Bangkok (EFE).— Thailand and Cambodia accused each other of violating a recently agreed ceasefire on Wednesday, as tensions continued along their disputed border despite a halt to days of deadly clashes.
The ceasefire, brokered on Monday after five days of deadly fighting, aimed to end hostilities sparked by a historic territorial dispute that escalated into military confrontations at multiple points along the shared border.
In a statement, Thailand claimed that Cambodian troops attacked Thai positions at five locations along the border between Tuesday night and early Wednesday, using firearms and mortar shells.
In response, Cambodia accused Thailand of breaching the peace by assaulting a Cambodian unit and capturing 20 of its soldiers, detentions that the Thai military had already reported on Tuesday.
Despite the renewed accusations, no further military activity was reported later in the day. Both sides reiterated their commitment to maintain direct communication ahead of a high-level bilateral meeting scheduled for next Monday in Cambodia.
As part of a planned post-ceasefire event, Cambodian forces escorted military attachés and diplomats from 13 embassies to a site that had reportedly been devastated by Thai shelling.
The tour, organized by Cambodia’s Ministry of Defense, included representatives from the United States, France, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Vietnam, South Korea, and Australia.
In separate updates, both governments revised their evacuation figures: approximately 190,000 people have been displaced on the Thai side and nearly 169,000 in Cambodia.
The death toll remains at 43. Of these, 30 died in Thailand (15 civilians and 15 soldiers) and 13 in Cambodia.
Humanitarian agencies and UN organizations such as UNICEF issued fresh warnings about worsening conditions in the overcrowded shelters, where evacuees have been living for nearly a week.
Hundreds of schools remain closed, and communities along the border are yet to return to normal.
The recent violence erupted on July 24 after weeks of escalating tension over the long-standing border dispute, with both armies accusing the other of launching the initial attack.
The ceasefire was reached through mediation by Malaysia, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The United States acted as co-organizer of the talks, while China participated as an observer.
Following the agreement, commanders from both armies met on Tuesday to discuss the practical steps for implementing and maintaining the ceasefire.
The conflict stems from unresolved territorial claims—a recurring point of tension between the two neighbors, exacerbated by the death of a Cambodian soldier in a border skirmish in late May. EFE nc-
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