Surin
Thailand’s army accused Cambodia on Tuesday of violating a newly agreed ceasefire, just hours after it came into effect. The truce was established to end intense clashes along the two nations’ disputed jungle border, home to centuries-old temple ruins.
The ceasefire, brokered during peace talks in Malaysia on Tuesday, was set to begin at midnight. However, Thai army spokesperson Winthai Suwaree claimed that Cambodian troops launched attacks into Thai territory shortly after the agreement took effect. He called the actions a “deliberate violation” and said Thailand would exercise its right to self-defense.
In Cambodia’s Samraong city, 20 km from the border, an AFP reporter confirmed the sound of blasts ceased roughly 30 minutes before midnight and quiet persisted through dawn. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet stated on Facebook that the situation had calmed since the ceasefire began. Since July 24, the border conflict has left at least 38 people dead and displaced nearly 300,000. The current flare-up is the deadliest since intermittent fighting between 2008 and 2011 over poorly demarcated territory stemming from colonial-era maps.
Despite the tensions, both countries are continuing military-level negotiations. A bilateral committee is scheduled to meet in Cambodia on August 4 to further ease tensions. The ceasefire deal was supported by the U.S., China, and Malaysia. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged both nations to respect the agreement and pursue lasting peace. Meanwhile, evacuees on both sides expressed hope of returning home. Thailand also canceled the King’s 73rd birthday celebrations due to ongoing unrest.