Thailand and Cambodia to hold talks on deadly border conflict in Malaysia

The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia will attend mediation talks about their deadly clashes in Malaysia on Monday, the Thai government said, even when both sides accused each other of starting new strikes.

Talks are scheduled to start at 3 pm Local time (0700 GMT) on Monday, with Prime Minister Phumham Wechayachai leading the Thai negotiation team, the government said in a statement on Sunday night.

Malaysia, chairing the ASEAN regional cooperation forum, informed the Thai government that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet would also monitor the talks, the statement said.

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Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have intensified by the late murder of a Cambodian soldier during a brief skirmish. Border troops on both sides were reinforced by a complete diplomatic crisis that brought the fragile government of the Thai coalition on the brink of collapse.

The hostilities continued on Thursday and, within just four days, escalated in the worst battles between the neighbors of Southeast Asia in more than a decade.

The number of deaths has increased over 30, including 13 civilians in Thailand and eight in Cambodia, while authorities report that more than 200,000 people have been evacuated from the border areas.

Monday’s talks come after last week, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim suggested a ceasefire and US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the two leaders had agreed to work on the ceasefire.

Calls for Peace

Bangkok and Pnom Penh accused the other side of pushing last week’s hostilities.

The Cambodian Ministry of Defense said Thailand had a shell and began territory attacks on Sunday morning at various points along the border. The ministry spokesman said the heavy artillery was shot in historic temple complexes.

“For me, I think it’s great if Thailand has agreed to stop struggling so that both countries live in peace,” said the student at the University of Penh Sreung Nita in Reuters.

The Thai army said Cambodian forces had shooting shots in several areas, including near political homes on Sunday and mobilized long -range rocket launchers.

“The situation remains tense and Cambodian troops can prepare intensive military operations to cause maximum damage to the final stages before the negotiations,” the army said in a report.

In the province of Thailand of Sisaket, Reuters reporters listened to the bombardment throughout Sunday and said it was not clear on which side of the borders they were up.

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A 10km government clinic (6 miles) from the border had crushed windows, collapsed walls and exposed wiring. Local media reported that it was hit by the artillery on Saturday, two days after the evacuation of the building and the surrounding neighborhood.

Only a few men remained taking care of their homes, camping near an improvised tank that had been dug to protect. The intermittent sounds of artillery fire could be heard at a distance.

“It is wonderful that America insists on the ceasefire because it will bring peace,” resident Sisaket Thaosawan told Reuters.

Thailand and Cambodia have spent over the unjustified points along the 817 km (508 miles) for decades, with the ownership of the ancient Hindu temples Ta Moan Thom and the 11th century Preah Vihear Central.

Preah Vihear was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962, but the situation worsened in 2008, after Cambodia attempted to record it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The skirmishes have brought at least twelve deaths for several years.

Cambodia said in June that it had asked the International Court of Justice to resolve its disputes with Thailand. Bangkok says that she has never recognized the jurisdiction of the court and prefers a bilateral approach.