Thailand and Cambodia Halt Intense Border Fighting with Second Ceasefire
Thailand and Cambodia have paused weeks of fierce border clashes with a second ceasefire in recent months, marking the worst fighting in years.
The ceasefire appeared to hold, according to Thai Defence Ministry spokesperson Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, about two hours after it began at noon (0500 GMT).
“So far there’s been no report of gunfire,” he said. Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence reported no further clashes after a Thai airstrike early Saturday before the ceasefire.
The agreement, signed by Thai Defence Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit and Cambodian counterpart Tea Seiha, ended 20 days of fighting that killed at least 101 people and displaced more than half a million, involving fighter jets, rockets, and artillery.
“Both sides agree to maintain current troop deployments without further movement,” the ministers said.“Any reinforcement would heighten tensions and negatively affect long-term efforts to resolve the situation,” according to Cambodia.
The ceasefire followed ASEAN foreign ministers’ talks and bilateral meetings at a border checkpoint. Displaced civilians will return, and Thailand will release 18 Cambodian soldiers if the truce holds for 72 hours. The agreement does not affect ongoing border demarcation.
“War and clashes don’t make the two countries or the two people happy,” said Thailand’s Air Chief Marshal Prapas Sornjaidee. “I want to stress that the Thai people and the Cambodian people are not in conflict with each other.”
