Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visited the border province of Sa Kaeo today, to boost military morale, on the same day Cambodia’s former Prime Minister Hun Sen was visiting Oddar Meanchey province and meeting with troops.
The visits mark the first by either side since tensions flared between Thailand and Cambodia, following a deadly clash on May 28 in a disputed area of Nam Yuen district in Ubon Ratchathani.
Tensions escalated further after Hun Sen’s side leaked a recording of a phone conversation with Paetongtarn, in which she described a Thai army commander as “an opponent” and pledged to follow Hun Sen’s requests to help restore peace between the two nations.
According to the Khmer Times, Hun Sen checked on the well-being of Cambodian soldiers stationed at key border positions. Local military commanders briefed him on the security situation. He also met with provincial authorities and visited communities near the border.
Paetongtarn, meanwhile, arrived in Aranyaprathet district at about 10am and attended a meeting, to discuss the impacts of border gate policies between Thailand and Cambodia.
At the meeting, Sa Kaeo Governor Prinya Phothisat proposed cancelling an event, marking the 75th anniversary of Thai-Cambodian diplomatic relations, and a planned grant for a bridge project.
During the meeting, the Thai premier also discussed the border situation in the First Army Region’s area of jurisdiction, including cross-border trade, agricultural products and efforts to combat call centre scams and transnational crime.
She will later visit the Ban Klong Luek border checkpoint in Aranyaprathet, opposite Poipet in Banteay Meanchey province, Cambodia.
In the afternoon, she will travel to Ban Dong Ngu in Aranyaprathet sub-district, to meet with and offer support to military personnel stationed in the area.
