Thai and Cambodia leaders have agreed to meet in Malaysia for a ceasefire talk, a spokesman for the Thai Prime Minister’s Office said on Sunday.
This follows US President Donald Trump’s mediation efforts to end a fatal border dispute. The current fourth day battle killed at least 34 people and exiled over 168,000 people.
Jirayu Huangsap said Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will attend Monday’s talks in response to an invitation from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The spokesman also said that Phumtham’s Cambodian counterpart, Hun Manet, would also be present at the talk, which was not immediately confirmed by the Cambodian side. He added that Anwar is acting in his capabilities as chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Countries, which is held on a annual turnover basis by 10 members.
Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social on Saturday, speaking to Thai and Cambodian leaders and suggested that trade agreements with either country not proceed if hostilities continue. 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 said Thailand agreed to halt the attack following the conversation with Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.
“This is positive news for the soldiers and the people of both countries,” Hun Manet said in a statement.
Thailand initially 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.
Both sides take responsibility for the conflict
The battle flares Thursday after an explosion of a land mine along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Both sides accused each other of starting a conflict. Both countries remembered the ambassador and Thailand closed its border with Cambodia.
Despite diplomatic efforts, the battle continued along parts of the contested border on Sunday, with both sides refusing to be upset and refusing to liability for deals for new artillery fire and military movements.
Colonel Richa Skusawanonto, a deputy spokesman for the Thai Army, said Cambodian troops fired heavy artillery into Sulin province, including civilian homes earlier on 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. 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.
“While Cambodia is so lacking in sincerity and repeatedly violates the fundamental principles of human rights and humanitarian law, we cannot reach a halt of hostility,” Thailand’s Foreign Ministry said separately.
Vice-General Marie Sochita, spokesman for Cambodian Defense Secretary, accused Thai forces of escalating violence in artillery bombardment early on Sunday, followed by “massive invasions” involving tanks and ground forces in multiple regions.
“Such actions undermine any effort towards a peaceful resolution and expose the explicit intention of escalating Thailand’s clear intentions rather than escalating conflict,” she said.
Thailand reported new deaths of soldiers on Sunday, bringing the total number of deaths to 21, primarily civilians. Cambodia said 13 people had been killed. 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.
Evacuees want a quick end to the battle
Thai air conditioning engineer Pichayut Surashit said the sudden outbreak of combat meant leaving his job in Bangkok and returning home to protect his family.
“When I heard the news, I didn’t have the mind to continue working. I wanted to get back as soon as possible, but I had to wait until the evening,” he said. At the Surin shelter, which now houses 6,000 evacuees, Pichayut, who is worried about his wife and twin daughters, hopes that the conflict will soon end and that they can return to their home in the Kakchen district, where they have been hit hardest by artillery fire.
The 800-kilometer frontier between Thailand and Cambodia has been debated for decades, but past conflicts are limited and short.
