Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire from midnight to resolve deadly border clashes, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Monday.
Mr. Anwar, who chaired the talks as head of the Association of South East Asian Nations regional bloc, said both sides have reached a common understanding to take steps to return to normalcy. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai have agreed to “an immediate and unconditional ceasefire with effect from... midnight of 28 July,” Anwar said as he read out a joint statement.
Mr. Hun Manet and Mr. Phuntam hailed the outcome of the meeting and shook hands at the end of the brief press conference.
Earlier, ceasefire talks started between Thailand and Cambodian leaders in Malaysia in an urgent effort to resolve deadly border clashes that entered a fifth day despite mounting international calls for peace.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai gathered Monday for the meeting at the official residence of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is hosting the negotiations as chair of the regional bloc, ASEAN.
Mr. Anwar said late on Sunday that both sides would present their conditions for peace, but “what is important is immediate ceasefire.”
“I hope this can work,” Anwar was quoted as saying by Malaysian national news agency Bernama. “Although it’s not as bad as many other countries, we have to put a stop (to the violence).”
US President Donald Trump, who had warned that the United States may not proceed with trade deals with either country if hostilities continue.
Before departing for Kuala Lumpur, Phumtham told reporters in Bangkok that representatives from China and the US will also attend as observers. He said the key focus would be on an immediate ceasefire, but noted trust could be an issue as Cambodia has not stopped its strikes.
“We have informed that we don’t have trust in Cambodia. All they have done reflect that they are not sincere in solving this problem. So they have to show the detail how they will do to prove their sincerity,” he said.
Officials later said that the Chinese and American ambassadors to Malaysia are attending the meeting.
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, which 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.
Troops from both sides reported ongoing fighting on Monday along border areas. Gunfire could be heard as dawn broke in Samrong in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province, Associated Press reporters covering the conflict said.
Maly Socheata, a Cambodian defense ministry spokesperson, said the Thai assault was “ongoing and strong” on Monday.
The violence marks a rare instance of open military confrontation between ASEAN member states, a 10-nation regional bloc that has prided itself on non-aggression, peaceful dialogue and economic cooperation.
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