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| Royal oath-taking ceremony for the new cabinet, in Bangkok |
The minister's urgent call comes just two months after a deadly border conflict erupted between the two Southeast Asian countries. Formally sworn into office a day earlier alongside new Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Sihasak stressed the critical need to move beyond words and implement concrete actions to uphold a fragile ceasefire.
"My priority is to secure peace between the two Southeast Asian neighbours," he told reporters in Bangkok on Thursday.
A Call for Action, Not Just Words
Minister Sihasak emphasized that both countries must now implement the joint actions that were agreed upon during a dialogue earlier this month. He outlined a clear path toward de-escalation, which includes the reduction of forces, the clearance of landmines, and a coordinated crackdown on illegal activities along the border.
"Peace needs reduction of forces, like the withdrawing of heavy weaponry from border areas, to reduce the risk of violence," Sihasak said, highlighting the tangible steps required to build trust. "We have agreed to these things in principle, but what we need to see now is progress."
A Legacy of Disputed Territory
The tensions between Thailand and Cambodia are rooted in a long and complex history. For more than a century, the two nations have contested sovereignty over various undemarcated points along their 817-kilometer (508-mile) land border. The boundary was first mapped by France in 1907 when Cambodia was a French colony, but ambiguities in the demarcation have led to recurring disputes ever since.
The Scars of a Recent and Deadly Conflict
These long-standing tensions exploded into a full-blown armed conflict in July, marking the heaviest fighting between the two countries in over a decade. The five-day clash involved the use of heavy artillery fire and fighter jet sorties, with devastating consequences. At least 48 people were killed, and hundreds of thousands of civilians were temporarily displaced from their homes on both sides of the border.
The fighting was halted after both countries agreed to a ceasefire brokered by Malaysia on July 28. While the border has remained mostly calm since the agreement, the underlying tensions have continued to simmer, prompting the new Thai government to act decisively to prevent another outbreak of violence.
Minister Sihasak's statement on his first day in office signals a clear intention by the new administration to prioritize diplomacy and tangible de-escalation measures to transform a temporary truce into a lasting and stable peace.
