Ceasefire holds as Thailand and Cambodia end five-day border skirmishes

Sporadic fighting erupted on the Thailand-Cambodia border as the two countries reignited their dispute over religious sites that have extended as far back as the colonial era.

The five-day conflict, the worst in the area in decades, has displaced about 260,000 people from their homes on both sides in an attempt to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

Foreign influences such as the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have stepped in to pressure Thailand and Cambodia to enter a negotiation for a temporary peace.

Truce achieved

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai met on Monday in Malaysia as part of the efforts to reach a truce agreement organised by Kuala Lumpur.

The two leaders, in the presence of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar, shook hands, signifying a successful negotiation for a ceasefire that will take effect at midnight.

Malaysia currently chairs the ASEAN bloc with Anwar saying that the truce is a “step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security.”

Last week, United States President Donald Trump warned both Bangkok and Phnom Penh not to escalate the situation, as it would stall the tariff negotiations if they refuse to halt the fighting.

Trump also announced on Truth Social that he expected a peace agreement to be crafted soon, just prior to the meeting in Putrajaya.

As part of the deal, the military commanders from both sides will hold a meeting on Tuesday to defuse the situation.

Cambodia is also slated to organise a border committee meeting on Monday, August 4.

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The heirs of the Khmer Empire

Before the arrival of the European colonizers, a civilization known as the Khmer Empire or the Kingdom of Angkor was the hegemon in mainland Southeast Asia from 802 to 1431 CE.

The empire’s territories encompass the modern-day nations of Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.

But while Laos and Cambodia fell to French colonial rulers, who later established French Indochina, Thailand managed to preserve its independence, being the only Southeast Asian country to do so.

However, the 800-kilometre border that separates Thailand and French Cambodia is littered with temples that are sacred to both nations, flaring up tensions over which of them truly owns these religious sites.

One such site is the Preah Vihear, an 11th-century Hindu temple, which has been a major flashpoint for the Thai and Cambodian militaries.

While the  International Court of Justice (ICJ) ultimately ruled in 1962 that the temple belongs to Cambodia, it did not solve the conflict, as the area where the temple sits is accessible only through Thailand.

Heavy artillery fires

Following the May 28 skirmishes that resulted in the death of one Cambodian soldier, the conflict intensified on July 24 when both sides launched their more complex military weapons to try to seize the initiative.

The Cambodian Army deployed rocket artillery, such as the BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, 40 km away from the Ta Moan Thom temple, another disputed territory.

Heavy artillery fire from Cambodia also struck a hospital in Thailand, damaging several facilities and medical equipment.

In response, Thailand sent two F-16 and two JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets to attack Cambodian army positions.

In a video released by the Royal Thai Army last Friday, a successful drone operation caused a Cambodian military arms depot to explode, with fire and smoke seen in the area.

Both sides accused each other of targeting civilians, as 53 were reported to have died from the fighting.

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A path to peace

The established ceasefire treaty could be beneficial to both sides, as it would allow them to catch their breath after almost a week of fighting.

If the skirmishes continue, major economic activities could be disrupted, especially in the Emerald Triangle, an area where Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos share a border.

Additionally, the tourism sectors of both countries could nosedive if the situation remains unstable.

Thai tourism contributes about 12 per cent to its gross domestic product, while tourism accounts for nine per cent of the Cambodian economy.

However, only time will tell if Thailand and Cambodia are committed to long-term peace, especially since nationalistic fervour is gripping both their populations in the aftermath of leaked calls between suspended Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen last June.

Paetongtarn, who called Hun Sen “uncle” in the phone calls, saw her ratings drop to 9.2% in July.

The Shinawatra family is a known political adversary of Thailand’s military establishment, casting further doubt on the military’s willingness to settle for a compromise in the face of a potential return of Paetongtarn to her office.

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