A high unstable fire between Thailand and Cambodia seemed to be celebrating on Tuesday, since the military commanders gathered despite Bangkok’s accusations that the truce had been raped with skirmishes during the night.
After the peace conversations in Malaysia on Monday, both parties agreed that a high unconditional fire would begin at midnight to end the fight for a handful of old temples in disputed areas along its 800 kilometers border (500 miles).
On Tuesday, the Thai army said that the Cambodian troops “had launched armed attacks into several areas” in “a clear attempt to undermine mutual trust,” but said the clashes stopped later.
The spokeswoman of the Ministry of Defense of Cambodia, Maly Scheata, insisted that there had been “armed clashes with each other in any region.”
However, both parties said some morning meetings between rival military commanders along the border, scheduled as part of the pact, had continued.
Cambodian leader Hun Manet and Thai interim prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai gave their hands for the high fire agreement on Monday in the peace conversations organized by Malaysia and attended delegates from the United States and China.
“I saw photos of the two leaders shaking hands,” said Kittisak Sukwilai, a 32 -year -old pharmacy worker, in the Thai city in Surin, 50 kilometers from the border.
“I just hope it is not just a photo operation with false smiles, and that those hands do not really prepare to stab on the back.”
In the city of Samraong de Cambodia, 20 kilometers from the border, a AFP The journalist said that the sound of the explosions stopped in the 30 minutes prior to midnight, with continued calm until noon.
“The first line has decreased from the top on fire at 12 in midnight,” said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in a Tuesday morning message on Facebook.
‘Good faith’
Jets, rockets and artillery killed at least 42 people since last Thursday and displaced more than 300,000, which caused the intervention of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, during the weekend.
The outbreak was the deadliest since violence broke out sporadically since 2008-2011 over the territory, claimed by both due to a vague demarcation made by French colonial administrators of Cambodia in 1907.
“When I heard the news, I was so happy because I miss my home and my belongings that I left behind,” said Phean Neth AFP In an expanding camp for evacuated Cambodians in a temple site away from the fighting.
“I am very happy not to be able to describe it,” said the 45 -year -old man.
A joint statement of both countries, as well as Malaysia, said that the high fire was “a first vital step towards the decalciation and restoration of peace and security.”
Both parties are courting Trump so that trade agreements avoid their threat of water-water tariffs, and the United States Department of State said that their officials had been “on the ground” to pass peace conversations.
“I have instructed my trade team to restart negotiations on trade,” Trump said in a message about his social platform of truth, taking the credit for the high fire agreement after it was announced.
“The United States and I are still in negotiations,” Thailand finance minister Pichai Chunhavajira, journalists on Tuesday, said Tuesday. “We are still waiting for the United States to decide if you accept our proposal.”
‘Good faith’ necessary
The statement said that China also had “active participation” in the conversations, organized by the Prime Minister of Malaysia and President of the ASEAN block, Anwar Ibrahim, in the administrative capital of his country, Putrajaya.
Hun Manet thanked Trump for his “decisive” support, while his Thai counterpart Phumtham said he should be “carried out in good faith by both parties.”
Each side had already agreed on a truce in principle while accusing the other of undermining peace efforts, exchanging accusations about the use of cluster bombs and hospitals orientation.
Thailand says that 14 of his soldiers and 15 civilians were killed, while Cambodia has confirmed only eight civil and five military deaths.
More than 188,000 people have fled from Thailand’s border regions, while around 140,000 have been expelled from their homes in Cambodia.
Pakistan welcomes conversations; Waiting for a ‘peaceful resolution’
Pakistan welcomed the peace conversations mediated by Malaysia between Thailand and Cambodia, emphasizing the need for “regional diplomacy and cooperation,” the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
In a statement, the FO said: “Pakistan welcomes the successful conclusion of the special meeting organized by Malaysia in the situation of Cambodia-Thailandia.”
“We appreciate the spirit of dialogue and express hope of a peaceful resolution through diplomacy and regional cooperation,” fo added.
