Thailand and Laos have agreed to step up cooperation to identify and locate people considered to be threats to the security of both nations, a Thai defence spokesman says.
The agreement was reached when Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon met Lao Defence Minister Chansamone Chanyalath in Vientiane to attend the 24th meeting of the Thai-Lao General Border Committee (GBC) yesterday, Kongcheep Tantrawanit said.
They discussed improving cooperation on overall security issues and agreed to boost cooperation against illicit drugs and "groups of people who threaten the security", Lt Gen Kongcheep said. Gen Prawit and Lt Gen Chansamone co-chaired the GBC which also agreed to exchange intelligence reports.
Earlier this year, Bangkok sought cooperation from Laos to locate fugitive red-shirt hardliner and lese majeste suspect Wuthipong "Kotee" Kochathamakun and prevent his group criticising the Thai regime via community radio stations based in Laos.
Mr Wuthipong, who reportedly fled to Laos after a warrant was issued for his arrest in April 2014 on a lese majeste charge, has also been implicated by the government in another case in which a cache of weapons was found in a house in Pathum Thani in March.
Following the May 22 bombing at Phramongkutklao Hospital in Bangkok, army chief Chalermchai Sitthisad said information had come to light suggesting the attack was carried out by Mr Wuthipong's network.
However, Gen Prawit played down Gen Chalermchai's remark saying there was no evidence suggesting Watana Pumret, convicted as the bomber in the hospital bombing, was linked to Mr Wuthipong.
On July 31, the Thai government and security officials refused to confirm rumours that Mr Wuthipong was being held in Laos. The then National Security Council chief Thawip Netniyom on July 4 insisted Mr Wuthipong was still hiding there, despite reports suggesting he had fled to Cambodia.
The suspect was still in Laos but had apparently scaled back his political activities, said Gen Thawip, adding that Thai authorities continued to seek cooperation from their counterparts in Laos in the hunt for Mr Wuthipong.