
Troops will stay: army
Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang, commander of the Second Army Region responsible for the northeastern provinces bordering Cambodia, said Thai forces remain stationed in areas including Chong Aan Mah in Ubon Ratchathani and Phu Makua in Si Sa Ket.
These areas are within Thai sovereign territory. 'We will not retreat. Barbed wire fences and troops have been deployed to prevent incursions.
'We're within Thai territory and aren't encroaching on any foreign land,' he said when talking about Cambodia's call for troop withdrawal from Chong Aan Mah.
Lt Gen Boonsin expressed hope Thursday's GBC meeting would help maintain peace but said the army stands firm in its decision to hold positions.
Meanwhile, the Ad Hoc Centre on the Thailand-Cambodia Border Situation said a preliminary agreement on an eight-point plan discussed by the GBC earlier was reached by the cabinet and National Security Council (NSC) on Wednesday.
Deputy Prime Minister and acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on Wednesday chaired the NSC meeting to finalise the eight-point proposal for Thursday's bigger GBC meeting with the Thai delegation led by Deputy Defence Minister Gen Nattaphon Narkphanit.
The proposal included a mutual ceasefire in disputed zones; civilian protection; no increase in troop numbers or armaments; a freeze on movements of stationed troops; arrangements for the injured or bodies; a joint coordination team; adjustments to deployments; and formalisation of policy if agreements are adopted.
Speaking before the NSC meeting, Gen Nattaphon said a consensus was reached on the proposal but details would be clarified later to confirm whether they were in accordance with the NSC's framework.
When asked about ceasefire violations by Cambodian forces, Gen Nattaphon said Cambodia appeared sincere in its intention to uphold the ceasefire as shown in the preliminary agreement reached at the secretary-general level.
'The next level will be on Aug 7 when the defence ministers from both sides meet. That meeting will test Cambodia's sincerity at the ministerial level. The final and most important level is the implementation...whether Cambodia will truly adhere to what has been agreed,' he said.
The GBC meeting would also focus on the sustainability of the ceasefire agreement while other issues including compensation for civilian damages and territory claims would be addressed at the Joint Border Commission (JBC).
Rear Adm Surasant Kongsiri, spokesman for the Ad Hoc Centre on the Thailand-Cambodia Border Situation, said agreements reached by the GBC's working group were not final.
He said the agreements had to go before the NSC and the cabinet meeting for endorsement before the GBC's main meeting on Thursday.
Rear Adm Surasant said the overall border situation remained calm, with some reinforced military posts but no troop buildup.
However, increased drone activity was detected.
He said a nationwide civilian drone ban remains in effect until Aug 15, though authorities may relax restrictions for agricultural drones of which use will be limited to between 6am and 6pm under a registration scheme.
No clashes had occurred following an incident in which Cambodian forces attempted to cut through Thai barbed wire at Chong Aan Mah, and the barriers had since been restored.
Maratee Nalita Andamo, deputy spokeswowan of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the ministry will brief Thai ambassadors and diplomats abroad on Thursday via a virtual meeting on its stance.
She said Thailand initiated contact with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to arrange for a visit to the 18 detained Cambodian soldiers to demonstrate Thailand's adherence to international humanitarian standards.
She added the ministry would continue to work with both the ICRC's regional office in Bangkok and its Geneva headquarters to maintain transparency regarding Thailand's conduct.
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