Post by : Meena Ariff

Thailand’s army is still inside Cambodia, blocking some areas with barbed wire and shipping containers. This causes a risk to the peace agreement between the two countries, which had fights twice last year. Cambodia’s foreign minister, Prak Sokhonn, said that about 4,000 Cambodian families cannot return to their homes near the border because of the Thai troops, even though both countries agreed to stop fighting in December.

In an interview from Phnom Penh, Prak Sokhonn mentioned at least four places where Thai soldiers have entered Cambodian land. He said the situation is calm but there are still risks, and he hopes Thailand will fully follow the peace agreement.

Thailand’s military and government denied Cambodia’s claims, saying their soldiers are following the rules and staying in their positions after the ceasefire. They said this should not be seen as taking land.

The fighting in December involved fighter jets, rocket attacks, and heavy artillery, following clashes in July that ended after help from U.S. President Donald Trump. The December conflict caused 101 deaths and forced more than half a million people to leave their homes on both sides. This fight is part of a long-lasting border dispute between the countries.

Cambodia asked for a meeting of the Joint Boundary Commission to solve the border problems, but Thailand has not confirmed if they will join. Prak Sokhonn said fixing the issue of occupied villages is very important so people can return home.

Thailand’s foreign ministry said they are preparing for talks that will happen after the new government starts following the February 8 election. They said they are committed to solving problems through talks and want to restart the Joint Boundary Commission soon.

The December 27 peace deal also said neither side will send more troops to the border and displaced people will be allowed to go back home. Prak Sokhonn said the fighting caused a lot of damage to people’s lives and to schools, bridges, temples, roads, and other buildings.

While Trump helped stop the July fighting and supported a ceasefire in October, he could not stop the December fighting right away. Along with Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, China also helped with peace efforts, sending special envoys to both countries in late December.

#Global News #Thailand News #World News #Cambodia