Thailand says Cambodia breached ceasefire, weighs next steps

[BANGKOK] Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said his government is weighing possible responses after accusing Cambodian forces of firing mortar rounds in Thai territory and breaching a recent ceasefire. 

“If Thailand has to retaliate, we would do so if necessary,” Anutin told reporters in Bangkok on Tuesday (Jan 6). But based on initial discussions between the two countries, he said the incident appears to have been an “accident” and Thailand is seeking further information.

The renewed tension comes just days after Thailand agreed to repatriate 18 Cambodian soldiers captured in July. Their return was part of the latest agreement between to the countries to halt weeks of deadly fighting. 

A Thai soldier sustained shrapnel wounds in the Tuesday incident, though his condition isn’t critical, the Second Army Region said in a statement. Earlier, the regional army unit said Cambodia “has violated the ceasefire.” 

Army spokesman Winthai Suvaree said the current situation is “not at a worrying level,” and no further use of weapons has been detected in other areas. BLOOMBERG