KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 — Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to observe a ceasefire along their shared border, with both sides maintaining current troop positions without calling in reinforcements.
According to the Agreed Minutes of the Extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting issued today, both sides must avoid unprovoked firing towards the other side’s positions or troops, which may escalate tensions.
“During the meeting, the two neighbours also agreed to a ceasefire involving all types of weapons, including attacks on civilians and civilian objects and military objectives of either side.
“Thailand and Cambodia also agree to refrain from constructing or enhancing any military infrastructure or fortifications beyond their own side, also not to use any kind of forces against civilians and civilian objects in all circumstances,” read the document.
The meeting held at Wisma Perwira here today was co-chaired by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Seiha, and Thai acting defence minister Nattaphon Narkphanit.
Also present during the meeting as observers were Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari, and Chief of Defence Force Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar, as well as United States Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard D. Kagan and Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing.
The minutes emphasised that both sides reached a consensus to comply with international humanitarian law in the treatment of captured soldiers, including their living conditions, shelter, food, and medical care in case of injury.
“Soldiers captured shall be immediately released and repatriated after the cessation of active hostilities, in accordance with Article 118 of the Third Geneva Convention of 1949 and Rule 128 (A) of the Customary International Humanitarian Law,” it stated.
It also noted that in the event of an armed conflict, whether intentional or unintentional, both sides must promptly consult at the local level through existing bilateral mechanisms to prevent the situation from escalating along the entire border.
The two countries also agreed to maintain regular communications between all army areas and military regions and units along the border of both sides and strive to solve all issues peacefully and avoid clashes, the agreed minutes read.
The agreed minutes also mentioned the Regional Border Committee meeting, to be held within two weeks of today’s meeting, with the host to be determined based on a regular rotation system.
It also emphasised the need for regular and direct lines of communication at ministerial and defence chiefs level.
Meanwhile, in order to de-escalate tensions, mitigate negative public sentiment and foster an environment conducive to peaceful dialogue, both sides also agreed to refrain from disseminating false information or fake news.
Both sides agreed to schedule the next GBC meeting within a month after today, with a venue to be decided later.
“Otherwise, another extraordinary GBC meeting should be called immediately with the same format as this extraordinary GBC meeting to discuss the ceasefire,” read the minutes.
