Bangkok: Thailand and Cambodia have reached an agreement on a ceasefire, set to take effect at noon local time today. The ceasefire aims to halt military activities and reduce tensions along their shared border.
According to Thai News Agency, both countries have committed to an immediate cessation of hostilities, which includes a prohibition on the use of all types of weapons against civilians, civilian infrastructure, and military targets. The agreement stipulates that both sides must maintain their current troop deployments, with no further movements, and refrain from any provocative actions that could escalate tensions.
The joint statement outlines several de-escalation measures to maintain peace and stability. These include utilizing the Joint Boundary Commission to initiate a boundary survey and demarcation process as soon as possible, ensuring the safety of joint survey teams, and prioritizing the surveying and demarcation of affected border areas where civilians reside. Both countries have also agreed to allow civilians displaced by the conflict to return to their homes safely and without obstruction.
The agreement emphasizes the importance of not increasing troop deployments along the border, as such actions could undermine long-term peace efforts. Both countries have pledged to avoid any military activities that infringe upon each other's airspace or territory during the ceasefire.
Commitments under international law, such as the Ottawa Convention on landmines, are reaffirmed in the agreement. The Joint Coordinating Task Force will oversee humanitarian mine clearance in priority border areas, ensuring progress in de-mining efforts.
Both nations have also agreed to collaborate on preventing transnational crime, including cybercrime and human trafficking, by strengthening cooperation between their respective police forces. This includes a commitment to promoting responsible and accurate information to foster trust and good relations.
In line with the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration, 18 Cambodian soldiers will be repatriated after a 72-hour period of maintained ceasefire. The ASEAN Observer Team will play a crucial role in monitoring and ensuring the implementation of the ceasefire measures, in consultation with ASEAN leadership.
To maintain communication and manage potential incidents, both countries will utilize border liaison units and maintain regular communication channels between their Ministers of Defence and Armed Forces Commanders. Official media teams will also work to prevent misinformation and ensure transparency in news reporting, fostering mutual trust between the two nations.