Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai says Thailand reinforces army presence in response to Cambodia transfer.
Thailand has strengthened its army presence alongside a disputed border with Cambodia following a rise in troops on the opposite facet, the Thai defence minister has mentioned.
Tensions between the 2 Southeast Asian international locations have been rising since a Cambodian soldier was killed on Might 28 in a quick skirmish in an undemarcated border space.
For the reason that incident, the 2 governments have been exchanging fastidiously worded statements committing to dialogue.
Thailand’s Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who additionally serves as deputy prime minister, mentioned on Saturday that Cambodia had rejected proposals in bilateral talks held on Thursday that might have led to a de-escalation.
“Moreover, there was a reinforcement of army presence, which has exacerbated tensions alongside the border,” Phumtham mentioned in an announcement.
“Consequently, the Royal Thai Authorities has deemed it essential to implement extra measures and to bolster our army posture accordingly.”
He didn’t present additional particulars on the extent of reinforcements by both facet.
There was no fast remark from Cambodia.
In a separate assertion on Saturday, the Thai military mentioned Cambodian civilians had additionally repeatedly made incursions into Thailand’s territory.
“These provocations, and the buildup of army forces, point out a transparent intent to make use of power,” the Thai military mentioned, including it might take management of all Thai checkpoints alongside the Cambodia border.
Thailand and Cambodia have for greater than a century contested sovereignty at numerous undemarcated factors alongside their 817km (508-mile) land border.
Rigidity escalated in 2008 over an Eleventh-century Hindu temple, resulting in skirmishes over a number of years and at the very least a dozen deaths, together with throughout a weeklong alternate of artillery fireplace in 2011.
On Monday, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet mentioned the federal government would file a grievance with the Worldwide Court docket of Justice (ICJ) over the border dispute.
“Cambodia hopes that the Thai facet will agree with Cambodia to collectively deliver these points to the Worldwide Court docket of Justice… to stop armed confrontation once more over border uncertainty,” Hun Manet mentioned throughout a gathering between MPs and senators.
Thailand has not recognised the ICJ’s jurisdiction since 1960 and has as a substitute referred to as for bilateral talks.
Efforts have been made by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who’s the present chair of the Southeast Asian ASEAN bloc, and China to scale back tensions, however the border stays disputed.
A gathering of the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Boundary Fee – which addresses border demarcation points – is scheduled for June 14.
