Bangkok: The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has announced that the Global Compact has concluded a bilateral agreement, which is set to be presented to the National Security Council and the Cabinet for a special meeting. This development comes as the Deputy Minister of Defense prepares to sign the agreement during a trip scheduled for tomorrow.
According to Thai News Agency, the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) shared positive news at the Global Compact meeting, where the bilateral agreement was formalized. The agreement is expected to be submitted for special consideration this evening, ahead of the Deputy Minister of Defense's travels. Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating with international ambassadors to clarify the situation, following a visit by international organizations to 18 prisoners of war. Moreover, restrictions will be eased to allow agricultural drones to operate post-August 15.
Rear Admiral Surasan Kongsiri, representing the Thai-Cambodian Border Situation Administration Center, and Ms. Maratee Nalita Andamo, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information, along with Ms. Sasikarn Wattanachan, Deputy Government Spokesperson, provided updates on the Thai-Cambodian border situation. Rear Admiral Surasan highlighted the stable security situation along the border, despite recent drone activity. Military reinforcements have been made without additional deployments, and a nationwide drone ban remains until mid-August.
The situation at the Aan Ma Channel, where Cambodia attempted to dismantle barbed wire on Thai territory, remains stable after successful negotiations, with new wire replacing the damaged sections. In terms of handling illegal immigrants, arrests and legal actions have been actively pursued, with coordinated efforts across security agencies to prevent misinformation.
Rear Admiral Surasan also discussed the possible relaxation of restrictions on agricultural drone usage after August 15, emphasizing the need for proper registration and legal compliance for drone operations, which will be limited to daylight hours. The public will soon receive further updates on these adjustments.
The sale of SIM cards now requires registration at the point of purchase, mirroring mobile phone SIM card procedures. Security discussions at last night's GBC meeting faced delays due to unresolved issues from the Cambodian side, requiring further review in Phnom Penh. However, an agreement has been reached and documents are being prepared for presentation to the NSC and Cabinet.
Ms. Maratee addressed a recent visit by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to Cambodian prisoners of war, underscoring Thailand's commitment to transparency and adherence to humanitarian principles. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is set to engage in further discussions with international representatives to counteract misinformation and reinforce Thailand's peaceful negotiation stance with Cambodia.
An online meeting with Thai diplomats worldwide is scheduled to update them on the situation and reinforce Thailand's efforts to maintain factual and verifiable communications. The Thai government is committed to resolving the conflict peacefully, despite the spread of misinformation from Cambodia.
Finally, Ms. Sasikarn confirmed the Cabinet's approval of a compensation framework for those affected by the conflict, with specific amounts designated for government officials and civilians. The government is prioritizing quick disbursement of these funds and facilitating property damage assessments to expedite assistance.