Defense officials from Thailand and Cambodia are to meet tomorrow to discuss the possibility of resuming a ceasefire between the two countries, Thailand’s top diplomat said yesterday, as border fighting entered a third week.
A ceasefire agreement in October was rushed to ensure it could be witnessed by US President Donald Trump and lacked sufficient details to ensure the deal to end the armed conflict would hold, Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow said after an ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
The two countries agreed to hold talks using their General Border Committee, an established bilateral mechanism, with Thailand proposing that it takes place at the border line in the Thai province of Chanthaburi, Sihasak told a news conference.
Photo:EPA
Sihasak said Thailand wanted a “true ceasefire” with a firm commitment from Cambodia and a detailed implementation plan, adding that de-mining was necessary to move the process forward.
“A ceasefire cannot just be declared, it needs a discussion,” he said.
He said the October deal was rushed by Washington ahead of a signing ceremony overseen by Trump.
“I’ve noted that we were sometimes in a rush to do the [joint] declaration. Because the United States wanted the declaration signed in time by the visit of President Trump,” Sihasak said of the agreement that was paused in November.
“I mean the earliest, the earlier the better, but sometimes we really need to sit down ... so that things that we agree will really hold, really be respected,” he said.
The ASEAN meeting in Kuala Lumpur followed two weeks of fierce fighting that has killed at least 80 people and initially displaced more than 500,000.
The regional peace push comes as the US and China pursue separate diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, with no signs of success so far.
Sihasak said neither the US nor China were involved in the decision for the two countries to resume discussions tomorrow, adding that it was about Thailand and Cambodia “working things out.”
Additional reporting by AFP
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