Thailand seeks neutral venue for border talks with Cambodia
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Malaysia’s defence chief, General Mohd Nizam Jaffar (fourth from left), meeting Thai Lieutenant-General Boonsin Padklang (fifth from right) in Ubon Ratchathani province in Thailand on July 30.
PHOTO: EPA
BANGKOK – Thailand has requested that Cambodia move a bilateral meeting of senior security officials next week – considered crucial to de-escalating border tensions following deadly clashes – from Phnom Penh to a neutral location.
Bangkok has proposed shifting the Aug 4 General Border Committee meeting, agreed by the leaders of the two countries, to a city in Malaysia.
The request was made by Thai Acting Defence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit, in a letter dated July 31, to his Cambodian counterpart, citing “the sensitive nature of the situation”.
Malaysia, which hosted ceasefire talks between the two nations’ leaders earlier this week, is ready to host the meeting as the current chair of Asean, Mr Nattaphon said.
Cambodian Defence Ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata did not immediately respond to a request for comments.
Despite agreeing to an unconditional ceasefire, the two countries have continued to exchange accusations of unprovoked aggression.
The five-day conflict resulted in over 40 deaths and displaced around 300,000 people along their roughly 800km border. The truce was brokered by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, acting as Asean chair, and followed pressure from US President Donald Trump.
“This upcoming session is of an extraordinary nature” as it will provide the two sides with an opportunity to jointly explore a way forward in de-escalating tensions and resolving the border security issues, Mr Nattaphon said.
He asked that the meeting be extended to Aug 7 to provide more time for discussions due to “the number and gravity of issues to be addressed”.
The General Border Committee is one of several bilateral mechanisms set up by Thailand and Cambodia to address border matters. The countries take turns hosting the meetings and it is currently Cambodia’s turn to do so.
The Thai army has set up an interim team of observers, including military attaches from Asean member states, to monitor the ceasefire, according to a statement.
The grouping also discussed the possible establishment of a broader Asean monitoring mechanism, which will be addressed at the Thai-Cambodian meeting next week, the army said. Bloomberg
