PUBLISHED: 3 Does 2025 at 06: 16
After both governments agreed to withdraw their troops from Prasat Ta Muen Thom, an old Khmer church, in Surin, military officers from Thailand and Cambodia held talks on Friday.
The page was reopened at the beginning of March after it was partially closed by a group of Cambodians who were spotted it on February 13 singing a nationalist song, which is forbidden.
Following a General Border Committee ( GBC ) meeting in Bangkok on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai gave a briefing after the discussion was aimed at lowering tensions on the border near the destroyed temple. Drink Seiha, the Thai Minister of National Defense, also attended the meeting.
Mr. Phumtham confirmed that both parties had agreed to retrace their soldiers and use caution. On a government-to-government levels, the conversation took place. He claimed that the two sides had a discussion about the matter with army leaders on both sides. He noted that this was only a de-escalation of anxiety and that there was no evidence that Thailand’s claim to the site was slipping in any way.
Talks between Thai military officers and a cause from the 2nd Army Region were held yesterday, according to a cause from Surin and Ubon Ratchathani, to stop conflicts in border areas, including those close to the historic church in Surin and Chong Bok in Ubon Ratchathani.
Prior to this contested areas, both sides agreed to maintain a five-kilometer buffer area through a diplomatic agreement.
However, both army after set up bases to defend the regions. According to the cause, talks led to both parties agreeing to end their initial positions in accordance with the GBC meeting’s results on Thursday.
The second Army Region is now negotiating with Cambodia to assure coordinated application, the source added. Both parties ‘ failures will be reported to their individual leaders.
The resource reported that the Surin province’s Ta Muen Thom Temple, which was constructed in the 13th century by King Jayavarman VII of the Khmer Empire, is still Thai country and that Thai soldiers continue to perform their tasks as usual.
Nantiwat Samart, a former deputy director of the National Intelligence Agency and past secretary-general of the Foreign Ministry, later questioned the justification for deciding to remove the army. He claimed that Thai troops were only guarding the country’s resources and place.
According to Mr. Nantiwat, the surrender may be seen as Thailand giving up its stake in the church, according to Mr. Nantiwat on social media.
A number of activist groups gathered outside the GBC meeting, including the National Student and People’s Party for Reform of Thailand ( NSPRT), the Dharma Army, and the People’s Centre to Protect the Monarchy. They wrote to Gen Songwit Noonpakdee, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, in a letter urging the military to vigorously defend Thai autonomy led by NSPRT head Phichit Chaimongkol.
Mr. Phichit claimed that the Paetongtarn state is very focused on what you get, even at the chance of national independence, and that any undesirable results of the negotiations under Mr. Phumtham would not be tolerated.
A Gen Songwit consultant who received the letter claimed that the conference also addressed more pressing issues, such as drug trafficking, international crime, call-center scams, and cross-border socioeconomic development.
Due to technical problems involved, he said, more debate will need to be held during the Joint Boundary Committee conference.