The Senate’s special committee has unanimously recommended scrapping the MOU43 with Cambodia, citing repeated violations, constitutional concerns and stalled negotiations after 26 years. The proposal, if approved, could reshape how Thailand manages its disputed border areas and future talks with Cambodia.
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The MOU43 was designed to promote peaceful management of the Thai-Cambodian border. It established a Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) to oversee disputed areas and relied on mapping systems to guide demarcation and patrols.
However, Thailand never formally ratified the agreement through Parliament. Disputes have also arisen from differing map scales, with Cambodia using a 1:200,000 scale and Thailand relying on a more detailed 1:50,000 scale.
Senator Noppadol Inna, who chairs the committee studying the issue, said the review included more than 20 meetings, field studies along the border, and consultations with security and foreign affairs agencies. The findings concluded that Cambodia had continuously encroached on Thai territory.l
The committee outlined six reasons for recommending cancellation. These include flawed mapping systems, constitutional conflicts, legal inconsistencies with Cambodia, slow implementation, evolving border conditions, and Cambodian non-compliance with the agreement.
The recommendation suggests Thailand can unilaterally withdraw from the MOU under international law. It proposes notifying Cambodia three months in advance while continuing to pursue peaceful negotiations for a permanent land boundary.
The committee also advised relying on earlier frameworks, including the Siam-France treaties and the 1995 border cooperation agreement, to manage disputes in the interim. These mechanisms would serve as the basis for continued engagement if the MOU is terminated.
Khaosod reported that the resolution is expected to be submitted to the Senate for approval by April. If endorsed, it would mark a significant shift in Thailand’s approach to long-standing border issues with Cambodia.
Picture courtesy of The Standard
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Adapted by ASEAN Now TheStandard 25 Mar 2026