Bangkok: Senator Noppadon has countered Pita Limjaroenrat’s comments, emphasizing that the parliamentary mechanism is actively studying Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) 43-44, with a focus on maintaining neutrality and prioritizing national interests. He highlighted issues at the Thai-Cambodian border, revealing Cambodian activities that may be causing coastal erosion in Thailand.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Noppadon Inna, who chairs the Special Committee to Study the Pros and Cons of Revoking the 2000 and 2001 MOUs to resolve Thai-Cambodian border disputes, has provided updates on the study’s progress. The committee recently visited Trat Province to inspect the 73rd Thai-Cambodian boundary marker, located on No Man’s Land. During this visit, they gathered information from the Royal Thai Marines about multiple Cambodian border violations in Chanthaburi and Trat Provinces, which Thailand has protested several times. Mr. Noppadon reported that Cambodia has not accepted marker 73 and attempts to move it into Thai territory, while marker 72 has disappeared, necessitating temporary markers.
The committee’s visit revealed the construction of a sediment trap that extends into the sea at the border’s tip, potentially causing erosion of Thai territory. Mr. Noppadon suggested that the Navy use satellite maps to continuously monitor the erosion over time. He emphasized that the committee’s presence allowed them to uncover numerous violations by Cambodia, which will be submitted for discussion in upcoming meetings.
The debate over whether to revoke the 2000-2001 MOUs continues, with Mr. Noppadon noting that the public still lacks comprehensive information. He recounted historical boundary developments, including the establishment of GBC, RBC, and JBC committees in the 1990s, which predated the 2000-2001 MOUs. These committees, he argued, would have existed regardless of the MOUs, suggesting that mutual respect between parties is crucial for resolving conflicts.
Mr. Noppadon has coordinated with former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to provide information to the committee on October 28th. During his tenure as Prime Minister, Mr. Abhisit had attempted to cancel the 2001 MOU but was not successful. Mr. Abhisit has agreed to cooperate and provide relevant insights.
Addressing Mr. Pita Limjaroenrat’s inquiry on why parliamentary mechanisms have not been used to revoke the MOUs, Mr. Noppadon stated that a Senate committee is currently reviewing the matter. He assured that the committee remains focused on national interests and neutrality, aiming to provide transparency and periodic updates to the public. Coordination with the Senate President has been established to ensure open communication and public awareness of the situation.