Thailand and Cambodia agree to “Immediate and unconditional cessation of fire”

Thailand and Cambodia agreed to “Immediate and unconditional cessation of the fire” after five days a battle on their border killed at least 33 people and displaced tens of thousands.

“This is a vital first step towards de -escalation and restoration of peace and security,” said Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, surrounded by his Thai and Cambodian counterparts, as he announced that the hostilities would end at midnight.

Initially, Thailand repelled his proposal to mediate, but agreed after US President Donald Trump said tariff negotiations would not continue until they were struggling.

Tensions during the centuries -old border dispute appeared in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a collision.

Thailand has imposed restrictions on citizens and tourists heading to Cambodia through land, while Cambodia banned some of Thailand, including fruits, electricity and internet services. Local Cambodia retail outlets report that hundreds of thousands of workers have returned from Thailand from May.

The situation escalated last week after a Thai soldier lost his leg in a mines explosion. Thailand closed some of his border crossings with Cambodia, kicked his ambassador and recalled his own.

Both sides exchanged firing early on last Thursday, each claiming that the other triggered the conflict, which has now killed more than 30 people on both sides.

Many victims of the Thai country were civilians in rocket -affected villages, according to the Thailand Army. Cambodia said 13 people have been killed so far, including eight civilians.

The shells and missiles continued to land in both sides, even when peace talks were being held.

Anwar said that Malaysia and other members of the regional bloc, the Association of Nations from Southeast Asia or Asean, are on hand to help monitor the cessation of fire.

Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet described him as a very good meeting that he hoped he would immediately stop the fighting. Cambodia is pushing for the end of Friday’s fire as his overhanging forces were made by Thai military.

Instant Thai Prime Minister Phumham Wechayachai spoke briefly, promising to honor the cessation of fire.

Both leaders also thanked the US and China, whose representatives attended the negotiations. Thailand and Cambodia are trying to negotiate a trade deal with Washington, and China remains an important trading partner with influence.

It will still take many days to hold a checked withdrawal of troops from both sides and emotions to cool, given the destruction and loss of life over the last five days.

The older evacuation near the Thai border, which survived bombing during the Civil War in Cambodia since the 1980s, told the BBC last week that it was the highest they had survived.

The Thai military had said on Sunday that more, nearly 140,000 civilians were evacuated in shelters in seven provinces.

In Cambodia, where the press is severely restricted, the pro-Created Khmer Times cites a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, who said about 135,000 people at the border were moved on Sunday.

A 75-year-old woman from Cambodia, who was evacuated to a shelter, told the BBC earlier on Monday that she was still not feeling safe because she could hear Thai drones fly over the tents.

She said she wanted to “see the war tonight.”