Not the right path to peace

Thai-Cambodian border tensions are close to boiling point after talks between the two sides failed to overcome the deep distrust between them, according to critics.

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Despite Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra hailing a recent Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting in Phnom Penh to defuse border tensions a success, critics insist the talks lacked what was needed for achieving a sustained peace.

The agenda was devoid of the central objective — to try and resolve the Chong Bok dispute, along with three other border spats at the three ancient temple complexes of Ta Muen Thom, Ta Muen Toch, and Ta Kwai.

This is because Cambodia had announced before the JBC meeting that it would proceed with its threat to take the Chong Bok and three other disputes to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, despite Thailand not accepting the court's jurisdiction.

It brought into question the effectiveness of the JBC as a primary bilateral mechanism for addressing technical and international legal matters related to border demarcation.

The doubt was raised as former foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai slammed Cambodia for stoking tensions along the border to divert attention away from its own internal problems and exploit Thailand’s political weakness.

"Cambodia always does this when it has internal problems — economic trouble or upcoming elections. They stir up border tensions to create a nationalist distraction," he said.

He cited the dispute over the Preah Vihear temple area, where clashes between Thailand and Cambodia took place more than a decade ago. He warned that the current border row may follow the same trajectory, leading to an armed confrontation and international legal challenges.

The JBC session ended with the Senate vowing to convene a general debate to grill the government over its handling of the border issue.