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BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Thailand and Cambodia agree to 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire'
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" after five days of fighting at their border killed at least 33 people and displaced tens of thousands. "This is a vital first step to a de-escalation and a restoration of peace and security," said Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, flanked by his Thai and Cambodian counterparts, as he announced that hostilities would end at midnight. Thailand initially rebuffed his offer to mediate but agreed after US President Donald Trump said tariff negotiations would not proceed until "fighting STOPS".Tensions over the century-old border dispute had ramped up in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash. Thailand imposed restrictions on citizens and tourists heading into Cambodia via land, while Cambodia banned some imports from Thailand, including fruits, power and internet services. Local Cambodian outlets reported that hundreds of thousands of workers had returned from Thailand since situation escalated last week, after a Thai soldier lost his leg in a landmine explosion. Thailand closed some of its border crossings with Cambodia, expelled their ambassador and recalled its own. Both sides exchanged gunfire early last Thursday, with each claiming the other had triggered the conflict which has now killed more than 30 people on both sides. Many of the casualties on the Thai side have been civilians in villages hit by rockets, according to Thailand's army. Cambodia has said 13 people have been killed so far on their side, including eight civilians. Shells and rockets continued to land in both countries even as the peace talks were underway. Anwar said that Malaysia and other members of the regional bloc, Association of South East Asian Nations or Asean, were on hand to help monitor the ceasefire. Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet described it as a very good meeting that he hoped would immediately stop the fighting. Cambodia has been pushing for a ceasefire since Friday, as its outgunned forces have been driven back by the Thai military. The acting Thai PM Phumtham Wechayachai spoke briefly, promising to honour the leaders also thanked the US and China whose representatives attended the talks. Thailand and Cambodia are trying to negotiate a trade deal with Washington, and China remains an important trading partner with influence. It will still take many days to carry out a verified withdrawal of troops on both sides and for emotions to cool given the destruction and loss of life over the past five evacuees near the Thai border who had lived through bombardments during the Cambodian Civil War of the 1980s told the BBC last week that this is the worst they had Thai military had said on Sunday that more that nearly 140,000 civilians had been evacuated to shelters across seven Cambodia, where the press is severely restricted, the pro-state Khmer Times quoted a defence ministry spokesperson who said about 135,000 people along the border were relocated on Sunday. A 75-year-old Cambodian woman who was evacuated to a shelter told the BBC earlier on Monday that she still did not feel safe because she could hear Thai drones fly over the tents. She said she wanted to "see the war stop this evening".
Russia Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Deadly clashes erupt on Cambodia-Thailand border: As it happened
Thailand and Cambodia have exchanged strikes in a flare-up of violence over a disputed border area. At least a dozen people are reported to have been killed since clashes erupted on Thursday. Troops from both sides exchanged fire near the Ta Muen Thom temple, a centuries-old Khmer Hindu site located in a contested area claimed by both nations. The dispute stems from colonial-era French maps that left parts of the border ill-defined. Both countries have accused each other of opening fire first. The clash marks the deadliest escalation in the long-running territorial standoff in recent years. The day before, Thailand closed its northeast border crossing with Cambodia, withdrew its ambassador, and expelled the Cambodian envoy to protest a landmine blast that wounded five Thai soldiers. Cambodia has since said it will also be downgrading diplomatic relations with Thailand to their lowest level, and will be expelling the Thai ambassador as well as recalling all Cambodian staff from its embassy in Bangkok. This live feed has ended.
NHK
4 days ago
- Politics
- NHK
UN Security Council holds private meeting over Thailand-Cambodia border clashes
The United Nations Security Council has met behind closed doors amid border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia. While Cambodia has called for an immediate ceasefire, Thailand is urging a resumption of dialogue through bilateral mechanisms. The emergency meeting took place on Friday at Cambodia's request. Details of what was discussed at the meeting remain unknown. Cambodia's ambassador to the UN spoke to reporters after the meeting. He said Cambodia asked for an immediate unconditional ceasefire, and also called for a peaceful solution of the dispute. The ambassador also said members of the Security Council called on both parties to exercise maximum restraint and resort to a diplomatic solution. Thailand's permanent representative to the UN released the statement he had delivered at the meeting. The representative told the Security Council that "Thailand condemns in the strongest possible terms Cambodia's indiscriminate and inhumane attacks" on civilian infrastructure. He also said that "Thailand urges Cambodia to immediately cease all hostilities and acts of aggression, and resume dialogue in good faith." The military clashes erupted on Thursday in the disputed border region between the two countries. Thai authorities say at least 14 people are dead, and Cambodia's defense ministry spokesperson says that 13 people, including eight civilians, are dead.
France 24
4 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand: envoy to UN
A long-running border dispute erupted into intense fighting with jets, artillery, tanks and ground troops on Thursday, prompting the Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis Friday. "Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire -- unconditionally -- and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute," said Cambodia's ambassador Chhea Keo following a closed meeting of the Council attended by Cambodia and Thailand. The envoy questioned how Thailand, a regional military heavyweight, could accuse Cambodia, its smaller neighbor, of attacking it. "(The Security Council) called for both parties to (show) maximum restraint and resort to a diplomatic solution. That is what we are calling for as well," said Chhea Keo. None of the other attendees spoke to reporters. More than 138,000 people have been evacuated from Thailand's border regions, its health ministry said, reporting 15 fatalities -- 14 civilians and a soldier -- with a further 46 wounded, including 15 troops. The fighting marks a dramatic escalation in a long-running dispute between the neighbors -- both popular destinations for millions of foreign tourists -- over their shared 800-kilometer (500-mile) border.
Russia Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Deadly clashes erupt on Cambodia-Thailand border
Thailand and Cambodia have exchanged strikes in a flare-up of violence over a disputed border area. At least a dozen people are reported to have been killed since clashes erupted on Thursday. Troops from both sides exchanged fire near the Ta Muen Thom temple, a centuries-old Khmer Hindu site located in a contested area claimed by both nations. The dispute stems from colonial-era French maps that left parts of the border ill-defined. Both countries have accused each other of opening fire first. The clash marks the deadliest escalation in the long-running territorial standoff in recent years. The day before, Thailand closed its northeast border crossing with Cambodia, withdrew its ambassador, and expelled the Cambodian envoy to protest a landmine blast that wounded five Thai soldiers. Cambodia has since said it will also be downgrading diplomatic relations with Thailand to their lowest level, and will be expelling the Thai ambassador as well as recalling all Cambodian staff from its embassy in Bangkok.
