Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has expressed concern over an incident last Thursday, at the Prasat Ta Muen Thom ruins in Surin province, where a group of Cambodians, including some soldiers, sang a patriotic song.
He said yesterday that he does not want such an incident to be a cause of conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, adding that the neighbouring countries should work to maintain peace.
Phumtham Wechayachai, Thai Defence Minister
While insisting that the ancient ruins are on Thai soil, in Phnom Dong Rak district of Surin province, although the area there is yet to be demarcated, Phumtham said that Thailand has already submitted a protest note to Cambodia over the incident which, he said, should not be repeated.
A video clip, posted on Thai social media, shows a group of wives of Cambodian soldiers visiting the ancient ruins last Thursday, during which they sang a patriotic song, prompting Thai troops deployed at the site to intervene and ask the group to stop the singing, described as a symbolic display of nationalism.
Prasat Ta Muen Thom, Surin,Thailand
Thailand has allowed Cambodians to visit the ancient ruins every day from 9am until 3pm, but prohibits them from making any gesture implying that the ruins belong to Cambodia.
It is reported that the commander of the Thailand’s Suranaree Task Force has sent a protest note to his Cambodian counterpart over the incident.
Latest reports say that Colonel Parkpoom Napakat, commander of the task force unit, has met with the chief of the Cambodian border force at O-Samet, Colonel Poe Peng, to discuss the issue, in order to prevent misunderstanding between the peoples of the two countries and to a maintain good relationship.
