BANGKOK — Thailand and Cambodia formalized a new ceasefire agreement on Saturday to halt weeks of fighting along their shared border over disputed territories. The agreement, signed by Defense Ministers Tea Seiha of Cambodia and Nattaphon Narkphanit of Thailand at a border checkpoint, took effect at noon local time (0500 GMT) and calls for a halt to military movements and airspace violations for military purposes.
Only Thailand has conducted airstrikes in recent days, including strikes in Cambodia as recently as Saturday morning, according to the Cambodian Defense Ministry. The deal also stipulates that, after the ceasefire holds for 72 hours, Thailand will repatriate 18 Cambodian soldiers it has held since July, a major demand of Cambodia.
Hours after signing, Thailand’s Foreign Ministry lodged a protest after a Thai soldier suffered a permanent disability from stepping on an anti-personnel land mine, which Thailand claims was planted by Cambodian forces.
The new agreement builds on previous ceasefires, including a July deal brokered by Malaysia and supported by U.S. pressure under former President Donald Trump, and an October agreement formalized at a regional meeting in Malaysia. Despite these earlier deals, minor cross-border violence and propaganda continued, escalating in early December into widespread fighting.
Thai officials report 26 soldiers and one civilian killed since December 7, along with 44 civilian deaths. Cambodia has not released military casualty figures but confirmed 30 civilians killed and 90 injured. The fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands on both sides.
“Today’s ceasefire also paves the way for displaced people living in border areas to return to their homes, work in the fields, and allow children to resume their studies,” Cambodia’s Defense Minister Tea Seiha said after the signing.
The agreement includes provisions for joint humanitarian demining operations, adherence to international agreements on land mines, resumption of border demarcation measures, and cooperation to suppress transnational crimes, including online scams that have targeted victims worldwide. Both sides also committed to refraining from spreading false information.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, a key mediator in the original ceasefire, said the new agreement “reflects a shared recognition that restraint is required, above all in the interest of civilians.”
Despite the agreement, Thailand remains cautious. Defense Ministry spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri emphasized that the 72-hour ceasefire is a test of Cambodia’s commitment to peace, stating that the safe return of civilians would signal a stabilized situation and pave the way for the repatriation of Cambodian prisoners.
“However, if the ceasefire does not materialize, this would indicate a lack of sincerity on the Cambodian side to create sure peace,” Kongsiri added.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
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