Latest news with #borderclashes


BBC News
6 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Thailand accuses Cambodia of violating hours-old ceasefire
Thailand has accused Cambodia of "deliberately" violating a ceasefire the two countries had agreed on Monday to end border clashes that have killed at least 33 people and displaced thousands. It's a shaky start for the ceasefire, which was meant to bring an end to five days of bombardment and rocket attacks along the shared Thai military says it stopped firing after midnight, but that it continued to receive gunfire from the Cambodian side "at multiple locations" up until this morning. But Cambodia's defence ministry told the AFP news agency there had been "no armed clashes" between the two sides since the ceasefire began at midnight. A meeting between local commanders which was part of the ceasefire agreement has been postponed twice, and may not happen at all. Tensions between the South East Asian countries over their century-old disputed border ramped up in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash. They escalated into a full-scale conflict last week after five Thai soldiers were injured in a landmine explosion. Thailand closed some of its border crossings, expelled the Cambodian ambassador and recalled its own from Phnom Penh. After the two sides exchanged gunfire early on Thursday, Cambodia fired multiple rockets into Thailand, killing several civilians. More civilians died on both sides in the following days, and tens of thousands more were evacuated to shelters. Intense exchanges of fire between the two armies continued up to midnight on Monday, the deadline for the ceasefire, with Thailand launching more air strikes on Cambodian positions. But on Tuesday morning, before Thailand alleged the ceasefire had been violated, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet said that the "frontlines have eased" since midnight. Under the agreement, both sides had agreed to pull back their armies and to accept some kind of independent monitoring to prevent further Manet and his Thai counterpart Phumtham Wechayachai had met on Monday in Malaysia in a meeting brokered by its leader Anwar Ibrahim. An outgunned Cambodia had been pushing for a ceasefire and its leader called it a very good meeting. Thailand, which had initially been reluctant to negotiate, agreed after US President Donald Trump threatened to halt talks over tariffs until Thailand and Cambodia stopped fighting. A dispute going back decades In fact, the argument between Thailand and Cambodia dates back more than a century, when the borders of the two nations were drawn after the French occupation of officially became hostile in 2008, when Cambodia tried to register an 11th Century temple located in the disputed area as a Unesco World Heritage Site - a move that was met with heated protest from the years there have been sporadic clashes that have seen soldiers and civilians killed on both latest tensions ramped up in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash. This plunged bilateral ties to their lowest point in more than a the past two months, both countries have imposed border restrictions on one another. Cambodia banned imports from Thailand such as fruits and vegetables, and stopped importing power and internet countries have also strengthened troop presence along the border in recent weeks.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Thailand and Cambodia agree to a ceasefire in their deadly border clashes
PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) — Thailand and Cambodia agreed Monday to an unconditional ceasefire during a meeting in Malaysia, in a significant breakthrough to resolve five days of deadly border clashes that have killed dozens and displaced tens of thousands. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai agreed to a halt in fighting, starting at midnight, while appearing with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during a meeting held under U.S. pressure in the Malaysian administrative capital of Putrajaya. The Cambodian and Thai leaders hailed the meeting's outcome and shook hands at the end of a brief news conference. An Associated Press journalist in Cambodia reporting from close to the border with Thailand where artillery duels had been taking place said the sounds of shelling stopped about 10 minutes before the ceasefire came into effect. Reports from other fronts in the fighting were not immediately available. The fighting began Thursday after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Both sides blamed each other for starting the clashes, that have killed at least 35 people and displaced more than 260,000 people on both sides. Anwar, who hosted the talks as annual chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regional bloc, said both sides have reached a common understanding to take steps to return to normalcy following what he called frank discussions. 