By Vijian Paramasivam
PHNOM PENH, Aug 16 (Bernama) -- Ceasefire efforts, demining, and cross-border online scams dominated the agenda of the Extraordinary Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting between Cambodia and Thailand on Saturday in Trat Province.
Both parties also agreed to establish a special coordinating group (GC), a key outcome of the meeting, to enhance border communication and prevent armed escalation in disputed areas.
“Both sides agreed in principle to establish a coordinating group to enhance communication at all levels, including between commanders, border liaison working groups, standing forces in the border areas, and operational units along the Cambodia-Thailand border, to resolve all issues peacefully and avoid clashes,” said a press statement issued by the Royal Cambodian Army on Saturday.
The formation details and functions of the GC will be discussed in the upcoming RBC meeting in Phnom Penh within a month.
Cambodia reaffirmed the importance of advancing humanitarian demining at the meeting but progress depends on the full implementation of the ceasefire and a return to normalcy along the border.
“As border demarcation is currently underway, demining can be considered in areas that are demarcated or in non-disputed areas, as agreed upon by the Joint Boundary Commissions (JBC) of the two countries.
“Since the RBC does not have the mandate to make decisions on demining, this issue should be addressed at the upcoming GBC Meeting (Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee), which is scheduled to take place soon,” stated the statement.
The RBC meeting also discussed the online scams that are affecting both countries, and Cambodia assured to take serious steps to stem the crime.
“Cambodia has made significant efforts to combat these issues, working closely with ASEAN and other international partners, and has achieved tangible results.
“Cambodia and Thailand have already cooperated in tackling online scams, and this issue can be further discussed at the upcoming GBC Meeting, as both countries are equally affected,” read the statement.
Both parties said they are committed to implementing the outcomes of the Extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur on August 7.
-- BERNAMA
