Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet announced today that the governor of Udor Meanchey province informed him that Thailand's 2nd Army Region had decided to close the Choub Korki border checkpoint between the two countries.
Mr. Hun Manet agreed with the Udor Meanchey governor's response that Cambodia would also "permanently close" the border crossing in this area. The Cambodian prime minister also ordered the closure of the Choam crossing, effective immediately.
"Since 7/6, the Thai military has unilaterally closed border checkpoints between the two countries without considering the negative impact on people on both sides. Cambodia has never intended to cause difficulties for people of both countries who need to cross the border, but if the Thai military continues to use this method to exert pressure, we can respond accordingly," Mr. Hun Manet wrote.
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Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet in Phnom Penh on 2/6. Photo: AFP |
Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet in Phnom Penh on 2/6. Photo: AFP
The Cambodian prime minister also expressed concern about conflicting messages from Thai officials. He noted that while political leaders, including prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, have repeatedly called for bilateral talks to reopen border crossings, the Thai military has acted in the opposite direction.
Mr. Hun Manet said that as soon as Thailand reopens the border checkpoints, Cambodia will do the same, within five hours at the latest.
Tensions have escalated between Cambodia and Thailand since a shooting incident between the two countries' forces in an undemarcated border area near the Preah Vihear temple on 28/5, which killed a Cambodian soldier. Both sides claim they acted in self-defense.
The dispute between the two sides intensified after a leaked recording of a phone call between Cambodian senate president Hun Sen and Thai prime minister Paetongtarn.
In the call, Ms. Paetongtarn addressed Mr. Hun Sen as "uncle" and advised him to "ignore the opposition" in Thailand, including 2nd Army Region commander Boosin Padklang, who manages the eastern border area with Cambodia. She suggested that General Boosin "just wants to look cool and says things that are not in the national interest."
Ms. Paetongtarn later apologized for the recording, which caused public outrage, explaining that it was part of a negotiation tactic and that there were no issues with the Thai military. However, the Thai prime minister still faced strong opposition, with calls for her resignation.
Ngoc Anh (According to Khmer Times, AFP)
