Cambodia has firmly rejected accusations from Thailand that its forces breached the ceasefire agreement that came into effect at midnight on July 28, following days of deadly border clashes between the two countries.
Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense dismissed claims by the Thai military that Cambodian troops continued armed attacks on Thai territory shortly after the ceasefire agreement began. Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, spokesperson for Cambodia’s defense ministry, stated that Cambodian forces have “strictly adhered to the ceasefire orders and agreement since midnight,” asserting that no fighting occurred on the Cambodian side after the truce took effect.
The ceasefire was brokered during peace talks held in Malaysia with the involvement of international observers from the United States and China, aiming to halt hostilities that erupted earlier in the week over disputed border areas, including several ancient temples. That fighting had resulted in over 30 deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands of residents in the region.
Conversely, the Thai Army accused Cambodia of violating the truce by launching multiple attacks across various border points shortly after the midnight deadline. According to Thai military spokesperson Major General Winthai Suwaree, Cambodian forces fired weapons indiscriminately across at least five locations within Thai territory, forcing the Thai side to respond defensively.
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Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai expressed strong condemnation of the alleged violations, describing them as deliberate actions that undermine mutual trust. He emphasized that Thailand has formally protested the issue to ASEAN, the US, China, and Malaysia all witnesses to the ceasefire agreement and declared the Thai military remains fully prepared to defend national sovereignty.
Despite the contrasting claims, military commanders from both nations continued dialogue to avoid escalation, agreeing to halt troop movements and establish coordination mechanisms ahead of a joint border committee meeting scheduled for early August. Calm reportedly returned to the affected border areas, allowing some displaced villagers to begin returning home.
Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha confirmed discussions with his Thai counterpart regarding isolated “incidents” but maintained that the Cambodian military honors the truce and will facilitate foreign diplomatic and military observers visiting the border to verify the situation.
This latest episode highlights the fragile nature of peace between Thailand and Cambodia, whose decades-old border dispute has periodically erupted into violence. As both sides maintain their positions on the ceasefire breach, the international community continues to monitor developments closely, urging restraint and peaceful resolution.
NAN
