Defence officials from Thailand and Cambodia will meet tomorrow to discuss the possibility of resuming a ceasefire between the two countries, Thailand’s top diplomat said, as border fighting entered its third week.
The decision was taken yesterday during a special meeting in Kuala Lumpur of South-East Asian foreign ministers, who were seeking to salvage a truce first brokered by Asean chair Malaysia and US President Donald Trump after a previous round of clashes in July.
The two countries agreed to hold talks using their General Border Committee, an established bilateral mechanism, with Thailand proposing that it takes place at the border line in the Thai province of Chanthaburi, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told a briefing in Kuala Lumpur.
Sihasak said that the now-broken pact with Cambodia was rushed by Washington ahead of a signing ceremony overseen by US President Donald Trump.
“I’ve noted that we were sometimes in a rush to do the (joint) declaration. Because the United States wanted the declaration signed in time by the visit of President Trump,” he said.
“I mean the earliest, the earlier the better, but sometimes we really need to sit down ... so that things that we agree will really hold, really be respected.”
Cambodia’s defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Sihasak said Thailand wanted a “true ceasefire” with a firm commitment from Cambodia and a detailed implementation plan, adding that de-mining was necessary to move the process forward.
The meeting of the Association of South-East Asian Nations followed two weeks of fierce fighting that has killed at least 80 people and initially displaced more than half a million.
The regional peace push comes as the United States and China pursue separate diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, with no signs of success so far.
Sihasak said neither the United States nor China were involved in the decision for the two countries to resume discussions later this week, adding that it was about Thailand and Cambodia “working things out”.
Bangkok and Phnom Penh each accuse the other of aggression and moves that led to the breakdown of the enhanced ceasefire agreed in October, during which they committed to demining and withdrawal of troops and weapons.
Clashes flared again yesterday, with both sides trading accusations of aggression. — Reuters/AFP
