Paetongtarn describes Cambodian rhetoric as “unprofessional”, sets up task force

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said today continuing rhetoric critical of Thailand from Cambodian leaders is not helpful to the Thai-Cambodian relations and her government has set up a task force to closely monitor the ongoing

conflicts between the two countries.

“It is not professional and not good for the two countries,” Paetongtarn said.

She did not mention names but was apparently referring to the latest threat by Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen to close the border and ban Thai products if Thai authorities does not ease restrictions at border checkpoints with Cambodia by tomorrow.

She said Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa has invited Bangkok-based diplomats to a meeting this afternoon for a briefing on the ongoing conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia.

Paetongtarn was speaking to reporters after a meeting with security-related government agencies to discuss the border situation.

She stressed that her government and the military are united on the issue with Cambodia despite earlier news reports suggesting a rift between them.

She said Deputy Defence Minister Gen Natthaphong Nakphanit has been appointed to head a task force to monitor the current situation.

Paetongtarn also said she has been in constant communication with her Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet ever since the conflicts erupted following an armed clash in a border area in Ubon Rachathani.

“We talked within the bilateral framework and off-the-record. But how things have been communicated through social media is not considered professional and has caused a lot of confusion,” she said.

Earlier this morning, Senate President Hun Sen threatened to close the border with Thailand and ban all Thai products if Thai authorities do not fully reopen border checkpoints that have been partially closed.

He said Cambodia was supposed to close all its border checkpoints with Thailand today, but postponed the decision to tomorrow after he and Prime Minister Hun Manet had a phone conversation with Paetongtarn.

In response, Paetongtarn said Thailand decided to impose restrictions on the opening hours of the border checkpoints after heavy weapons with long-range capabilities on the other side were moved close to the Thai border.

She said she has proposed to the Cambodian government to settle the issue of border checkpoints through the Regional Border Committee.

The committee is a bilateral military mechanism to discuss local issues of management and development to address any border challenges, with military regional commanders of both sides serving as co-chairs.

Paetongtarn insisted Thailanddoes not recognisethe jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice(ICJ) in the land dispute with neighbouring Cambodia.