(Bangkok, 19th) Despite Thailand and Cambodia reaching an agreement on troop deployment in a disputed border area earlier this month, the Thai side pointed out that, two weeks later, Cambodian troops are still stationed at three main hotspot areas, with no signs of withdrawal or removal of weapons.
According to The Nation, the Thai-Cambodian Border Committee held a meeting in Bangkok from April 30 to May 1 to discuss the military deployment issues near the Ta Muen Thom temple. The temple is located on the Thai-Cambodian border, and its sovereignty is disputed. Both parties eventually signed a 'Border Control and Boundary Management Agreement,' agreeing to return troop levels to previous standards and for the forces to return to their original camps.
However, when Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Poomthong mentioned the word 'withdrawal' in his post-meeting talks, it caused public misunderstanding and strong backlash. Some of the public mistakenly thought the Thai side was preparing to unilaterally withdraw from Ta Muen Thom temple, raising concerns about national sovereignty being compromised, and evoking memories of the 2011 Thai-Cambodian Preah Vihear temple conflict.
Residents in Thailand's northeastern provinces subsequently held gatherings to support the Thai soldiers stationed at Ta Muen Thom temple. Retired veterans who participated in the 2011 conflict also gathered near the temple, vowing to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Thai military commander at Ta Muen Thom temple, Wensin, issued a statement clarifying that there had been no changes in troop deployment since the meeting in early May. He pointed out that although the main forces remain in place, to ease tensions, some soldiers have been withdrawn from the buffer zone of the disputed area to prevent accidental clashes. Wensin emphasized that this action was ordered by higher authorities and is not a sign of weakness or compromise.
The Cambodian Ministry of Defense responded on May 9, stating that both countries currently still retain five soldiers each at the Ta Muen Thom temple and that there has been no complete withdrawal.
It is reported that the Thai and Cambodian sides had a standoff at the Ta Muen Thom temple in February this year. At that time, several Cambodian soldiers sang their national anthem inside the temple, causing dissatisfaction on the Thai side, and the two sides were briefly in a tense atmosphere.
However, when Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Poomthong mentioned the word 'withdrawal' in his post-meeting talks, it caused public misunderstanding and strong backlash. Some of the public mistakenly thought the Thai side was preparing to unilaterally withdraw from Ta Muen Thom temple, raising concerns about national sovereignty being compromised, and evoking memories of the 2011 Thai-Cambodian Preah Vihear temple conflict.
Residents in Thailand's northeastern provinces subsequently held gatherings to support the Thai soldiers stationed at Ta Muen Thom temple. Retired veterans who participated in the 2011 conflict also gathered near the temple, vowing to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Thai military commander at Ta Muen Thom temple, Wensin, issued a statement clarifying that there had been no changes in troop deployment since the meeting in early May. He pointed out that although the main forces remain in place, to ease tensions, some soldiers have been withdrawn from the buffer zone of the disputed area to prevent accidental clashes. Wensin emphasized that this action was ordered by higher authorities and is not a sign of weakness or compromise.
The Cambodian Ministry of Defense responded on May 9, stating that both countries currently still retain five soldiers each at the Ta Muen Thom temple and that there has been no complete withdrawal.
It is reported that the Thai and Cambodian sides had a standoff at the Ta Muen Thom temple in February this year. At that time, several Cambodian soldiers sang their national anthem inside the temple, causing dissatisfaction on the Thai side, and the two sides were briefly in a tense atmosphere.