Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has urged UN Secretary-General António Guterres to encourage Thailand to refrain from using force to resolve border disputes, particularly in areas inhabited by civilians.
He made the request during a meeting today, September 1, as the two met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Tianjin, China.
According to Manet, Guterres has been closely monitoring the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict. The UN secretary-general welcomed the ceasefire between the Cambodian and Thai militaries and continues to push for a swift return to normalcy in bilateral relations.
“The secretary-general accepted the proposal to urge both parties to avoid using military force to resolve unresolved border issues, especially in areas with civilian populations. He proposed resolving the border issue peacefully through existing mechanisms, namely the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), based on existing agreements between Cambodia and Thailand, relevant treaties and international law,” Manet said, via social media.
During his visit to China, Manet also met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who expressed support for the ceasefire and backed the ASEAN ceasefire monitoring mechanism which is being led by Malaysia. Xi also called for the prompt establishment of the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT).
Xi also reiterated China’s urges for both sides to avoid using military force to address unresolved border disputes, particularly in civilian-populated areas, according to Manet.
The Cambodia-Thailand border conflict escalated into armed clashes from July 24 to July 28, before a ceasefire was reached on the night of July 28.
However, the ceasefire remains fragile, as Thailand continues to suggest that Cambodia has breached international conventions by laying new mines, an accusation that Cambodia had rejected. In addition, Thai soldiers have reportedly placed barbed wire inside Cambodian territory in Oddar Meanchey and Banteay Meanchey provinces.
Although the ceasefire took more than a month ago, tens of thousands of displaced citizens remain in sanctuaries, afraid to return home. Many of those who live far from the border have gradually returned, however.
