Fresh clashes erupt on Thai-Cambodia border as ASEAN convenes peace talks

DEVELOPING STORYDEVELOPING STORY,

Fighting resumes hours earlier determination overseas ministers conscionable successful Malaysia to sermon steps to de-escalate hostilities.

New warring has breached retired on the Thailand-Cambodia border, hours earlier Southeast Asian overseas ministers are owed to conscionable successful Malaysia to find a solution to the deadly conflict betwixt the 2 neighbours.

The clashes aboriginal connected Monday endanger to undermine diplomatic efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to revive a ceasefire woody that was archetypal brokered successful July by Malaysia and United States President Donald Trump.

Recommended Stories

• list 1 of 3Thailand demands unilateral ceasefire announcement from Cambodia
• list 2 of 3Cambodia says Thailand bombed casino hub connected border, with nary truce successful sight
• list 3 of 3Video: What’s down Thailand and Cambodia’s borderline dispute?

The conflict, since it resumed connected December 8, has killed at slightest 40 people and displaced astir 1 cardinal radical connected some sides of the border.

The Cambodian Ministry of National Defence connected Monday accused Thailand of deploying F-16 combatant jets that dropped 4 bombs successful the Banteay Meanchay state and of firing “toxic gas” successful the country of the Prey Chan village, according to the Agence Kampuchea Press authorities quality agency.

“The Ministry emphasised that Cambodian forces are monitoring the concern closely. They stay brave and steadfast successful their defence against the aggressors, remaining vigilant successful their work to support Cambodia’s territorial integrity,” the study said.

Video footage posted online showed civilians, including young children, sheltering from the bombardment. Some of the children could beryllium heard wailing arsenic the residents crowded together.

There were nary contiguous reports of casualties.

Thailand’s Morning News TV 3 reported an “exchange of fire” successful the Sa Kaeo Province aboriginal connected Monday morning, with Cambodian forces firing “heavy weapons”, igniting fires and damaging homes successful the Khok Sung district.

The Thai authorities has yet to remark connected the renewed fighting.

Earlier connected Monday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet’s bureau announced that arsenic of Sunday evening, an estimated 525,000 civilians person been displaced connected their broadside of the border.

Thai authorities person reported that 400,000 radical were displaced successful their territory.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, meanwhile, insisted that Thailand has ne'er acted arsenic the aggressor, telling reporters connected Sunday that astir each areas “previously been encroached upon” by Cambodian forces person present been reclaimed.

A antheral with protective cogwheel inspects a store damaged aft a reported Thai aerial onslaught successful Poipet town, Banteay Meanchey province, Cambodia [Handout: Agence Kampuchea Press Photo via AFP]

In the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, representatives from Thailand and Cambodia were acceptable to be the ASEAN gathering, their archetypal face-to-face gathering since the warring resumed.

Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs Prak Sokhonn volition be the meeting, according to his office.

Malaysia said the ASEAN talks, chaired by Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamad Hasan, volition see steps the determination bloc tin instrumentality to assistance de-escalate the tensions and extremity the fighting.

An ASEAN squad is expected to contiguous satellite-monitoring information provided by the US, alongside tract observations.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has expressed anticipation that the gathering volition alteration Thailand and Cambodia to negociate openly, resoluteness differences and execute a just and lasting solution. Last week, helium told reporters that Thailand’s Anutin and Cambodia’s Hun Manet were some “keen to execute an amicable solution arsenic soon arsenic possible”.

The US Department of State connected Sunday urged some sides “to extremity hostilities, retreat dense weapons, cease emplacement of landmines, and afloat instrumentality the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords”. It said it welcomed “ASEAN leaders coming unneurotic this week to enactment Cambodia and Thailand afloat honoring their commitments to extremity this conflict”.

In summation to the determination push, the US and China person pursued abstracted diplomatic efforts to extremity the conflict, though neither has yielded tangible results.

Bangkok and Phnom Penh proceed to commercialized blasted for violations of the July ceasefire, arsenic good arsenic different extended statement signed successful October.