Amid border skirmishes, Thai official calls for peace in 33rd SEA Games

Thailand chef de mission Thana Chaiprasit welcomed the participation of Cambodian athletes in the 33rd SEA Games and expressed hope that the sport arena would be a platform for peace between two quarreling neigbouring countries.

A fresh round of skirmishes broke out along the Thai-Cambodian border over the weekend just as the 33rd edition of the region’s biennial sporting event running from Tuesday to December 20 is about to start in Bangkok and Chon Buri.

Speaking after attending the flag-raising ceremony for all 11 ASEAN countries participating in the Games on Monday, Thana, who also serves as the National Olympic Committee of Thailand (NOCT) secretary-general, reiterated any diplomatic conflict would be kept out of the sport arena.

As the host country, we need to support and maintain the relations with them (Cambodian delegation). Sports should be used to forge peace. I hope everyone will treat the Cambodians well as the good host.

If we rudely shout at them, it would create bad image for our country. The way we cheer for athletes should not be excessive. If we’re not happy with anything we should only keep it inside, no need to show dissatisfaction,” said Thana.

While ensuring the maximum safety for Cambodia’s delegation, the Thai chef de mission asked the Cambodian senior officials to remain vigilant with their athlete’s conduct on and off the venue.

"I asked them to look after their own athletes as well. We let them stay in the same hotel under tight security. There should not be any problem.

“However, there remains a concern when they go outside. I thus suggest them to try to remain in their accommodation. We don’t know what would happen when they’re out of the hotel.

“In the event they do go out, we give advice not to wear Cambodia team’s cloths to prevent untoward incident,” added Thana.

At the end of the flag-raising ceremony, the NOCT secretary-general was pictured shaking hands with his Cambodian counterpart, Vath Chamroeun, as the head of Cambodian delegation in a gesture of friendship between the two countries.

After previously withdrawing from some of the sports they planned to field their delegates, Cambodia has sent a 170-member delegation, 73 of which are athletes, to the Thai-hosted Games.