Cambodia Denies Ceasefire Violation Accusation: Defence Ministry

Phnom Penh — The Cambodian Ministry of National Defence on Tuesday firmly denied allegations by the Thai army that Cambodian forces violated a ceasefire agreement by launching attacks shortly after it came into effect.

“At the outset, I reject the statement made by the spokesperson of the Thai army, which claimed there was fighting in violation of the ceasefire,” said Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, spokesperson for Cambodia's Ministry of National Defence, during a press briefing.

She emphasized that Cambodian armed forces have strictly adhered to the ceasefire agreement, which took effect at midnight on Monday, according to Xinhua news agency.

Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai commented that any minor clashes post-ceasefire may have been caused by undisciplined Cambodian troops. He added that the Thai response was proportionate and that “the situation is now calm.”

Earlier, the Thai Army alleged that Cambodia had violated the ceasefire, though it noted that negotiations between frontline commanders were ongoing.

On the same day, Cambodian Defence Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata confirmed that armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai forces over disputed border areas had ceased.

However, Thai Army spokesperson Winthai Suvaree issued a statement Tuesday morning claiming that despite Thailand’s immediate ceasefire implementation, Cambodia launched multiple armed attacks into Thai territory as soon as the deadline took effect.

According to the Thai military, one border area experienced renewed clashes that continued into Tuesday morning, with additional skirmishes lasting until 5:30 a.m. local time.

Later in the morning, the Thai army confirmed via social media that a full ceasefire had been implemented along the entire Thai-Cambodian border.

Lieutenant General Socheata stated that gunfire exchanges had stopped in all military zones following the ceasefire agreement between the two countries' leaders. She added that regional commanders from both sides would hold an informal meeting Tuesday morning to ensure the ceasefire's effective enforcement.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet also confirmed that the border situation had calmed following the ceasefire. In a statement on social media, he said, “The frontline has eased since the ceasefire took effect at midnight Monday, reflecting the spirit of cooperation established during the recent special meeting in Malaysia.”

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who hosted the meeting, announced that Thai and Cambodian leaders had agreed to enforce a ceasefire beginning Monday at midnight.

Following the announcement, UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the ceasefire as a positive step toward de-escalation and lasting peace.

Guterres urged both nations to fully respect the agreement and foster conditions for resolving long-standing disputes. His spokesperson Farhan Haq also commended Malaysia, the current ASEAN Chair, along with the United States and China, for their roles in facilitating peaceful negotiations.

The United Nations expressed readiness to support efforts aimed at promoting stability and peace in the region.

With inputs from IANS