Thailand, like any country, has the right to defend itself - NSC

Thailand’s National Security Council (NSC) issued a statement today, emphasising the country’s legitimate right to self-defence, based upon necessity and proportionality, against violations of its sovereignty or external aggression.

The NSC welcomes the joint statement, issued at the end of the most recent General Border Committee meeting, noting that the document reflects Thailand’s sincere intention to resolve conflicts with Cambodia through peaceful and bilateral means.

Thailand places great importance on international human rights laws, conventions and the protection of the life, dignity and safety of non-combatants, as is clear by its recent decision to release 18 Cambodian prisoners of war. Thailand hopes that Cambodia will respond in kind, by ensuring the safe return to Thailand of Thai citizens currently in Cambodia and by genuinely cooperating in the clearance of landmines along the common border, according to the NSC statement.

The strict compliance with human rights principles and obligations under the Ottawa Convention, which forbids the use of anti-personnel landmines, is an important foundation upon which the rebuilding of trust, peace and sustainable safety along shared border and in the region as a whole can take place, said the NSC.

Regarding transnational cybercrimes and online scams, the NSC referred to the International Conference on the Global Partnership against Online Scams, held on December 17th and 18th by the Thai Foreign Ministry and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which was attended by delegations from over 60 countries.

Thailand has expressed its appreciation to the countries which were supportive of Thailand’s role in holding the conference. It was unfortunate, though, that Cambodia did not attend, according to the statement.

Regarding the border conflict and demarcation, which falls under the Joint Boundary Commission mechanism, the NSC emphasised that Thailand’s insistence on the use of the 1:50,000 scale map, in determining the demarcation of the border, is because that scale is more detailed, accurate and is recognised internationally.

The NSC indicated that a future Thai government may choose to review the MoU 43 between Thailand and Cambodia and that Cambodia’s proposal for the Joint Boundary Commission meeting in January was rejected because such matters should be handled by the new Thai government.