duterte between December and February but only one was transmitted to the Senate, which would have served as an impeachment tribunal. The other three impeachment cases were placed in the House's order of business but were archived with no action and "effectively dismissed,' according to the ruling. The ruling was "immediately executory,' the court said. "It is not our duty to favor any political result,' the court said in a statement, suggesting it did not pass judgement on the array of allegations. "Ours is to ensure that politics are framed within the rule of just law.' Duterte's lawyers welcomed the decision, which they said upheld the rule of law. "We remain prepared to address the allegations at the proper time and before the appropriate forum," the attorneys in a statement. Duterte, 47, became the first vice president of the Philippines to be impeached by the House in February over an array of alleged high crimes. The accusations were led by her threat during a November online news conference to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife and cousin, then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez, killed by an assassin if she were killed herself during her high-profile disputes with them. The daughter of Marcos' controversial predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, she also has been accused of large-scale corruption, sedition, terrorism and failing to openly support the Philippine government's efforts to oppose and denounce China's aggressive actions against Filipino forces in the disputed South China Sea. Duterte allegedly backed her father's brutal crackdowns against illegal drugs that led to extrajudicial killings in their southern home city. Her impeachment trial was set to begin either next week or early next month by the 24-member Senate, which has convened to hear the case. If the Supreme Court ruling becomes final, the vice president's opponents could file another impeachment case after a year. Duterte ran as Marcos's running mate in 2022 on a campaign battle cry of unity in their deeply divided and poverty-stricken Southeast Asian country. Both were scions of strongmen accused of human rights violations, but their strong regional bases of political support combined to give them landslide victories. Their whirlwind political alliance, however, rapidly frayed when they took office. Duterte's father openly accused Marcos of being a weak leader and a drug addict even during the campaign, allegations the president denied. The vice president later resigned from her then-concurrent Cabinet post as educations secretary as the rifts between the two political families deepened. She later accused Marcos, his wife and Romualdez of corruption, weak leadership and attempting to muzzle her because of speculation she may seek the presidency in 2028 when Marcos's six-year term ends. Duterte made the comment about killing Marcos and his family members during a Nov. 23 news conference, a threat she warned wasn't a joke. Faced with the prospects of criminal lawsuits, Duterte later said she wasn't threatening him but was expressing concern for her own safety. Still, her statements set off a criminal investigation and national security concerns and prompted calls for her impeachment. Among the impeachment complaint signatories was the president's son, Rep. Sandro Marcos, and Romualdez. The petition urged the Senate to shift into an impeachment court to try the vice president, "render a judgement of conviction,' remove her from office and ban her from holding public office. "Duterte's conduct throughout her tenure clearly displays gross faithlessness against public trust and a tyrannical abuse of power that, taken together, showcases her gross unfitness to hold public office and her infidelity to the laws and the 1987 Constitution,' the complaint said. Last month, senators voted to send the raft of complaints back to the House due to legal questions, sparking street protests demanding Duterte's immediate trial. Then-Senate President Chiz Escudero said the move led by Duterte's allies in the Senate did not mean the impeachment complaint was being dismissed and issued a summons for Duterte to appear when the trial proceeds. - AP
The Star
6 minutes ago
- The Star
M'sia proposes general border committee to resolve Thailand-Cambodia conflict, says Tok Mat
JERTIH: Malaysia has proposed that Thailand and Cambodia use the General Border Committee as a mechanism to resolve diplomatic disputes between the two countries, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. The Foreign Minister said that if the proposal is agreed upon during negotiations, leaders of the two countries should then welcome the proposals put forward by the committee. "This is because both Thailand and Cambodia want the other side to apologise first. I suggest they use the General Border Committee mechanism because each has its strength, and they just don't want to give in," he told reporters after officiating at the Besut Umno meeting on Saturday (July 26). Mohamad said he had been and would continue to be in contact with his counterparts, Maris Sangiampongsa of Thailand and Prak Sokhonn of Cambodia, to ask for the dispute to stop. "I have asked them to stand down so that a ceasefire can be held as soon as possible, because the two countries are friends, neighbours, and have long-standing family ties. We need to find a solution together through dialogue and diplomatic channels. "So, Insya-Allah, I will try to contact them again and also some friends there (in Thailand and Cambodia) who have influence," he said. Meanwhile, Mohamad mentioned that Wisma Putra had already issued a ban on Malaysians in both countries from going to or approaching the troubled areas. He said the Malaysian embassies in Bangkok, Thailand, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia, were always open for Malaysians to report any problems, including those related to the conflict. Media previously reported that Thai and Cambodian troops clashed last Thursday (July 24) in a disputed border area, with both sides pointing fingers at each other over who was considered to be the initiator of the latest confrontation. Tensions between the two Southeast Asian countries have escalated since May 28 following a bloody incident in the Preah Vihear area that killed a Cambodian soldier. The two countries have been in conflict over the 817-kilometre border issue that has not been resolved for several decades, which continues to affect their diplomatic relations. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was reported to have contacted Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on Thursday to express Malaysia's concerns over the escalating tensions. – Bernama
The Star
36 minutes ago
- The Star
'We are not involved in this': Laos denies reports on border clash with Cambodian forces
Cambodian villagers living near the border in Oddar Meanchey province flee their homes to seek refuge in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, July 25, 2025. -- Photo by Sao Khuth/Xinhua VIENTIANE (Xinhua): A source from the Lao People's Army told Xinhua on Saturday that reports of an exchange of fire between Lao forces and Cambodian armed personnel were untrue. The Lao People's Army News, the official publication of the Lao military, confirmed that no official reports had been received regarding the incident. Earlier in the day, some media outlets reported that the Lao military had issued an emergency notice claiming a fierce exchange of fire between Lao forces and Cambodian armed personnel who had allegedly crossed the border illegally. According to these reports, 10 individuals were arrested and weapons were seized, with a screenshot of the purported statement attached. However, upon verification, the screenshot was found to be from a statement issued on Friday by the Military Special Operations Force of Champasak province of Laos. The statement detailed that during clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces from July 24 to July 25, 10 artillery shells had landed on Laotian territory. The statement also noted that it was unclear which side had fired the shells. "The Laotian authority has not accused or launched an investigation into this case yet, but the Thai side has accused Cambodia," Cambodian defense ministry's undersecretary of state and spokesperson Lieutenant General Maly Socheata said in a press briefing. The Cambodian army "has launched counterattacks by focusing only on Thai military bases," she added. Socheata also refuted Thai media reports that Cambodia has threatened to use long-distance PHL03 missiles to strike Thailand. Thailand's Second Army Region on Saturday said in a social media post that the shells that landed on Laos during Thai-Cambodian border clashes, as reported by some media outlets, came from the Cambodian forces. The Thai side expressed its deep regret for the damage to the houses and properties of Lao people, yet after verification and coordination with the Lao side, it was confirmed that the shells did not come from the Thai army but were fired by Cambodian forces, the Thai army said. Thailand's Channel 7 earlier reported that it was said during the clashes between Thailand and Cambodia on Saturday morning, 10 artillery shells landed in Laos, damaging civilian houses. Relevant parties are investigating and verifying the source of the cross-border shells. - Xinhua
