Thailand and Cambodia are embroiled in another border conflict. Anwar Ibrahim urges that differences

Thailand and Cambodia are once again at odds due to a border conflict. As the current chair of ASEAN, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said that all parties should not allow differences to escalate into unnecessary tensions. He believes that dialogue and diplomatic mechanisms are the best ways to achieve peace and stability in the region.

The border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia has flared up again. Yesterday, at the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Cambodian National Assembly President Kun Sophal accused Thailand of illegally detaining 18 Cambodian soldiers and erecting barbed wire fences along the border, which she said not only violated Cambodia's sovereignty but also breached the ceasefire agreement.

Kun Sophal called on ASEAN to intervene and resolve the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia through parliamentary diplomacy, and to prevent Thailand from continuing to use force. The Thai representative countered that Phnom Penh was distorting the facts and similarly criticized the Cambodian military for firing rockets and laying landmines at Thai civilians, which clearly violated international law and the ceasefire terms. The Thai side also reiterated its commitment to negotiations.

Since the clash between Thai police and Cambodian civilians in Sa Kaeo Province on the Thai-Cambodian border on Wednesday, which left several people injured, local protests have continued to escalate. The Thai authorities have deployed an additional 340 police officers and are preparing to mobilize ten water cannon vehicles to deal with the situation.

As the new government cabinet has not yet officially taken office, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that the decision-making power regarding the Thai-Cambodian conflict currently lies with the Thai armed forces. However, he indicated that once he is officially sworn in, his government will take over the handling of the issue.