Thailand's Joint Information Centre has warned that threats in a Cambodian article to arrest Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, for allegedly entering Cambodia illegally, coupled with references to using force, could undermine negotiations over disputed border areas. Air Chief Marshal Prapas Sonjaidee, director of the Thailand-Cambodia Joint Information Centre (JIC), said on Thursday, 27 August, that the rhetoric risked damaging the atmosphere needed to preserve peace between the neighbouring countries. The comments followed an article stating that Thai officials, including Anutin, could be arrested and prosecuted under Cambodian law as they entered territory claimed by Cambodia. The article also raised the possibility of force being used. Thailand rejects claim that visit changed the border Prapas said Anutin's visit was intended to inspect and support Thai personnel in areas held by Thailand under existing agreements. It did not amount to a border provocation, border demarcation or the creation of a new boundary, he said. Nor did the visit represent Thai acceptance of another party's sovereignty claim, according to the JIC director. For foreigners living close to the Thai-Cambodian border, or travelling through border provinces, the statement indicates that the disagreement remains unresolved but is being addressed through existing bilateral arrangements. The JIC said Thai forces remain at positions they held when a ceasefire took effect, under an agreement between the two countries. Prapas urged Cambodia to reconsider the Joint Statement signed at the third Special General Border Committee meeting on 27 December 2025. Under that agreement, both sides are to keep forces at their ceasefire positions, avoid moving troops or patrolling towards the other side's positions, and refrain from provocative actions that could increase tension. Call for talks through agreed mechanisms One side declaring an area to be under its sovereignty cannot settle a boundary dispute, Prapas said. Such unilateral claims should not be used to threaten arrests or prosecutions of the other country's officials, or to raise the prospect of force. He said disagreements should instead be handled through bilateral mechanisms already accepted by both countries, using maps, evidence, treaties, surveys and recognised procedures. "We should therefore ask whether talking about arresting the prime minister of a neighbouring country, or raising the possibility of using force, helps create an atmosphere for negotiations or instead destroys it," Prapas said. Thailand had chosen dialogue, bilateral mechanisms and adherence to agreements signed by both sides, he added, and wanted Cambodia to take the same approach. "Do not use threats in place of negotiations, or unilateral claims in place of border demarcation, and do not turn the border into an arena for escalating rhetoric," he said. Prapas said people in both countries wanted safety, peace and a border where differences were resolved through negotiations rather than threats. Picture courtesy of The Nation Join the discussion? 28 August 2026
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