Thai-Cambodian border dispute can be solved at bilateral level

BANGKOK, Feb 6 – Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva affirmed that the Thai-Cambodian border dispute can be solved at the bilateral level, so there was no need for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to mediate the dispute.

After Surin Pitsuwan, ASEAN Secretary-General proposed that ASEAN help mediate the border conflict between the two countries, Mr Abhisit said bilateral talks still moved forward and the two countries are ready to solve the conflict at the bilateral level in the framework of the Thailand-Cambodia Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) first. He would wait and see whether talks between the two leaders were needed, as now the situation has eased.

The clashes on Friday and Saturday morning killed a Thai soldier and a civilian.

Despite a rumour of fresh fighting on Sunday, the second Army Region commander Lt Gen Thawatchai Samutsakorn denied a third round of clashes and reaffirmed that the situation at the Thai-Cambodian border was returning to normal.
Some shops in Sisaket’s Kantharalak district reopened on Sunday and some villagers moved back to their homes from a temporary shelter and surveyed damage at their houses. However, 20 schools in the area were ordered to close for three days from Monday to Wednesday.

In a related development, there was a report on Sunday that a Thai soldier detained in Cambodia on Saturday morning was set to be taken to a Cambodian military court on Monday. (MCOT online news)