BEIJING: China on Sunday congratulated Cambodia on reaching a ceasefire with Thailand after weeks of deadly border fighting, as officials from the three countries prepared to open a two-day meeting in southwestern China. Thailand and Cambodia on Saturday ended weeks of fierce border clashes that killed at least 101 people and displaced more than half a million by agreeing their second ceasefire in recent months.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a meeting with his Cambodian counterpart, called the ceasefire "an important step towards restoring peace" and said it was "in line with the shared expectations of countries in the region." Cambodia's top diplomat, Prak Sokhonn, and his Thai counterpart, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, are both expected to meet Wang in the Chinese province of Yunnan on Sunday and Monday to discuss the border situation.
Cambodia and Thailand should "promote a complete and lasting ceasefire, resume normal exchanges and rebuild mutual trust" Wang said, according to the official Xinhua news agency. The two countries' diplomats and military officials should use the meeting in Yunnan as an opportunity to "communicate in a flexible manner and enhance understanding," Wang added. China is willing to provide humanitarian aid to Cambodia for the settlement of those displaced in the border regions, he said.
Officials on both sides said the day-old ceasefire was holding on Sunday, but for most areas, there has been no all-clear notice just yet. The truce follows three weeks of renewed cross-border fighting that killed at least 47 people and displaced more than a million on both sides. China has been involved in mediation efforts, and Beijing's top diplomat Wang Yi is hosting the Cambodian and Thai foreign ministers for talks in Yunnan province on Sunday and Monday. Wang told his Cambodian counterpart Prak Sokhonn that the ceasefire "has opened the process of rebuilding peace", according to a statement from Beijing's foreign ministry. "In the next step, both sides should proceed step by step to promote a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, restore normal exchanges, rebuild mutual trust and achieve a turnaround in relations," Wang added.
A previous round in the decades-old conflict — five days of fighting in July — killed dozens before a truce was brokered, and then broken. Many of those displaced by the latest violence had evacuated in July, too. Rice and cassava farmer Saichon Wongpitak said she could not afford to wait any longer, planning to return to her home in Thailand's Sisaket province on Sunday afternoon. "I talked to our neighbour who said there was no gunfire since yesterday," Saichon, 38, said, adding that her family would evacuate again if necessary.
Under the truce, the two countries agreed to cease fire, freeze troop movements and allow civilians living in border areas to return home as soon as possible, while Thailand was to return 18 Cambodian soldiers captured in July within 72 hours. Kot Ngik, 43, from another camp for displaced people in Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey, said she was thankful for the truce since it may allow children to soon return to school. But "we don't trust the Thai military yet", she said. "At this point, we are not sure about the situation. They can fight again at any time." While many evacuees, including Kot Ngik, were still too fearful to leave shelters, So Choeun said the ceasefire at least offered some hope. — AFP
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