Thailand and Cambodia signed a ceasefire agreement on Saturday, effective at noon local time, to conclude weeks of armed conflict along their shared border. The agreement was reached following three days of discussions by military officials, part of the established General Border Committee.
Key Provisions of the Agreement
- Cessation of Hostilities: Both nations committed to ending military combat.
- Military Movements: No further military movements are permitted by either side.
- Airspace Violations: Neither side is to violate the other's airspace for military purposes. Cambodia's defense ministry had reported Thai airstrikes as recently as Saturday morning.
- Prisoner Repatriation: Thailand committed to repatriating 18 Cambodian soldiers held since fighting in July, contingent on the ceasefire holding for 72 hours.
- Previous Agreements: The new agreement reiterates commitment to an earlier ceasefire from July and subsequent agreements, including 16 de-escalation measures.
Background and Context
The initial July ceasefire was brokered by Malaysia and supported by U.S. President Donald Trump, who linked it to trade privileges. It was formalized in October during a regional meeting in Malaysia.
Despite these previous agreements, propaganda campaigns and minor cross-border incidents persisted, escalating into heavy fighting in early December.
Casualties and Displacements
- Thailand: Officials reported 26 soldiers and one civilian killed directly due to combat since December 7, with 44 civilian deaths attributed to collateral effects.
- Cambodia: Official military casualty figures were not provided, but 30 civilian deaths and 90 injuries were reported. Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated from affected areas on both sides of the border.
Each country attributed the initiation of the recent fighting to the other, citing self-defense.
Additional Clauses
The agreement also addresses:
- Landmines: Both sides committed to international agreements against deploying landmines. Thailand has reported at least nine incidents of its soldiers being wounded by what it claims are newly planted Cambodian mines this year. Cambodia maintains these mines are remnants from its civil war.
- Information Dissemination: Both nations agreed to refrain from disseminating false information or fake news.
- Border Demarcation: Previously established measures to demarcate the border are to resume.
- Transnational Crime: Cooperation on efforts to suppress transnational crimes, particularly online scams originating from Cambodia, was also agreed upon.