Border demarcation working group meeting delayed by one day
[An unofficial aerial map showing the disputed area in O Beichaon commune, Banteay Meanchey province. Royal Thai Army: Update FB]
A planned meeting of the Joint Technical Working Group, on the implementation of technical instructions for temporary border demarcation in the areas of Prey Chan and Chouk Chey villages, has been postponed by one day, to November 18.
A senior official from the Cambodian Border Affairs Secretariat clarified that the delay was because Thailand only sent a diplomatic note to Cambodia today, November 17.
The official explained that the meeting, which would have focussed on technical details of temporary demarcation between border markers 42 and 47, on the border of Banteay Meanchey province, was scheduled to be held in Cambodia.
The official stated that the Cambodian side only received a dispatch from the Thai embassy in Cambodia on the morning of November 17, via Telegram.
“According to the agreement, the Thais had to send their approval, which we would then respond to with a diplomatic note, but they were too slow in sending the first message.
“Therefore, the accusation that the meeting of the Joint Technical Working Group was postponed by one day due to Cambodia is incorrect; it is the Thais who are responsible for the delay. The meeting will be held on November 18, instead,” he added.
According to an October 23 joint press release of the special meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) held in Thailand, the two nations will jointly measure and temporarily demarcate the border between border posts 42 and 47, covering Chouk Chey and Prey Chan villages.
Following the temporary measurement, both sides will seek advice from their respective governments then decide on an appropriate mechanism.
The release explained that the temporary demarcation is solely for the purpose of measurement and will not affect the Cambodia-Thailand international border line.
-The Phnom Penh Post-
