Cambodia asks to move Thailand truce talks to neutral Malaysia as border fighting escalates

Cambodia has called for truce negotiations with Thailand to be held in Malaysia, citing security concerns as fighting along their shared border continues after two weeks of violence. The request comes as both sides prepare to negotiate terms to halt renewed clashes that have already caused heavy casualties and mass displacement.

In a letter seen by AFP on Tuesday, Cambodia’s defence ministry asked Thailand to agree to bilateral talks in Kuala Lumpur. The letter, dated Monday and sent by Defence Minister Tea Seiha to his Thai counterpart Nattaphon Narkphanit, said a neutral location was necessary because of the ongoing fighting.
“For a security reason due to the ongoing fighting along the border, this meeting should be held in a safe and neutral venue,” Tea Seiha wrote.

He added that Malaysia, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), had agreed to host the discussions in its capital.

Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow had earlier announced that talks with Cambodia would take place following a meeting in Kuala Lumpur with Asean counterparts. He told reporters on Monday that the discussion would be held on Wednesday in Thailand’s Chanthaburi province under an existing bilateral border committee framework.

Fighting continues despite truce plans

The renewed conflict this month has broken a previous truce and left at least 23 people dead in Thailand and 21 in Cambodia, officials said. More than 900,000 people have been displaced on both sides of the border.

Cambodia said Thailand launched air strikes on its territory on Monday, shortly after Bangkok announced that both countries had agreed to hold talks. Defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata told reporters that fighting along the border was continuing on Tuesday morning. In a separate statement, the ministry said Thai forces shelled the Cambodian border city of Poipet.