Thailand and Cambodia’s claims over Kut Island should not be blown out of proportion

The Ko (island) Kut district chief officer has appealed to all parties, including the media, not to over-sensationalise the overlapping claim area in the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand and Cambodia, in a way which may threaten tourism on the Island, off the eastern province of Trat.

In a statement issued on Saturday, district chief Pairat Soisaeng also expressed his opposition to a plan by some activists to hold rallies on the island, to ‘protect’ its territorial sovereignty.

The overlapping claim area covers about 26,000 square kilometres in the Gulf, including the Kut Island, half of which was claimed by Cambodia when it unilaterally drew the maritime border line. Cambodia and Thailand, during the administration of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra two decades ago, signed a memorandum, known as MOU44, as a framework for joint development of oil and gas in the overlapping claim area.

Pairat said that an average of 300,000 tourists visit Kut island each year, generating substantial revenue for Trat province, adding that Kut Island was badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and he does not want to see anything else hurt tourism on the island.

Meanwhile, a representative of a group of former vocational students, Supitnattha Rangkatekaeo, assured that the group will not visit Kut Island, but will hold a rally in front of Trat provincial hall on November 9th, to ‘defend’ the island

Meanwhile, Navy Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Jirapol Wongwit, visited a naval unit in Ban Laem Tian on the Kut Island on Saturday, to offer moral support to those serving inthe navy there.

He insisted that Kut Island is in Thai territory, in accordance with the treaty signed between Siam (the previous name of Thailand) and France over 100 years ago.

He also claimed that there is no conflict between Thailand and Cambodia over Kut Island, adding that the Navy will protect Thailand’s territorial sovereignty.