PUTRAJAYA: Thailand and Cambodia’s leaders agreed to an “unconditional” ceasefire on Monday (Jul 28), after five days of combat along their jungle-clad frontier that has killed at least 36 people.
More than 200,000 people have fled as the two sides fired artillery, rockets and guns in a battle over the long-disputed area, which is home to a smattering of ancient temples.
The flare-up was the deadliest since violence raged sporadically from 2008 to 2011 over the territory, claimed by both sides because of a vague demarcation made by Cambodia’s French colonial administrators in 1907.
Reading a joint statement from the leaders of both countries after peace talks, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said they had agreed to “an immediate and unconditional ceasefire” that is set to take effect from midnight local time.
“This is a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security,” he said at a press conference in Malaysia’s administrative capital Putrajaya, flanked by Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet.
The announcement follows a mediation meeting at Anwar’s official residence in Malaysia, which currently chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Anwar said a meeting of military commanders from both sides would take place on Tuesday morning, before the countries’ cross-border committee would meet in Cambodia on Aug 4.
As the deal was being announced, an AFP journalist in the Cambodian city of Samraong – 17km from the fraught frontier – reported hearing continuing artillery blasts.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/cambodia-thailand-ceasefire-unconditional-malaysia-mediation-talks-5262706
