Thailand and Cambodia Agree on Border Cooperation Amid Ceasefire
Thailand and Cambodia have announced an agreement to clear landmines along their shared border and resolve territorial disputes, following a recent escalation of armed conflict in the region. A fragile truce has been established after violent confrontations last month, reports 24brussels.
Jirayu Huangsap, spokesperson for the Thai Prime Minister’s office, revealed the outcomes of an extraordinary meeting held by the Regional Border Committee (RBC) on Saturday. This committee includes representatives from both countries and aims to address ongoing tensions along the nearly 820-kilometer border.
Recent incidents of landmine explosions, including an incident on August 12, have heightened concerns. Prior to the conflict that erupted on July 24, two other explosions occurred on July 16 and 23, resulting in the deaths of at least 44 individuals, including civilians, over five days of fighting.
Thailand accuses Cambodia of laying new explosive devices, whereas Cambodia firmly denies this, asserting that any mines present date back to past civil wars. The nation ranks among the most affected by landmines globally, with an estimated six million mines laid between 1975 and 1998, many of which remain unaccounted for.
In addition to the landmine removal and border clarifications, Thailand and Cambodia have also reached an agreement to dismantle cross-border scam networks associated with cyber fraud that has emerged in Southeast Asia.
On July 28, both nations instituted a ceasefire, but have since exchanged accusations of violations. Historical maps drawn by France in 1907, when Cambodia was under colonial rule, outline the current border.
