Thailand and Cambodia have agreed with an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire “after five days of combat at their border killed at least 33 people and moved tens of thousands.
“This is a vital first step towards de -escalation and a restoration of peace and security,” said Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, flanked by his Thai and Cambodian counterparts, when he announced that hostilities would end at midnight.
Thailand initially rejected its mediation offer, but agreed after US President Donald Trump said the pricing negotiations would not continue before “combat stops”.
Tensions during the centenary border dispute had accelerated in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation.
Thailand has imposed restrictions on citizens and tourists before Cambodia via land, while Cambodia has prohibited certain imports from Thailand, including fruit, electricity and internet services. Local Cambodian points of sale have indicated that hundreds of thousands of workers had returned from Thailand since May.
The situation degenerated last week after a Thai soldier lost his leg in an explosion of terrestrial mines. Thailand has closed some of its border passages with Cambodia, expelled their ambassador and recalled its own.
The two parties exchanged shots at the start last Thursday last Thursday, each claiming that the other had triggered the conflict which now killed more than 30 people on both sides.
According to the army of Thailand, many of the victims on the Thai side were civilians in villages struck by rockets. Cambodia said that 13 people had been killed so far on their side, including eight civilians.
Shapels and rockets continued to land in the two countries even if the peace talks were underway.
Anwar said Malaysia and other members of the Regional Bloc, the South-East Association of Asia or Anase was on site to help monitor the ceasefire.
The Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Manet, described him as a very good meeting which he immediately hoped to stop the fighting. Cambodia is pressure for a cease-fire since Friday, because its outdated forces have been reproduced by the Thai army.
Interim Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai spoke briefly, promising to honor the ceasefire.
The two leaders also thanked the United States and China whose representatives attended talks. Thailand and Cambodia are trying to negotiate a trade agreement with Washington, and China remains an important trading partner with influence.
It will take several days to make a verified withdrawal of the troops on both sides and for emotions to cool down given the destruction and loss of lives in the last five days.
Older evacuated near the Thai border that had experienced bombing during the Cambodian civil war in the 1980s told the BBC last week that it was the worst they had known.
The Thai army said on Sunday that more than 140,000 civilians had been evacuated to shelters in seven provinces.
In Cambodia, where the press is seriously limited, the Khmer Times Pro-State cited a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense who said that around 135,000 people along the border had been relocated on Sunday.
A 75 -year -old Cambodian woman who was evacuated to a refuge told BBC on Monday that she still did not feel safe because she could hear Thai drones on tents.
She said she wanted to “see the war stop tonight”.
