Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire in a significant breakthrough to resolve deadly border clashes that entered their fifth day. The agreement was announced by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who chaired the talks as head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional bloc.
According to Anwar, both sides have reached a common understanding to take steps towards normalcy following frank discussions between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. The ceasefire will come into effect from midnight local time on Tuesday.
The foreign and defense ministers of Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand will work together to develop a mechanism for implementing and monitoring the ceasefire to ensure sustained peace. Military officials from both sides will also hold meetings to defuse border tensions.
The agreement follows pressure from US President Donald Trump, who warned that the United States may not proceed with trade deals if hostilities continue. The US is a co-organizer of the talks, along with China.
The conflict has resulted in at least 35 deaths and displaced over 260,000 people on both sides. Thailand shut all border crossings with Cambodia, except for migrant workers returning home. Evacuees from both sides have expressed hope for an end to the violence, with one evacuee saying “I don’t want to see this war happen” and another farmer begging for the government to bring peace quickly.
The 800-kilometer border between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for decades, but past confrontations have been limited. The latest tensions erupted in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift and roiled Thailand’s domestic politics.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/cambodian-thai-leaders-hold-ceasefire-talks-malaysia-border-124127791