Malaysian PM: Thailand, Cambodia agree to ceasefire, but troop withdrawal to take time

On July 25, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that Thailand and Cambodia had “agreed” to a ceasefire but required time to withdraw their troops from the contested border, according to state-run news agency Bernama. 

This comes as cross-border fighting continued for a second consecutive day, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media. 

Thailand indicated that it “fully agrees in principle” with Anwar’s proposal, while Cambodia accepted the ceasefire but accused Bangkok of reversing its stance shortly after.

"The Thai side had agreed to his proposal for a ceasefire," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet wrote on Facebook. But, he added, "It is regrettable that just over an hour later, the Thai side informed us that they had reversed their position from agreeing to the ceasefire."

Anwar held phone discussions with both leaders on July 24. Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed his country had no objection to a truce, though he sought more clarity on the conditions. Phumtham said Thailand had agreed in principle to Anwar’s mediation efforts, requesting a concrete guarantee that similar clashes would not recur.

Earlier, Thailand’s Foreign Ministry also expressed “full agreement” in principle, while stressing the ceasefire should be based on “appropriate on-the-ground conditions.”

Phumtham, however, accused Cambodia of triggering the latest escalation by “using military force first.”

Thailand has since declared martial law in its border provinces of Chanthaburi and Trat as fighting persisted. In a separate statement, the Thai army said it may resort to the use of cluster munitions “as necessary against military targets to enhance target destruction capabilities.”

"Regarding the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), which prohibits parties from using, producing, or stockpiling this type of weapon, it is not binding on Thailand, as Thailand is not a party to that convention, similar to many other countries, such as the United States, Russia, and others," said army spokesman Major General Winthai Suvaree.

According to Thailand’s Health Ministry, the violence has left 15 people dead, including one soldier. Cambodia has reported the death of a monk and said five others were wounded during Thai airstrikes on July 24.

Diplomatic relations between the two nations have sharply deteriorated since May 28, when initial skirmishes near the border—located between Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province and Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani—resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier.

More than 131,000 people in Thailand and over 4,000 in Cambodia have been displaced due to ongoing cross-border fighting, according to the United Nations.

UN Deputy Spokesperson Stéphanie Tremblay cited figures provided by humanitarian partners, saying the violence has forced large numbers of people to flee their homes in both countries. The clashes mark the most serious escalation along the Thailand-Cambodia border in over a decade.

By Aghakazim Guliyev