As Thailand and Cambodia return to the negotiating table after renewed border clashes, Cambodia’s Defence Ministry has asked for the bilateral peace talks’ venue to be in a “neutral” and “safe” space.
The call for a change in venue came after the Thai Foreign Minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, announced on Monday the set-up of a meeting with his Cambodian counterpart to proceed with peace talks.
Sihasak had said the discussion would be held on December 24 in Thailand’s Chanthaburi within the framework of an already-in-place border committee.
In response, the Cambodian side asked for the meeting to be held “at a safe and neutral venue”, such as Kuala Lumpur “due to security reasons and ongoing fighting along the border”.
“Malaysia, the current chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, has also agreed to host the talks in the capital,” the defence minister added.
The renewed fighting between the two nations began a month after a truce was brokered by US President Donald Trump in October.
Also Read: Thai-Cambodia border clashes displace nearly 1 million
According to some estimates, more than 80 people, including armed forces personnel, have been killed across both sides since the clashes began, with nearly one million more displaced.
Neighbouring nations have called for restraint as peace negotiations intensify to bring an end to the ongoing hostilities.
Both Thailand and Cambodia on Monday accused each other of triggering escalations, with Cambodia further accusing the Thai Air Force of dropping bombs on civilian infrastructure.
Cambodian Defence Ministry spokeswoman, Maly Socheata, also told reporters that fighting along the border was ongoing on Tuesday morning.
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