The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia will hold ceasefire talks in Malaysia today, as the two countries aim to end a series of deadly border skirmishes.
Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet will begin negotiations in Kuala Lumpur at 3 pm, local time (5 pm AEST). Clashes between Thailand and Cambodia erupted five days ago after a land mine wounded five Thai soldiers, with the two countries disputing the location of the mine.
"The Thai Government has received an official invitation from Mr. Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia and current ASEAN Chair, to participate in a consultation on regional peace efforts,” Thailand’s government said in a statement.
“It has been confirmed that the ASEAN Chair has also invited representatives of the Cambodian government. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet is expected to attend in person.”
At least 35 have been killed in these border clashes, including 13 civilians in Thailand and eight civilians in Cambodia. More than 130 people have been injured, and over 200,000 have been evacuated from these countries’ border regions.
The talks will be held at Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s official residence, after Anwar proposed a ceasefire last week. United States officials will attend the talks to ease negotiations, according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Cambodia asked for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire over the weekend, according to Cambodia’s ambassador to the United Nations Chhea Keo.
U.S. President Donald Trump also spoke to the leaders of both countries, saying the U.S. would not negotiate lowering its 36% tariff on Thai and Cambodian goods unless a ceasefire was reached.
“The Thai Government firmly reiterated Thailand’s position that the border issue with Cambodia must be resolved peacefully, particularly through existing bilateral mechanisms,” the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said of Wechayachai’s call with Trump. “Thailand therefore hopes to see sincere intention from the Cambodian side to cease the indiscriminate and inhumane attacks.”
These border clashes began after a land mine blast wounded five Thai soldiers on Thursday. Thai officials said the land mine had been placed in the Thai border province of Ubon Ratchathani, while Cambodian officials said it was located in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear region.
Both Thailand and Cambodia have recalled their ambassadors since the conflict began. Thailand has closed its border with Cambodia, and Cambodia has halted its imports of Thai fuel, fruits, and vegetables.
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have escalated since the two countries’ militaries briefly fired at each other in a disputed border area on 29 May, killing one Cambodian soldier. Thai officials had said that Cambodian soldiers opened fire first, while Cambodian officials said the Thai side began firing during a routine Cambodian patrol.
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