Rivals to honour truce deal

Attaches from Asean to monitor ceasefire

- MONGKOL BANGPRAPA, CHAIRITH YONPIAM

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to uphold the ceasefire and maintain current troop positions along their shared border, according to Deputy Defence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit yesterday.

The announcement followed an emergency session of the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC), held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday.

Gen Nattaphon, who led the Thai delegation in the talks, described the discussions as cordial and constructive. He said Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim welcomed the outcome of the discussion, calling it a “significant step forward”.

While Mr Anwar reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to act as a facilitator for dialogues between the two countries, he said the matter should ultimately be resolved bilaterally, with Asean acting in a supporting role, the deputy defence minister said.

Gen Nattaphon said the emergency session was meant to follow up on the discussions held on July 28, when both countries first agreed on a ceasefire. He insisted that Thailand has always abided by the terms of the ceasefire, which came into effect at midnight on July 28.