This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/26/cambodia-calls-for-immediate-ceasefire-with-thailand-after-two-days-of-deadly-clashes-border

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Cambodia calls for ‘immediate ceasefire’ with Thailand as deadly clashes enter a third day Cambodia calls for ‘immediate ceasefire’ with Thailand as deadly clashes enter a third day
(about 3 hours later)
Thousands of people have been evacuated from either side of the border, while fighting has left at least 32 people deadThousands of people have been evacuated from either side of the border, while fighting has left at least 32 people dead
Cambodia wants an “immediate ceasefire” with Thailand, the country’s envoy to the United Nations has said, with Bangkok also signalling an openness to talks after two days of deadly clashes that have left 32 dead and thousands displaced. Cambodia wants an “immediate ceasefire” with Thailand, the country’s envoy to the United Nations has said, as fighting that has left 32 people dead continued for its third consecutive day
“Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire – unconditionally – and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute,” said UN ambassador Chhea Keo, after a closed meeting of the Council attended by Cambodia and Thailand. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced by the clashes, which are the bloodiest in more than a decade, and have claimed 19 lives in Thailand and 13 in Cambodia.
Further fighting was reported earlier on Saturday, after a long-running border dispute erupted into intense fighting on Thursday, with jets, artillery, tanks and ground troops, prompting the UN security council to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis. Cambodia’s UN ambassador made the ceasefire call after an emergency meeting held behind closed doors late on Friday in New York. Cherdchai Chaivaivid, Thailand’s envoy to the UN urged Cambodia to “immediately cease all hostilities and acts of aggression, and resume dialogue in good faith”.
Fighting has killed at least 19 people in Thailand – mostly civilians —while Cambodia said Saturday that 12 more people have killed on its side, bringing its death toll to 13. A long-running border dispute between the two countries erupted into intense fighting on Thursday, with heavy artillery and airstrikes, prompting the UN Secretary-General to call for the “utmost restraint”. Malaysia, which chairs the regional bloc that includes both countries, called for either side to stand down and offered to mediate. The US and China have also expressed concern over the developments.
More than 138,000 people have been evacuated from Thailand’s border regions, its health ministry said. Officials said six of its soldiers and 13 civilians have been killed while 29 soldiers and 30 civilians were wounded. “Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire – unconditionally – and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute,” Cambodia’s UN ambassador Chhea Keo said after the UN meeting.
Early Saturday, Cambodian defence ministry spokesperson Gen. Maly Socheata told reporters that seven more civilians and five soldiers have died from two days of fighting. It earlier reported one fatality – a man who was killed when the pagoda he was hiding in got hit by Thai rocket. Cambodian authorities said more than 23,000 people have evacuated from areas near the border. On Saturday morning, the Cambodian ministry of national defence accused Thailand of firing five heavy artillery shells into multiple locations in Pursat Province, on the southern side of their shared border, saying it condemned such “unprovoked and premeditated act of aggression”.
After the first day of clashes, fighting resumed in three areas around 4am on Friday, the Thai army said. On Saturday, the Cambodian ministry of defence said that heavy artillery shells had been fired into multiple locations and demanded “that Thailand immediately cease all hostile actions and uphold its obligations under international law.” Thailand accused Cambodia of initiating an attack in neighbouring Trat province, and said that Thai naval forces had successfully pushed back “the incursion” by 05.40am.
Cambodia and Thailand’s border dispute dates back more than a century to disagreements over colonial-era maps. Tensions have been running high since May, when a Cambodian solider was killed a brief exchange of fire, but escalated further this week when Thai solders were injured by landmines, which Thai officials claimed had been freshly planted – an allegation Cambodia has denied.
Thailand responded by recalling its ambassador to Cambodia, and saying it would expel Cambodia’s envoy in Bangkok, and, on Thursday morning fighting erupted at multiple points along the border. Both sides blamed each other for opening fire first, and have accused the other side of violating international norms.
In Thailand 19 people have been killed, including 13 civilians and six soldiers, while 29 soldiers and 30 civilians were wounded. In Cambodia, officials reported 12 further deaths, five soldiers and eight civilians, bringing its death toll to 13.
More than 138,000 people have been evacuated from Thailand’s border regions, its health ministry said, with families sheltering at temples, schools and at municipality centres. Cambodian authorities said more than 23,000 people have evacuated from areas near the border.
Thailand’s foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura told AFP that Bangkok was open to talks, possibly aided by Malaysia.Thailand’s foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura told AFP that Bangkok was open to talks, possibly aided by Malaysia.
“We are ready, if Cambodia would like to settle this matter via diplomatic channels, bilaterally, or even through Malaysia, we are ready to do that. But so far we have not had any response,” Nikorndej told AFP, speaking before the UN meeting had been held.“We are ready, if Cambodia would like to settle this matter via diplomatic channels, bilaterally, or even through Malaysia, we are ready to do that. But so far we have not had any response,” Nikorndej told AFP, speaking before the UN meeting had been held.
Malaysia currently holds the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional bloc, of which Thailand and Cambodia are both members.
Earlier, acting Thai prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai had warned that if the situation escalated, “it could develop into war.”Earlier, acting Thai prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai had warned that if the situation escalated, “it could develop into war.”
“For now, it remains limited to clashes,” he told reporters in Bangkok. “For now, it remains limited to clashes,” he told reporters in Bangkok, adding that Thailand was taking action to “protect our land and the sovereignty of our nation.”
On Thursday, both sides blamed each other for firing first, while Thailand accused Cambodia of targeting civilian infrastructure, including a hospital hit by shells and a petrol station hit by at least one rocket. Both countries have traded blame over the clashes. Thailand accused Cambodia of targeting civilian infrastructure, including a hospital hit by shells and a petrol station hit by at least one rocket. Cambodia has accused Thailand of using cluster munitions.
At the UN, Cambodia’s envoy questioned Thailand’s assertion that his country, which is smaller and less militarily developed than its neighbour, had initiated the conflict. Dozens of kilometres in several areas of the 800km border are contested. Fighting previously broke out between 2008 and 2011, leaving at least 28 people dead and tens of thousands displaced.
“[The Security Council] called for both parties to [show] maximum restraint and resort to a diplomatic solution. That is what we are calling for as well,” said Chhea Keo. The latest dispute has been exacerbated by a feud that has broken out between the fathers of the prime ministers of Cambodia and Thailand. Hun Sen, an authoritarian ruler who handed power to his son Hun Manet in 2023, and Thailand’s former populist leader Thaksin Shinawatra, whose daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra became prime minister in 2024, both remain highly influential in their countries. They were once considered close friends but are now embroiled in a bitter dispute, trading insults, threats and counter claims on social media.
The fighting marks a dramatic escalation in a long-running dispute between the neighbours over their shared 800km border. Dozens of kilometres in several areas are contested and fighting broke out between 2008 and 2011, leaving at least 28 people dead and tens of thousands displaced. Thaksin visited Ubon Ratchathani, in northeastern Thailand, on Saturday morning, and denied the families’ feud was the cause of the clashes, according to local media reports. He condemned Cambodia’s actions as “appalling” and said attacks from the Thai side followed strict protocols and were targeted at military sites.
A UN court ruling in 2013 settled the matter for over a decade, but the current crisis erupted in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a new clash.
With Agence France-Presse and the Associated Press