Troops will stay: army

As the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) meets today in Malaysia to deescalate border tensions, the Second Army Region is adamant troops will not be withdrawn from 11 key sites along the border, regardless of the meeting’s outcome.

- POST REPORTERS

Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang, commander of the Second Army Region responsible for the northeastern provinces bordering Cambodia, said Thai forces remain stationed in areas including Chong Arn Ma in Ubon Ratchathani and Phu Makheu in Si Sa Ket.

These areas are within Thai sovereign territory. “We will not retreat. Barbed wire fences and troops have been deployed to prevent incursions.

“We're within Thai territory and aren’t encroaching on any foreign land,” he said when talking about Cambodia’s call for troop withdrawal from Chong Arn Ma.

Lt Gen Boonsin expressed hope today’s GBC meeting would help maintain peace but said the army stands firm in its decision to hold positions.

Meanwhile, the ad hoc Centre on the Thailand-Cambodia Border Situation said a preliminary agreement on an eight-point plan discussed by the GBC earlier was reached by the cabinet and National Security Council (NSC) yesterday.