Thailand will not reopen its border with Cambodia until Phnom Penh meets four conditions and restores diplomatic ties, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul declared on Tuesday.
Mr Anutin made his remark in Kuala Lumpur when asked about his signing of a new peace agreement with his Cambodian counterpart there on Sunday.
The four conditions set by Thailand are, the withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the border, landmine removal, the suppression of transnational criminal syndicates including scammers, and solutions to the conflicts in border areas.
The prime minister said the withdrawal of weaponry from conflict areas started when the agreement was signed. He told Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet that the withdrawal must not be only a symbolic act but be concrete and quick. Then, Thailand would free 18 Cambodian soldiers being held in detention.
He also wants Cambodia to cooperate fully with landmine removal which, he said, will be done mainly by Thai experts because the mines were laid in Thai territory.
Mr Anutin said now was not the time to discuss reopening the border. After the four conditions were met, the two countries needed to restore diplomatic relations, and only then move towards the reopening of border checkpoints, he said.
‘Everyone knows that the most important thing is the reopening of the border. Thailand holds to that,’ Mr Anutin said.
Government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat said that although withdrawal of weapons had started, Thailand wanted it to continue in all seriousness, for the safety and sake of people living in border areas.
Defence Minister Gen Nattaphon Narkphanit said at Government House that Thailand and Cambodia both began the withdrawal of weaponry on Sunday night, but it was initially only symbolic. Thailand expected Cambodia to remove its BM-21 multiple rocket launchers, he said.
During its border attacks in late July, Cambodia fired large numbers of BM-21 rockets at Thai civilian locations – communities, stores and hospitals – and caused many casualties and property damage.
According to the defence minister, Thailand plans three phases of effective weapons withdrawal over at least six weeks, and Cambodia agrees with the plan.
The first phase started on Sunday. The second would commence within three weeks and the third stage was set for the sixth week. Details of each stage were still being discussed, he said.