Bangkok: The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee traveled to explain to EU and UK ambassadors about the Thai-Cambodian border dispute, expressing concern over fake news distorting Thailand’s image. He emphasized that Thailand must be patient, restrained, and deliberate at every step, and not overreact. He emphasized that Thailand must be strong on its own two feet, urging the international community to take a stand against violence and keeping an eye on the role of third countries, stating that it is time for Thailand to act cautiously and firmly.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Sarasnan Annoppaporn, Chairwoman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, gave an interview regarding her visit to the European Union and British diplomats to discuss the Thai-Cambodian border conflict. She stated that since the border clashes began on July 24th, the Foreign Affairs Committee has been conducting clarifications, primarily due to concerns about the significant differences in media coverage from both Thailand and Cambodia, leading to misunderstandings and concerns among foreign countries. The committee has therefore traveled to address the concerns expressed by permanent members of the Security Council, who have at least expressed their concerns as legislators. Previous clarifications have been made to China, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and 18 other countries, as well as the European Union. The committee will now continue to discuss and clarify the facts, calling on friendly nations to take a stand on the violence. She urges all countr
ies to monitor the situation closely, as the international community has seen the confusion surrounding the forged Cambodian press conference, which they believe is a fabrication of facts.
When asked whether Cambodian embassies understand the issue despite the ceasefire agreement, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee stated that each country is listening, as many countries, particularly those from Europe, do not have a direct stake in the matter. Therefore, the position supports both sides’ restraint. Thailand has clearly demonstrated restraint throughout. The Thai side did not choose to engage in clashes that would cause damage to civilians. Thailand is defending itself only as necessary. From what has been seen, there are no images of Cambodian damage or civilian deaths. Therefore, the international community needs to take a stand on this issue, as it is a matter of violence against civilians and conflicts with various charters to which both countries are parties.
When asked if individual embassies expressed doubts about the escalation of violence and clashes, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee said he would also like to hear the views of lawmakers and politicians. Meanwhile, countries in the region would like to understand what happened to both countries, and remain neutral and refrain from commenting.
Meanwhile, countries in the region that have no stake in the issue are concerned about third countries becoming involved, and would like to know Thailand’s position regarding the superpowers.
The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee also stated that all countries have a stake in this matter, and therefore, Thailand needs to stand strong on its own two feet. This presents an opportunity to see who our country’s friends are in the midst of our challenges, and to witness the sincerity of many countries in their commitment to helping overcome this crisis. Thailand must stand strong on its own and discern Cambodia’s objectives and the needs of the countries involved.
“No conflict ever escalates to violence simply because of a castle. There must be more to it than that. Most conflicts around the world are fueled by resources and money,” said Ms. Sarasnan.
Regarding today’s meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee, which invited relevant agencies to clarify information on the violence and Thai-Cambodian relations, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee stated that this is an issue that the Committee is continuously monitoring within the framework of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Furthermore, we are curious about the current situation along the border, what has happened since the ceasefire, what are the clashes and interactions between soldiers? Therefore, we would like to ask the governors of the border provinces and representatives of the Second Army Region about the direction of the discussions in Malaysia and what direction the discussions at the JBC will take. The RBC discussions have not made progress, and many frameworks are already underway. Today, we would like to see the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Security’s approach to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
When asked, as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, what he thought of the suggestion from academics and politicians to file a lawsuit against Cambodia at the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee stated that it could be done, but the time was not yet right, as it would be a case of throwing a snake out of its throat. The incident resulted in numerous deaths on both the Thai and Cambodian sides. Therefore, filing a lawsuit at the ICC requires sufficient evidence. He added that Cambodia already has many other cases that are not recognized by the international community.
“Therefore, Thailand must carefully define what it wants. Do we want to stop the violence to continue negotiations, or try to remove an individual or family from the scene?” said Ms. Sarasnan.
The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee stated that it is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ duty to act as a mediator in negotiations. However, regional political developments still need to be closely monitored, as there are significant developments from China and the United States. It may be time for Thailand to make a major decision about which dimension to position itself in, ensuring the most appropriate and least damaging position, without taking sides. Currently, trade pressure is being exerted by tariffs, revealing the United States’ clear intentions regarding the specific framework through which it seeks to pressure Thailand. Therefore, it is concerning who ultimately is being pressured.
When asked about the Cambodian House Speaker’s statement at the high-level meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva, Switzerland, that Thailand had violated the ceasefire agreement, Ms. Sarasnan stated that, as Secretary-General of the Thai National Unit of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), she believes it is everyone’s right to express themselves on the international stage. Regarding the current situation, the legislature has international organizations in various frameworks, including the IPU, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the ASEAN framework, and the Asia-Pacific Inter-Parliamentary Union (APPU). Therefore, existing cooperation frameworks should be used to communicate to members around the world for maximum benefit.