'This is a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security,' Anwar said. The Malaysian meeting followed direct pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned that the U.S. might not proceed with trade deals with either country if hostilities continue, giving both sides a face-saving justification for backing away from the fighting. In a statement later Monday on social media, Trump said the two sides had 'reached a CEASEFIRE and PEACE... I am proud to be the President of PEACE!' As part of the ceasefire deal, military commanders from both sides will hold talks Tuesday to defuse tensions while Cambodia will host a border committee meeting on Aug. 4. Anwar said. The foreign and defense ministers of Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand have also been instructed to 'develop a detailed mechanism' to implement and monitor the ceasefire to ensure sustained peace, he added. Hun Manet said he hoped that bilateral ties could return to normal soon so that almost 300,000 villagers evacuated on both sides could return home. It is 'time to start rebuilding trust, confidence and cooperation going forward between Thailand and Cambodia,' he said. Phumtham said the outcome reflected 'Thailand's desire for a peaceful resolution.' The joint statement on the agreement said that the United States was a co-organizer of the talks, with participation from China. The Chinese and American ambassadors to Malaysia attended the meeting that lasted over two hours. In a press statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was involved in arranging the meeting, applauded the ceasefire declaration. Rubio said he and Trump 'are committed to an immediate cessation of violence and expect the governments of Cambodia and Thailand to fully honor their commitments to end this conflict.' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted news of the ceasefire on X and wrote: 'President Trump made this happen. Give him the Nobel Peace Prize!' Phumtham said after his return to Bangkok that Trump had called to offer congratulations for making a move toward peace. He also said Trump told him that Thailand's talks with Washington to set tariff levels on Thai exports could now proceed and that he would seek to make them as favorable as possible. A summary of the call from Phumtham's office said the prime minister thanked the preisdent for his 'important role' in seeking to resolve the crisis and declared that Trump would be honored and remembered in Thailand for his effort. The violence of recent days marked a rare instance of open military confrontation between ASEAN member states, a 10-nation regional bloc that has prided itself on non-aggression, peaceful dialogue and economic cooperation. Both countries recalled their ambassadors and Thailand shut all border crossings with Cambodia, with an exception for migrant Cambodian workers returning home. News of the ceasefire deal brought relief and hope to evacuees from both sides. Some women at a crowded evacuation shelter in Surin, Thailand, shouted for joy. 'I'm happy about that, and feeling a bit relieved,' said Usa Dasri, a vendor and farmer. 'We miss our home. There are many small things I'm worried about, livestock and rice fields. I don't know what might've happened to them. I want to go home, so I'm happy. I also think about our soldiers at the frontline. I want them to be safe and have a good sleep like us.' She also credited outside diplomacy for the breakthrough. 'Without them, our two countries would have had a hard time negotiating — both sides have quite a hard time talking and understanding each other,' she added. Cambodian evacuees echoed the sentiment. Chhuot Nhav, 42, who fled her home in Oddar Meanchey province, a frontline for the fighting, said she was happy but also wary. 'I am happy because I can go home and take care of my pig, dog, chickens and my kids can now go back to school,' said Chhuot Nhav, from under a series of green tarps that stretched out to the length of a school bus. But she said she will 'wait until the fighting really stops' before heading back. Another farmer Kong Sin, however, said he would head back home Tuesday if the ceasefire took place as agreed. The 800-kilometer (500-mile) frontier between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for decades, but past confrontations have been limited and brief. The latest tensions erupted in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift and roiled Thailand's domestic politics. ________ Jintamas reported from Surin, Thailand, and Sopheng Cheang from Samrong, Cambodia. Associated Press writers Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul and Grant Peck in Bangkok contributed to this report. Eileen Ng, Jintamas Saksornchai And Sopheng Cheang, The Associated Press

Associated Press
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Thailand and Cambodia dispute whether ceasefire is holding
SURIN, Thailand (AP) — Thailand and Cambodia disputed whether their ceasefire was holding Tuesday, the morning after they agreed to stop fighting in a deal reached in Malaysia under U.S. pressure. The Thai army said Cambodia launched attacks in multiple areas after the ceasefire was supposed to take effect at midnight, but Cambodia said there was no firing in any location. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai had agreed to an 'unconditional' halt in fighting Monday after five days of border clashes that have killed dozens of people and displaced tens of thousands. Along the border area, it was unclear if fighting was continuing but signs of calm returned in places. Some families displaced by the fighting began returning to their homes. A Thai military spokesperson said Thailand halted all military activities as agreed upon but that Cambodian troops continued strikes and the Thai army responded with defensive action. 