Deadline of 30 days for Cambodians to abandon contended villages set by Sa Kaeo authorities
In a bid to maintain peace and stability along the Cambodian-Thai border, officials from both countries held a meeting on September 17 at the Poipet-Khlong Luek immigration office in Poipet, Banteay Meanchey province. The talks were chaired by Banteay Meanchey governor Um Reatrey and included military officers and other key officials.
The venue for the meeting was opposite the permanent border checkpoint at Ban Khlong Luek in Aranyapratet district, Sa Kaeo. The discussions focused on measures to maintain order along the border and prevent further confrontation.
The Thai side presented a series of proposals aimed at easing tensions. These included maintaining a 500-metre buffer zone between their nationals in disputed areas, no military build-up in the border zone, and no increase in troop numbers or deployment of heavy weapons. If unrest occurs, the responsibility to restore order lies with the country concerned.
Both governments pledged to prevent the incitement of gatherings and to control their people to respect the 500-metre distance from disputed areas. Citizens of both countries may use land within their own sovereign territory outside disputed zones, with military, police, or government officials prohibited from obstructing such use.
The Cambodian side could not endorse the eight proposals presented by the Thai delegation at the meeting and will forward them to higher authorities in Phnom Penh for consideration. Sa Kaeo province will formally notify Banteay Meanchey to remove Cambodian villagers and their belongings from Thai sovereign land at Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaeo in Khok Sung district within 30 days if an agreement is not reached through future General Border Committee (GBC) talks.
The talks followed the special session of the Thai-Cambodian GBC in Koh Kong on September 10, which resolved that the governors of Sa Kaeo and Banteay Meanchey should coordinate directly to ensure stability along the border. The Ministry of Interior in Phnom Penh accepted the proposals submitted by the Sa Kaeo governor regarding the relocation of the Cambodian villages Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaeo for review.
The Thai side stressed that if Banteay Meanchey fails to accept any of its proposals, Sa Kaeo reserves the right to proceed with actions within Thailand's sovereignty and jurisdiction in accordance with national law. Sa Kaeo province also reserved the right to issue land title deeds within its sovereign territory outside disputed zones. Both sides agreed not to alter the landscape in disputed areas and to reverse any changes made within one day of the meeting.
The meeting marked a significant step towards maintaining peace and stability along the Cambodian-Thai border. Both governments reaffirmed their commitment to resolving disputes peacefully and maintaining good neighbourly relations.
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