PHNOM PENH: The Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire monitoring effort is gaining momentum with a seven-nation Interim Observer Team (IOT) visiting border areas today (Aug 15) to assess the security situation.
The team, led by Malaysian Defence Attaché to Cambodia Col Nazlee Abdul Rahman, conducted a field trip to gauge the latest developments along the border areas that have been a flashpoint recently.
Cambodian Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry spokesperson Chum Sounry urged Malaysia to assist in the monitoring process to prevent any escalation of the conflict.
"Cambodia urges Malaysia, as the current Asean Chair, and ceasefire co-facilitators to quickly establish a robust, impartial monitoring mechanism to prevent escalation and protect civilians and soldiers,” he said during a media briefing earlier today.
The IOT includes representatives from Asean member states - Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam.
According to the Cambodian Defence Ministry, they visited the Boeung Trakoun Border Checkpoint in Banteay Meanchey province.
The IOT is part of the ceasefire agreement achieved during the Extraordinary Cambodia-Thailand General Boundary Committee (GBC) Meeting that was held on Aug 7 in Kuala Lumpur.
The GBC was initiated after Malaysia, along with the United States and China, brokered a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, who were locked in an armed conflict over border territories. The conflict ended on July 28. - Bernama
