Bangkok: The Navy Commander revealed that it remains uncertain whether the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) in Cambodia is the legitimate group following a recent incident during a mine clearance operation.
According to Thai News Agency, Admiral Pairote Fuangchan, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy, addressed the media about the ongoing mine clearance responsibilities at the Chanthaburi and Trat border areas. He emphasized that while Thailand is actively clearing mines in its territories, the Cambodian side has not engaged in similar activities.
Admiral Pairote explained that the mine clearance is conducted within Thai sovereignty due to the inherent dangers these explosives pose. He mentioned a recent incident involving sounds resembling firecrackers, supposedly from the Cambodian side, which raised concerns about potential misunderstandings. In response, the Navy intends to invite the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT-TH) to monitor the situation closely.
When questioned about the use of drones to identify individuals potentially linked to the Cambodian Air Operations Team (AOT), Admiral Pairote stated that the technology only captured outlines, not definitive features. Rear Admiral Parat Rattanachaiphan, a spokesperson for the Royal Thai Navy, supplemented this by noting that a person wearing an unusual hat was spotted near the mine clearance site, close to a boxing base. Coordination with the Thai AOT team is ongoing to ascertain the true identity of the individuals involved.
Rear Admiral Parat further discussed a statement from the Cambodian Ministry of Defense, which claimed that their AOT team halted a ceasefire inspection after hearing weapon-like sounds. He confirmed that similar sounds were detected by the Thai side, but emphasized that these were not gunfire. Communication with Captain Thammanoon Wanna, commander of the Trat Marine Task Force, affirmed that no weapons were used.
The events of November 17 and 19, 2015, were distinct, with the earlier date involving a Cambodian AOT team’s request to cross into Thai territory, which was denied. On November 19, individuals with blue hats were observed creating loud noises, believed to be firecrackers rather than gunfire. Rear Admiral Parat indicated that these events are being reported to the Thai AOT team, which will communicate findings to the parent unit in Malaysia to prevent any miscommunications.
The Trat Marine Task Force’s suspicion of a fake AOT team stems from the lack of coordination from Cambodia, which is essential to announce the arrival of any team to avoid misunderstandings. The Thai AOT team continues to investigate the situation, with further clarifications expected from the Military Intelligence Department.