The Thai army has demanded that its Cambodian counterpart withdraws its troops and heavy weapons from border areas and cooperate in clearing mines in Chong An Ma, Chong Chong Krang, Chong Bok and Chong Chom border passes, in the northeastern provinces of Surin and Ubon Ratchathani, expeditiously.
The demand was made during the Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting in Samrong district of Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province today. The Thai delegation was led by Maj-Gen Kampanart Wapansu, the chief-of-staff of the Operations Centre of the Second Army Region, while the Cambodian team was led by Brig-Gen Nid Narang, deputy chief-of-staff of the 4th Regional Army.
The Thai delegation urged the Cambodian team to respond to the demand by October 17th, when the next RBC is scheduled to take place at the Chong Chom pass in Surin province.
In response to the Cambodian query about when the 18 Cambodian prisoners of war, held in Thailand since the fighting in late July, will be released, Maj-Gen Kampanart said he reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to complying with the Geneva Conventions regarding prisoners of war, which means they will be released once border conflict has been resolved.
Meanwhile, in Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaew, in Sa Kaeo province, Thai troops proceeded with mine clearance this afternoon, despite protests from Cambodia, which claimed that such action is a violation of the spirit of the ceasefire agreement.
Cambodian civilians, including children and women, were mobilised by Cambodian officials to protest against Thailand’s eviction plan for the two border villages.
