The governments of Thailand and Cambodia are considering a ceasefire proposed by Malaysia, while the armed forces of both countries are engaged in fighting at least twelve points along the border this Friday, according to official statements and declarations by the leaders involved.
The border conflict, which has already left at least 19 dead in Thailand—including at least 13 civilians and six soldiers—and one civilian dead and five wounded in Cambodia, escalated after weeks of tension in the border area near the Preah Vihear Hindu temple. More than 138,000 Thais have fled their homes and some 3,400 Cambodian families have been evacuated, the Thai Ministry of Health and local Cambodian authorities reported.
On Friday night, the Thai Foreign Ministry expressed its gratitude to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for his mediation and offer to implement a cessation of hostilities."Thailand fully agrees in principle and will consider it," the ministry said, though it warned that Cambodian forces"continued their indiscriminate attacks on Thai territory," conduct that Bangkok said puts civilians at risk and "demonstrates a lack of good faith."
For his part, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet claimed that Thailand was the one who broke the Malaysian-brokered ceasefire, noting that after both governments accepted the proposal, “an hour later, the Thai side changed its position.” Hun Manet stressed in a Facebook post that “the key to resolving the current armed conflict lies in the genuine willingness of the Thai side to accept a ceasefire.”
Martial law in eight border districts
The escalating violence prompted Thailand’s Border Defense Command in the eastern provinces of Chanthaburi and Trat to declare martial law in at least eight districts. The move is intended to facilitate the movement of troops, police, and civilians “to protect the nation from this external threat.” The affected districts include Mueang Chanthaburi, Tha Mai, Makham, Laem Singh, Kaeng Hang Maew, Na Yai Am, and Khao Khitchakut in Chanthaburi, and Khao Saming in Trat.
In these territories, Thai forces report using cluster munitions — banned by international treaties — “exclusively against military targets,” confirmed General Winthai Suvaree, spokesman for the Thai army, who stressed that “Thailand is not a party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM).”
However, Cambodian army spokeswoman General Maly Socheata denounced that Thailand had used the munitions against at least seven targets, including temples and residential areas, which she called a “violation of international law.”
United Nations reports warn that cluster munitions can pose a serious danger to civilians because the projectiles can remain unexploded and detonate years later. The Thai government, however, insists that the operations"are governed by the principle of proportionality."
The role of ASEAN and the UN
Malaysia, which holds the rotating presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), called on both countries to immediately ceasefire. “I call on both sides to avoid further hostilities and allow space for peaceful dialogue,” said Anwar Ibrahim, after speaking with Hun Manet and Phumtham Wechayachai, Thailand’s acting prime minister. Malaysia offered to facilitate the talks, though it acknowledged that the governments requested more time to implement the pause.
The United Nations Security Council called an emergency meeting on the crisis, while Secretary-General António Guterres urged both nations to opt for dialogue.
The dispute has historical roots in the 800-kilometer border demarcation, particularly around the Preah Vihear temple. The last significant clash occurred between 2008 and 2011 and left nearly 30 people dead. In May, a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash that sparked tensions. This week, the detonation of a landmine that injured Thai soldiers triggered large-scale fighting and the closure of border crossings.
Both governments insist on blaming the other for initiating the hostilities. While the situation remains unresolved, tens of thousands of people remain displaced, and the region is closely watching the evolution of the conflict, which threatens the stability of two ASEAN member countries and long-standing partners in Southeast Asia.
