Thailand's acting defense minister Nattaphon Narkphanit announced on 1/8 that the upcoming meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) will take place in Malaysia from the 4th to the 7th of August, instead of in Phnom Penh as originally planned.
The GBC is a bilateral mechanism between Cambodia and Thailand established to address border security, ceasefires, troop movements, and related disputes along the contested border.
According to Nattaphon, the change of venue is not due to any suspicion of Phnom Penh, but rather to ensure the safety of Thai officials and prevent unrest. "Security concerns for the Thai delegation were a key factor in this decision," he said.
Maly Socheata, a spokesperson for the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense, later that day said Cambodia welcomed Thailand's proposal to change the location of the border talks. "We are very confident that this meeting will be constructive and achieve good results," she said.
 |
Towers at Ta Moan Thom temple on the Cambodia-Thailand border in a photo taken on 5/3. Photo: Reuters |
Towers at Ta Moan Thom temple on the Cambodia-Thailand border in a photo taken on 5/3. Photo: Reuters
According to Socheata, Cambodia had proposed that Malaysia, the US, and China send observers to the meeting, as these countries were involved in the 28/7 ceasefire negotiations.
However, Nattaphon said Thailand rejected Cambodia's request to include international observers in the GBC meeting. "This is a bilateral meeting, unlike the previous ceasefire negotiations involving other parties," he said.
Nattaphon declined to reveal Thailand's objectives for the talks or confirm whether the disputed Ta Kwai temple area would be discussed, but affirmed that such discussions aim to prevent escalating tensions between the two countries.
Fighting between Cambodia and Thailand broke out near the Ta Moan Thom temple on the morning of 24/7 and later spread to other areas along the border, including the Ta Kwai and Preah Vihear temples. This was the most serious clash between the two neighbors in over 10 years, resulting in a total of 38 deaths, including 25 Thais and 13 Cambodians.
 |
Location of Ta Muan Thom temple and other disputed temples between Cambodia and Thailand. Graphic: CNA |
Location of Ta Muan Thom temple and other disputed temples between Cambodia and Thailand. Graphic: CNA
Cambodia and Thailand reached a ceasefire agreement on 28/7 after talks in Malaysia. Military leaders from both countries agreed not to deploy or move additional troops along the border to enforce the ceasefire.
However, Thailand has repeatedly accused Cambodia of violating the agreement and attacking Thai military positions. Phnom Penh has denied these accusations, maintaining that it has adhered to the ceasefire and accusing Bangkok of "fabrications and misunderstandings."
Nguyen Tien (Xinhua, Khmer Times, Bangkok Post, AP)
