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Thailand seeks to ease fears amid shaky ceasefire deal with Cambodia Thailand seeks to ease fears amid shaky ceasefire deal with Cambodia
(about 7 hours later)
Military spokesperson said earlier Cambodia had attacked Thai territory in several places and that it had responded to ‘maintain national sovereignty’ Military said earlier Cambodia had attacked Thai territory and that it had responded to ‘maintain national sovereignty’
Thailand’s prime minister has tried to ease fears of a shaky ceasefire with Cambodia, hours after the Thai military reported violations of the deal to end hostilities along their shared border. A ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia appears to be holding, despite initial claims by Bangkok of “continuous and indiscriminate attacks” on its territory.
Thailand and Cambodia reached an agreement in Malaysia on Monday to unconditionally end five days of fighting during which 38 people were killed and hundreds of thousands displaced, in the worst violence between the two nations in more than a decade. Thailand and Cambodia reached an agreement in Malaysia on Monday to unconditionally end five days of fighting during which 43 people were killed and hundreds of thousands displaced, in the worst violence between the two nations in more than a decade.
Shortly after the deal was signed, Thailand’s military accused Cambodia of attacking Thai territory “in several places” overnight. The response was “a deliberate violation of the agreement, aimed at destroying trust between one another”, said Thai military spokesperson, Maj General Winthai Suvaree. Shortly after the deal came into effect at midnight, Thailand’s military accused Cambodia of attacking Thai territory “in several places” overnight. Such actions were “a deliberate violation of the agreement, aimed at destroying trust between one another”, said Thai military spokesperson, Maj General Winthai Suvaree.
A Thai government statement accused Cambodia of “continuous and indiscriminate attacks on Thai territory”.
Cambodia said it firmly rejected the allegations, with the Cambodian defence ministry spokesperson, Maly Socheata, saying there had been no new fighting. “Royal Cambodian Armed Forces have strictly adhered to the orders and agreements under the ceasefire,” the ministry said in a statement.Cambodia said it firmly rejected the allegations, with the Cambodian defence ministry spokesperson, Maly Socheata, saying there had been no new fighting. “Royal Cambodian Armed Forces have strictly adhered to the orders and agreements under the ceasefire,” the ministry said in a statement.
The differing claims have cast doubt on the strength of the ceasefire agreement and prompted Thailand’s acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, to seek to reassure fears. On Tuesday, he told reporters there “no escalation” in hostilities. “Right now things are calm,” he said. Phumtham Wechayachai sought to reassure fears over the strength of the ceasefire, telling reporters there “no escalation” in hostilities. “Right now things are calm,” he said.
Both countries have faced growing international pressure to end the fighting, including an intervention by the US president, Donald Trump, who warned on Saturday that trade negotiations would be paused until the clashes stopped. Thailand and Cambodia face the prospect of a 36% US tariff from 1 August. Meetings between military commanders from either side of the border went ahead, as proposed under Monday’s deal. During their talks, they agreed to refrain from reinforcing or moving troops in a manner that could cause misunderstanding.
The two sides would also facilitate the repatriation of injured and deceased from the clashes, and establish a local coordination team.
The Thai military said on Tuesday it had captured 18 Cambodian soldiers in post-ceasefire fighting after “heavy and indirect fire” was launched into Thai territory. The group was being provided with basic provisions, including food and water, it said.
Both countries have faced growing international pressure to end the fighting, including an intervention by the US president, Donald Trump, who warned on Saturday that trade negotiations would be paused until the clashes stopped. Thailand and Cambodia face the prospect of a 36% US tariff from 1 August.
The Thai government, which has faced criticism over claims it was too soft on the border issue in recent months, is also facing domestic pressure to adopt a tough stance. “Are you trying to pressure the military to backdown for sake of tariff negotiations?” a reporter asked Phumtham on Tuesday in a heated exchange.The Thai government, which has faced criticism over claims it was too soft on the border issue in recent months, is also facing domestic pressure to adopt a tough stance. “Are you trying to pressure the military to backdown for sake of tariff negotiations?” a reporter asked Phumtham on Tuesday in a heated exchange.
The commanders of Thai and Cambodian military forces positioned along the disputed border met on Tuesday. Trump said after the ceasefire deal, for which he took credit, that he had spoken to both Cambodia and Thailand’s leaders, and had instructed his trade team to restart tariff talks. Thailand’s finance minister, Pichai Chunhavajira, said later that he expected negotiations would be finished ahead of the deadline on 1 August.
At the talks, they agreed to maintain an immediate ceasefire, to ban the use of force or weapons against civilians, and to refrain from reinforcing or moving troops in a manner that could cause misunderstanding. The two sides would also facilitate the repatriation of injured and deceased from the clashes, and establish a local coordination team. On the Cambodian side of the border, some evacuees were seen leaving shelter centres on Tuesday to return home, AFP reported. In Thailand people have been told to wait for official guidance before leaving evacuation areas, though some border areas began to return to normal, with shops reopening.
The Cambodian prime minister, Hun Manet, said in a Tuesday morning message on Facebook that the “frontline has eased since the ceasefire at 12 midnight”. In Cambodia’s Samraong city – 12 miles (20km) from the border – an Agence France-Presse journalist said the sound of blasts stopped in the 30 minutes leading up to midnight, with the lull continuing until dawn.
After the ceasefire deal was announced, Trump took credit for the development, declaring himself the “President of PEACE” in a post on his social media platform.
However, the Thai authorities warned people who have evacuated from border areas not to return home until further notice, and the news has been met with a mix of hope and some scepticism among affected communities.
In Cambodia’s Samraong city – 20km from the border – an Agence France-Presse journalist said the sound of blasts stopped in the 30 minutes leading up to midnight, with the lull continuing until dawn.
Monday’s ceasefire talks were hosted by Malaysia, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regional bloc, and attended by officials from the US and China.Monday’s ceasefire talks were hosted by Malaysia, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regional bloc, and attended by officials from the US and China.
Under the deal, a cross-border committee is also scheduled to convene in Cambodia to further salve tensions on 4 August.Under the deal, a cross-border committee is also scheduled to convene in Cambodia to further salve tensions on 4 August.
The Malaysian prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, who announced the ceasefire agreement on Monday, described it as “a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security”.The Malaysian prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, who announced the ceasefire agreement on Monday, described it as “a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security”.
A spokesperson for UN secretary general, António Guterres, said on Monday evening that “he urges both countries to respect the agreement fully and to create an environment conducive to addressing longstanding issues and achieving lasting peace”. A spokesperson for UN secretary general, António Guterres, said “he urges both countries to respect the agreement fully and to create an environment conducive to addressing longstanding issues and achieving lasting peace”.
The Cambodian prime minister, Hun Manet, told the media on Monday he hoped and “confidently” believed that the outcome of the ceasefire deal would “provide a lot of opportunities” for hundreds of thousands of people to return to their homes, for the two countries to stop fighting and to rebuild trust and cooperation. Thailand says 15 civilians and 15 soldiers have been killed in the fighting, while Cambodia has confirmed eight civilian and five military deaths.
Thailand’s acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, said the agreement “reflects Thailand’s desire for a peaceful resolution”, adding that his country had agreed to a ceasefire that would “be carried out successfully in good faith by both sides”.
Agence France-Presse contributed to this reportAgence France-Presse contributed to this report