Thailand’s First Army Region is demanding that Cambodia submit an evacuation plan for Cambodian civilians settled in Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaeo in Khok Sung district and Ban Ta Phraya in Ta Phraya district of Sa Kaeo province within next week, before it agrees to attend the Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting.
The demand was stated in a letter dated October 3, sent from First Army Region commander Lt Gen Worayos Luangsuvan to Lt Gen Aek Som Oun, deputy commander-in-chief of Cambodia’s Military Region 5.
Worayos stressed that he will co-chair the special RBC meeting, scheduled between October 10 and 13 in Banteay Meanchey province, Cambodia, but only if the evacuation plan is submitted by October 7 and presented during the RBC discussions.
Tensions between the two countries have recently become focused on these three locations, as Thailand demands that Cambodian settlers move out of what is claimed as being within Thai territory.
Despite yesterday’s expiration of the evacuation deadline for Nong Ya Kaeo village, the Cambodians refused to comply. The Thai army has set October 10 as the deadline for the evacuation of Ban Nong Chan.
The Khmer Times has reported that Cambodian settlers have said they will not destroy or leave the homes in which they have lived for three decades.
Some even claim that they are willing to die to prevent the forced eviction by Thai authorities.
Thailand restated that it allowed Cambodians to take shelter in those areas during their civil war nearly five decades ago, purely on humanitarian grounds, but they refused to return after the war had ended.
Meanwhile, Colonel Chainarong Kasee, commander of the 12th Task Force unit based in Ban Nong Chan, said his troops are ready to take action against the settlers, but he is awaiting instructions from his superior at the First Army Region.
Lt Gen Worayos went the border area at Ban Nong Ya Kaeo on Friday, opposite Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey, on his first visit since assuming his post.
He observed that, on the Cambodian side, barricades of tires and barbed wire had been placed, as well as a black net barrier similar to Thailand’s.
During his inspection, he saw about a dozen Cambodian monks and novices standing in line to greet the delegation. Many held mobile phones and cameras to film the Thai side, alongside Cambodian troops in the area.
Upon noticing this, Worayos smiled and simply remarked, “We film them, and they film us,” before moving on.
