Thailand has imposed a curfew in several coastal districts of its eastern Trat province after border clashes with neighboring Cambodia spread toward coastal areas, authorities said on Sunday.
Announcing the decision at a press briefing in Bangkok, Thai Defence Ministry spokesperson Rear Admiral Surasan Kongsiri said the curfew was necessary as hostilities continued despite recent ceasefire proposals. The affected districts border Cambodia’s Koh Kong province, although major tourist islands such as Koh Chang and Koh Kood are excluded from the restrictions.
The move comes just two days after former US President Donald Trump, who has positioned himself as a potential mediator, said Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to a ceasefire. However, Thai officials said clashes have persisted even after Cambodia renewed its ceasefire proposal on Saturday.
“Thailand is ready for a diplomatic solution, but Cambodia must first stop hostile actions. Only then can discussions take place,” Rear Admiral Surasan said.
Thailand’s military earlier reported destroying a bridge allegedly used to transport heavy weapons and supplies to Cambodia’s coast, and carrying out targeted strikes against artillery positions in Koh Kong province. Cambodia, in turn, has accused Thailand of attacking civilian infrastructure.
Curfews remain in force in Sa Kaeo province further north, while heavy weapons exchanges have been reported along the 817-kilometre shared border since Monday. The fighting marks the most intense escalation since a five-day conflict in July, which ended with a ceasefire brokered by Trump and Malaysia.
Trump said he spoke on Friday with Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, claiming both sides had agreed to halt all firing. A White House spokesperson later said Trump expects all parties to honour their commitments and warned that there would be no impunity if efforts to secure lasting peace fail.
Thailand’s acting prime minister, Anutin, on Saturday vowed that the country would continue fighting “until we have complete assurance of the safety of our land and our people.”
