Ministers sign deals to bolster trust

Sukumpol in talks with Cambodian counterpart

Thailand and Cambodia have signed four new agreements focused on bolstering trust and maintaining security.

Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat, centre, talks with his Cambodian counterpart Tea Bahn, left, at the closing of the General Border Committee meeting at Wangjuntr Golf Park in Rayong's Wang Chan district on Friday. APICHART JINAKUL

The documents were signed on Friday's General Border Committee (GBC) meeting.

Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat made the announcement after the 9th GBC meeting at Wangjuntr Golf Park in Rayong's Wang Chan district.

He said one of the four agreements concerned the spread of information.

Both parties committed to promoting positive and factual information about each other to help bolster trust and respect, the minister said.

The second agreement concerns the suppression of illegal activities in border areas, especially drug smuggling and logging.

Part of that agreement is also a pledge to support maritime safety and law enforcement by taking into account protection of human rights, ACM Sukumpol said.

The third agreement involves supporting residents living in border areas by promoting job creation, tourism, education and health care.

Both parties also agreed to endorse the results of the Joint Working Group (JWG) meetings, which aim to solve border disputes, as well as the joint agreement on landmine clearance drawn up by the Thailand and Cambodian Mine Action Centres.

ACM Sukumpol said landmine clearance in the provisional demilitarised zone will kick off next month.

"These agreements represent shared benefits and mutual understanding carried out for the people of the two countries," ACM Sukumpol said.

The minister was accompanied by Deputy Supreme Commander and Thai JWG chief Gen Worapong Sanganetra, while other Thai military chiefs who were invited failed to attend.

Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Bahn, Deputy Defence Minister Neang Paht, three top Cambodian military commanders, and Col Hun Manith, son of Cambodian premier Hun Sen, also attended the meeting. Gen Tea Bahn vowed to help boost border safety.

"There will be no fighting [between Cambodia and Thailand]. People will live safely together. The ICJ case [on the Preah Vihear temple dispute] still has to run its course," Gen Tea Bahn said. He was referring to the International Court of Justice's consideration of a request to reinterpret its 1962 ruling on the disputed land surrounding the temple.

The ruling is expected in October.

ACM Sukumpol reiterated that regular communication must be maintained between both sides to ensure peace at the border.

"Cambodia will tell us when they want to conduct military exercises. And if we want to hold drills nearby, we will also tell them," ACM Sukumpol said.

"If we work together, we will ease the tension."

The next GBC meeting will be hosted by Cambodia.

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/350635/ministers-sign-deals-to-bolster-trust