A ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia appeared to carry Tuesday as tensions lingered despite a truce agreement to finish deadly border clashes following economic pressure from the U.S.
The ceasefire that was reached in Malaysia was presupposed to take effect at midnight, but was quickly tested. The Thai army accused Cambodia of launching attacks in multiple areas early Tuesday but Cambodia said there was no firing in any location.
The Thai army later said fighting has stopped after military commanders along the border from each side met. They agreed to halt troop movements, avoid escalation and establish coordination teams ahead of a joint border committee meeting in Cambodia on Aug. 4, army spokesman Major Gen. Winthai Suvaree said.
Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha said he spoke to his Thai counterpart about “incidents” that occurred through the implementation of the ceasefire but stressed the Cambodian army abided by the truce. He said Cambodian defense officials will lead a delegation of diplomats, foreign military attachés and others to watch the situation.
The Thai government individually said it has lodged complaints to Malaysia, the U.S. and China about Cambodia’s alleged breach of the ceasefire agreement.
Along the border, there have been signs of calm with among the greater than 260,000 people displaced by the fighting returning to their homes.
The agreement was made under U.S. pressure
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai had agreed Monday to an “unconditional” halt in fighting which have killed not less than 41 people.
The meeting was hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as annual chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. He called the ceasefire a “vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security.”
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. applauded the ceasefire declaration. “President (Donald) Trump and I are committed to a right away cessation of violence and expect the governments of Cambodia and Thailand to completely honor their commitments to finish this conflict,” Rubio said in a press release.
Hun Manet said Tuesday that Trump had called to supply congratulations for the peace move. He posted on social media that Trump pledged the U.S. would join the monitoring process together with Malaysia to make sure the ceasefire is implemented.
Trump also called Phumtham after his return to Bangkok. Phumtham said Trump told him that Thailand’s talks with Washington to barter tariff levels on Thai exports could now proceed and that he would seek to make them as favorable as possible.
The ceasefire comes days before the U.S. is predicted to announce latest trade tariff decisions. Cambodia and Thailand have each been two of the hardest-hit countries in consequence of Trump’s trade war, with 36% tariff on goods from each countries taking effect this coming Friday.
Trump had warned that the U.S. won’t proceed with trade deals with either country if hostilities continued, giving each side a face-saving justification for halting the clashes.
Residents along the long-disputed border are wary
Cambodia and Thailand have clashed up to now over their 800-kilometer (500-mile) border. The fighting began Thursday after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Tensions had been growing since May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift and roiled Thailand’s domestic politics.
Residents on each side of the border expressed relief in regards to the ceasefire but remained wary, unsure how long the peace would last.
“I’m very concerned that latest fighting may break out. Thailand often provokes the fighting first, but then accuses Cambodia. Their goals is that they wish to occupy our temples (along the border). I actually don’t wish to see any latest fighting occur.” said Soklang Slay, as he helped his daughter move back into her home in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchay province, where heavy fighting had occurred.
Soklang Slay and his family dug a bunker to shield themselves from artillery when fighting began but fled on the second day when bombings intensified.
In Thailand’s Surin province, village chief Kritsada Jindasri said he heard heavy firing and explosions Monday night before silence fell at midnight.
“We’re still cautious. We still don’t totally imagine (that it might stop). We still wait to evaluate the situation,” said Kitsada, who had stayed back together with 60 other community leaders after some 400 villagers evacuated last week.
His brother, Jirayu Jindasri, returned home after looking for refuge with relatives. “I still don’t feel comfortable, because they simply announced it for the primary day. I’m not confident. If it breaks out again, I’ll must go,” he said.
Analysts said the ceasefire stays tenuous and politically complicated.
Kokthay Eng, a Cambodian researcher in history, politics, and diplomacy, said Trump’s “trade leverage and strongman mentality have helped save Thai and Cambodian people from further bloodshed.” But he warned that the ceasefire may not last if the Thai government fails to secure lower U.S. tariffs.
“It’s dangerous and would require clear markers to construct traction,” said Southeast Asian political expert Bridget Welsh. “A correct border survey should begin immediately. Immediately, it’s on pause since the roots of the conflict have yet to be addressed.”
—Sopheng Cheang reported from Samrong, Cambodia. Associated Press author Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul and Grant Peck in Bangkok, and Anton L. Delgado in Samrong contributed to this report.
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