Chanthaburi: The first day of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting concluded successfully in Chanthaburi Province, with discussions set to continue into tomorrow. Thailand has proposed a condition requiring Cambodia's collaboration in resolving the issue of encroachment on Thai sovereignty. Should this condition not be met, as stated by Big Lek, the meeting may not proceed further.
According to Thai News Agency, the extraordinary meeting, hosted by Thailand, saw participation from committee members of both nations. The Thai delegation was led by Mr. Prasarn Prasarnvinitchai, a former Thai Ambassador to Phnom Penh, while Mr. Lam Chea, Minister responsible for border affairs and head of the Cambodian National Border Affairs Secretariat, chaired the Cambodian side. Officials from various relevant agencies, including the Department of Border Affairs and the Department of Treaties and Laws, were also present.
The meeting proceeded smoothly, with discussions focusing on the encroachment issue involving Cambodian citizens in the areas of Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaeo in Sa Kaeo Province. Thailand communicated its plan to construct a fence connecting boundary markers agreed upon by both nations. The meeting concluded at 6:30 p.m., extending 30 minutes past the scheduled time.
The discussions are scheduled to continue tomorrow, starting at 9:00 a.m. and concluding with a closing ceremony at approximately 4:30 p.m. Mr. Prasarn will then present the meeting's outcomes to the media and address questions by 6:00 p.m.
However, if the JBC meeting fails to produce an agreement, particularly concerning the management of the disputed areas in Sa Kaeo Province, future meetings appear unlikely. This aligns with Defense Minister General Nattapol Nakphanit's position that ineffective forums will not be repeated, to avoid unnecessary expenditure of taxpayers' money.