Thailand and Cambodia have halted hostilities along their troubled border, accepting an “immediate and unconditional” truce following days of intense combat. The violence, which erupted over disputed borderlands, has left at least 36 dead—including many civilians—and triggered mass evacuations nearing a quarter-million people.
Both governments traded accusations and artillery fire before finally sitting down to negotiations overseen by Malaysia and widely encouraged by the US and regional powers. At the heart of the dispute lies a string of historic temples and unclear colonial-era boundaries.
The preliminary agreement includes meetings between military commanders and the establishment of a cross-border committee to fortify peace arrangements. As the news was announced, artillery could still be heard in the Cambodian city of Samraong, signaling that full quiet may take time to achieve.
The truce marks the most significant step toward ending a crisis that reminded many of the deadly border confrontations from 2008 to 2011. Citizens on both sides hope the calm will hold.
Guns Fall Silent as Thailand and Cambodia Accept Ceasefire Deal
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Picture Credit: www.heute.at
