Thailand and Cambodia agree on mine clearance, crime crackdown

The Thai-Cambodian Regional Border Committee (RBC) has agreed to cooperate on mine clearance for humanitarian reasons, in resolving transnational crime, particularly scam call centres, and in solving border disputes through the establishment of a coordination group and local-level border committee.

Lt-Gen Amarit Boonsuya, commander of Thailand’s First Army, who led the Thai delegation in the RBC meeting today inside a military barracks in Aranyaprathet, said the joint cooperation between the two countries in addressing three problems are additional to the 13 points agreed upon at the previous GBC meeting in Malaysia.

Cambodia was represented by Gen Ek Sam Oun, commander of the 5thMilitary Region.

Amarit said that the three additional points were proposed by the Thai delegation and they were accepted by Cambodia.

He also said that the agreement on cooperation in mine clearance would be considered at the next GBC meeting, which yet to be scheduled.

Regarding cooperation to address transnational criminal activities, specifically call centres, Lt-Gen Amarit, the Cambodian Minister of Interior, will be the main channel through which the Thai counterpart will coordinate, adding that this issue will also be considered at the next GBC meeting.

As for border disputes, the two sides agreed to form a Coordination Group and local-level committees as the mechanism to address the problem at a local level.

Regarding alleged violations of MOU 43, the First Army Region commander said that the Cambodia delegation claimed that it is beyond the authority of the RBC to discuss this issue.

He said he told his Cambodian counterpart of Thailand’s intention to resolve this problem and would propose the issue to the GBC through the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC).

The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on 16 points, including the three additional items proposed by Thailand, marking progress since the last GBC meeting.