Thailand may recall its ambassador from Cambodia

Thailand may recall its ambassador from Phnom Penh, if the border tension between Thailand and Cambodia escalates, Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said today.

To prevent the situation from deteriorating into an open armed conflict between two countries, particularly at the border flash point of Ta Muen Thom ancient ruins in Surin, Phumtham said that he has decided to send two companies of crowd control police to maintain peace and order.

He said that he discussed the idea of sending police, to avoid any unnecessary confrontation between the Thai and Cambodian armies, after more than 7,000 Thai and Cambodian tourists visited the site on Sunday.

He also said that the use of police to maintain order will demonstrate to the international community that Thailand is trying to avoid unnecessary armed confrontation with Cambodia and does not want the civilian populations of either country to come to harm.

If tourists cause trouble at the site, the Thai police, who will be stationed nearby, could be sent to deal with the situation immediately, instead of Thai troops, said Phumtham.

The acting prime minister insisted that Thai troops remain deployed to the front line, to protect Thai sovereignty.

He reasserted Thailand’s intention to exercise restraint and to avoid violence, which could be used by Cambodia as a pretext to file complaints with the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Thailand does not recognise the jurisdiction of the ICJ.

“Thailand is not afraid of war with Cambodia, but we do not want to see losses on either side,” claimed Phumtham, citing the current war in Ukraine.