Defence chiefs of Thailand and Cambodia to discuss ceasefire

The defence ministers of Thailand and Cambodia are due to meet on Saturday to discuss a permanent ceasefire in the deadly border conflict that reignited earlier this month.

The talks are to take place at a border checkpoint in Thailand following preparatory work in recent days by a joint committee on frontier issues, officials announced on Friday.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed hope that the two sides could agree on a joint statement to end the fighting and follow suit after an October declaration that outlined steps towards a lasting peace.

Following the renewed fighting since the summer and a brief ceasefire, the two sides agreed in October to withdraw heavy weapons from the border area and to carry out joint mine clearance.

However, since early December, fighting began again at a number of points along the roughly 800-kilometre shared border. Each side accuses the other of targeting civilians, with both sides rejecting the allegations.

The conflict stems from a decades-long dispute over territorial claims. Hundreds of thousands of people on both sides of the border have been displaced.

Serious fighting erupted in July, followed by a ceasefire agreed after a few days. In November, the ceasefire was suspended after a fresh border incident, and since December 7, the situation has deteriorated following a cross-border exchange of fire.