Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire shaky
SURIN, Thailand—A ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia appeared shaky but remained in place on Tuesday as tensions lingered despite a truce agreement to end deadly border clashes following economic pressure from the United States.
The ceasefire reached in Malaysia was supposed to take effect at midnight on Monday, but was quickly tested. Thailand’s army accused Cambodia of launching attacks in multiple areas early Tuesday, but Cambodia said there was no firing in any location.
While some spillover had been anticipated in the hours immediately after the ceasefire took effect, a Thai government statement late Tuesday said that a new clash had broken out at one of the locations where there had previously been heavy fighting. The Thai army reported exchanges of gunfire into Wednesday morning but said there was no use of heavy artillery.
‘Controlling situation’
Jirayu Houngsub, a spokesperson for the office of the Thailand prime minister, said in a text message to journalists that the Thai military “is currently responding and controlling the situation” at Phu Makhuea, a mountain in a disputed area next to Thaikand’s Sisaket province.
‘Incidents’
Thailand’s army had said the morning fighting stopped after military commanders along the border from both sides met. They agreed to halt troop movements, avoid escalation and establish coordination teams before a joint border committee meeting in Cambodia on Aug. 4, army spokesperson Major Gen. Winthai Suvaree said.
Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha said that he spoke to his Thai counterpart about “incidents” that occurred during the implementation of the ceasefire, but stressed that Cambodia’s army abided by the truce. He said that Cambodian defense officials would lead a delegation of diplomats, foreign military attachés and others to observe the situation.
The Thai government separately said it has complained to Malaysia, the United States and China about Cambodia’s alleged breach of the ceasefire agreement.
There were signs of calm along the border, with some of the more than 260,000 people displaced by the fighting returning to their homes.
US pressure
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, had agreed on Monday to an “unconditional” halt in fighting, which has killed at least 41 people.
The meeting was hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as annual chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. He called the ceasefire a “vital first step toward de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Washington applauded the ceasefire declaration.
“President (Donald) Trump and I are committed to an immediate cessation of violence and expect the governments of Cambodia and Thailand to fully honor their commitments to end this conflict,” Rubio said in a statement.
