The Thai government’s spokesman has dismissed as false Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet’s claim that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to use a 1:200,000-scale map and the 1907 Franco–Siam Treaty as the basis for temporary border demarcation.
Siripong Angkasakulkiat insisted that the recent Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting, held in Chanthaburi province on October 21 and 22, reached no agreement on the use of the map scale or the installation of temporary boundary markers, contrary to Hun Manet’s Facebook post.
“The claim is not true and could mislead the public in both countries,” he said, adding that the JBC did not discuss or reach any agreement regarding the map or temporary demarcation.
Siripong said that Thailand will not allow any distortion of facts and that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had reiterated the government’s four key principles of protecting national sovereignty, ensuring border stability, safeguarding local communities and pursuing peaceful solutions.
“Thailand stands firmly by peaceful means, but will not tolerate misinformation that undermines trust and cooperation,” Siripong said.
“We urge the Thai public not to be misled by repeated distortions from the Cambodian side, which appear to serve domestic political purposes.”
Earlier Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Palangkura said in a statement last night that Hun Manet’s posts on his Facebook page about the use of the map were inaccurate.
He clarified that the recent special session of the Thai–Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), held in Chanthaburi province from October 21–22, focused only on the joint survey and verification of existing boundary markers, not on the adoption or discussion of any specific map.
“The JBC meeting was conducted on the basis of jointly verifying existing boundary pillars. There was no discussion or agreement related to the 1:200,000 map as mentioned by the Cambodian Prime Minister,” Nikorndej said.
The difference over which map to use, with Cambodia preferring the 1:200,000 scale and Thailand the 1:50,000 scale, has remained a key obstacle to completing the demarcation of the Thai–Cambodian border.
Thai Defence Minister Gen Nattapon Nakpanich, who co-chaired the JBC meeting in Chanthaburi with his Cambodian counterpart Gen Tea Seiha, did not mention the type of map as claimed by Hun Manet during his press briefing after the meeting.
Hun Manet referred to the map when he mentioned Ban Nong Chan and Nong Ya Kaeo villages in Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province.
Thailand has insisted that the villages are on Thai territory and that it allowed Cambodians to take shelter there out of compassion as they fled internal conflicts about forty years ago.
When the war ended, the Cambodian settlers refused to return the land to Thailand and continued living there despite the deadline for them to move out.
According to Hun Manet, the problems began when Thai military personnel used barbed wire and vehicles to encircle some Cambodian villagers’ homes and farmland over the past two months, causing difficulties and distress among local residents.
This situation has also stirred public concern among Cambodians both inside and outside the country, he wrote.
