Bangkok has denied US President Donald Trump’s claim that a new truce between Thailand and Cambodia had taken effect on Friday, officials said. The fighting, according to Thai military sources, is ongoing between the two sides and will continue until there is a workable solution.
The renewed clashes have now entered their second week following an initial border clash on December 7. The Thai air force has conducted a series of airstrikes with F-16 jets against the Cambodian troops in the bordering areas. The renewed escalation has uprooted more than 800,000 people on both sides.
The official stats indicate that more than 26 people have been killed, including the 15 Thai soldiers and 11 Cambodian civilians, as of Sunday. Both sides blame each other for violating the ceasefire, while Trump on Friday claimed that the Southeast Asian neighbours had agreed to halt fighting.
However, the Thai authorities on Sunday rejected the claims, saying fighting was ongoing. Thai defence ministry spokesman Surasant Kongsiri said Cambodia shelled and bombed several border provinces overnight and into Sunday.
Also Read: Cambodia-Thailand peace deal signed, Hun Manet thanks Trump
In response, Cambodia's defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata accused Thailand of carrying out illegal airstrikes inside the country since midnight. Thousands of migrant workers have been stranded after Cambodia closed its borders with Thailand. During October negotiations, Trump backed truce talks between Thailand and Cambodia and hinted at trade deals with both nations if they agreed to continue to prolong the truce.
However, Thailand suspended the agreement in November after Thai soldiers were reportedly killed in a landmine blast at the border. When asked about the specificity of the matter that Trump discussed with Thailand’s Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul replied there were "no signs Trump would connect further US-Thailand trade talks with the border conflict.”
Also Read: Cambodia accuses Thailand of violating ceasefire
Follow us