'Such actions represent a deliberate violation of the ceasefire and a serious breach of trust,' Major Gen. Vithai Laithomya said in a statement. The Cambodian Defense Ministry denied the Thai account. 'After the ceasefire became effective, there has been no armed conflict on all front lines. This is the firm determination of the Cambodian leadership to implement the ceasefire,' ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata said. Military commanders from both sides are scheduled Tuesday to hold their first meeting after the ceasefire as agreed under the pact, she said. The meeting between the two national leaders Monday was hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as annual chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and held under U.S. pressure. Anwar called the ceasefire a 'vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security.' Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. applauded the ceasefire declaration. 'President (Donald) Trump and I are committed to an immediate cessation of violence and expect the governments of Cambodia and Thailand to fully honor their commitments to end this conflict,' Rubio said in a statement. The fighting began Thursday after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Both sides blamed each other for starting the clashes, which have killed 35 people and displaced 260,000 people on both sides. Trump had warned that the U.S. might not proceed with trade deals with either country if hostilities continue, giving both sides a face-saving justification for halting the clashes. The 800-kilometer (500-mile) frontier between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for decades, but past confrontations have been limited and brief. The latest tensions erupted in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift and roiled Thailand's domestic politics. ___ Sopheng Cheang reported from Samrong, Cambodia.


UAE Moments
10 hours ago
- Politics
- UAE Moments
Thailand and Cambodia Agree to Immediate Ceasefire
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, effective from midnight local time on July 28, 2025, following five days of the worst border clashes in over a decade. The landmark agreement was reached during high‑level talks in Putrajaya, Malaysia, chaired by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, with participation from the United States. At least 35 people were killed and more than 260,000 civilians displaced across both countries during the violence—making it the deadliest conflict in the modern era between the two ASEAN neighbours. The clashes erupted after Thursday, when a landmine explosion killed five Thai soldiers. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet welcomed the truce, expressing hope it will allow displaced families to return home and rebuild normal bilateral relations. Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai Thailand's desire for peace, remained cautious, saying that a ceasefire could only follow after Cambodia approaches the ceasefire talks with "sincere intentions". As part of the ceasefire agreement, military commanders from both sides will meet Tuesday morning, and a border committee, to be hosted by Cambodia, will convene on August 4 to build a joint mechanism for monitoring and implementation. Defence and foreign ministers from Thailand and Cambodia will also resume the process. The role of U.S. pressure, in particular from President Donald Trump, was widely credited with helping secure the ceasefire—Trump reportedly warned that trade negotiations and tariff relief would be halted unless a truce was achieved. Despite the agreement, reports indicate that some clashes in the border areas even on the day the ceasefire was declared, underscoring the fragility of the deal and the deep-seated mistrust between the parties. Experts warn that without substantive dispute resolution and institutional trust-building, the ceasefire may prove vulnerable to escalation.


NHK
14 hours ago
- Politics
- NHK
Ceasefire goes into effect between Thailand and Cambodia
A ceasefire agreed between Thailand and Cambodia has come into effect, bringing clashes that continued for days along their disputed border to a halt. The fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces erupted on Thursday. More than 30 people, including civilians, were reportedly killed, while 300,000 people were forced to evacuate. On Monday, Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet held peace talks mediated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. His country serves as this year's ASEAN chair. Anwar on the same day announced that the two countries agreed on an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire." The truce went into effect at midnight on Tuesday, local time. Since then, no clashes have been reported in the border areas. US President Donald Trump strongly pushed the Thai and Cambodian leaders for a ceasefire by bringing up tariff negotiations. The deal was signed as representatives from the United States and China took part in the peace talks. Military commanders from the two sides are holding informal talks on Tuesday, and officials from the two governments are due to meet to discuss borders. The focus now is on whether the two countries can ease tensions, as both sides have maintained their stance of not making concessions on territorial rights in border areas.