Bangkok: Anutin Charnvirakul, Thailand's Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, has announced that the country does not accept the United Nations special report by Tom Andrews regarding the displacement of 650,000 Cambodians due to clashes on the Thai-Cambodian border. He criticized the report for being released without input from the Thai government and emphasized that negotiations with Cambodia must respect Thailand's conditions, particularly opposing the use of the term "mandatory."
According to Thai News Agency, Anutin highlighted that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sihasak Phuangketkaew, will provide further details and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will issue a statement to clarify Thailand's position. Anutin expressed confidence in Thailand's firm stance and reiterated that Cambodia's legal actions could proceed, but Thailand would not need to justify its position to others.
Furthermore, Anutin addressed Cambodia's intention to send a letter to the UN on August 7th to seek ratification of the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding and the use of a 1:200,000 scale map for negotiations. He questioned whether Thailand lacked bargaining power and stressed that as long as maritime treaties comply with the UN's UNCLOS rules without the term 'compulsory,' Thailand cannot be coerced into compliance.
Anutin reaffirmed Thailand's adherence to its original negotiation principles and the MOU 43, following the cancellation of MOU 44, despite Cambodia's insistence on a mandatory compromise under UNCLOS. He stated that this insistence makes negotiations unfeasible and urged Cambodia to reconsider its stance.
In response to recent security incidents, Anutin instructed local authorities to safeguard villagers in the southern border region following a shooting at Tak Bai Police Station, which resulted in injuries and fatalities. He stressed the need for a crackdown on drug trafficking and smuggling, emphasizing that anyone challenging the law would face arrest.
Anutin also mentioned the ongoing investigation by the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and the Deputy National Police Chief into the Tak Bai shooting incident. He confirmed that enforcement actions are underway in the southern border provinces to combat dissenting groups and criminal activities, with recent arrests in Chumphon province highlighting the government's no-compromise approach.
Addressing the latest clashes in Yala province, Anutin noted that responsible agencies are managing the situation in accordance with policy directives. He affirmed the necessity of continuing talks with dissenting groups alongside suppression efforts.
Lastly, Anutin discussed his upcoming official visit to Indonesia on August 3-4 to address economic, security, and cooperation matters related to the southern border issue. He also announced a forthcoming visit by Myanmar's President to Thailand on August 6 to discuss drug trafficking and environmental challenges.