Thai defence minister contacts Myanmar as Cambodia tensions persist
Adul reports direct contact with Myanmar’s senior military command and a pause in defence ministry talks with Cambodia to allow local military discussions.
- Thailand's Defence Minister directly contacted Myanmar's senior military command by phone regarding the border situation affecting Thai residents, reporting a positive response.
- The minister confirmed that the border dispute with Cambodia remains unresolved, with high-level government talks currently on hold pending discussions at the regional military committee level.
- Despite the tensions, the minister stated that Thai forces are prepared, have clear rules of engagement for the Cambodian border, and remain in control of the situation.
Defence Minister Lieutenant General Adul Boonthumjaroen said Thai residents continued to be affected by the situation along the Myanmar border.
Speaking at the Surasak Montri Task Force headquarters in Udon Thani at 4.12pm, he explained that he and Thailand’s supreme commander had made direct telephone calls to Myanmar’s senior military command and had also invited an assistant military attaché to hear their concerns.
The response had been positive.
Regional army commanders and provincial authorities had made preparations for affected residents.
He believed the situation might have eased somewhat, but stressed that it remained an internal conflict involving ethnic minorities in Myanmar.
Decisions on moving residents to safe areas would rest with provincial governors, district authorities and the Third Army Area commander, based on local safety assessments, Adul explained.
Turning to Cambodia after an inspection visit to Ta Muen Thom temple in Surin, Adul said the dispute remained unresolved, with discussions taking place at government or defence ministry level.
However, defence ministry talks had been put on hold to allow discussions at deputy secretary level of the Thailand–Cambodia Regional Border Committee (RBC), or at military level.
He described understanding at local level as the starting point for implementing the joint statement.
He added that, without talks concerning the joint statement, there would be no discussions at other levels, as government-level talks had already taken place.
Adul stressed that Thai forces were ready and urged the public to have confidence in their preparations and follow briefings and information from provincial authorities or local military units.
There was no major cause for concern, he maintained, as Thai troops remained in control of both key locations and areas they held.
On Cambodian soldiers’ attempts to climb Hill 642, Adul stated that the Suranaree Task Force and the Second Army Area commander had already issued instructions in line with the rules of engagement, including dialogue and warning shots as initial warnings.
Following discussions that morning, he believed those involved understood one another and were listening to each other, and that the situation throughout the area remained under control.
Adul acknowledged that concerns remained, but stressed that commanders, from rifle platoon leaders to senior officers in the area and task force commanders, were exercising caution and maintaining constant readiness.
This was because Thailand remained in a dispute and knew well what its neighbouring country was like, he added.
