law enforcement personnel in Thailand deploy tear gas against demonstrators from Cambodia at a village marked by border disagreement
In a recent development, a border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, which resulted in the death of at least 48 people and the temporary displacement of hundreds of thousands, has come to an end following a ceasefire brokered in Malaysia on 28 July.
The situation along the 817 km (508 miles) land border, which has been a source of tension for over a century, has been relatively calm since the agreement. However, the international community, including the U.S. government, is closely watching the situation.
The U.S. government has urged both Cambodia and Thailand to de-escalate tensions and has called for both countries to quickly finalize the "terms of reference" for an ASEAN observer mission on their disputed border.
The border conflict began when Thai authorities erected barbed wire fences in the disputed border area, a move that was met with protests by civilians from both countries. The Thai army stated that its use of force was a response to provocation from approximately 200 Cambodian protesters who dismantled Thai defensive barriers, threw sticks and stones, and fired slingshots at Thai officials, causing injuries.
Cambodia's information minister Neth Pheaktra accused Thai officials of encroaching across the border and using force against Cambodian civilians. In response, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has sought support from the international community and the regional bloc ASEAN to stop Thailand's "unilateral actions" that risk escalating tensions and widening the conflict.
The international observer requested by the governments of Cambodia and Thailand for establishing a long-term observation mission on both sides of the border remains unnamed in the provided search results. The U.S. State Department has urged both countries to cooperate fully with the observer mission to ensure long-term peace and stability along their border.
The first mapping of their border was done by France in 1907 when Cambodia was its colony. The actions of the riot police were aimed at preventing the situation from escalating into civil disorder. The clash took place at a disputed frontier settlement, claimed by Thailand's Ban Nong Ya Kaew village in Sa Kaeo province and Cambodia's Prey Chan village in Bantheay Meanchey province. Thai police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets at Cambodian civilians in a disputed border area on Wednesday.
As the situation continues to unfold, the international community, including the U.S. government, will continue to monitor the events closely and urge both countries to work towards a peaceful resolution to their longstanding border dispute.
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