Military commanders from Thailand and Cambodia met on Tuesday as peace gradually returned to their disputed border, following a truce to end five days of deadly conflict.
The Southeast Asian neighbours announced the ceasefire after their leaders met in Malaysia on Monday, agreeing to halt the bloodiest fighting in more than ten years that killed at least 40 people, mostly civilians, and displaced over 300,000.
Despite reports from Thailand’s military of Cambodian troop attacks in at least five locations early Tuesday, violating the ceasefire effective from midnight, commanders from both sides convened talks, according to Thai army spokesman Major General Winthai Suvaree. Winthai said he met with his Cambodian counterpart at the border to negotiate.
The commanders agreed to maintain the ceasefire, halt troop movements, and support the return of wounded individuals and deceased bodies. “Each side will establish a coordinating team of four to resolve any problems,” Winthai stated.
Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who helped secure the ceasefire in Malaysia, confirmed calm had returned after speaking with Cambodia’s defence minister. “There is no escalation,” he said. “Right now things are calm.”
Cambodian Defence Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata also reported no new fighting along the border during a briefing on Tuesday.
In Thailand’s Kantharalak district, about 30 kilometres from the frontlines, residents resumed daily activities and vehicular traffic as troops from both countries remained stationed nearby. Shop owner Chaiya Phumjaroen expressed relief at the ceasefire, saying, “I am very happy that a ceasefire happened. If they continue to fight, we have no opportunity to make money.”
Meanwhile, in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province, 63-year-old Ly Kim Eng waited in a makeshift shelter for further instructions after hearing news of the truce.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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