Thailand-Cambodia to hold peace talks after more border clashes

Agency:

Thailand and Cambodia’s leaders will meet in Malaysia for peace talks on Monday, the Thai government said, as the countries clashed for a fourth day in a deadly border dispute.

At least 34 people have been killed and more than 200,000 displaced as the countries, both popular tourist destinations, fight over a smattering of contested border temples.

Bangkok announced on Sunday that acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet will meet in Kuala Lumpur for talks mediated by Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim, who chairs the Asean regional bloc of which Thailand and Cambodia are members.

Cambodia has not commented on the planned talks, which are due to begin at 3pm (0700 GMT).
US President Donald Trump, who spoke to both leaders late Saturday, said they had agreed to “quickly work out” a ceasefire.

Trump has threatened both nations with eye-watering levies in his global tariff blitz unless they agree to independent trade deals.

“When all is done, and Peace is at hand, I look forward to concluding our Trading Agreements with both!” he wrote on social media.

Fresh artillery clashes erupted on Sunday morning near two long-contested ancient temples in the frontier region between northern Cambodia and northeast Thailand which has seen the bulk of the fighting.

Cambodian defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata said Thai forces began attacking areas around the temples at 4:50am, local time.

“We rushed to leave the house this morning,” said 61-year-old Thai border resident Maefah, rearranging bin bags of her family’s belongings in the back of a truck stopped at a petrol station in Surin province.