Thai PM Paetongtarn visits tense border area with Cambodia offering support, but locals still fear conflict

“I personally spoke with the Cambodian prime minister, General Hun Manet, and Samdech Hun Sen, the president of the Privy Council and the Senate, to coordinate and negotiate to uphold national sovereignty and prioritise the interests of the people,” Paetongtarn told the media after a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, as quoted by Thai local news outlet Khaosod. 

For days, the two governments have exchanged statements, expressing commitment to finding a peaceful resolution. 

“The result was that we managed to negotiate peacefully and avoid violent clashes,” Paetongtarn was quoted as saying by Khaosod. 

During her trip on Wednesday, Paetongtarn, who is the youngest daughter of former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, was accompanied by Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who are both also deputy prime ministers.

On May 28, a Cambodian soldier was killed during an exchange of gunfire with the Thai army at the undemarcated border area which prompted both countries to reinforce their military presence and caused a flare-up in border tensions between the two countries.

Following the May 28 incident, Cambodia said it would take the dispute over four areas to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Both countries have for more than a century contested sovereignty at undemarcated points along their shared border, which was mapped by France in 1907 when Cambodia was its colony.