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Singapore: Barely a fortnight since the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand signed the so-called Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords in the presence of US President Donald Trump, fresh fighting at the contested point has turned deadly.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, a co-signee of the refreshed peace deal, said a Cambodian citizen had been killed and three others injured in “an unprovoked use of violence by the Thai side” on Wednesday afternoon in Banteay Meanchey province.
US President Donald Trump (right) with Cambodian leader Hun Manet (shaking hands) and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Credit: Getty Images
Thailand has accused Cambodian soldiers of firing first into the neighbouring Thai province of Sa Kaeo and providing an “entirely false” account.
The allegations come after Thailand this week blamed Cambodian forces for planting landmines that had injured several of its soldiers.
That incident, on Monday, prompted Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to declare a pause in the Kuala Lumpur accords brokered by Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the Association of South-East Asian Nations summit in Kuala Lumpur late last month.
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Trump had made the trip to Malaysia in large part to preside over the signing and bolster his peace-making credentials as part of his campaign to win next year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
“I don’t need to do it, I guess. But if I can take time to save millions of lives ... I can’t think of anything better to do,” Trump said at the peace signing, while praising both Manet and Anutin as great and consequential men.
But the accords were never as strong as Trump made out. While Cambodia, the weaker party, publicly embraced them, Thailand was later more circumspect, signalling that the deal was a starting point rather than an end.
Whatever remains of the ceasefire seems fragile now to the point of collapse.
“I call on the Thai side to immediately cease the use of force against innocent Cambodian civilians in Prey Chan village and to refrain from any use of force in addressing border issues between our two countries,” Manet said in a statement on Wednesday night.
“I also call for an independent investigation into this incident and appeal for the participation of qualified international parties to uncover the truth and those responsible in order to deliver justice for the victims.
“At the same time, I instructed the local authorities and all security forces to take urgent measures to protect our civilians – placing absolute priority on their safety and lives.”
Thai Army spokesman Major-General Winthai Suvaree said the initial fire from Cambodian soldiers had been met with “warning shots in response”.
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“Thai return fire was conducted with caution, directed at the opposing armed positions to absolutely avoid any impact on civilian areas or populations,” the statement said.
“Cambodia’s accusations that Thailand initiated fire, provoked conflict, and violated the ceasefire are entirely false. Cambodia’s firing from a civilian area as cover constitutes using human shields, violating humanitarian principles and demonstrating complete disregard for Cambodian civilian lives.”
Five days of fighting at the disputed border in late July claimed more than 40 lives, including civilians.
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