Cambodia-Thai Army Chiefs Meet Amid Worsening Relations

Cambodian and Thai army chiefs on Friday met for bilateral talks at the border to ensure security and peace, according to a military source. The discussions come amid rapidly worsening diplomatic ties after ousted former Thai Premier Thaksin Shina-watra was officially appointed as economic advisor to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen by King Norodom Sihamoni. On Thursday evening the Cambodian Government recalled its ambassador to Thailand in a tit-for-tat response after the Thai Government’s earlier recall of its ambassador to Cambodia.A Cambodian army delegation led by Chea Dara, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) sub chief, accompanied by Srey Doeuk, met with Thai Army 2 Chief Weevalit. “We agreed to avoid force use by focusing on diplomacy and political avenues decided upon by both countries’ top leaders,” a military source told DAP News Cambodia on Friday. Thailand steps up its protest against Cambodia on Friday by cancelling a bilateral agreement on the overlapping continental shelf area with Cambodia, according to news sources in Thailand. The decision came one day after Thailand downgraded its bilateral relations with Cambodia to protest Cambodia’s appointment of ex-Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra as its economic adviser. Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said in a phone-in interview from Tokyo on Friday that Thailand decided to revoke Thai-Cambodia memorandum of understanding on the overlapping continental shelf area signed in June 2001 under premiership of then PM Thaksin.The decision was rejected by Cambodia official. Va Kimhong, Cambodia joint Border Committee Director said that Thailand should not just cancel agreements jointly signed by the two governments. “If Thailand does this, no Govern- ment will dare to sign anything with them. When they are glad, they are willing to sign, but when they are not happy, they cancel the agreement,” Va Kimhong noted.