Bangkok, July 31: Thailand and Cambodia have planned border visits for foreign diplomats to observe damages from the nearly weeklong clash, as violence that continued after a ceasefire appeared to ease. The ceasefire reached in Malaysia was supposed to take effect at midnight Monday, but it was quickly tested as Thailand and Cambodia continued to accuse each other of violating the truce agreements. Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is organizing a trip to the border for military attachés of foreign missions and the media on Friday to show the impact of the clashes on the ground. Cambodia is also organizing a border visit for foreign diplomats on the same day.
Thailand’s government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub said that there had been no new clashes reported overnight Wednesday. However, tensions on other fronts continue to simmer. Officials in Thailand’s border province of Surin cautioned evacuees against returning home as they were surveying affected areas for any ammunition that might still pose a risk. Cambodia has received the body of one of its soldiers from Thailand, and Cambodia’s Defence Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata said that the military is now in contact with its Thai counterparts to facilitate the return of about 20 other soldiers captured by Thai forces.
Hun Manet and Thailand’s acting prime minister agreed on an “unconditional” halt in the fighting, which has killed at least 41 people. The ceasefire was brokered with US pressure as President Donald Trump said he would not move forward with trade agreements if the conflict continued. Both countries continued to blame each other, and Thailand accused Cambodia of launching new attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday after the agreement took effect. (AP)
