Post by : Meena Ariff

Thailand and Cambodia signed a crucial ceasefire agreement on Saturday, bringing an end to weeks of armed combat along their contested border. The agreement took effect at noon local time and includes strict provisions to halt all military actions and respect each other’s airspace, aiming to restore peace in the region.

The ceasefire marks a significant step as only Thailand had carried out airstrikes in the recent clashes, striking Cambodian sites as recently as Saturday morning. A key term in the agreement requires Thailand to release 18 Cambodian soldiers held captive since fighting erupted in July. Their release has been a major demand from Cambodia and is set to happen after the ceasefire holds for 72 hours.

The deal was signed by Cambodia’s Defense Minister Tea Seiha and Thailand’s Defense Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit at a border checkpoint. This followed three days of lower-level military talks under the General Border Committee framework.

The agreement reaffirms commitments to a previous ceasefire brokered in July, which ended an earlier five-day conflict, along with 16 additional de-escalation measures designed to prevent future hostilities.

Despite the prior ceasefire, tensions remained high, with ongoing propaganda and minor cross-border incidents escalating into heavy fighting in early December. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties: Thailand lost 26 soldiers and one civilian, while Cambodia has reported 30 civilian deaths and 90 injuries. Both sides have accused each other of initiating the conflict, each claiming self-defense.

The agreement also includes measures to prevent the deployment of land mines, a long-standing concern for Thailand, which has suffered several injuries from mines believed to be newly planted by Cambodia. Cambodia maintains these mines are remnants from past civil wars.

Both countries agreed to stop spreading false information or fake news and to resume previously established efforts to demarcate the border clearly. Additionally, they committed to cooperate on combating transnational crimes, particularly online scams that have defrauded victims worldwide, with Cambodia being a known center for such criminal activity.

This ceasefire brings hope for lasting peace and cooperation between the two neighboring countries after a turbulent period of conflict.

#Thailand News