Wednesday, 15 October 2008

PM: Thailand won't ignite border clash

(BangkokPost.com) - Thailand will definitely not start using force against Cambodian troops and the Thai army will protect the country’s border without encroaching on Cambodia’s territory, Prime Minister and Defence Minister Somchai Wongsawat said after meeting the Thai army commanders for almost two hours on Tuesday afternoon.

The premier said Thailand will continue to use peaceful means to settle the border demarcation with Cambodia, and the Joint Border Committee will meet to work out the ongoing dispute on October 21.

At the same time, the Commander of Suranaree Task Force, Maj-Gen Kanok Netrakavaesana, has been assigned by the Royal Thai Army to reinforce Thai soldiers stationed at the Thai-Cambodian border in preparation for potential armed clashes, since a group of Cambodian troops have approached nearer to the Thai territory.

According to Si Sa Ket governor Seni Jitkasem, Thai border security volunteers were dispatched to provincial villages to aid the villagers, should violent confrontations occur.

Local people in Si Sa Ket are still living normally without being alarmed about the situation, the governor said.

More police and army officials were also deployed to the border provinces of Chanthaburi and Trat to oversee security around the areas around the clock.

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