"Sihasak" urges trust-building with Cambodia, vows to defend sovereignty if provoked

Today (Feb 2), at 11:00 a.m., at the government house, Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressed the Thai-Cambodian border situation following an M-79 grenade incident on Thai territory on the night of Jan 30. He indicated that the priority of this issue is building mutual trust, which Thailand and Cambodia have the talking channel in the area level for, so when any incident happens to any country, both can use this channel to talk and investigate the details. He affirmed that this mechanism is still well ongoing.

Mr. Sihasak mentioned a sustainable ceasefire, free from any clashes and provocations, needing to gradually build mutual trust. With the continuous use of this procedure, we will see a clear picture of where this restoration of relations is leading to.

In case of people’s concern about the clash before the election day on Feb 8, he ensured that he closely coordinated with Cambodia to pursue the peace during the time. However, should there be any intentional violation of sovereignty, the Thai government is ready to fully operate to preserve national interest. He also warned Cambodia to beware of the statement which can be indicated as an act to intervene in Thailand's internal affairs.

Furthermore, Mr. Sihasak clarified reports of gunfire and explosions along the border, stating that, provided such incidents are not intentional provocations or incursions, they must be addressed and verified through existing bilateral mechanisms to maintain a sustainable ceasefire. He emphasized that while Thailand remains committed to collaborative efforts to avoid military clashes, the government stands ready to defend national sovereignty to the fullest extent should any violations occur.

In his concluding remarks, he affirmed that security agencies are closely monitoring the reinforcement of troops and military equipment on the Cambodian side. He also issued a cautionary signal to senior Cambodian officials to exercise restraint regarding statements that could be perceived as interference in Thailand’s internal affairs, stressing that a smooth relationship must be built on mutual respect in both actions and rhetoric.

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