UN Secretary General Urges Cambodia And Thailand To Avoid Escalation On Borders

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. (Wikimedia Commons/US Mission/Eric Bridiers)

JAKARTA - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday expressed concern over the again armed clashes between Cambodia and Thailand, urging both sides to avoid further escalation as tensions escalate along the border escalate.

"The Secretary General is concerned about reports of armed clashes that have occurred again between Cambodia and Thailand, particularly airstrikes and heavy equipment mobilization in border areas. He urged both parties to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation," said Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric, quoted by Anadolu (9/12).

The border dispute has resulted in "significant civilian casualties, damage to civilian infrastructure, and evacuation on both sides of the border," the statement said.

Furthermore, Secretary General Guterres "enforced both parties to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian assistance" because the situation was in danger of worsening.

Repeating his call for de-escalation, Secretary General Guterres urged Cambodia and Thailand to return to the framework of the Joint Declaration signed in Kuala Lumpur on October 26.

He called on both sides to "commit back to the ceasefire, and implement de-escalation measures and build trust," stressed the need to use existing dialogue mechanisms to reach peaceful resolutions.

"The United Nations is ready to support all efforts aimed at promoting peace, stability and development in the region," he added.

It is known that tensions between the two neighboring countries escalated last month following the suspension of peace pacts between the two sides by Thailand after four Thai soldiers were injured in a landmine explosion in the border province of Si Sa Ket.

Previously, the two countries signed a peace agreement before US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Kuala Lumpur in October.

In early July, they agreed an unconditional ceasefire at a trilateral meeting hosted by Anwar after weeks of hostilities.