Calm at Thai-Cambodia border as commanders seek to uphold truce

Some residents along the disputed frontier return home after five days of fighting

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BANGKOK – A ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand held on July 29, as military commanders from both sides met to discuss measures to maintain the truce, and some residents along the disputed frontier trickled back home after five days of intense fighting.

Cambodian and Thai leaders met in Malaysia on July 28 and agreed to halt their deadliest conflict in more than a decade, following five days of intense fighting that displaced over 300,000 people and killed at least 43 people, mostly civilians.

Border areas remained calm, Thailand's Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters in Bangkok, although he accused Cambodian troops of violating the ceasefire early on July 29, which had been flagged in complaints to Malaysia, the United States and China.

Cambodia denied the charge, insisting its troops had strictly abided by the ceasefire since midnight and continued to uphold it, according to a statement by its Defence Minister Tea Seiha.

Despite the initial jitters, military commanders from both sides held talks and agreed to maintain the ceasefire, stop any troop movement, and facilitate the return of the wounded and dead, Thai army spokesman Winthai Suvaree said.

Each side will establish a coordinating team of four to resolve any problems, Major-General Winthai told reporters.