Peace in motion: Cambodian soldiers sitting atop a tank loaded on a truck as military personnel look on along a street in Preah Vihear province. — Agence Kampuchea Press/AFP
The country has begun relocating its military weapons along the disputed Thai border following the signing of the historic KL Peace Accord.
The state media Agence Kampuchea Presse yesterday reported that the operation was conducted under the observation of the Asean Observer Team and the National Defence Ministry since Sunday night.
The first phase of military equipment withdrawal reached Banteay Srei district in the Siem Reap province.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed the peace agreement, witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and United States President Donald Trump on Sunday.
The signing took place on the sidelines of the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits, which is being held in Kuala Lumpur.
“The removal of the weapons represents the first step and a symbol of our commitment to implementing the Kuala Lumpur Joint Statement (KL Peace Accord),” said Defence Ministry spokesperson Lt Gen Mali Socheata, as reported by state media yesterday.
The signing of the KL Peace Accord was to formalise an earlier ceasefire agreement reached after Cambodia and Thailand agreed to end their border conflict during the Extraordinary General Border Committee Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 7.
Cambodia and Thailand have been squabbling over unmarked borders stretching 817km for decades, and the quarrel exploded into a five-day armed conflict on July 24.
About 300,000 people were displaced on both sides of the border since tensions began. — Bernama
