Bangkok: Suan Mob has reiterated its stance against the cancellation of MOU 43-44, emphasizing the strategic importance of maintaining the agreement.

According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Linthiporn Warinwatcharoj, MP for the party list and deputy secretary-general of the Pheu Thai Party, addressed recent calls by protest leaders on June 28, 2015, to cancel the 2001 Thailand-Cambodia Memorandum of Understanding, also known as ‘MOU 43-44.’

Ms. Linthiporn clarified that Prime Minister Paethongtarn Shinawatra’s government is not considering canceling this MOU. She stressed that MOU 43-44 does not confer power or sovereignty to Cambodia but serves as a crucial tool for preserving Thailand’s interests in the overlapping maritime area, facilitating future negotiations. Maintaining the MOU, she argued, ensures Thailand’s right to jointly determine the future of the overlapping area, keeping the nation in a strategically advantageous position.

Ms. Linthiporn warned that canceling the MOU without a proper framework could result in Thailand losing its negotiating leverage internationally. She cautioned that such a move might prompt Cambodia to negotiate with third countries, potentially causing Thailand to forfeit opportunities for investment and shared benefits from energy resources in the region.

She further stated, “Assembly is freedom, but it should not create discourse that causes widespread misunderstanding. The government of Prime Minister Paethongtarn is committed to the national interest. It will not be misled by the short-term political stirring within neighboring countries to destroy Thailand’s long-term strategy and interests. If MOU 43-44 is cancelled, it will be like cutting off one’s own legs from the stage, not just in terms of energy, but also in terms of the country’s credibility in international relations.”