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The State Secretariat of Border Affairs said on Wednesday that Thailand requested another postponement of a Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting scheduled for this month, again citing “internal procedures” and, this time, the formation of a new cabinet following its general election in February.
A Thai statement earlier this week said it would share a proposed date and draft agenda in due course, adding it is committed to a mutually acceptable solution on border demarcation.
It is the second postponement of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), a body tasked with demarcating the Cambodia-Thailand border, since the neighbors reached a ceasefire in December after weeks of deadly clashes that killed over a hundred people and displaced more than half a million on both sides.
The countries’ Regional Border Committee, however, met on Thursday in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province, where “both sides held discussions on a number of important matters,” including the ceasefire and “other relevant documents,” according to the Defence Ministry.
But disputes remain. Cambodia has accused Thai forces of “illegally occupying” at least 14 border zones, barring thousands of residents from returning home.
Besides an understanding not to reinforce troops on both sides of the border, the Dec. 27 truce also agreed on the return of displaced civilians.
Thai Defense Ministry spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“The JBC [Cambodia side] will continue to conduct land surveying and boundary demarcation works with JBC [Thai side], at the earliest, with a view to achieving lasting peace along the border and will not recognize any alteration of boundary line resulting from the use of force,” the Cambodian statement said.
Cambodia has also asked Bangkok to dispatch its Joint Survey Team to resume collaborative installation of temporary markers along the border, efforts that began in November before clashes reignited.
Civil groups in Cambodia have called for a return to the original scheduled meeting and for a resolution to the disputed border zones held by Thai forces.
“I hope that after the new Thai government cabinet is elected and formed in February, there will be fair and just solutions to this long-standing border issue […],” said Soeung Saroeung, executive director at NGO Forum, opining that Thailand is deploying tactics to take advantage of the situation.
President of local rights group Adhoc, Ny Sokha, said the delay will place further strain on displaced families who have not been allowed to return to their homes or livelihoods.
Phao Sokphith, a displaced resident from the disputed village that Cambodia calls Chouk Chey village in its Banteay Meanchey province who is now sheltering at a pagoda, expressed concern over the postponement.
“Some residents’ houses may continue to be demolished if the measurement of the border posts is further delayed,” he said, adding that Thai soldiers photographed the demolition of his home and shop and sent him the images after noting his number displayed for customers.
Videos of Thai soldiers destroying and looting villages in the border zones have circulated widely since the ceasefire.
