Bring peace to the border

The brief clash between the Thai and Cambodian armies over a disputed area in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani underscores the urgent need for the Joint Border Commission (JBC), which has been dormant for some time, to resume its tasks promptly.

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The skirmish, which took place in the wee hours of May 28, resulted in one death and a few injuries in the Cambodian army. It was followed by a truce, but tensions remain as both armies refuse to withdraw from the area in question. Both sides are trading blame, pointing fingers at each other, and claiming it was the other side who “fired first”.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has stated that she spoke with her Cambodian counterpart, who also sought a peaceful resolution.

With such a stance from both governments, the commanders of both armies were to meet yesterday at Ubon Ratchathani’s Chong Chom checkpoint to start discussing ways to diffuse the tensions.

Indeed, the clash in such a sensitive area, known as the Emerald Triangle bordering Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, was only to be expected, given the simmering conflicts between Thai and Cambodian soldiers over the past months.