Thailand, Cambodia agree to strict ceasefire at GBC talks

KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to strictly uphold a ceasefire along their shared border and to avoid any provocative actions.

The agreement was reached at an Extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting, which concluded in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

Thailand’s Acting Defence Minister General Natthaphon Narkphanit said the meeting aimed to restore peace and stability along the border, enabling citizens of both countries to resume normal life.

He outlined five key outcomes, including the formation of a temporary observer team made up of ASEAN military attachés based in Thailand and Cambodia.

“This team will be led by a supporting military attaché from Malaysia.

“"They will conduct regular monitoring from within their respective countries, without crossing the border and will coordinate closely with both countries’ Military Border Committees and GBCs," he said at a press conference.

The meeting began at 2pm and was facilitated by the Malaysian Armed Forces.

Attendees included Cambodia’s Defence Minister General Tea Seiha, General Natthaphon, military chiefs from both countries and observers from Malaysia, the United States, and China.

Malaysia was represented by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Chief of Defence Forces General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar.

The talks followed a fragile ceasefire reached on July 28 in Putrajaya, brokered by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, with observers from the United States and China in attendance.

Tensions flared in late May after a deadly clash in the disputed Preah Vihear region, which resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier.