Thailand Says Ceasefire Offers Chance To Resolve Border Dispute Peacefully

BANGKOK, Dec 27 (Bernama) -- Thailand reiterated that a ceasefire agreed with Cambodia along their shared border provides an opportunity to address the situation through peaceful and diplomatic channels.

Thai Defence Minister Gen (Rtd) Nattaphon Narkphanit said Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an immediate ceasefire, with the situation to be monitored over a 72-hour period.

If no further incidents occur, the two sides will proceed with discussions on detailed follow-up measures, he said.

“The government and the armed forces will closely monitor the situation at every stage, based on facts, while firmly upholding national sovereignty, dignity, public safety and the normal, peaceful lives of the people,” he told reporters on Saturday.

On Saturday, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an immediate ceasefire, effective from noon (local time), to end all border hostilities, bringing a halt to the conflict that reignited on Dec 7.

Thai Defence Minister Gen (Rtd) Nattaphon Narkphanit, who is also the Thai Co-Chairman of the General Border Committee (GBC), and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, as well as Cambodian GBC Co-Chairman, General Tea Seiha, signed the document.

The joint statement was signed at the 3rd Special General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting, which was held at Prum in Pailin Province, Cambodia, and at Ban Pak Kard in Chanthaburi, Thailand.

Under the Joint Statement, in the spirit of the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration on Cot 26, the 18 Cambodian soldiers currently held in Thailand will be returned to Cambodia after the ceasefire has been fully observed for 72 hours.

Both countries further agreed on several key issues, including ensuring the safety of joint survey teams on the ground, particularly with regard to landmines.

To ensure effective implementation, both sides agreed to utilise the Cambodia–Thailand and Thailand–Cambodia Border Coordination Units to help sustain the ceasefire, manage the situation on the ground, address incidents in a timely manner and prevent miscalculation, under the observation and verification of the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT).

Both sides will maintain regular and direct lines of communication between their defence ministers and chiefs of defence forces to enable prompt responses to urgent situations that cannot be addressed at the local level. If required, high-level representatives from both sides will meet to effectively resolve any issues on the ground.

-- BERNAMA