In a significant move towards peace, Thailand and Cambodia have come to an agreement for an immediate ceasefire, as announced by the defense ministers of both nations on Saturday.
This decision halts weeks of fierce border confrontations, which have claimed at least 41 lives and displaced close to a million people. Both countries have committed to freezing troop movements and facilitating the safe return of civilians to their border homes.
The ceasefire officially began at noon local time (05:00 GMT). The joint statement highlighted that, provided the ceasefire holds for 72 hours, 18 Cambodian military personnel currently detained in Thailand will be released.
This breakthrough came after extensive discussions between Thai and Cambodian officials aimed solely at resolving the renewed conflict.
The terms for de-escalation stated in the joint statement emphasize an end to attacks on civilians, civil infrastructure, and military targets from both sides.
Furthermore, both nations agreed to refrain from any unprovoked firing or movement of troops towards the other’s positions.
The planned release of the 18 Cambodian soldiers is set to occur “in the spirit of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration,” a pact originally signed between the countries during a ceremony attended by US President Donald Trump in October.
Notably, this ceasefire agreement was short-lived; renewed clashes broke out earlier this month.
Following the breakdown of the truce, both parties have traded accusations regarding who caused the escalation. The Thai army reported it responded to a Cambodian attack in Ubon Ratchathani Province, leading to the death of a Thai soldier. Conversely, Cambodia’s defense ministry claims Thai forces initiated the confrontation in Preah Vihear province, asserting that they did not retaliate.
Ongoing skirmishes persisted throughout December. Just last Friday, Thailand conducted air strikes in a disputed area of Cambodia.
The Thai Air Force stated it targeted a Cambodian “fortified military position” after civilians vacated the region, while Cambodia’s defense resources labeled the air strikes as “indiscriminate attacks” on civilian residences.
Border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia have raged for over a century, but significant tensions flared in May when a Cambodian soldier died during a clash. Just two months later, intense fighting broke out over five consecutive days, resulting in casualties among numerous soldiers and civilians while thousands were left displaced.
Thanks to the mediation efforts by Malaysia and US President Trump, a precarious ceasefire was eventually brokered, culminating in the “Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords” in late October. These accords called for both nations to withdraw heavy weaponry from the contested region and set up an interim observer team to oversee compliance.
However, the accord faced a setback as Thailand paused its provisions in November, with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stressing that security threats had “not actually decreased.”
