Bangkok: The Deputy Minister of Defense has announced plans to integrate the Joint Border Committee (JBC) and the General Border Committee (GBC) meetings into a unified platform, aiming to prevent the ongoing back-and-forth disputes with Cambodia. The Deputy Minister has urged the public to remain patient, emphasizing that the October 10 framework should not be seen as a hard deadline, as there are concerns about Cambodia's reliability and potential to misrepresent information.
According to Thai News Agency, Lt. Gen. Adul Boonthamcharoen, the Deputy Minister of Defense, conducted a visit to the Thai-Cambodian border to assess the situation and boost the morale of the officials stationed there. During a media briefing, he reassured that all relevant agencies are well-prepared to uphold Thailand's territorial integrity. He criticized Cambodia for its provocations and efforts to portray itself as a victim on the global stage.
Lt. Gen. Boonthamcharoen emphasized that all units, particularly those in the military, police, and forestry sectors, are poised to defend the nation's sovereignty. He noted that regional issues have been addressed, but there has been no response from Cambodian authorities to the proposals put forth by the Governor of Sa Kaeo Province and the Commander of Army Region 1.
Discussions at the Ministry of Defense and Ministry levels are set to continue, with the joint JBC and GBC meetings aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty. He reiterated Thailand's commitment to adhering to humanitarian principles and international standards, despite Cambodia's attempts to dismantle border security measures or provoke incidents.
Lt. Gen. Boonthamcharoen also highlighted past incidents where Cambodia was the first to engage in hostilities against Thailand, attacking hospitals, convenience stores, and violating agreements established at previous GBC meetings. He clarified that the October 10th timeline should not be viewed as a strict deadline but rather a framework outlined by the GBC discussions, which has not been adhered to by the Governor of Mantemeje Province. Consequently, Thailand is compelled to act within the legal framework to protect its sovereignty.