Thailand has imposed a curfew in its southeastern Trat province as fighting with Cambodia spreads to coastal areas of the disputed border region. The move comes just two days after U.S. President Donald Trump acting as a would be peacemaker said both sides had agreed to halt hostilities.
The Southeast Asian neighbours have clashed multiple times this year following the death of a Cambodian soldier in May displacing hundreds of thousands of people on both sides. Thai Defence Ministry spokesman Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri said clashes have continued even as Cambodia reiterated its openness to a ceasefire. “Thailand is open to a diplomatic solution but Cambodia has to cease hostility first before we can negotiate,” he added.
Thai forces said on Saturday they destroyed a bridge used by Cambodia to transport heavy weapons and targeted pre positioned artillery in Cambodia’s coastal Koh Kong province. Cambodia accused Thailand of striking civilian infrastructure. The curfew in Trat covers five districts along the border though the tourist islands of Koh Chang and Koh Kood are excluded. A similar curfew remains in place in the eastern Sakeo province.
Since Monday both sides have exchanged heavy weapons fire along several points of the 817 kilometre border marking some of the most intense fighting since July when Trump and Malaysian mediation helped broker a temporary five day truce. Despite Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire on Friday after speaking with Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Premier Hun Manet Anutin vowed on Saturday to continue military operations “until we feel no more harm and threats to our land and people.”
A White House spokesperson said Trump expects all parties to honor their commitments and that he “will hold anyone accountable as necessary to stop the killing and ensure durable peace.” With tensions escalating along this key border region diplomatic efforts now face their toughest test yet.
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