Cambodian and Thai officials commenced four days of talks at a border checkpoint in Thailand's Chanthaburi province on Wednesday, aiming to negotiate an end to the deadly clashes between the two nations, according to Phnom Penh.
The meeting had been at risk after Phnom Penh demanded a switch to a neutral venue. However, the Cambodian government posted a picture of the two defence delegations in a simply-furnished meeting room, confirming the talks had begun to “ensure the cessation of hostilities”, restore stability, and “facilitate a swift return to normalcy”.
The long-standing border conflict reignited this month, shattering an earlier truce, killing more than 40 people and displacing around a million, officials reported. The talks are expected to run until Saturday. Thai defence ministry spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri expressed hope for positive outcomes but stressed that success depends on Cambodia's sincerity in words and actions.
Bangkok has previously demanded that Phnom Penh announce a truce first and cooperate in demining efforts at the border. Despite ongoing cross-border fire, Cambodia's interior ministry stated this week it was “optimistic that the Thai side will demonstrate sincerity” in implementing a ceasefire.
The conflict stems from a territorial dispute over the colonial-era demarcation of the 500-mile border and a small number of ancient temple ruins on the frontier. Each side has blamed the other for instigating renewed fighting since 7 December, with accusations of attacks on civilians after five days of clashes in July killed dozens. The US, China, and Malaysia brokered a truce in July, but it was short-lived.
