Thailand’s navy stated it had gathered ‘worrisome’ indications that Cambodia has stepped up its navy readiness.
Thailand’s navy has stated it is able to launch a “high-level operation” to counter violations of its sovereignty, providing its strongest feedback but following the re-eruption of a long-running border dispute with Cambodia.
In an announcement on Thursday night time, the Thai navy stated its intelligence had gathered “worrisome” indications that Cambodia has stepped up its navy readiness alongside their shared border.
“The military is now prepared for a high-level navy operation in case it’s essential to retaliate towards the violation of sovereignty,” the assertion stated.
“Operations of items on the border have been carried out fastidiously, calmly and based mostly on an understanding of the scenario to stop losses on all sides, however on the similar time, are able to defend the nation’s sovereignty to the fullest extent if the scenario known as for,” the assertion added.
The highest brass of Thailand’s armed forces are scheduled to carry a closed-door assembly on Friday afternoon, whereas the nation’s military, navy and air pressure have additionally raised their fight readiness, in keeping with the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS).
Colonel Chainarong Kasee, a commander of Thailand’s twelfth infantry regiment of the Royal Guards, stated his troops have been ordered to examine that every one gear is in good working order, Thai PBS additionally reviews.
On Could 28, Cambodia’s Ministry of Nationwide Defence stated Thai troops shot and killed one among its troopers throughout a short firefight in a disputed border area between Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province and Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province.
The ministry accused Thai troopers of opening fireplace first on a Cambodian navy submit within the contested border zone. Thailand’s Minister of Defence Phumtham Wechayachai stated Cambodian forces opened fireplace first.
The Southeast Asian neighbours have repeatedly clashed in Preah Vihear’s border area through the years, the place a 900-year-old temple sits on the coronary heart of a decades-long dispute that has stirred nationalist sentiment on either side of the border.
A number of lethal clashes occurred within the space between 2008 – the yr Cambodia registered the temple as a UNESCO World Heritage Web site – and 2011, killing about 40 individuals, together with 5 civilians.
A 2013 ruling by the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice (ICJ) upheld a 1962 judgement by the identical physique awarding a part of the land round Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia and instructing Thailand to withdraw its personnel stationed within the space.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, the son of long-ruling former chief Hun Sen, has stated Cambodia will file disputes over 4 components of the border to the ICJ for adjudication and requested for Thailand’s cooperation within the course of.
Thailand, which has not recognised the ICJ’s jurisdiction since 1960, has as an alternative referred to as for bilateral talks.
“Thailand and Cambodia have already got present bilateral mechanisms to handle these points,” Thailand’s authorities stated in an announcement.
“Thailand reiterates its place as a neighbour dedicated to resolving points peacefully and based mostly on worldwide legislation, treaties, and agreements … in addition to satellite tv for pc imagery and different verified proof,” the assertion added.
A gathering of the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Boundary Fee – which addresses border demarcation points – is slated for June 14.
