RTA spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree said yesterday (Aug 18) that Cambodians were building housing beyond the allocated refugee zone in Ban Nong Chan of tambon Non Mak Mun in Khok Sung district, Sa Kaeo, reports the Bangkok Post.
He said Thailand set up a humanitarian refugee area there to help Cambodian victims fleeing internal conflict in 1977.
When the conflict inside Cambodia ended some Cambodian refugees there refused to leave. The Cambodian government then also claimed the area was Cambodian soil, and supported its citizens settling there. It expanded the Cambodian community, pressing further into Thai territory.
Thailand had been protesting against this invasion since 2014, but to no avail, Maj Gen Winthai said.
“Cambodia has insincere intentions, encouraging its citizens on the frontier to invade sovereign Thai soil. This may be aimed at avoiding direct confrontation with our military.
"It is understood that this action is the result of a well organised plot, and if Thailand responds it [Cambodia] will distort the incident to discredit Thailand and seek sympathy from the international community, as it has been doing,” the Thai army spokesman said.
“Thailand’s past humanitarian aid and generosity towards our neighbour should not be used by Cambodia to unfairly discredit Thailand,” Maj Gen Winthai said.
Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said yesterday Cambodians could no longer enter Thailand there because the military had now fenced off the area with concertina wire.
Cambodian landmine saga goes to UN
Meanwhile, Thailand is stepping up its response to Cambodia’s alleged use of landmines along the border by invoking mechanisms under the Ottawa Convention and inviting international observers to witness the situation firsthand.
At a briefing yesterday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura said Thailand has lodged formal protests against Cambodia, notified Asean chair Malaysia and mobilised its UN ambassadors in Geneva and New York.
He added that Thailand will initiate formal proceedings under the Ottawa Convention before its annual meeting in December. Cambodia is a signatory to the convention. “This is intended to highlight Cambodia’s violation of the Convention and to exert pressure through the Committee on Cooperative Compliance,” Mr Nikorndej said.
Mr Nikorndej also confirmed that the Royal Thai Armed Forces have arranged a field visit for the General Border Committee’s Interim Observer Team (IOT) to Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket and Surin, set to take place from yesterday to tomorrow.
The IOT, established during the Extraordinary GBC meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 7, includes 14 military attachés from various ASEAN countries.
The delegation will visit an operations centre, observe field activities and inspect sites where Thai soldiers and civilians were harmed by landmines allegedly planted by Cambodian forces.
“This will allow the IOT to witness verifiable evidence firsthand and convey the truth of Cambodia’s violations to the international community, countering disinformation and fabricated narratives,” Mr Nikorndej said.