Cambodia-Thailand tensions: Special Asean meeting postponed

The Special Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting on the situation in Cambodia and Thailand, originally scheduled for tomorrow, has been postponed to Dec 22 at the request of Thailand.

The Foreign Ministry, in a media advisory, said Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan will chair the meeting, in Malaysia’s capacity as the Asean chair.

“The convening of the meeting is a follow-up to the decision of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Dec 11 in the effort to address the situation between Cambodia and Thailand,” it said.

Earlier, Anwar said negotiations are ongoing to de-escalate the situation between the two Asean member states.

“However, we continue to appeal to both sides to stop the fighting. The situation is very critical, and I remain in virtual contact with them on a daily basis,” he told reporters at the launch of the book “The Man Who Could Move Mountains: Reflections on the Social Activism of SM Mohamed Idris” at the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies Malaysia today.

Malaysia had earlier called on both Thailand and Cambodia to cease all forms of hostilities and refrain from any further military action, including the deployment of armed troops to the front lines, following renewed fighting in the border area.

- Bernama

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