Thailand on Sunday accused Cambodia of violating a ceasefire the two neighbors agreed on Saturday after three weeks of fighting in the border area. The Thai military said on Sunday, less than 48 hours after a ceasefire agreement was reached, that more than 250 drones had been detected entering Thai airspace “from the Cambodian side” on Sunday evening.
Phnom Penh, meanwhile, tried to downplay the incident, which Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn described as a “minor issue”. Sokhonn said they discussed the matter with the Thai side and agreed to resolve it immediately, French news agency AFP reported.
Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an immediate ceasefire on Saturday, pledging to end fighting in the border region that has killed more than 40 people and displaced nearly a million in recent weeks.
They also pledged to stop all troop movements and allow civilians living in border areas to return home as soon as possible. Thailand is expected to return 18 captured Cambodian soldiers within 72 hours if the ceasefire holds.
The Thai military said in a statement today that it “may have to reconsider its decision to release the 18 Cambodian soldiers” depending on the situation.
The new accusations from Bangkok cast doubt on the lasting truce between Thailand and Cambodia, whose foreign ministers today wrapped up two days of talks in China aimed at restoring mutual trust and improving relations between the two countries.
(Vijesti.ba)
