Thailand Says Cambodia Must Move First to End Border Clashes

(MENAFN) Deadly confrontations along the Thailand-Cambodia frontier have claimed at least 52 lives on both sides, with Thailand now insisting its neighbor must take the initial step toward ending hostilities despite earlier assertions that combat would cease.

Maratee Nalita Andamo, spokesperson for Thailand's Foreign Ministry, outlined stringent prerequisites for any truce, stating through a public broadcaster that legitimacy hinges on meeting particular requirements.

"It is incumbent on Cambodia to initiate a ceasefire since it was the one that violated Thai territory," she added.

Bangkok is additionally pressing Phnom Penh to cooperate genuinely on removing explosive devices planted near the boundary, Andamo emphasized, declaring these demands essential "for the border fighting to stop."

Thai officials have charged Cambodia with deploying fresh landmines throughout contested zones—accusations Cambodian authorities have rejected.

On Monday, Cambodia petitioned the Convention on Cluster Munitions to denounce Thailand's "use of cluster munitions in civilian areas and uphold international humanitarian law," according to a statement from the Cambodian Ministry of Information issued Tuesday.

Despite Thailand not being party to the treaty, Cambodia said it "respectfully calls upon the president of the CCM and the wider Convention family to condemn the use of cluster munitions in civilian areas, highlight the catastrophic humanitarian consequences, and advocate for the strict adherence to international humanitarian law by all actors."

Thai media reported two additional Thai military personnel perished during Tuesday evening's violence, pushing total Thai soldier fatalities to 19.

Sixteen Thai non-combatants have also died in the hostilities.

Cambodia's Interior Ministry confirmed 17 Cambodian civilians lost their lives with 77 more wounded, a state-run news outlet reported.

Meanwhile, emergency restrictions in Thailand's Trat province were rescinded after authorities deemed the area stabilized, Royal Thai Navy assistant spokesperson Napassakorn Tipso stated, according to Thai media.

Violence has persisted even after US President Donald Trump announced Friday that leaders from both nations had committed to suspending renewed aggression.

The neighboring countries executed a peace accord in October at Kuala Lumpur with Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim present, though implementation halted following severe injuries to Thai troops from a landmine detonation in a frontier province.

Thai authorities report approximately 18 Cambodian military members remain detained following incidents spanning the previous five months.

Thailand and Cambodia share a protracted territorial disagreement that has repeatedly ignited armed conflict, including July clashes claiming no fewer than 48 lives.

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