JAKARTA - The United States (US) will provide funding totaling 45 million US dollars (around Rp758 billion) which will be used, among others, to support post-stabilization of the ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia.
The statement was made by Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, US Department of State, Michael George DeSombre in a virtual press briefing reported by ANTARA, Friday, January 9.
"I am proud to announce that we will provide 15 million US dollars (Rp252 billion) for border stabilization to help the community recover and support refugees," said DeSombre, who was in Bangkok regarding the implementation of the ceasefire.
He continued that other funding worth 10 million US dollars (Rp168 billion) will be used for mine-taming operations and the clearance of unexploded ordnance.
Meanwhile, 20 million US dollars (Rp337.9 billion) will be used for various initiatives that will help both countries combat fraud operations and narcotics trafficking, as well as other related programs.
The United States official stressed that the United States pays attention to the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia and welcomes the ceasefire agreement between the two parties that was agreed on December 27.
"Thailand and Cambodia recently agreed to a ceasefire after weeks of renewed fighting in the border region. An achievement welcomed by the United States, with a direct message of support from President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio," said DeSombre.
The United States, under President Donald Trump's leadership, he continued, has been directly involved in restoring peace after a month of escalating tensions on the Thai-Cambodian border, which claimed lives and caused thousands of people to flee.
Although a ceasefire has been reached, DeSombre stressed that Washington wants to continue to monitor its implementation in order to advance common interests towards a stronger Indo-Pacific region.
"The restoration of peace on the Thai-Cambodian border opens new opportunities for the United States to deepen cooperation with both countries in promoting regional stability and advancing our interests towards a safer, stronger, and more prosperous Indo-Pacific region," he added.
Thailand and Cambodia have been facing a decades-old border dispute that escalated into an armed conflict in July, when the two countries exchanged artillery fire and launched air raids.
Both sides have reported casualties, including among civilians. In August, they announced an immediate ceasefire followed by an agreement to end the conflict in December.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement in Malaysia on October 26 to end border tensions and armed conflicts.
The signing of the agreement, which took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit, was witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and US President Donald Trump.
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