Thailand and Cambodia Set for Ceasefire Talks in Malaysia

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

SISAKET/PHNOM PENH — Thailand and Cambodia will meet for emergency peace talks in Malaysia on Monday, following four days of deadly border clashes that have killed at least 33 people and displaced more than 200,000 civilians.

The Thai government confirmed on Sunday evening that acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will lead the Thai delegation, while Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet is expected to attend as well. The talks will begin at 3:00 p.m. local time (0700 GMT) in Kuala Lumpur, where Malaysia, as current chair of the ASEAN Regional Cooperation Forum, will host the mediation effort.

The conflict, which reignited on Thursday, marks the most intense military confrontation between the Southeast Asian neighbors in over a decade. Both sides exchanged artillery fire, blaming each other for escalating the conflict across contested border zones in Thailand’s Sisaket Province and Cambodia’s Preah Vihear region.

The violence follows months of rising tension after the killing of a Cambodian soldier in a skirmish near the disputed frontier in late May. Since then, both nations have reinforced border troops, plunging the region into a full-blown diplomatic and humanitarian crisis.

The ongoing hostilities have left at least 33 people dead, including 13 Thai civilians and 8 Cambodians, with several others wounded. More than 200,000 people have been evacuated from the conflict zones as authorities scramble to set up emergency shelters and medical aid stations.

A local official from Sisaket told reporters that civilian homes, schools, and farms have been destroyed, with fears mounting that the violence could spill further into civilian areas.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim proposed the ceasefire initiative last week and invited both governments to engage in direct negotiations under ASEAN’s regional framework. Malaysia has emphasized the urgent need to avoid a humanitarian disaster and preserve regional stability.

On Saturday, former U.S. President Donald Trump also announced that both Thailand and Cambodia had agreed “in principle” to work toward a truce, lending additional international pressure for a resolution.

Monday’s talks represent a crucial test of ASEAN’s diplomatic influence and a possible turning point in a conflict that many fear could widen if not quickly resolved.

The Thai foreign ministry said it was “cautiously optimistic” about reaching a ceasefire, while Cambodia’s spokesperson confirmed the government’s commitment to “dialogue over confrontation.”

Peace advocates, border communities, and human rights organizations are urging both countries to establish joint border monitoring mechanisms, restore civilian access, and resume demarcation talks halted years ago.

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