Thailand and Cambodia This Monday has held the first meeting in Malaysia in which they have agreed to a stop to fire “Immediate and unconditional“. This conflict began last Thursday July 24 In the shared borders of both countries, which so far has left close to 30 dead and has caused the displacement of 270,000 civilians.
“I trust that the results of the conversations provide many opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people from both sides to return to normal“The Cambodian leader Hun Manet said.
The most serious border conflict of the last 14 years
This conflict does not come from now, but goes back to the Creation of Cambodian borders in 1907 When it was a French colony. The French forced Thailand to give up certain lands that are today part of the North Cambodia. In addition, the conflict of the temple of PREAH VIHEARa twelfth -century Hindu temple that was built in the border of both countries. Although geographically it is more accessible from Thailand, the temple was Awarded to Cambodia in 1962 by the International Court of Justice (CIJ), which caused resentment in Thailand.
In 2008when Cambodia made UNESCO to declare the temple as World Heritagethe conflict resurfaced. Thailand considered that this could imply a territorial claim by Cambodia. Between 2008 and 2011 there were several conflicts in the border area near this temple where there were casualties for both sides. Until in 2011 the CiJ granted total control of the temple area to Cambodia.
The conflict was aggravated last May after Death of a Cambodian soldier on the border in a skirmish between both armies. Given this situation, both countries reinforced the military presence on the border that separate them. Although the conflict has a territorial background, its reactivation last Thursday, after More than ten years of peacehas generated various speculations about the true causes of the confrontation between the two countries, which has fueled the Nationalist feeling On both sides of the border.
Among the various theories about the origin of the conflict, the suspended Thai Minister, Paetongtran Shinawatra, and the Camboyan opposition They pointed to campaigns against the scam centersglobal cyberfraude spotlights very widespread in Southeast Asia and crucial for the Nom Pen economy.
Trump present in negotiations
Hours after the president of the United States, Donald Trump, informed about his telephone conversations with the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand, Hun Manet and Phumtham Wechayachai, with the aim of curbing the attacks between the two countries, Malasia announced for this Monday, July 28, a meeting between the two parties in Kuala Lumpur. This is due to the threat of the American president who announced both leaders orn Increase in tariffs imposed on these countries -49% for Cambodia and 36% for Thailand-, both Thailand and Cambodia to end the conflict.
“The two parties have expressed their position and will of a high immediate and unconditional fire from midnight“announced Prime Minister Malaysian, Anwar Ibrahim, at a press conference after the summit, in which he presents himself as the mediating part of the conflict being backed by representatives of the United States and China.
“I trust that the results of the conversations provide many opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people from both sides to return to normal“The Cambodian leader Hun Manet said.
With the aim of favoring the success of peace conversations, The US Secretary of State, Marco RubioHe also contacted his counterparts by telephone before the summit in Malaysia. This country has played a key role in the agreement, thanks to the active work of mediation of its prime minister for the past two years. “FuState Department’s Nctions are in Malaysia to support these peace efforts“The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, wrote in his X account.
