Manet raises Thai occupation during US visit; Thais reportedly monitoring comments
Prime Minister Hun Manet departed for the United States on February 15. AKP
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Prime Minister Hun Manet is using his trip to the US to raise concerns about Thai violations of Cambodia’s sovereignty. The prime minister is currently in Washington, DC, to attend the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace. Thai media reports have suggested that the Thai government is watching Manet’s activities closely.
Manet was quoted by international media as stating that the Thai military continues to control parts of Cambodian territory after the ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump. He called on Thailand to return to the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) mechanism for measuring and demarcating the border.
The Trump-led Board of peace was established to oversee a Gaza peace plan, but Trump has claimed that the board will play a broader role in wider conflicts and disputes.
Manet told Reuters that Thai forces had struck deep into Cambodian territory in many areas, far beyond Thailand’s own unilateral claims – beyond the border. He added that Thai troops had placed shipping containers and razor wire barricades in several locations that Thailand has long recognised as Cambodian territory, leaving many Cambodian citizens unable to return to their homes.
He reiterated that such facts on the ground are unacceptable to Cambodia because they constitute a violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“The only way to verify that is to use the technical mechanism that we have, based on treaties, based on all the agreements we have in place. We hope that Thailand will agree and start allowing the JBC to work as soon as possible,” he said.
Manet also noted that the Thais appear to have used their February general elections as an excuse to delay working with Cambodia on demarcation.
“Now that the election is over, we hope that Thailand can start, at least at a technical level, to start measuring, to start demarcating in the hot zone, so that we can go back to normal life,” he was quoted as saying.
Manet’s visit to the US, and his subsequent trip to Europe, are reportedly being closely observed by Thai authorities.
Thai outlet The Nation quoted Thai foreign minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow as stating yesterday that Thailand is monitoring Manet’s activities abroad, especially his meeting with Trump and his request for historical documents from France.
-Phnom Penh Post-
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