Thailand’s Provincial Administration Department has ordered seven provinces bordering Cambodia to prepare contingency plans to cope with any emergency that arises, should tensions between the neighbouring countries escalate into open warfare.
The precautionary measures are intended to ensure the safety of the civilian population, after relations between Thailand and Cambodia soured as the result of a landmine explosion in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket on Monday which injured four Thai soldiers, one losing his right lower leg to an anti-personnel landmine, allegedly laid by Cambodian forces.
In an urgent letter, addressed to the governors of the seven provinces, Nirat Pongsitthithavorn, director-general of the Provincial Administration Department, instructed them to be fully prepared and to coordinate with relevant agencies to ensure public safety.
Local officials, among them village headmen, sub-district chiefs and defence volunteers, have been instructed to ask the public to stay calm, not to fall victim to fake news and, if mass evacuation is required, to do it in an orderly fashion.
Telecommunication systems between local organisations must be fully functional around the clock, according to the instruction letter, noting that these precautionary measure, if implemented efficiently, will enable the military to focus on dealing with Cambodian forces.
