(Bangkok/Phnom Penh, 13th) Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak traveled to Malaysia on Sunday for a ministerial-level meeting with Cambodia to discuss ways to reduce violence, combat scam activities, and achieve peace along the border.
Thai media reports that as this year’s ASEAN chair, Malaysia is the organizer of the talks. However, neither the Malaysian nor Cambodian sides have commented on the meeting.
The Bangkok Post reported that on Saturday (October 11), Anutin told reporters that Thailand and Cambodia must resolve border issues through negotiations, and Sihasak’s trip to Malaysia on Sunday (12th) is to attend a ministerial meeting aimed at easing tensions between the two countries.
Anutin said Thailand welcomes Malaysia’s efforts to promote peace, but Bangkok’s stance remains unchanged: Phnom Penh must meet four conditions before a peace agreement can be reached. These four conditions include Cambodia removing heavy weaponry from the border, cooperating on mine clearance, assisting in combating cross-border crime, and properly managing Cambodian citizens’ settlements in Thailand to prevent escalation of conflicts.
Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute. In late July of this year, the two countries erupted into five consecutive days of border clashes, after which the U.S., China, and Malaysia—serving as ASEAN chair—mediated a ceasefire. However, Thailand and Cambodia have repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire, and sporadic clashes still occur along the border.
Meanwhile, Cambodia accuses the Thai military of using loud noises for two consecutive nights in disputed border areas, psychologically harassing and intimidating Cambodian civilians living there. Phnom Penh has sent a letter of protest to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding this matter.
According to the Khmer Times, on Saturday the Cambodian Human Rights Committee sent a letter to Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, strongly condemning the Thai military for launching “noise bombardment psychological warfare,” stating that such actions seriously violate human rights and calling for an immediate UN investigation.
The committee’s letter says that villagers in several areas of Banteay Meanchey province (called Sa Kaeo province by Thailand) reported that from Friday night (10th), the Thai military used loudspeakers to broadcast “ghostly wailing” sounds for several hours, followed by airplane engine noises for over half an hour, causing great alarm among local residents.
The committee stated that these sharp and piercing noises continued for prolonged periods, severely disturbing residents’ sleep and causing anxiety and physical discomfort, affecting women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Such provocative actions not only harm the well-being of the population but also intensify the tense situation at the border.
The Cambodian Human Rights Committee called on the United Nations to take urgent action, thoroughly investigate the Thai military’s actions and hold them accountable, and push for stronger communication between Cambodia and Thailand to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
Thai media reports that as this year’s ASEAN chair, Malaysia is the organizer of the talks. However, neither the Malaysian nor Cambodian sides have commented on the meeting.
The Bangkok Post reported that on Saturday (October 11), Anutin told reporters that Thailand and Cambodia must resolve border issues through negotiations, and Sihasak’s trip to Malaysia on Sunday (12th) is to attend a ministerial meeting aimed at easing tensions between the two countries.
Anutin said Thailand welcomes Malaysia’s efforts to promote peace, but Bangkok’s stance remains unchanged: Phnom Penh must meet four conditions before a peace agreement can be reached. These four conditions include Cambodia removing heavy weaponry from the border, cooperating on mine clearance, assisting in combating cross-border crime, and properly managing Cambodian citizens’ settlements in Thailand to prevent escalation of conflicts.
Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute. In late July of this year, the two countries erupted into five consecutive days of border clashes, after which the U.S., China, and Malaysia—serving as ASEAN chair—mediated a ceasefire. However, Thailand and Cambodia have repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire, and sporadic clashes still occur along the border.
Meanwhile, Cambodia accuses the Thai military of using loud noises for two consecutive nights in disputed border areas, psychologically harassing and intimidating Cambodian civilians living there. Phnom Penh has sent a letter of protest to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding this matter.
According to the Khmer Times, on Saturday the Cambodian Human Rights Committee sent a letter to Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, strongly condemning the Thai military for launching “noise bombardment psychological warfare,” stating that such actions seriously violate human rights and calling for an immediate UN investigation.
The committee’s letter says that villagers in several areas of Banteay Meanchey province (called Sa Kaeo province by Thailand) reported that from Friday night (10th), the Thai military used loudspeakers to broadcast “ghostly wailing” sounds for several hours, followed by airplane engine noises for over half an hour, causing great alarm among local residents.
The committee stated that these sharp and piercing noises continued for prolonged periods, severely disturbing residents’ sleep and causing anxiety and physical discomfort, affecting women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Such provocative actions not only harm the well-being of the population but also intensify the tense situation at the border.
The Cambodian Human Rights Committee called on the United Nations to take urgent action, thoroughly investigate the Thai military’s actions and hold them accountable, and push for stronger communication between Cambodia and Thailand to prevent similar incidents from recurring.