Cambodia yesterday shut its border crossings with Thailand, after Bangkok denied US President Donald Trump’s claim that a truce had been agreed to end days of deadly fighting.
Violence between the two countries has displaced about half a million people on both sides.
At least 25 people have died this week, including four Thai soldiers Thailand’s Ministry of Defense said were killed in the border area yesterday.
Photo: AFP
The latest fatalities were followed by Phnom Penh announcing it would immediately “suspend all entry and exit movements at all Cambodia-Thailand border crossings.”
Both sides blame the other for reigniting the conflict.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul yesterday said Trump “didn’t mention whether we should make a ceasefire” during their Friday phone call.
The two leaders “didn’t discuss” the issue, Anutin said.
Trump had hailed his “very good conversation” with Anutin and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Friday.
“They have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord” agreed in July, Trump wrote on social media.
Bangkok and Phnom Penh have traded accusations of attacks against civilians, with the Thai army yesterday reporting six wounded by Cambodian rockets.
Cambodian Minister for Information Neth Pheaktra said Thai forces had “expanded their attacks to include civilian infrastructure and Cambodian civilians.”
A Thai navy spokesman said the air force “successfully destroyed” two Cambodian bridges used to transport weapons to the conflict zone.
Thailand has reported the deaths of 14 soldiers and seven civilian, while Cambodia said four civilians were killed earlier this week.
Anutin has vowed to “continue to perform military actions until we feel no more harm and threats to our land and people.”
After the call with Trump, Anutin said “the one who violated the agreement needs to fix [the situation].”
Manet said his country “has always been adhering to peaceful means for dispute resolutions.”
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