King closely monitors Thai-Cambodian border tensions with daily updates - Lt Gen Boonsin

HM the King, as the supreme commander of the Thai armed forces, remains worried about the Thai-Cambodian border tension and has his staff update him on the situation on a daily basis, Second Army Region Commander Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang said today.

“His Majesty the King has been constantly concerned, inquiring about the situation with me every day through his royal staff, who report to him daily,” Boonsin said.

Historically, Thai kings have led the army, and it remains so today.

Therefore, he said, every soldier is ready to sacrifice his life for the nation. “We are still on the frontlines and, regardless of whether the situation ends or continues, we are ready.”

Boonsin was giving a special lecture at Kasetsart University Laboratory School in Bangkok on the unresolved Thai-Cambodian situation and the roles of the military and the public. Accompanying him was army spokesman Maj General Winthai Suvaree.

Asked by the young audience what made him feel the most exhausted, Boonsin said, “I have never felt tired in carrying out my duties for the nation and the land. I am determined to defend sovereignty and drive enemies from the mainland.”

Lt Gen Boonsin told the students about the lives of frontline soldiers, saying that his fellow soldiers want him to convey the message that “If the people, our children and grandchildren fight, the soldiers will also fight…. Don’t worry about us. We only ask for moral support from the Thai people.”

“We are the Thai military,” Boonsin said. “When the time comes, we have the spirit of King Naresuan. There is no question that Thai soldiers will fight. This is already clear. The Thai military will protect this land, which our ancestors have jointly defended. We must protect it. If anyone encroaches onto our territory, we must push them back, he said.

He reiterated that Thailand has not invaded any other country, saying they are fighting only on Thai soil.

When asked by a student for what he would wish if he could, Boonsin, calling himself “Uncle Commander,” replied, “Uncle Commander wishes Thailand to be peaceful and prosperous, free from hardship, with people living in harmony.”

Asked what the army would do if Thailand were to be invaded, he responded: “We would do as we did with Cambodia.”

During the Q&A session, when a student shouted “F-16,” Boonsin smiled, saying, “We would use those too. I would tell them,

‘This is Thai territory,’ and show them the map. If they cross the line, they might claim it as their land, but if they don’t withdraw, we would escalate from light measures to heavier ones to push them back.”

“In every area, if I am still the commander and they encroach, I will attack immediately. No talks. My duty under the Constitution is to defend our sovereignty. I am here for this, to drive the enemy from our mainland quickly.”

Commenting on media consumption, he warned that, if content causes division, spreads false accusations or harms the nation, religion, monarchy or and the people, one should think carefully before believing it.

“Don’t be easily convinced. Verify the information with relevant agencies first,” he advised. He urged all Thais to be united and to protect the country for the next generation.