Bangkok: Thailand and Cambodia have reached a significant breakthrough, agreeing to an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire to resolve the deadly border clashes that have persisted for five days, as announced by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
According to France24.com, Anwar, who chaired the peace talks under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional bloc, stated that both nations have committed to steps aimed at restoring normalcy. The discussions were described as frank, leading to a common understanding between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. The ceasefire is set to take effect from midnight local time on Tuesday.
Hun Manet expressed hope for a swift return to normal bilateral relations, enabling approximately 300,000 villagers who have been evacuated from both sides to return home. He emphasized the importance of rebuilding trust, confidence, and cooperation between the two countries. Phumtham echoed this sentiment, underscoring Thailand’s desire for a peaceful resolution.
The conflict, which began last Thursday following a land mine explosion that injured five Thai soldiers, has resulted in at least 35 deaths and displaced over 260,000 people on both sides of the border. In response, both countries recalled their ambassadors, and Thailand closed all border crossings with Cambodia, except for allowing migrant Cambodian workers to return home.
The peace agreement was facilitated by a meeting convened by Malaysia, with direct pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned of potential trade deal consequences if hostilities continued. The U.S., acting as a co-organizer of the talks alongside China, was represented by ambassadors from both countries at the meeting, which lasted over two hours.
The violence marks an unusual instance of open military confrontation between member states of ASEAN, a 10-nation regional bloc known for its commitment to non-aggression, peaceful dialogue, and economic cooperation.
Evacuees on both sides of the border had earlier expressed hopes for a ceasefire. In Cambodia’s Siem Reap province, evacuee Ron Mao, 56, shared her distress over the conflict and her desire to return home. Similarly, Thai evacuee Nakorn Jomkamsing, a farmer in Surin, expressed a longing for peace and a return to normal life.
The 800-kilometer border between Thailand and Cambodia has long been a source of dispute, with tensions escalating in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed, straining diplomatic relations and impacting Thailand’s domestic politics.