The Cambodia-Thailand Peace Accord will serve as a landmark agreement when it is signed on October 26, under the auspices of US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the ASEAN chair. However, its success hinges on both signatories’ adherence to it. All components of the agreed-upon framework should be followed and implemented in an earnest way.
The word ‘Peace’ is an oft-repeated mantra. Full peace was restored in Cambodia on two remarkable occasions. Firstly, the Paris Peace Agreements, officially the Comprehensive Cambodian Peace Agreements, were signed on October 23, 1991, to terminate Cambodia’s civil war. Secondly, the reintegration of Anlong Veng, the final stronghold of the Khmer Rouge movement, on December 29, 1998, marked a complete end to the internal armed struggle, leaving the Khmer Rouge’s organised military and political structures dissolved. We have since praised peace as the robust foundation of national development in all sectors.
Twenty-seven years later, peace was challenged again, through a transnational armed clash along the Cambodia-Thailand border. Cambodia and Thailand engaged in brief yet fierce armed skirmishes over the border from July 24-28.
The five-day military clash reminded us of the value of peace and, in turn, protected by various means. Faced with such a war of aggression, the Cambodian people showed a united front towards a common cause for the nation. The new accord is expected to restore peace, rebuild trust and mend the bond. This should be one of the best mechanisms to cease violence in any shape or form.
During and after the armed clashes, some lessons have been learned and debated among the Cambodian people themselves.
First, we should never be too complacent about a peaceful atmosphere or take peace for granted. Peace provides us with more time and opportunities to build an even stronger strategic plan for nation building and national defence. To call a spade a spade, in time of war we are seeking peace and in time of peace we need to prepare for war to defend it.
Second, we should strengthen our own combat capabilities. A strong society depends upon human capital in all fields, particularly the military and technological spheres. This requires a long-term investment to catch up with the latest developments in the fast-growing world. The stronger the combat capabilities in land, air and sea that Cambodia has, the lesser probability a war could break out.
Third, building comprehensive strategic partnerships with countries, near and far, should be one of the best practices to shore up its national security and defence. This strategic move is purely for the full protection of our independent and sovereign state of Cambodia. Its territorial integrity “shall be absolutely inviolable” as stipulated in Cambodia’s constitution.
Fourth, as US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will stand as witnesses to the Cambodia-Thailand Peace Accord, it is worth considering the establishment of a US-led arbitration council with the coordination and support of ASEAN, China and other friendly nations. A peaceful settlement should be guaranteed under any circumstances as an US-led arbitration council could hear and adjudicate any arising accusations and disputes. All sorts of violence should be avoided but both sides could turn to this mechanism.
The Cambodia-Thailand Peace Accord signifies a historic step towards allowing both sides to resolve any issues diplomatically. Cambodia can transform it into opportunities to prevent future reoccurrence of the conflict through the full preparedness for any worst scenarios, such as a war.
This should involve strengthening its defensive and offensive capabilities, entering comprehensive strategic partnerships with selected countries and the establishment of an US-led arbitration council with the support of ASEAN, China and other friendly countries to mitigate the risk of a conflict.
Dr. Ly Sok Kheang is director of the Anlong Veng Peace Center of the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam). The views and opinions expressed are his own.
