Bangkok, Dec. 14 — Thailand has denied agreeing to any ceasefire with Cambodia and said military operations along the disputed border will continue, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters, contradicting a claim by former US President Donald Trump. Anutin said there are no active ceasefire negotiations at this time and that fighting would not be suspended without formal, direct agreement from Cambodia, the Bangkok Post reported.
The denial followed comments by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim urging both sides to halt hostilities from 10 p.m. on Saturday and a post by Trump saying the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to “cease all shooting.” Neither Anutin nor Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet mentioned a ceasefire in their separate statements after phone calls with Trump.
More than 20 people have been killed and nearly 200 wounded in six days of renewed clashes, with roughly 600,000 people displaced on both sides of the roughly 800-kilometre border, according to Al Jazeera. The fighting centers on disputed claims to centuries-old temples along the frontier.
Thailand’s clarification also came after Cambodia accused Thai forces of continuing air strikes on its territory hours after Trump’s announcement. Anutin called the differing statements “likely a misunderstanding,” saying there was extensive communication underway and that military statements should be heeded. “At this time, there are no ceasefire negotiations,” he said, adding that any genuine ceasefire would require Cambodia to submit a formal proposal and to stop military actions completely.
Defence Minister Gen. Nattaphon Narkphanit echoed that no ceasefire order had been issued to the armed forces and said operations would continue until Cambodia “clearly ceases all hostility” toward Thailand.
Clashes persisted on Saturday. Thai authorities reported fresh Cambodian attacks in Ubon Ratchathani province, and four Thai soldiers were killed as troops retook strategic Hill 677. Anutin said Cambodian forces had launched heavy attacks that morning, including BM-21 rocket strikes into civilian areas, causing serious injuries and amputations.
Trump, writing on his Truth Social platform late Friday, said he had personally intervened and that the two prime ministers had agreed to stop shooting and revert to a prior peace accord with his involvement and assistance from Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim. Despite that statement, fighting has continued and Thai officials maintain no ceasefire is in effect.
(Reporting cites statements carried by the Bangkok Post, casualty and displacement figures reported by Al Jazeera, and a Trump post on Truth Social.)
