KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has held discussions with his Thai and Cambodian counterparts over the simmering border tensions, highlighting the importance of peace and regional cooperation to prevent further escalation.
“I have discussed with Thailand Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Manet on this matter,” he briefly told the media on Friday (Sept 19).
Anwar was asked by the press if Malaysia will step in to assist in the border conflict between the two countries.
He, however, did not divulge on the matter further.
Anwar had an official phone conversation with Thai PM Anutin yesterday (Sept 18).
Anwar had also called for any arising issues related to the Thailand-Cambodia border to be resolved at the negotiation table through the Joint Border Committee (JBC) meetings.
As of Sept 17, Thai security forces clashed with Cambodian protesters in a disputed border area near Prey Chan (Banteay Meanchey, Cambodia)/ Ban Nong Ya Kaeo (Thailand), injuring about 28 people, including monks, according to Cambodian media, while Thailand reported five soldiers were also injured.
Thai forces reportedly used rubber bullets, tear gas and long-range acoustic devices against civilians protesting the erection of barbed wire barriers.
Cambodia also accused Thailand of breaching the July ceasefire agreement, while Thailand claimed the protesters encroached into Thai territory and provoked the incident.
This confrontation represents one of the more serious violations of the peace deal struck on July 28, following five days of heavy fighting that claimed at least 36 lives and forced more than 300,000 people from their homes in both Thailand and Cambodia.
Although Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire under Malaysian-facilitated mediation, sporadic clashes and tension have continued.
