Immediate Ceasefire: Cambodia Seeks Peace Amid Clash With Thailand; Malaysia Plays Mediator

After a two-day fighting with its neighbouring country Thailand, Cambodia has urged for an immediate ceasefire. Seeking a “peaceful solution of the dispute”, Camodia’s envoy to the United Nations Chhea Keo said the country has asked for a truce “unconditionally”. This comes as around 30 people lost their lives in the recent Thailand-Cambodia dispute.

Amid the ongoing clashes, Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on Friday (July 25) warned that the clashes could lead to a “state of war”. The border dispute between the two Southeast Asian nations is not new and dates back to over 100 years ago.

The latest clashes, according to Thailand, began over Cambodian military’s deployment of drones to conduct surveillance of Thai troops near the border. Cambodia, on the other hand, claimed that the conflict was initiated by Thai soldiers by violating a prior agreement by advancing on a Khmer-Hindu temple.

Have Thailand and Cambodia declared a ceasefire?

As of yet, there has been no official announcement by any of the country, however, Cambodia’s envoy to the UN has urged for an immediate ceasefire. Thailand, too, has indicated that it is open to talks. Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nikorndej Balankura told AFP that Bangkok was open to talks, but said they haven’t received any proposal.

According to Cambodian leader Keo, Bangkok had agreed to a Malaysian ceasefire proposal but then backed down. “Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute,” he was quoted by news agency AFP as saying following a closed meeting of the UN Security Council.

What role is Malaysia playing in the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute?

Offering to play a mediator, Malaysia has called for an end to hostilities. Notably, the country is currently the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional bloc and Thailand and Cambodia are both members of the same.

On Friday, Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim too stated that both the warring countries had agreed to a ceasefire and to withdraw their troops from the border. He added that they requested more time before implementing the action, as per a report in Malaysia’s Bernama national news agency.

Anwar added that he had spoken to both Cambodian leader Hun Manet and Thailand’s Phumtham and urged them to open space for “peaceful dialogue and diplomatic resolution”.

Are Thailand and Cambodia clashing over a temple?

Their fight erupted over the claim of a cluster of Hindu temples located in the Cambodia, which are perched on a 525 metre cliff in Cambodia’s Dangrek mountains. Of them, Preah Vihear is perhaps the most widely known and is also a UNESCO world heritage site. It is a religious site for both Cambodians and the Thai.

Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has recognised Cambodia’s claim to the Preah Vihear temple in both 1962 and 2013, which Thailand refuses to accept.