Thailand repeats call for Phnom Penh to de-escalate border tensions

The Thai Foreign Ministry renewed its call for Cambodia to de-escalate tensions along their common border on Sunday, and for both countries to use bilateral mechanisms to resolve their dispute, to prevent the situation from escalating further.

Spokesman for the Thai Foreign Ministry, Nikorndej Balankura, said today that the border crossing restrictions, imposed yesterday by the Thai military, are a four-level process, in which the level depends upon the seriousness of the situation in specific locations along the Thai-Cambodian border.

He stressed that the unilateral action is designed to ensure peace in those areas and the safety of Thai and Cambodian people, with full awareness of the economic, border trade, livelihood and humanitarian aspects.

He also said that Thailand will try its best to ensure that the measure will not impact innocent people in either country, adding “I wish to emphasise that this is not the closure of all border checkpoints,” and that the border crossing restrictions are a necessity in specific areas for the safety of the peoples of both countries.

Nikorndej explained the four levels:

• Level One: To restrict the movement of people and goods across the border, particularly gamblers and people who may be involved in illegal activity.
• Level Two: Adjustment of the opening hours or days of the border checkpoints, to control the movement of people and activities.
• Level Three: Selective closure of border checkpoints based on intelligence related to possible border incursions or other provocative acts by the Cambodian side.
• Level Four: Closure of all border checkpoints in the case of an open invasion or other crisis.