Thais demand evacuation plan; Cambodian commander calls for JBC solution
Thai soldiers who entered Banteay Meanchey province’s Chouk Chey village on September 17. Supplied
The commander of Cambodia’s Military Region 5 has responded to Thai demands that he prepare an evacuation plan for the residents of the disputed villages of Chouk Chey and Prey Chan, in Banteay Meanchey.
Lieutenant General Ek Sam Oun urged his counterparts in Thailand’s First Military Region to respect the results of past General Border Committee (GBC) meetings and refrain from taking any unilateral actions concerning the dispute.
He noted that it was previously agreed that the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) of both countries is the correct mechanism for resolving tensions.
He made his request in an October 5 response to an October 3 letter from the regional command, which Cambodia received on October 4.
The Thai document instructed Military Region 5 to prepare an evacuation plan for the Cambodian citizens of Prey Chan and Chouk Chey, and submit it to the Thai side by October 7, stating that if it is not received, they would not participate in the upcoming extraordinary Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting, scheduled for October 10-12 in Poipet town, Banteay Meanchey.
The Thais used the Thai names for the two locations, claiming that that they are in Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province.
“Regarding the cases of Chouk Chey and Prey Chan villages, which the Thai First Military Region proposes to evacuate, a resolution must be implemented according to an agreement made by the General Border Committee (GBC) of both countries on September 10. Specifically, point 8 of the meeting minutes assigned the task to the JBC, as the competent mechanism for resolving these issues,” wrote Sam Oun.
“RBC meetings at the military region level are only for facilitating on-site issues, easing tensions and resolving problems peacefully, but do not grant the authority to determine border lines,” he added.
Cambodia hosted GBC meeting on September 10 in Koh Kong province. Cambodia’s Military Region 5 invited to the October 10-12 meeting at the same time.
Thailand has been accusing of encroachment by Cambodian villagers in Prey Chan and Chouk Chey, the sites of former refugee camps which camp residents recall were in Cambodian territory. Thailand claims that around 200 Cambodian families are living on Thai soil.
According to Sam Oun, some Thai citizens in the area are living and farming on Cambodian territory.
He noted that this issue highlights the complexity and difficulty in resolving border problems, which require adherence to each of the agreements and principles previously agreed upon by both sides.
“Cambodia maintains a stance of respecting the agreements between the two countries, meaning it must await the results of the JBC meeting regarding the areas of Chouk Chey and Prey Chan villages, including the areas where Thai citizens are living and working beyond Border markers. Cambodia also urges a prompt JBC meeting to find a solution,” said Sam Oun.
“Cambodia wishes to emphasise the necessity of creating a favourable environment for the peaceful resolution of border issues, especially by avoiding all activities that could affect the safety and livelihoods of the people of both sides. We must wait until a decision is made by the JBC of our two nations,” he added.
-The Phnom Penh Post-
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