Thailand rejects Cambodia’s call for JBC meeting this month

Thailand has turned down Cambodia’s invitation for a Joint Border Commission (JBC) meeting between April 17 and 25 because, with a new administration having just taken office, it is not yet ready for such a meeting, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said today.

He explained that there are some changes to be made to the composition of the Thai representation on the JBC, a process which is still underway and which will require approval.

He made clear that he will not chair the Thai team on the commission, adding that it should be led by a legal expert well versed in domestic and international laws and border demarcation issues.

Sihasak said, though, that he may have a chance meeting with his Cambodian counterpart during the ASEAN Summit in May.

The foreign minister confirmed that Thailand intends to withdraw from MoU 44 with Cambodia and the Foreign Ministry will submit its proposal to the National Security Council and then to the Cabinet for final approval.

Regarding MoU 43, he said that the matter needs to be treated cautiously and in consultation with a number of relevant agencies, to seek a consensus on how to proceed with this important document.

Sihasak went on to say that the Thai government has been informed by France that the Thai-Cambodian border treaties and related documents, signed between Siam and the French colonial administration, are not official secrets and are in the public domain and, thus, available to both Cambodia and Thailand.