Cambodia urges UN to deploy independent fact-finding mission amid conflict with Thailand

ISTANBUL

Cambodia urged the UN to deploy an independent fact-finding mission to ascertain the facts on the ground amid its conflict with Thailand in a letter to the UN Secretary-General, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

Antonio Guterres was urged to “unequivocally condemn Thailand's unprovoked armed aggression” against Cambodia and demand “an immediate cessation of all attacks by Thailand” in the letter.

Phnom Penh called on the UN to "demand that the Thai Armed Forces immediately cease their illegal armed aggression against Cambodia, halt all attempts to invade or encroach on Cambodia's sovereignty and territory through the use of unilaterally-drawn maps, and fully respect internationally recognized borders and legally binding instruments,” as well as “cease all violations of international humanitarian law.”

"Cambodia remains firmly committed to peaceful dialogue, diplomacy, and adherence to international law...to fully implement the Ceasefire Agreement and the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord," Ambassador Keo Chhea said.

The letter comes as border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand are entering their fourth day, killing at least 22 people, including nine Thai soldiers, three civilians and nine Cambodian civilians and one soldier, according to Thailand's The Nation news website and Cambodia’s the Khmer Times.

On the Thai side, around 120 soldiers have been wounded, while around 60 civilians have been injured on the Cambodian side.

More than half a million people have also been displaced by the conflict.

On Tuesday, Thailand’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Cherdchai Chaivaivid, also submitted letters to the UN secretary-general and the Security Council accusing Cambodia of “grave and unprovoked military attacks” on Thai territory, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.

The letters rejected claims that Thailand initiated the fighting, calling them “deliberately disseminated false narratives.”

"We call upon the international community to urge Cambodia to cease all acts of hostilities and provocations that inflict harm upon Thai people, destabilize border security, and constitute repeated acts in violation of Thailand’s sovereignty and territorial integrity," they said.

Cambodia on Wednesday withdrew its entire delegation from the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand, citing safety concerns, and its authorities are “collecting evidence” for a possible case at the International Criminal Court in The Hague “in response to Thailand’s armed aggression against Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The two sides have accused each other of initiating this week’s clashes, which they say violate the peace deal signed in October in Kuala Lumpur in the presence of US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The neighbors have a long-running border dispute that has led to repeated clashes, including in July, when at least 48 people were killed. Around 18 Cambodian soldiers remain in Thai custody from incidents in the past five months.

The land border has been closed since July, limiting cross-border movement and business.