Cambodia’s Sun Chanthol urges calm over fragile border truce with Thailand

PHNOM PENH, Jan 12 (KPT)— Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol on Monday warned that the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand remained fragile, urging both sides to “lower the temperature” and avoid inflaming tensions.

“Cambodia needs peace, and I am sure Thailand also needs peace in order to build our countries,” said Sun, who also heads the Cambodia Development Council. “Do not add fuel to the fire.”

He stressed that Phnom Penh was committed to resolving the border dispute through peaceful means, citing mechanisms such as the General Border Committee and the Joint Boundary Commission.

“Cambodia and Thailand will be neighbors for the next thousand years,” he said. “We must work together on national development, grow our economies, and ensure benefits for our people and for ASEAN.”

Sun cautioned that prolonged conflict could undermine ASEAN’s credibility and said he hoped the dispute would be settled “sooner rather than later.”

He also called for calm among citizens in both countries, urging them to let governments pursue a peaceful solution.

The deputy prime minister welcomed Thailand’s recent release of 18 Cambodian soldiers, describing it as a “key decision” made in line with agreed principles.

He thanked Bangkok and the international community for their support, and called on Thailand to convene another meeting of the General Border Committee.
“They have done so before, and this approach should continue,” he said.