Bangkok: “Big Lek” expressed optimism about the recent preliminary agreement reached between Thailand and Cambodia, highlighting the discussions on the landmine issue that will continue until mutual acceptance is achieved. He commended the General Border Committee (GBC) negotiation team for their efforts and thanked the residents of the four Thai-Cambodian border provinces for their patience. He instructed provincial governors to coordinate with security agencies to facilitate the safe return of citizens to their homes. He noted Cambodia’s reluctance to dispose of explosives used for self-defense, emphasizing ongoing discussions at the GBC to address this matter. Additionally, he announced the formation of a private advisory team to review all legal aspects.
According to Thai News Agency, General Nattapol Nakphanit, Deputy Minister of Defense, expressed satisfaction with the successful outcome of the Thailand-Cambodia GBC meeting, which resulted in a 13-point agreement. A significant achievement was the bilateral agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, facilitated by ASEAN’s decision to allow the two countries to negotiate without external intervention, acting only as observers. Observers from the United States and China were present during the talks, with ASEAN managing the situation without interference. This development followed a commitment from the Malaysian Prime Minister, who responded to Thailand’s request to maintain dialogue between the two countries to ensure the continuation of the bilateral mechanism. Cambodia’s agreement to engage in bilateral talks was another notable success, following previous refusals.
General Nattapol emphasized the importance of demonstrating maturity in building trust with Cambodia. Thailand plans to adhere to international law and consensus as a framework for assessing and controlling Cambodia’s operations, ensuring compliance with international conventions. He evaluated Cambodia’s cooperation at three levels: the GBC secretariat level, where despite some disagreements, cooperation was evident; the plenary GBC meeting level, which involved numerous participants and signed agreements; and the implementation process governed by the Regional Border Committee (RBC) mechanism. A meeting of the Thailand-Cambodia Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) is scheduled a month later.
General Nattapol assured that the current Thai-Cambodian conflict would involve temporary observers, comprising ASEAN military assistants based in Thailand, to monitor the situation. No foreign troops will be deployed to Thailand. He highlighted three oversight mechanisms: the RBC, the Global BC, and a temporary ASEAN observer team. The observer team, similar to the military diplomatic mission that visited Si Sa Ket Province on August 1st, may not be present in every country.
Both the GBC and the Thai-Cambodian Border Situation Administration (CBSA) will operate within the legal framework, as emphasized by General Nattapol. Any actions exceeding their authority will be referred to the National Security Council (NSC) and the Cabinet. He stated that the CBSA’s operations would not be prolonged, urging the CBSA to continue its work while acknowledging the complexity of ongoing legal matters. To ensure legal security, a personal advisory team will be appointed, consisting of key officials and experts. This team will oversee ongoing work and propose improvements, recognizing that the CBSA alone may be overwhelmed.
General Nattapol addressed concerns of people in border areas wishing to return home, emphasizing the importance of safety. Coordination with the Second Army Region commander and provincial governors has been established to assess the situation closely. However, for safety reasons, he requested cooperation in remaining at the shelters. He expressed gratitude to the people of the four border provinces for their resilience and patience, noting their willingness to cooperate despite hardships.
He acknowledged the challenges faced by local authorities in assessing and deciding on the safe return of people without reporting to the NBTC meeting. Concerns remain about unexploded bombs in the area, despite efforts by the Royal Thai Police’s EOD team. The military will reassess the situation, ensuring safety before allowing people to return home. He clarified that bomb disposal efforts are focused near the border to prevent misunderstandings and emphasized that Thailand would not place explosives intentionally.
Entrepreneurs in Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, and Trat provinces experiencing hardship are urged to remain patient, with gradual measures to be implemented as the situation improves. Cambodia’s rejection of two proposals, involving explosive ordnance disposal and addressing the scammer problem, lacked an explanation. However, it is understood that Cambodia continues to rely on landmines for force protection. Trust remains an issue between the two nations, but the initial agreement is seen as a positive step. Thailand will continue to raise these issues in future GBC meetings until resolution is achieved.