Thailand resorted to riot-control measures, rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse Cambodian protesters, who attempted to dismantle Thai security barriers yesterday at Ban Nong Ya Kaeo in Khok Sung district of Sa Kaeo province.
The Thai military and foreign ministry insisted that the incident occurred on Thai sovereign territory and that the action was taken to protect Thailand’s sovereignty.
“The Thai authorities responded with standard crowd-control measures, to prevent the situation from escalating into a riot,” army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree insisted.
The chaos broke out in the afternoon, after a group of Cambodian protesters had gathered to prevent Thai soldiers from installing additional barriers, to strengthen border security.
Winthai said the unrest was linked to a previous incident on September 16th, when Cambodian protesters dismantled barbed wire fencing erected by the Thai military at Ban Nong Ya Kaeo, which lies in Thai territory.
As the forces attempted to the reinforce barriers again, they were confronted by large groups of Cambodian protesters, armed with wooden sticks and slingshots.
Protesters used the sticks to poke Thai soldiers, while some used slingshots.
Riot-control police were then deployed, using tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd and restore order. Some Thai officials sustained injuries after being struck by stones, wooden sticks and slingshot projectiles.
The spokesman emphasised that the Cambodian protesters had intruded into Thai territory, obstructed official operations and destroyed government property, violating several Thai laws.
He added that Cambodian authorities took no action to restrain their citizens, which he viewed as a deliberate provocation and a breach of the ceasefire agreement by using civilians, noting that “The Thai police response was in line with international standards, proportionate to the situation and necessary to prevent further escalation.”
He also stressed that the incident site lies squarely within Thai sovereign territory, not in any disputed or Cambodian territory, as Cambodian authorities have claimed.
Meanwhile, the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a statement on the incursion and protest, claiming that the measures employed by the Thai side were well within Thailand’s sovereign territory.
Cambodia’s removal of security barriers placed by Thai authorities is illegal under Thai law and attempts to obstruct the work of Thai officials had resulted in injuries to some Thai personnel.
According to the statement, “Thai officials have exercised the utmost restraint throughout this incident, with explanations provided repeatedly to the Cambodian nationals. Provocations and incursions by the Cambodians have, however, continued, making it necessary for Thai crowd-control police to intervene. All actions by the Thai police were proportionate and appropriate to the circumstances, adhered to human rights principles and prevented the situation from spiralling out of control.”
The ministry insisted that instigations and incitements to protest by the Cambodian side in the area constituted a violation of the ceasefire agreement and that such actions are irresponsible, unconstructive and clearly taken without due regard for the safety and interests of the people.
“The Thai side, therefore, calls upon the Cambodian side to cease all provocations, incitements to protest and unrest in the area, and to refrain from any further actions that would hinder efforts to de-escalate tensions and, instead, seek peaceful and mutually acceptable solutions,” the statement read.
