Bangkok: Thailand has accused Cambodia of “deliberately” violating a ceasefire agreement designed to end border clashes that have resulted in at least 33 fatalities and displaced thousands.
According to BBC, the ceasefire aims to halt five days of bombardment and rocket attacks along the shared border. The Thai military reported that while it ceased firing after midnight, it continued to receive gunfire from the Cambodian side “at multiple locations” until the following morning.
The conflict escalated last week after five Thai soldiers were injured in a landmine explosion. In response, Thailand closed some border crossings, expelled the Cambodian ambassador, and recalled its own ambassador from Phnom Penh. Tensions further heightened when Cambodia fired rockets into Thailand, resulting in civilian casualties. The days that followed saw more civilian deaths and mass evacuations on both sides.
Despite the ceasefire deadline on Monday, intense exchanges of fire between the two armies persisted up to midnight, with Thailand launching additional airstrikes on Cambodian positions. On Tuesday morning, before Thailand’s allegations of a ceasefire breach, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet claimed that the “frontlines have eased” since the ceasefire took effect.
The ceasefire agreement mandates both nations to withdraw their armies and accept some form of independent monitoring to avert further confrontations. The agreement was reached after a meeting in Malaysia between Hun Manet and his Thai counterpart Phumtham Wechayachai, which was brokered by Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim. Cambodia, seeking a ceasefire due to being militarily outgunned, called the meeting “very good.”
Initially hesitant to negotiate, Thailand agreed to the talks following U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to suspend tariff negotiations until the fighting ceased.
The conflict traces back decades, with tensions intensifying in 2008 when Cambodia attempted to register an 11th Century temple, located in the disputed area, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This move was met with strong opposition from Thailand, leading to sporadic clashes over the years that resulted in casualties on both sides.
Relations between the two countries deteriorated further in May, reaching their lowest point in over a decade. Recent months have seen both nations imposing border restrictions on each other, with Cambodia banning imports from Thailand, including fruits, vegetables, power, and internet services. Both countries have also bolstered their troop presence along the border.