ASEAN chair Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, expressed his concerns over reported breaches of the ceasefire and joint peace declaration between Cambodia and Thailand with the latest armed clashes along the borders on December 7 and today, December 8.
“I am deeply concerned by reports of armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai forces along their common border. I offer my condolences to the families of those who have been killed or injured. The renewed fighting risks unravelling the careful work that has gone into stabilising relations between the two neighbours,” he posted on social media.
“Thailand and Cambodia are close partners of Malaysia and key members of ASEAN. We urge both sides to exercise maximum restraint, maintain open channels of communication and make full use of the mechanisms in place. Malaysia stands ready to support steps that can help restore calm and avert further incidents,” he said.
Anwar said the region cannot afford to see long-standing disputes slip into cycles of confrontation. He called for an immediate halt to the fighting, for civilians to be safeguarded and return to a diplomatic path supported by international law and the neighbourly spirit on which ASEAN depends.
