Thailand-Cambodia Border Calm As Military Commanders Hold Talks

Thai and Cambodian leaders met in Malaysia on Monday and agreed to a ceasefire deal to halt their deadliest conflict in more than a decade that has killed at least 40 people, mostly civilians, and displaced over 300,000 in both countries, Reuters reported.

Although Thailand’s military said that there had been attacks by Cambodian troops in at least five locations early on Tuesday, violating the ceasefire that had come into effect from midnight, commanders from both sides met and held talks, a Thai army spokesman said.

This includes negotiations between the general leading Thailand’s second region army, which oversees the stretch of the frontier that has seen the heaviest fighting during the conflict, and his Cambodian counterpart, Thai Major Gen. Winthai Suvaree told reporters.

The commanders, who met at the border, agreed to maintain the ceasefire, stop any troop movement, and facilitate the return of the wounded and dead bodies, he said.

“Each side will establish a coordinating team of four to resolve any problems,” Winthai said.

In Bangkok, Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who traveled to the Malaysian capital to secure the truce deal, said he had spoken to Cambodia’s defense minister and calm had returned to border area.

“There is no escalation,” Phumtham told reporters. “Right now things are calm.”

Maly Socheata, a spokesperson for the Cambodian Defense Ministry, said at a briefing on Tuesday that there had been no new fighting along the border.

Vehicular traffic and daily activity resumed in the Kantharalak district of Thailand’s Sisaket province on Tuesday, about 30km from the frontlines, where Thai and Cambodian troops remain amassed.

Chaiya Phumjaroen, 51, said he returned to town to reopen his shop early on Tuesday, after hearing of the ceasefire deal on the news.

“I am very happy that a ceasefire happened,” he said. “If they continue to fight, we have no opportunity to make money.” In Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province, 63-year-old Ly Kim Eng sat in front of a makeshift tarpaulin shelter, waiting for directions after hearing of the ceasefire deal.

“So, if the authorities announce it is safe for all of the refugees to return home, I would immediately return,” he said.