Thailand and Cambodia Agree to Ceasefire Amidst Border Conflict
Thailand and Cambodia have reached an agreement for an immediate ceasefire, as announced by the defence ministers of both nations in a joint statement on Saturday. The ceasefire commenced at noon local time (05:00 GMT).
Terms of Agreement
The agreement stipulates the cessation of all troop movements and permits civilians residing in border areas to return to their homes. Following a 72-hour period during which the ceasefire must hold, Thailand is scheduled to release 18 Cambodian soldiers currently held. The joint statement outlines terms for "de-escalation," which include:
- Ceasing attacks on civilians, civilian objects, infrastructure, and military objectives.
- Avoiding unprovoked firing, advancement, or movement of troops towards the other side's positions.
The release of the Cambodian soldiers is to be conducted "in the spirit of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration," an agreement previously signed by the two countries in October, attended by US President Donald Trump.
Recent Hostilities
This agreement follows weeks of intense border clashes that have resulted in the deaths of at least 41 individuals and the displacement of approximately one million people. The recent round of fighting began after a previous ceasefire agreement, established in October, broke down earlier this month.
Both sides have offered differing accounts regarding the resumption of hostilities:
- The Thai army stated its troops responded to Cambodian fire in Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani Province, resulting in one Thai soldier's death.
- Cambodia's defence ministry asserted that Thai forces initiated attacks in Preah Vihear province and maintained that Cambodia did not retaliate.
Clashes persisted throughout December. On Friday, Thailand conducted air strikes in a disputed border region within Cambodia. The Thai Air Force reported striking a Cambodian "fortified military position" after civilians had evacuated the area. Conversely, Cambodia's defence ministry characterized these strikes as "indiscriminate attacks" against civilian residences.