Putrajay: Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire in a significant breakthrough to resolve deadly border clashes that entered a fifth day, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Monday.
Anwar, who chaired the talks as head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regional
bloc, said both sides have reached a common understanding to take steps to return to normalcy following what he called frank discussions.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai have agreed to an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” with effect from midnight local time Tuesday, Anwar said as he read out a joint statement.
“This is a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security,” Anwar said.
Military and officials from both sides will also hold meetings to defuse border tensions, he said. The foreign and defence ministers of Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand have been instructed to “develop a detailed mechanism” to implement and monitor the ceasefire to ensure sustained peace, he added.
Hun Manet and Phumtam hailed the outcome of the meeting and shook hands at the conclusion of the brief press conference.
Hun Manet said he hoped that bilateral ties could return to normal soon so that some 300,000 villagers evacuated on both sides could return home.
It is “time to start rebuilding trust, confidence and cooperation going forward between Thailand and Cambodia,” he said.
Phuntam said the outcome reflected “Thailand’s desire for a peaceful resolution.”
The fighting flared last Thursday after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Both sides blamed each other for starting the clashes, that have killed at least 35 people and displaced more than 260,000 people on both sides. Both countries
recalled their ambassadors and Thailand shut all border crossings with Cambodia, with an exception for migrant Cambodian workers
returning home.
The Malaysian meeting followed direct pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has warned that the United States may not proceed with trade deals with either country if hostilities continue.
The joint statement said that the US is a co-organiser of the talks, with participation from China.