Thai military chief confident Thai-Cambodian border dispute can be resolved

Written by Writer on Saturday, October 4th, 2008

Thai military chief confident Thai-Cambodian border dispute can be resolved

BANGKOK, Oct 3 (TNA) — Thailand’s newly-appointed military commander Gen. Songkitti Jaggabatara said Friday he is confident that the ongoing Thailand-border dispute could be resolved amicably.

Gen. Songkitti, who has assumed his new post as supreme commander on Wednesday, said ther dispute between the two neighbours is being solved at the bilateral committee level and there should not be any problem if all perform their defined duties.

To date there has been no violence along the border, he said.

The two countries, both members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), remain engaged in a dispute over at least three ancient temples. The disputes stem from poor demarcation as Cambodia uses a colonial-era French map to demarcate the border, which Thailand says favours Cambodia. Thailand relies on a map drawn up later with American technical assistance.

Meanwhile, Lt-Gen. Kanit Sapitak, Thai First Army Region commander responsible for security affairs in the country’s central region, told journalists that the differences between the two countries does not pose any problem between the militaryt, civil servants and residents living near the border.

Currently, Cambodian nationals still cross into Thailand illegally to seek jobs, according to Gen. Kanit, adding that a new economic zone has been set up inside Cambodia aimed at encouraging Thai and and other foreign investors to invest in that country which could improve employment there.

Gen. Kanit will soon visit the Cambodian border at Aranyaprathet district to follow-up 4th Thai-Khmer general border committee meeting which ended recently with the parties agreeing to beautify scenery and improve the environment at the border. (TNA)