Thailand Rejects UN Report on Cambodia Border Dispute
Thailand's PM rejected a UN report claiming 650,000 Cambodians were displaced in recent border clashes, saying the rapporteur didn't hear Thailand's side. He insisted Thailand won't negotiate border disputes on Cambodia's terms and maintain
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul rejected UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews' report on Cambodia's human rights situation, which claimed that 650,000 Cambodians were displaced following recent Thai-Cambodian border clashes. Anutin stated that Andrews issued his statement without hearing Thailand's account, and that Thailand does not accept this assessment, calling for further clarification from the Foreign Ministry. Deputy Prime Minister Sidesakdi Poungketkeaw will provide additional details.
Regarding Cambodia's planned submission to the UN on August 7 seeking recognition of the 1993 MOU and 1:200,000 scale map for border negotiations, Anutin asserted that Thailand already has a firm position on the 1993 MOU, stipulating conditions that must be met before any talks proceed. He emphasized that Thailand maintains this principle and Cambodia must review its approach if it wishes to negotiate with Thailand. Anutin declared that no one can force Thailand's hand, and Thailand has no need to justify its stance to anyone, regardless of any complaints filed.
However, Anutin noted that regarding maritime boundaries, since the 1994 MOU was cancelled, any negotiations must follow mandatory arbitration under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 1982.
