Thailand, Cambodia Reposition Troops to Ease Border Tensions
BANGKOK: Thailand and Cambodia on Sunday reached an agreement to reposition their troops in a disputed border area where a Cambodian soldier was killed last month in a military clash, both sides announced.
There has been sporadic violence on the Thai-Cambodia frontier since 2008, resulting in at least 28 deaths.
A Cambodian soldier was killed in the most recent outbreak of clashes on May 28 in an area known as the Emerald Triangle, where the borders of Cambodia, Thailand and Laos meet.
Following disputes in recent days over border controls and troops, the two sides met Sunday and agreed to reposition their soldiers.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said she had spoken to the Cambodian government and talks had reached a 'positive conclusion'.
'Both parties have agreed to jointly adjust military forces at points of conflict to reduce the atmosphere of confrontation,' she wrote on X.
Further discussions were due on June 14, the prime minister added.
Cambodia's defence ministry said the two militaries met and 'decided to adjust forces of both sides, to return to appropriate positions to reduce confrontations'.
Influential former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen said adjusting forces through 'mutual understanding' was 'essential to avoid large-scale violent clashes'.
Thailand and Cambodia have long been at odds over their more than 800-kilometre-long (500-mile) border, which was largely drawn during the French occupation of Indochina.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Monday the kingdom would file a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the border dispute.
The ICJ ruled in 2013 that the disputed area belonged to Cambodia, but Thailand says it does not accept the ICJ's jurisdiction.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Drugs, cybercrime and human trafficking among key focus areas at AIPACODD 2025
KUANTAN: Drug issues, cybercrime, and human trafficking will be the three key areas covered at the 8th Meeting of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs (AIPACODD) 2025, to be held here. AIPA President and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said the meeting will gather ASEAN delegates to exchange views and expertise in tackling these transnational crimes. 'AIPACODD has two main objectives: to foster consensus among ASEAN nations in formulating common policies, and to generate fresh ideas, especially on cybercrime and human trafficking, where we need fresh ideas that require legal input and proposals from member countries,' he said. Johari was speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the meeting, themed 'Uniting Parliaments for an Inclusive and Sustainable ASEAN in Addressing Contemporary Drug Challenges.' He added that the meeting's outcomes will be forwarded to the Parliamentary Select Committee for deliberation before any proposals are tabled in the Dewan Rakyat. 'We will also bring the outcomes of this meeting to the ASEAN Secretariat if they involve administrative matters that require its action, such as drug-related issues, for quicker response and implementation,' he said. The AIPACODD meeting began today and will continue tomorrow with deliberations and the adoption of the official resolution It will be followed by a closing ceremony and a speech of appreciation by the representative of the Philippines, which will host the next session. Tonight, a royal banquet will be held with the consent of the Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, symbolising royal support for inter-parliamentary diplomacy in building a safer and more sustainable ASEAN. In his opening remarks, Johari noted that a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report released on May 28 warned of emerging threats facing ASEAN youth from synthetic drug products engineered to evade detection. 'Thai authorities recently seized 1,555 'K pods' containing ketamine and etomidate in vaping products, while etomidate in e-liquids has been detected in multiple member countries, including Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia,' he said. 'These products, with their attractive packaging and perceived 'safer' delivery through vaping, are designed to target younger users who may be unaware of the risks,' he said. Johari stressed that AIPACODD must evolve to stay relevant, as criminal networks now operate with corporate-like efficiency across illicit sectors. This transformation must recognise that drug trafficking is deeply intertwined with wider criminal ecosystems, including human trafficking, wildlife smuggling, money laundering and cybercrime, he added.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Drugs, cybercrime, human trafficking among key focus at AIPACODD 2025
KUANTAN: Drug issues, cybercrime, and human trafficking will be the three key areas covered at the 8th Meeting of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs (AIPACODD) 2025, to be held here. AIPA President and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said the meeting will gather ASEAN delegates to exchange views and expertise in tackling these transnational crimes. 'AIPACODD has two main objectives: to foster consensus among ASEAN nations in formulating common policies, and to generate fresh ideas, especially on cybercrime and human trafficking, where we need fresh ideas that require legal input and proposals from member countries,' he said. Johari was speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the meeting, themed 'Uniting Parliaments for an Inclusive and Sustainable ASEAN in Addressing Contemporary Drug Challenges.' He added that the meeting's outcomes will be forwarded to the Parliamentary Select Committee for deliberation before any proposals are tabled in the Dewan Rakyat. 'We will also bring the outcomes of this meeting to the ASEAN Secretariat if they involve administrative matters that require its action, such as drug-related issues, for quicker response and implementation,' he said. The AIPACODD meeting began today and will continue tomorrow with deliberations and the adoption of the official resolution It will be followed by a closing ceremony and a speech of appreciation by the representative of the Philippines, which will host the next session. Tonight, a royal banquet will be held with the consent of the Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, symbolising royal support for inter-parliamentary diplomacy in building a safer and more sustainable ASEAN. In his opening remarks, Johari noted that a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report released on May 28 warned of emerging threats facing ASEAN youth from synthetic drug products engineered to evade detection. 'Thai authorities recently seized 1,555 'K pods' containing ketamine and etomidate in vaping products, while etomidate in e-liquids has been detected in multiple member countries, including Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia,' he said. 'These products, with their attractive packaging and perceived 'safer' delivery through vaping, are designed to target younger users who may be unaware of the risks,' he said. Johari stressed that AIPACODD must evolve to stay relevant, as criminal networks now operate with corporate-like efficiency across illicit sectors. This transformation must recognise that drug trafficking is deeply intertwined with wider criminal ecosystems, including human trafficking, wildlife smuggling, money laundering and cybercrime, he added.
