ASEAN meets to seek resolution to Thailand-Cambodia conflict
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An ASEAN summit in Malaysia on Oct 25. Thailand and Cambodia are scheduled to attend a gathering of South-east Asian foreign ministers on Dec 22 in Kuala Lumpur.
PHOTO: AFP
KUALA LUMPUR – South-east Asian foreign ministers met in Malaysia on Dec 22 to try to restore a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia after two weeks of fierce fighting that has killed at least 60 people and displaced more than half a million.
The ministers of ASEAN will seek to salvage a truce first brokered by ASEAN chair Malaysia and US President Donald Trump after a previous round of border clashes in July, their worst conflict in recent history.
Thailand and Cambodia’s top diplomats attended the gathering in Kuala Lumpur, the first face-to-face meeting involving the two governments since the fighting resumed on Dec 8, as Malaysia urged the bloc to play a more forceful role in halting the conflict.
“It is my hope that this special meeting will renew our efforts for a return to stability in the affected areas. ASEAN must do whatever is necessary to maintain regional peace and stability,” Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said in opening remarks to ministers.
“Our goal goes beyond de-escalating the tension. We must intensify trust-building among the conflicting parties and provide the horizons for dialogue despite the prevailing differences.”
The regional push comes as the US and China pursue separate diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, with no signs of success so far.
Bangkok and Phnom Penh each accuse the other of moves that led to the breakdown of the truce and an enhanced ceasefire agreed in October in Malaysia in Mr Trump’s presence, during which they committed to demining and withdrawal of troops and heavy weapons.
Heavy exchanges of fire have occurred in many of the long-disputed areas along their 817km-long land border, from forested inland areas near Laos to coastal provinces.
Cambodia’s defence ministry said Thailand had violated its sovereignty with more “armed aggression” on Dec 22 and vowed to defend what it said was its territory “at any cost”.
Thailand on the weekend accused Cambodia of seeking to fire rockets on a border town and said a soldier had lost a leg to a landmine.
Thailand has accused Cambodia of laying new mines in violation of its international treaty commitments, an allegation Phnom Penh has rejected.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has expressed hope that the meeting would enable Thailand and Cambodia to negotiate openly, resolve differences and achieve a fair and lasting solution.
“I emphasised the importance for Cambodia and Thailand to uphold the spirit of dialogue, wisdom and mutual respect in order to end the tensions and maintain peace and stability in this region,” Datuk Seri Anwar said on social media platform X on Dec 21, adding that he had spoken with both prime ministers.
Last week, he said he was “cautiously optimistic” about the outcome of the meeting, adding that Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Premier Hun Manet were both “keen to achieve an amicable resolution as soon as possible”.
An ASEAN team will present findings to the foreign ministers from its field observations and data captured by satellite-monitoring technology provided by the US, Mr Anwar posted on social media.
Thailand has carried out air strikes on Cambodian military positions and halted fuel shipments through a Laotian border checkpoint due to fears they were being diverted to Cambodia.
The Thai army said Cambodia had been using drones to drop bombs on Thai bases and firing rockets at civilian areas. REUTERS
