Cambodia Urges Thailand to Resume Border Talks; New Thai Government Says Not Ready Yet

Agence France-Presse reported that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet stated yesterday that he "deeply hopes" the two countries can cooperate "swiftly and sincerely." He said in a social media statement: "This will become the foundation for lasting peace, allowing our border residents to live in peace and prosperity. Cambodia is fully prepared."

However, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow pointed out yesterday that the new government has just been formed and is not yet ready to resume negotiations. When asked about Cambodia's call to resume negotiations, Sihasak said that Cambodia has the "right" to do so, but Thailand also has its "own procedures" to follow.

Cambodia and Thailand have been in dispute for decades over the demarcation of an 800-kilometer border left over from the French colonial era.

The border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia led to several rounds of clashes last year, resulting in dozens of deaths and over a million displacements in July and December of the same year. The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement at the end of December, opening the way for border negotiations, but tensions have not eased, with both sides continuously accusing each other of violating the ceasefire agreement.

The Cambodian government accused Thai troops of occupying multiple areas in the border provinces, violating the agreement between the two sides, and demanded the withdrawal of Thai troops.