Bangkok: General Nattapol Nakphanit, the Minister of Defense, has revealed the outcomes of the recent Defense Council meeting, emphasizing the urgency for the Thai government to expedite resolutions regarding the border issues with Cambodia, with a goal to establish a temporary settlement by December. Additionally, the meeting highlighted the importance of enhancing welfare support for military personnel across four specific areas.
According to Thai News Agency, General Nattapol shared insights from the mobile Defense Council meeting held during an inspection visit to the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters. The meeting was streamlined, focusing on visits to various agencies and preparation meetings for a royal ceremony, aiming to minimize workloads for these agencies. The Defense Council laid out three primary directives: honoring His Majesty the King, resolving the Thai-Cambodian border issues, and ensuring the welfare of military personnel.
The armed forces are urged to continue organizing activities to pay respects and express gratitude to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, following the schedules set by the Bureau of the Royal Household. Additionally, there is a call for ceremonies to honor His Majesty on December 5th, commemorating the birthday anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, which coincides with National Day, Father’s Day, and World Soil Day.
In tackling the Thai-Cambodian border issues, General Nattapol emphasized the suspension (not cancellation) of adherence to the Joint Declaration. The two main objectives are to clear landmines along the border within Thai territory and manage the border areas in Ban Nong Chan and Nong Ya Kaeo districts of Sa Kaeo Province. The border management process involves placing temporary markers, starting from November 19th, with both sides agreeing to markers along the contested red and blue lines. The aim is to finalize this process by mid-December, or at the latest by the month’s end.
Following the placement of temporary markers, the Cabinet has tasked the General Border Committee (GBC) with negotiating “land adjustment” matters. These negotiations will outline procedures for the removal of Cambodians from Thai territory. The operations will include stringent transparency measures, with an invitation extended to the AOT observer team to oversee all activities, including mine clearance and border management, to prevent any misreporting by Cambodian authorities.
Furthermore, personnel welfare is a priority, with instructions to enhance care in four critical areas under the coordinated slogan: “Flowing water, bright electricity, good roads, and telephone signal.” While the operation will encompass eight forces nationwide, priority will be given to the eastern region. Future plans include seeking government funding to roll out the operation across all eight forces.
General Nattapol also expressed gratitude to the media for their role in promoting public understanding and correcting false information. He highlighted the greater freedom enjoyed by Thai media compared to their Cambodian counterparts and stressed the importance of collaboration to counter fake news emanating from Cambodia. He assured that he is willing to provide timely information to journalists to ensure accurate reporting directly from the source.