(Banteay Meanchey): Following the implementation of an immediate ceasefire agreement starting at 12:00 noon on Saturday (Dec. 27), no sounds of small or heavy weapons have been heard along the Cambodia–Thailand border up to the Saturday evening (Dec. 27).

Over the past approximately 20 days, border areas between Cambodia and Thailand, particularly in the provinces of Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, and Pursat, were rocked by continuous sounds of gunfire and shelling from dawn until dusk, and at times even past midnight.

After intense fighting on Saturday (Dec. 27), the Cambodia–Thailand General Border Committee reached an agreement to implement an immediate ceasefire, effective from 12:00 noon onward.

Immediately after noon, the previously thunderous sounds of gunfire and shelling fell silent. The 20-day border conflict caused widespread destruction. In addition to fatalities and injuries, houses, schools, bridges, roads, pagodas, and other infrastructure were damaged or destroyed. More than 600,000 civilians were forced to flee their homes.

Fleeing from artillery fire and living under the constant sound of bombs and shelling became a severe psychological trauma and source of fear for the population. Displacement from their homes and living in evacuation shelters created numerous hardships, not to mention the heavy pressure on their livelihoods.

Having endured and suffered greatly from the flames of war in the past, the Cambodian people do not wish to see such tragedies repeated. News of the ceasefire agreement reached between Cambodia and Thailand was met with overwhelming joy and celebration by displaced civilians, beyond words.

Alongside their happiness over the ceasefire agreement, they also pray for its successful and lasting implementation, hoping that the sounds of artillery and aerial bombardment will cease forever and that peace will return permanently along the Cambodia–Thailand border.
=FRESH NEWS