Border tensions ease as Thai, Cambodian troops pull back

Thailand and Cambodia agreed today to move their troops 200 metres back from a spot in a disputed area near Thailand’s border in Ubon Ratchathani province, in an effort to ease tensions following a brief exchange of gunfire yesterday.

The agreement resulted from a meeting between Thai Army Commander-in-Chief General Pana Klaewplodthuk and his Cambodian counterpart, General Mao Sophan, held at the Chong Chom Pass in Surin province.

The meeting was urgently convened after both sides clashed briefly, but fatally, with each claiming the other opened fire first.

A Cambodian sergeant was killed at the scene, according to the Cambodian army.

The withdrawal is aimed at reducing tensions, as both sides had initially been ordered to remain stationed along the frontier.

A joint demarcation panel will be assigned to visit the disputed site, to build confidence and ensure that such clashes do not recur.

The Thai side will prepare for potential evacuation, in case of emergency, by setting up eight temporary shelters for civilians. Emergency drills will also be conducted at some schools near the area.

Earlier, the Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ) and the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) expressed concern over the continued spread of false information regarding the situation between Thailand and Cambodia.

They warned that this may exacerbate misunderstanding between the two nations.

Therefore, they urged media outlets in both countries to exercise caution and to refrain from publishing or broadcasting information that lacks credible sources or is simply false, especially concerning the shared border, to avoid exploitation of the issue for other purposes.

They also called on social media users in both countries to consider carefully the potential consequences, before sharing information related to the border situation.

The CCJ and TJA hope that the issues currently arising along the border will be resolved peacefully through diplomatic means, to prevent any negative impacts on the long-standing relations between our peoples and nations.