Border conflict: Thailand and Cambodia: Precarious ceasefire is largely

The precarious ceasefire in the border area between Thailand and Cambodia seems to be largely kept. A reporter of the broadcaster Channel News Asia reported from the region that no artillery fire had been heard since the fire break came into force on Tuesday night. Before that, there were severe fights for five days.

Thailand continues to accuse the neighboring country of violations of the agreement. Cambodian armed forces had attacked Thai military positions in Phu Makua in the province of Sisaket with small weapons and grenades, it said in a statement by the Foreign Ministry in Bangkok.

Cambodia, on the other hand, rejected the accusations. Such false accusations would “jeopardize the fragile trust and the necessary dialogue for permanent peace”, it said in a message from the Foreign Ministry in Phnom Penh.

Trump pushed for agreement

The heads of government of the two Southeast Asian neighbors agreed on Monday at a meeting in Malaysia on an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire. Representatives from the United States and China also took part in the discussions headed by the Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Malaysia is the chair of the Southeast Asian community of Asean this year. Previously, US President Donald Trump had previously pushed on a quick ceasefire.

Since last Thursday there had been heavy battles on the more than 800 kilometer long border between the two Southeast Asian neighbors. There are deaths and injuries on both sides, especially civilians. According to the authorities, more than 200,000 people were expelled. Hundreds of thousands of Cambodian who lived in Thailand as migrant workers flocked back home.

Minister of defense planned planned

The conflict between the two neighboring countries has been smoldering for decades. Both sides accused of having triggered violence. What exactly led to the escalation is still unclear.

Military leaders had confirmed the ceasefire at a meeting at the border on Tuesday. Talks between the defense ministers of both states are planned at the beginning of next week, which are to take place in Cambodia.