Thailand And Cambodia Four days of negotiations began this Wednesday to find a peaceful solution to the military clashes on the shared border, where hostilities that began on December 7th have claimed at least 86 lives, according to official figures from both parties.
The Thai public broadcaster Thai PBS reported that, at the initiative of the delegation, the delegations had agreed to continue the talks until Friday General Boundary Committee (GBC)a security mechanism previously used to agree measures to maintain peace in neighboring areas.
According to state media, the dialogue is taking place at a technical level with the participation of military personnel and representatives of the governments of both countries. Thai PBS He noted that an eventual peace agreement would be signed on Saturday between the defense chiefs of Thailand and Cambodia, who would hold a news conference later.
According to local media Thailand attends GBC meetings with three specific demands. The first one, that Cambodia first declares a ceasefire. Secondly, that this announcement is confirmed and verified by observers. Thirdly, the neighboring country undertakes to “Cooperate seriously and sincerely in demining” on the common border.
On the Cambodian side, the information minister said, Neth Pheaktraconfirmed the agency EFE that the talks begin this Wednesday. The official also announced that Phnom Penh intended to hold Saturday’s defense ministers’ meeting in Pailin province on the Cambodian side of the border, a proposal on which no agreement has yet been reached.
Cambodia requested that negotiations be held Malaysiaan option that Thailand rejected. Bangkok insisted on holding talks in the province Chanthaburiin its territory, arguing that the conflict should be addressed bilaterally and without third-party intervention.
As for the number of casualties, the Thai armed forces reported 42 civilians and 23 military They died during the fighting. Meanwhile, the Cambodian authorities were counting 21 civilians killed According to official reports published on Wednesday, no casualties were reported in the military sector.
The numbers of displaced people also differ between the two countries. Bangkok is more than 160,000 the number of refugees, while Phnom Penh reported about that 550,000 people They moved along the approximately 820 kilometer long border during the almost three weeks of hostilities.
Conflicting allegations continue between Thailand and Cambodia as the General Boundary Committee adjusts details to begin negotiations.
Both countries have historically disputed the sovereignty of several border areas, the demarcation of which dates back to a cartography created by France in 1907, when Cambodia was part of French Indochina.
(With information from EFE)
About The Author
