Tension at Chong Bok standoff: Time nears for the next action
Battling it Out: Tensions Erupt at the Thai-Cambodian Border
The heated exchange between Thai and Cambodian troops at the Chong Bok area in Ubon Ratchathani Province continues to cause tension. After a high-level meeting between the commanders of both countries' armies, tensions have eased, yet the area remains volatile.
Letting Off Steam
In a one-and-a-half-hour conference on May 29th, Gen Mao Sophan, the Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, and Ge Pana Klaewblaudtuk, the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, managed to reach four agreements. However, the statements presented by the Thai and Cambodian militaries saw some key differences.
One point of alignment was that both sides would hold back pending the gathering of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Border Committee (JBC), expected to happen within two weeks. In the interim, they agreed to exercise mutual restraint.
The bone of contention lies within the Cambodian statement, which pointed out that they would not withdraw or disarm from the battlefield, claiming prior control over the contentious site before the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on land boundary demarcation between Thailand and Cambodia.
Stepping Up
In response to the Cambodian declaration, Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree, the Royal Thai Army spokesperson, urged calm amongst the Thai public. He clarified that the Cambodian statement did not specify the exact location in question but remarked that, as of the morning of May 28th - the time of the latest confrontation at the Chong Bok site - both sides had withdrawn from direct contact, thus easing the confrontation.
Despite this development, the atmosphere between the troops positioned at a distance from the recent battlefield remains tense. This unease is due to the Cambodian side experiencing two fatalities and injuries, while the Thai side reported no casualties.
Words of Frustration
During the intense military encounter between the Royal Thai Army and the Royal Cambodian Army, both delegations struggled to maintain composure. Reports suggest that Gen Mao made pointed remarks directed at Gen Pana, supposedly out of anger over the loss of Cambodian personnel, despite Thailand's expressions of condolences.
It's important to note that Maj Gen Tol Sophorn, Deputy Commander of Cambodia's 3rd Support Division, who once contacted his Thai counterpart to propose a ceasefire, was absent from the meeting on May 28th.
Looking Ahead
The upcoming meeting of the Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) between the two countries is scheduled for June 14th in Phnom Penh. However, Cambodia has shown reluctance to discuss contentious areas during this meeting, preferring to take the issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which Thailand has expressed hesitancy about.
Despite the challenges, both countries are continuing to engage in discussions at various levels to normalize the situation and resolve disputes through existing bilateral mechanisms. However, concerns persist about internal divisions within the Thai government and military and the lack of progress made in resolving the dispute over the past 25 years.
In the aftermath of the military encounter, the political landscape of both Thailand and Cambodia has seen tangible effects. With the upcoming meeting of the Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) looming on June 14th in Phnom Penh, the ongoing war-and-conflicts at the Thai-Cambodian border have brought complex business dealings and delicate diplomatic politics into sharp focus. The volatile general-news reports from the Chong Bok region seem to indicate that the relationships between these neighboring nations are unpredictable and fraught with tension.
