Although Thai authorities have seemingly evaded the matter since the outbreak of border clashes in December, the Cambodian Secretariat of State for Border Affairs (SSBA) has requested that their Thai counterparts join them to plant provisional border markers. The February 23 request included an invitation for the Thais to cooperate in organising a Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting in the second week of March.
A February 24 SSBA press release explained that the diplomatic note requested that Joint Survey Teams (JSTs) from both sides be dispatched on any appropriate date in the first week of March, to continue provisional border demarcation work along the border line between border pillars 42-47. The markers are located near Banteay Meanchey province’s Chouk Chey and Prey Chan villages, both of which have been partially occupied by Thai forces.
Work will also be carried out border pillars No. 52-59, in Kamrieng district, Battambang province. It will also include the reconstruction of 15 border pillars based on the original French-era model at their original locations, as previously agreed by both sides.
The Cambodian team also requested the dispatch of the JSTs to conduct surveys and plant provisional border pillars along the border section between pillars No. 33-37 in Boeung Trakuon area, the Thma Da International Border Checkpoint area, the O’Phluk Damrey area, the Cho 1 area in Thma Da commune, Veal Veng district, Pursat province, and other border areas on any appropriate date between March 8 and 15.
“The Secretariat of State for Border Affairs requests the dispatch of the Joint Survey Teams to conduct field surveys and demarcation at the mutually agreed border sections – both waterway borders and straight-line borders – between March 8 and 15,” said the release.
Additionally, the SSBA requested the organisation of the 12th Cambodia-Thailand Operational Group (OG) meeting and the 5th Cambodia-Thailand Joint Technical Sub-Commission (JTSC) meeting during the first week of March, as well as a special JBC meeting between the two sides during the second week of March.
Following the December 27 ceasefire, Cambodia has twice requested that Thailand resume the JBC meetings. Both attempts were postponed, with Thailand citing a coming election for the delay. The election has now concluded.