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Leaders warn race for minerals could turn seabed into ‘wild west'
NICE: World leaders on Monday called for strict rules to govern deep-sea mining and warned against racing to exploit the ocean floor in a thinly veiled rebuke of US President Donald Trump. Growing anxiety over Trump's unilateral push to fast-track deep-sea mining in international waters shot to the surface at the opening of the UN Ocean Conference in southern France. 'I think it's madness to launch predatory economic action that will disrupt the deep seabed, disrupt biodiversity, destroy it and release irrecoverable carbon sinks -- when we know nothing about it,' said French President Emmanuel Macron. Imposing a moratorium on seabed mining was 'an international necessity', said Macron. The number of countries opposed to seabed mining rose to 36 on Monday, according to a tally kept by the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, an umbrella group of non-governmental organisations. Trump was not among the roughly 60 heads of state and government in the seaside town of Nice but his spectre loomed large as leaders defended the global multilateralism he has spurned. Of particular concern is his move to sidestep the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and issue permits directly to companies wanting to extract nickel and other metals from waters beyond US jurisdiction. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called for 'clear action' from the seabed authority to end a 'predatory race' for deep-ocean minerals. 'We now see the threat of unilateralism looming over the ocean. We cannot allow what happened to international trade to happen to the sea,' he said. The deep sea, Greenland and Antarctica were 'not for sale', Macron said in further remarks directed clearly at Trump's expansionist claims. The ISA, which has jurisdiction over the ocean floor outside national waters, is meeting in July to discuss a global mining code to regulate mining in the ocean depths. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he supported these negotiations and urged caution as countries navigate these 'new waters on seabed mining'. 'The deep sea cannot become the wild west,' he said, to applause from the plenary floor. 'Wave of hope' Island nations also spoke out against seabed mining, which scientists warn could result in untold damage to ecosystems largely unexplored by humanity. 'Here in Nice, we can feel that the looming threat of deep-sea mining, and the recent reckless behaviour of the industry is seen by many states as unacceptable,' said Megan Randles from Greenpeace. Meanwhile, a flurry of last-minute signatures in Nice brought a treaty to protect 60 percent of the world's oceans outside national jurisdiction closer to law. Macron told reporters that 55 nations had ratified the high seas treaty, just five shy of the number required for its enactment. The president gave two thumbs up and a broad grin as he posed with the new signatories, and said the accord would come into force by January 1, 2026. According to the UN, 18 new ratifications took place on Monday, bringing the total to 50. Others could arrive in the coming days. 'Today's surge of ratifications for the High Seas Treaty is a tidal wave of hope and a huge cause for celebration,' Rebecca Hubbard, director of the High Seas Alliance, told AFP. 'Prove you're serious' On Monday, the United Kingdom announced plans to extend a partial ban on bottom trawling in some of its protected marine areas, following a similar move by France at the weekend. Greece, Brazil and Spain took the opportunity Monday to announce the creation of new marine parks, following recent similar action from Samoa. And French Polynesia unveiled what will be the world's largest marine protected zone, said the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Just eight percent of global oceans are designated for marine conservation, despite a globally agreed target to achieve 30 percent coverage by 2030. Macron said he hoped that coverage would grow to 12 percent by the summit's close on Friday. Environment groups say that for marine parks to be considered truly protected they need to ban trawling and other harmful activities, and be properly funded. Wealthy nations face pressure in Nice to commit money to make that level of ocean conservation a reality. Small island states are leading the charge for money and political support to better combat rising seas, marine trash and the plunder of fish stocks that hurt their economies. 'We say to you, if you are serious about protecting the ocean, prove it,' said President Surangel Whipps Jr of Palau, a low-lying Pacific nation.
