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Thailand and Cambodia have separately planned border visits by foreign diplomats to observe the damage from the nearly week-long conflict as the violence that followed appears to have been eased after the ceasefire was eased.
The ceasefire reached in Malaysia was supposed to come into effect in the middle of the night on Monday, but was quickly tested as Thailand and Cambodia continued to accuse each other of violating the competition agreement.
Thailand’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday it would organize a trip to the border on Friday for foreign missions and military attachments to media, demonstrating the impact of the ground conflict.
Cambodia also holds border visits by foreign diplomats on the same day.
A similar trip was held on Wednesday, with representatives from 13 countries, including the US and China.
Thai government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub said there were no new clashes reported overnight on Thursday.
However, the tension on other side continues to boil down. Officials from Surin Province, a Thai border border province, one of the key sites in the conflict, warned on Thursday that evacuees were returning home as they were still investigating areas affected by any ammunition that could pose a risk.
A spokesman for Cambodia’s Ministry of Defense Marie Sochita said on Thursday that Cambodia received the body of one of the soldiers from Thailand.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Mane said the troops are in contact with Thai counterparts to encourage the return of around 20 other soldiers captured by Thai forces.
“We hope that the Thai Army will return all soldiers currently in Thai custody to Cambodia as soon as possible,” he said.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sagnyanponsa said Cambodian soldiers are well cared for and that they will be sent back if they believe Thailand is no longer poses a threat.
He said security officials will decide when the return will be.
Hun Mane and Thai acting prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai agreed to a “unconditional” halt in the battle that killed at least 41 people on Monday.
The peace negotiations were organized by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN). He called the ceasefire “an important first step towards escalation and restoration of peace and security.”
The ceasefire was mediated by our pressure as President Donald Trump said he would not advance the trade deal if the conflict continued.
However, the two countries remained responsible for each other, and Thailand accused Cambodia of launching new attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday after the agreement was put into effect.
Cambodian main general General General Chang Sophiktra said on Wednesday that Cambodian forces have adhered to the ceasefire agreement and that there have been two ceasefire violations by Thai forces since the agreement was in effect. He did not elaborate on the violation.
Tensions have been rising since May, when Cambodian soldiers were killed in conflict, creating diplomatic rifts and overthrew Thai domestic politics.
It erupted into a cross-border battle last week after a landmine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers.
Additional sources •AP