Trump 'peacemaker' Reconcile, Thailand-Kamboja Withdraw Weapons To Clear Mines

JAKARTA - Thailand and Cambodia began pulling heavy weapons and carrying out mine clearing operations along the disputed border as part of measures to ease tensions following the signing of a ceasefire last week.

Thai and Cambodian leaders signed an upgraded ceasefire agreement last week in Kuala Lumpur before US President Donald Trump, dubbed the White House as a Peacemaker three months after tensions between the two countries erupted into a deadly five-day conflict.

Government spokesman Siripong Angkasekiat said Thailand would not release 18 Cambodian soldiers who have been detained since the conflict or reopened border checkpoints until they judged Cambodia had complied with the agreement.

Young Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, spokesman for Thailand's Ministry of Defense, told a news conference that mine clearing operations along the border had begun, with Thailand proposing clearing of landmines in 13 areas and Cambodia in one area.

Last week, the two countries said in a joint statement they had agreed to withdraw heavy weapons from the border in three stages, starting with a rocket system, followed by artillery, then tanks and other armored vehicles.

Previously, Cambodia's Ministry of Defense said the first phase of troop withdrawals was scheduled to last for three weeks, starting November 1.

"We expect heavy weapons withdrawals to be completed by the end of the year," Surasant said on Monday, November 3.

"The two countries have also stepped up joint efforts to combat transnational cybercrime and are working on urgent joint demarcation efforts in disputed border areas," he said.

The five-day war in July killed 48 people and left hundreds of thousands of people temporarily displaced from both sides.

The incident was the worst battle between the two countries in decades. The initial ceasefire brokered in Malaysia with US involvement was signed on July 28.