Thai Army: Cambodia Agrees to Remove Border Trenches, Barbed Wire

The Thai army announced on Thursday that Cambodia has agreed to fill in a trench and remove barbed-wire barriers at Hill 450 near Chong Sa-ngam in Si Sa Ket province, after Thailand raised concerns. Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree, Thai Army spokesman, stated that coordination teams from both sides discussed the issue, and the Cambodian side agreed to restore the area. Winthai emphasized that this development demonstrates that the issue can be resolved through dialogue. He urged residents in border areas not to panic over social media reports, suggesting that information from various sources could escalate public anxiety. He also noted that local administrative officials and military personnel on both sides maintain regular information exchange, and the situation is less concerning than some social media narratives suggest. Regarding the reasons behind the Cambodian troops digging the trench and installing barriers, Winthai stated that the Army has not yet received an official report detailing the motives. He pointed out that the Thai-Cambodian border spans over 500 kilometers, with small units stationed along the frontier, making incidents involving changes to defensive positions or barriers a possibility. Thailand is particularly monitoring activities related to terrain modifications, trench digging, and obstacle installation, he added. When asked if Cambodia's decision to fill the trench and remove barriers constituted an acknowledgement of encroaching on Thai sovereignty, Winthai said details would need to be confirmed by units operating in the area. He explained that troops deployed along the border are aware of established positions, and the barriers might have been intended for unit security. However, because the work was conducted in a sensitive area close to both nations, Thailand raised an objection. Winthai concluded that the issue is not considered a major concern because the coordination teams from both sides were able to resolve it through dialogue. Source: Khaosod English