Bangkok: “Phumtham” welcomed Cambodian Defense Minister on the occasion of visiting Thailand and holding the 17th GBC Thailand – Cambodia meeting to continue relations, promote border economy, and strengthen cooperation to solve the call center problem. Mr. Phumtham Vejjayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, welcomed General Tea Sayha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Cambodia, as Chairman of the Cambodia – Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) and his delegation on the occasion of his official visit to Thailand as a guest of the Ministry of Defense to attend the 17th Thailand – Cambodia GBC meeting during 30 April – 1 May 2025.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Phumtham and General Tea Sayha joined the ceremony to inspect the combined three armed forces honor guard at the Ministry of Defense and met to discuss before both countries attended the 17th Thailand-Cambodia GBC meeting at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel, Bangkok. For the Thai-Cambodian GBC meeting chaired by the Thai and Cambodian defense ministers, the agenda was to discuss ways to coordinate cooperation in maintaining peace and order along the border, which went well.
Both in terms of security, such as solving drug problems, crime, and call center problems, and in terms of border economics, to develop the quality of life of the people of both countries. While the Student and People’s Network for Reform of Thailand (SPNRT) has coordinated with the Royal Thai Army Headquarters, which is the secretariat of the GBC, to submit a letter to inquire about the progress of resolving the border dispute, including the approach to canceling MOU 44. There was an area near the meeting venue to receive the petition and to explain the mechanism for negotiating the border issue under the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Reporters reported the atmosphere in front of the Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel, Bangkok. Pol. Maj. Gen. Samart Promchat, Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 6, led police officers from Bangrak Police Station and Plabplachai Police Station 2, totaling 40 officers, along with 1 company of police officers from the Crowd Control and Protection Division to control the situation. A group of protesters came to make speeches calling on Mr. Phumtham and the Thai side to protect Thailand’s interests in the meeting and negotiations, and there was an attack on the MOU 44, but no violent incidents occurred.