Analyst: Thai border wall plans ‘up to Thailand’

An image depicts a razor wire-topped barrier between Cambodia and Thailand. AI

Thai plans to build a 10-kilometre border wall in Sa Kaeo province, which border’s Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey, have raised eyebrows. With an estimated budget of 87 million baht (over $2.6 Million), the public has been asked to contribute.

The head of a prominent Cambodian think tank noted that the Thais can build anything they like, as long as it is on their own territory and not in disputed areas.

Yang Peou, secretary general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, told The Post that the cost and materials chosen are irrelevant to Cambodia.

“How much they want to spend and how long they want to make it is up to them. It does not matter how many kilometres they want to construct, no matter from metal, cement, silver, gold or diamonds. But they must build only on undisputed borderlines with Cambodia, or inside their territory,” he said.

“They cannot build a wall at the disputed areas where the border is still contested. If they want to build it along the border, they will have to wait until the contested borderlines are resolved, or they will be violating international laws and Cambodian territorial integrity,” he added.

Thai media outlet The Nation reported on September 26 that Princess Chulabhorn Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana has donated one million baht to establish the Hathai Thip Fund, with the aim of inspiring others to contribute and construct “walls and barriers along the Thai-Cambodian border”.

The outlet also quoted Thai defence minister Nattaphon Narkphanit as saying that the barrier will only be built in areas where the boundary has been clearly agreed.

-The Phnom Penh Post-