Cambodia has agreed to pull back its troops from a disputed border area to their previous positions and has filled in trenches dug near Chong Bok Pass, as requested by the Thai side, in an effort to ease tensions and prevent further clashes.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra wrote on her Facebook page that she had held talks with the Cambodian government and reached a positive outcome.
“Both countries agreed to jointly readjust military positions at points of past confrontation in order to reduce tension,” she wrote.
Paetongtarn also stated that the two countries would push forward bilateral cooperation through the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), which is scheduled to meet on June 14 in Phnom Penh to help de-escalate tensions.
Dialogue will continue at all levels with the aim of restoring normal relations as soon as possible.
Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged brief gunfire in the early morning of May 28 in a disputed area near Ubon Ratchathani’s Nam Yuen district.
Initially, both sides reported no casualties, but later that afternoon, Cambodia claimed that one of its sergeants had died in the clash.
Tensions escalated further after Phnom Penh rejected Thailand's proposal to withdraw troops 200 meters from the disputed zone. Cambodia also announced it would bring four disputed border areas to the World Court.
Earlier reports indicated that Thai troops had withdrawn from the disputed area, while the Cambodian army declined to do the same.
In response to the rejection and rising tensions, Thai border checkpoints have adjusted their opening and closing times, resulting in some disruptions.
The Thai premier said the decision to ease tensions follows continued coordination between Thai government agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, national security bodies, and the military.
She assured the public that there would be no serious clashes and urged people to remain calm and confident in the government’s ability to resolve the issue peacefully.
Meanwhile, Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said in a statement that Cambodia had agreed to pull back its troops to the positions held last year, in line with earlier agreements.
The Cambodian side also agreed to backfill the trenches they had dug near Chong Bok Pass in Ubon Ratchathani.
The Defence Ministry and the Royal Thai Army expressed their appreciation to their Cambodian counterparts, saying the move had improved the situation and reduced tensions and the risk of further confrontation.
