Thailand, Thailand (AP) — Thailand and Cambodia on Sunday show they are ready to negotiate the end of a fatal border dispute after US President Donald Trump’s mediation efforts. fightnow on the fourth day, he has killed at least 33 people and kicked out more than 168,000 people.
Trump spoke with Thai and Cambodia leaders on Saturday and said he had suggested that trade deals with either country would not progress if hostilities continued. He later said that both sides agreed to meet to negotiate a ceasefire.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Sunday that his country agreed to pursue an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire.” He said Trump told him that after Trump’s conversation with Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, he also agreed to stop the attack.
“This is positive news for the soldiers and the people of both countries,” Hun Manet said in a statement.
He said he has coordinated the next steps with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and appointed his representative Foreign Minister Prak Seokun to directly engage with Thailand’s foreign minister to implement the ceasefire.
Thailand has expressed careful support. Phumsam thanked Trump, and while Thailand in principle agreed to a ceasefire, it emphasized the need for “honest intentions” from Cambodia, Thailand’s Foreign Ministry said. Phumtam said it called for a prompt bilateral talks to discuss concrete measures towards a peaceful resolution.
Fineting It first flares up on Thursday Land mine explosion along the border Five Thai soldiers were injured. Both sides accused each other of starting a conflict. Both countries I remembered their ambassadors. Thailand has closed its border crossing with Cambodia.
Despite diplomatic efforts, the battle continued along parts of the contested border on Sunday, with both sides denounced new artillery fire and military action.
Colonel Richa Suksawanont, a deputy spokesman for the Thai Army, said Cambodian troops fired their first shots into Thai territory, including civilian homes, early Sunday. He said Cambodia launched a rocket attack targeting the ancient Ta Muen Thom Temple, claimed by both countries, and targeted other regions to regain territory protected by Thai forces.
He said Thai forces responded with long-range guns to attack Cambodian artillery and rocket launchers.
Richa said Trump’s mediation efforts were “separate issues.” He added that operations on the battlefield will continue and a ceasefire could only occur if Cambodia officially begins negotiations.
Vice-General Marie Sochita, spokesman for Cambodia’s Secretary of Defense, accused Thai forces of escalating violence and increasing the use of cluster bombs. She said on Sunday that Thai forces carried out both targeted and indiscriminate attacks, resulting in the loss of life and the destruction of civilian infrastructure.
Thailand has reported 20 deaths, with 13 people dead, while mostly civilians are civilians, while Cambodia said 13 people died. More than 131,000 people in Thailand have evacuated to safe locations, and more than 37,000 have fled three Cambodian provinces. Many border villages are mostly abandoned, and many schools and hospitals are closed.
The UN Security Council is calling on the Association of Southeast Asian Countries in the regional bloc to mediate peace between the two members. Human Rights Watch condemned the use of cluster ammunition in densely populated areas and urged both governments to protect civilians.
The 800-kilometer (500-mile) frontier between Thailand and Cambodia has been debated for decades, but past conflicts have been limited and short. The latest tensions flare when Cambodian soldiers were killed in conflict and created diplomatic rifts. Thai domestic politics.
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Associated Press writers Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul and Grant Peck of Grant Peck and Irene Ng of Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report. Sopheng Cheang was reported by Samron, Cambodia.
