Authorities in Ubon Ratchathani province are pushing to officially make a stretch of border area a no-man’s land for Thailand and Cambodian forces.
Thai authorities approach the border in Ubon Ratchathani province as Cambodian authorities are attempting to build a road in a disputed area in late December. (Photo by Taweesak Butchand)
A source working near the Chong Arn Ma border checkpoint adjacent to Preah Vihear province in Cambodia said Monday that a solution to recent border tension there would allow both countries to co-exist peacefully and jointly use the region.
Tensions flared in December when Cambodia brought in heavy machinery to build a road in the town of An Ses, which is claimed by Cambodia but was classified by Thailand as neutral territory. In protest, Thailand closed the Chong Arn Ma border crossing in Nam Yuen district and brought in about 200 troops. Cambodian media reported unconfirmed reports of Thai soldiers shooting their Khmer counterparts.
In a joint meeting on Jan 8, Cambodia authorities agreed to stop road construction, but declined to fill in the excavated land as they wait for joint demarcation that could start in either late January or early February. Thai soldiers would remain in the area. Cambodian media quoted Khmer military as saying no additional Cambodian forces had not been bolstered.
The joint demarcation would proceed in a give-and-take manner to end conflicts, the source said.
Deputy Defence Minister and Army chief Udomdej Sitabutr will visit Cambodia Jan 21-22 to introduce himself as the new army chief. He will meet the defence minister and the supreme commander of Cambodia.
Gen Udomdej said that in the visit he would discuss peaceful co-existence of Thai and Cambodian soldiers along the border. He also said that situations at the Chong Arn Ma border pass already returned to normal.