Malaysia FM says Cambodian, Thai leaders to discuss conflict on Monday: report
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Bangkok Post
an hour ago
- Bangkok Post
Cambodian power deal to be cancelled
The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), a Thai government power distribution arm, is preparing to terminate a power purchase agreement with Cambodia following the disconnection of electricity transmission to the neighbouring country during the current territorial dispute. The termination is legally required after Thailand stopped supplying electricity to Cambodia days before a Thai soldier stepped on a landmine while he and his group were on patrol along the border in the Chong Bok area of Nam Yuen district in Ubon Ratchathani on July 16. 'We asked the Cambodian Embassy through the National Security Council to confirm that the authority can terminate the contract,' said Mongkol Treekijjanon, the PEA governor. The state utility now plans to distribute 50 megawatts of electricity previously sold to Cambodia to serve demand from users in Thailand. During the clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers, PEA power distribution facilities, including electricity poles and cables, were damaged by shrapnel, resulting in power outages in some areas near the border, said Mr Mongkol. Up to 90% of the facilities were repaired, he said. Marginal decrease in power bills In a related development, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has announced that a new power tariff of 3.95 baht a kilowatt-hour (unit) will be used for electricity bill calculation between September and December. Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga had indicated earlier that the tariff would be cut slightly from 3.98 baht a unit, which is applicable until the end of August. 'We are able to reduce the power tariff because the prices of imported liquefied natural gas [LNG](are expected to decrease,' said Poonpat Leesombatpiboon, the ERC secretary-general. Gas makes up 60% of fuels used for power generation in Thailand. The country needs to import more costly LNG as cheaper domestic gas supplies are on the decline. Part of all power bills must be reimbursed to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) to help it clear a loss of 66 billion baht, which stems from past electricity price subsidy programmes. If the power tariff remains unchanged at 3.98 baht a unit, the rate would be only enough to pay back part of Egat's debt, worth 7.07 billion baht, the ERC said earlier.
Bangkok Post
an hour ago
- Bangkok Post
House committee condemns Cambodian violations of international rules
The House Committee on Legal Affairs, Justice and Human Rights has issued a strong condemnation of Cambodia, accusing it of violating international treaties amid tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border that claimed many lives of civilians and troops. Committee chairman Kamolsak Leewamoh, a Prachachat MP for Narathiwat province joined members on Thursday at a press conference to express deep regret over the intensifying violence along the border and extended condolences to all those affected, including families of soldiers and civilians. Mr Kamolsak said the panel, which is duty-bound to monitor Thailand's compliance with the rule of law and international obligations, saw fit to document and respond to violations that undermine peace, stability and fundamental human rights. On July 23, a Thai soldier was critically injured when a landmine exploded in Nam Yuen district of Ubon Ratchathani province — an act deemed a violation of the Ottawa Convention, to which Cambodia and Thailand are signatories, said the panel chairman. The following day, a Cambodian drone reportedly entered Thai airspace near the Ta Muen Thom ruins in Phanom Dongrak district of Surin province before Cambodian forces opened fire on a Thai military base at about 6pm, escalating the situation rapidly. The following morning, Cambodian forces launched BM-21 rockets into civilian bases in Kap Choeng district of Surin, causing many injuries. Worse still, continued shelling targeted residential zones and civilian infrastructure across several provinces, including Buri Ram, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani and Si Sa Ket in the lower Northeast of Thailand. Among the damaged sites were homes, a petrol station and 7-Eleven where eight civilians died, and the Phanom Dong Rak Hospital. Cambodia's attacks resulted in 13 civilian deaths in all, 32 injuries and casualties among Thai troops — one death and 14 injuries, said the House panel. The indiscriminate targeting of civilians and non-military infrastructure, it argued, clearly violates the Geneva Conventions, particularly the principles of distinction and proportionality. The actions may also amount to war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, said the panel. On July 25, the Thai military officially confirmed that Cambodian forces initiated the hostilities, suggesting a pattern of deliberate and systematic aggression. The committee stated that Cambodia's conduct constitutes clear violations of: The Ottawa Convention, by deploying anti-personnel mines; The Geneva Conventions and customary international humanitarian law, by targeting civilians and civilian objects indiscriminately; The Rome Statute, for potential war crimes involving attacks on civilians and medical facilities. The committee urged an immediate halt to violence and a return to peaceful dialogue as the path toward conflict resolution. It also condemned false and misleading statements that contradict official accounts provided by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government and the Parliament speaker. It demanded that Cambodia cease the dissemination of disinformation, which could exacerbate the crisis. The committee reaffirmed the need for transparent dialogue, accountability and sustained peace-building efforts in the border region. It stressed that strict adherence to international law is essential to prevent further loss of life and to restore the rule of law.
Bangkok Post
2 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Foreign military attaches to visit border on Friday
Thai authorities will bring foreign military attaches and journalists to border areas on Friday to prove that Cambodia broke its ceasefire agreement and carried out 'inhumane attacks against civilian targets', according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Visitors would also see 'infringements upon Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity by Cambodia – actions that no country can tolerate', the ministry said in a statement on Thursday. 'Moreover, Thailand expresses profound disappointment regarding Cambodia's baseless accusations against Thailand in international fora concerning the clashes along the border, particularly during the high-level meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) currently taking place in Geneva. 'Thailand categorically rejects such claims and calls on Cambodia to refrain from disseminating disinformation and misinformation that could cause misunderstanding and further escalate tensions,' the ministry stated. Thailand has remained committed to strictly upholding the ceasefire agreement that took effect at 12.01am on Tuesday, it added. Nikorndej Balankura, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the Ministry of Defence would conduct the site visit on Friday for foreign military attaches. He said the tour was delayed because Thai authorities were not confident that Cambodia would observe the ceasefire agreement, which raised concerns about the safety of the foreign delegation. Cambodia repeatedly broke the ceasefire agreement by attacking Thai soldiers with rifles and grenades while Thailand did not do so on a single occasion, said Mr Nikorndej. Thailand has already brought Cambodia's repeated ceasefire violations to the attention of Malaysia, as the Asean chair, as well as China, the United States and the United Nations, he added.
