Thailand and Cambodia are set to resume ceasefire talks to try and end their deadly border conflict, as Bangkok claims that the initial peace deal was rushed for Donald Trump to sign.
The two countries are set to return to the negotiating table on Wednesday, following a meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers in Malaysia.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said the initial deal was rushed so US President Donald Trump could attend a signing ceremony in October.
He said the lack of detail resulted in the agreement breaking down.
“I’ve noted that we were sometimes in a rush to do the (joint) declaration. Because the United States wanted the declaration signed in time by the visit of President Trump,” Mr Sihasak said.
“I mean the earliest, the earlier the better, but sometimes we really need to sit down … so that things that we agree will really hold, really be respected.”
Thailand has undertaken more air strikes on Cambodia in recent weeks. (AP Photo: Wason Wanichakorn)
While Cambodia has publicly said it is ready for an unconditional ceasefire, Bangkok never received any direct proposal, he added.
Mr Sihasak said that the ceasefire statements aimed at increasing international pressure, rather than resolving the issue.
“This time, let’s thrash out the details and make sure the ceasefire reflects the situation on the ground and the ceasefire is one that really holds, and both sides are going to fully respect the ceasefire,” he said.
Cambodia has not commented on peace negotiations restarting, but claimed Thailand launched further air strikes on its territory following the ASEAN meeting.
Cambodia’s defence ministry said the Thai military “deployed F-16 fighter jets to bombard” areas of Siem Reap and Preah Vihear provinces, following the talks.
Landmines a key issue
The recent outbreak of fighting along border has killed at least 41 people and displaced hundreds of thousands of people in recent weeks.
The border conflict escalated into deadly combat two weeks ago and derailed the agreement promoted by Mr Trump, which ended five days of fighting in July.
The agreement was brokered by Malaysia and pushed through under pressure from the US president, who threatened to withhold trade privileges unless Thailand and Cambodia agreed.
The US Department of State on Sunday released a statement calling for Thailand and Cambodia to “end hostilities, withdraw heavy weapons, cease emplacement of landmines, and fully implement the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords”, remove land mines and address border issues.
Under the October truce Thailand was to release 18 Cambodian soldiers held prisoner and both sides were to begin removing heavy weapons and land mines along the border.
Both countries have blamed the other for breaking the peace deal.
Renewed Thailand Cambodia conflict explained
Land mine explosions have been a particularly sensitive issue for Thailand, which has lodged several protests after alleging Cambodia laid new mines that wounded soldiers patrolling the frontier.
Cambodia insists the mines were remnants of its decades-long civil war, which ended in 1999.
“These were clearly newly planted landmines, and this was confirmed by the ASEAN observer team,” Mr Sihasak said, calling it a “clear violation” of the October agreement.
The Thai navy said on Sunday that one of its marines on the front line had sustained serious injuries to his right leg from stepping on a land mine.
The navy also claimed to have discovered many abandoned weapons and explosive ordnance while securing an area described as a Cambodian stronghold, which showed “deliberate planning and intentional use of anti-personnel landmines” against Thai troops.
The Thai Foreign Ministry said it would send letters of protest to Cambodia and Zambia, the current chair of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, also known as the Ottawa Convention, to pursue further action under the convention’s mechanisms.
AP/AFP/ABC
