Anwar-Led Talks Yield Ceasefire, Reinforce ASEAN’s Role In Regional Peace

By Rohani Mohd Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 (Bernama) --  The agreement on an immediate and unconditional ceasefire reached between Thailand and Cambodia during a special meeting held in Putrajaya on Monday highlighted  ASEAN’s role as an effective mechanism in resolving regional disputes, as both parties complied with the bloc’s call for order. 

School of Law and Governance Senior Lecturer at Taylor’s University, Dr Julia Roknifard, said the desire of ASEAN members to avoid interference in the internal affairs of the grouping, prompted by United States President Donald Trump’s threats, has encouraged both Thailand and Cambodia to adhere to the principle of ASEAN centrality.

“At first, they (Thailand and Cambodia) didn’t seem so open to the idea that ASEAN can play a role, saying that they would like to negotiate on a bilateral basis between each other. Yet, ASEAN turned out to be the very mechanism to call them to order, and they complied.

“The very fact that the Thai and Cambodian leaders had the confidence to hold the talks in Malaysia with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the host bodes well for ASEAN as a cooperative organisation,” she said when contacted by Bernama on Monday. 

Earlier, Anwar announced that Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire amid rising tensions along their disputed border, following a special meeting he chaired in Putrajaya on Monday.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai attended the meeting. 

Also in attendance were United States (US) Ambassador to Malaysia, Edgard Kagan, and Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, Ouyang Yujing. The US was a co-organiser of the meeting, while China was an observer to promote a peaceful resolution to the ongoing situation.

According to Roknifard, both Cambodia and Thailand must work towards putting an end to the conflict, preferably for good, as such situations create an opening for external powers that are seeking to further their own interests.

“This will be detrimental to the whole region as we will see instability, potentially a refugee crisis and the proliferation of weapons and increased criminal and militant activity.

“None of this will be good for ASEAN, which is already struggling to address the conflict in Myanmar and potential conflicts in the South China Sea,” she added. 

During the special meeting in Putrajaya on Monday, Cambodia and Thailand reached a common understanding, including an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, with effect from 24:00 hours (local time) on July 28.

The two Southeast Asian neighbours have a long history of diplomatic rows over an 817-kilometre undemarcated stretch of their shared border.

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have been simmering since May 28 following a skirmish between their troops near the disputed Preah Vihear border area, which claimed the life of a Cambodian soldier.

The latest round of hostilities erupted on July 24. Armed clashes have been reported along Cambodia's northern border region, with fatalities on both sides.

-- BERNAMA