The focus of border tension today is on Sa Kaeo province, after Cambodia officially rejected Thailand’s unilateral plan to begin demining operations in contested border villages, heightening the possibility of a military standoff.
The flashpoint lies opposite Ban Nong Yakaew village in Khok Sung district, where a growing number of Cambodians have gathered near the barbed-wire fences recently erected by the Thai military, which reports, via its official Facebook page, the unusually large presence of Cambodian soldiers and heavy weaponry near the area.
On Wednesday, the Thai military sent a letter of notification to its Cambodian counterpart, informing them that it would enter Nong Chan and Nong Yakaew villages in Sa Kaeo province today to carry out landmine clearance operations.
It stated that the Cambodian side was informed in advance to avoid any misunderstanding.
Cambodia’s 51st Infantry Brigade, however, issued a firm rejection of the operation in its response, stating that it violates the spirit of the agreements reached during the first Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) held on September 10th.
In a formal letter, dated October 9, Cambodia reiterated that any humanitarian demining efforts along the Thailand-Cambodia border must follow an agreed framework.
This includes:
• Establishing a Joint Coordinating Task Force (JCTF) – which has been in place since September 24th.
• Finalising Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) – which are still under discussion, with the second JCTF meeting held earlier this week via video conference.
• Jointly identifying priority zones and pilot sites – a step that remains incomplete.
Cambodia emphasised that Thailand’s scheduled activity is premature and urged the Thai side to halt all demining plans until further consensus is reached through the established JCTF process.
Meanwhile, the Thai-Cambodian Border Coordination Office, under the 1st Army Region, sent a notice to its Cambodian counterpart, informing them about a visit by an International Observer Team (IOT) to monitor peace and order in Sa Kaeo province today from 10am to 4pm.
The communication stressed transparency and requested cooperation to prevent misunderstandings.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, meanwhile, chaired a National Security Council (NSC) meeting at Government House to assess the situation along the Thailand-Cambodia border, particularly around the Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Yakaew villages.
Attending the meeting were Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Justice Minister Rutthapon Naowarat and Deputy Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Adul Boonthamcharoen.
Earlier it was reported that a plan to evict illegal Cambodian settlers from the Ban Nong Chan and Bang Nong Ya Kaew villages would be discussed at the NSC meeting.
The Cambodian settlers were given until today to move out of the two border villages, claimed by Thailand, or face legal action.
An informed Thai security source said that Thailand will adopt step-by-step approach, by first using crowd control police, local officials and unarmed soldiers to evict the settlers.
