Border demarcation marks ‘new chapter’

Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia and Thailand agreed to sideline domestic politics and begin actually mapping border markers as the two countries seek to make progress demarcating their contested border at the latest meeting of the Joint Border Committee yesterday.

Var Kimhong, Cambodia’s chief border negotiator, said Thailand would no longer require that border surveys be approved by its National Assembly, marking a “new chapter” in the neighbours’ demarcation process, after the meeting in Bangkok yesterday.

“There was a good environment at the meeting from which Thai political issues will no longer be an obstacle and the Cambodian JBC will be able to carry out its work on the actual land,” he said.

Cambodia, Thailand agree to open new permanent border checkpoint

BANGKOK, Feb 14 (MCOT online news) – Cambodia and Thailand will open a new permanent checkpoint and will conduct a joint survey for border demarcation in agreements reached during their two days of border talks in Bangkok.

The meeting of the 5th Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission concluded here on Tuesday with agreement that a new permanent checkpoint will open at Nong-ian in Thailand’s Sa Kaeo -and Stung Bot in Cambodia’s Bantey Meancheay on March 5.

Bandhit Sotipalarit, chairperson of Thai delegates and his Cambodian counterpart Var Kim Hong held a joint press conference after the two-day meeting ended on February 14.

The meeting also approved surveying and installing boundary markers 1-23.

Border dispute talks back on track

Aerial mapping of boundary on agenda

13/02/2012
Thanida Tansubhapol
Bangkok Post

Thailand and Cambodia will today resume talks under the Joint Boundary Commission to continue surveying and demarcation work on the land boundary between the two countries.

The two-day meeting in Bogor, Indonesia, will be chaired by the head of the Thai delegation Bundit Sotiplalit and his Cambodian counterpart Var Kim Hong.

Mr Bundit will chair the JBC meeting for the first time. He was appointed head of the Thai delegation in June, replacing former ambassador Vasin Teeravechyan, who resigned from the job due to political pressure.

A source said the selection of companies from Japan, France or Finland to carry out orthophoto mapping of the border will be high on the agenda at the meeting today, and representatives of both countries will also hold discussions on the map's specifications.

Thailand ready for the JBC [... and it will have to wait for some time still!]

9/6/2011
Source: www.thaigov.go.th

Thailand reiterates its readiness for the holding of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting to resolve border dispute with its neighbouring country Cambodia, said Government Spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn on Tuesday after the Cabinet meeting.

Thailand firmly believes that the best way to resolve border disputes is through existing bilateral mechanisms. It is now up to Cambodia to agree on the holding of the JBC meeting to move forward the demarcation process, added the Thai Government Spokesman.

As regards other means of settling the Thai-Cambodian border dispute, Thailand welcomes the facilitation of its ASEAN friends and appreciates Indonesia’s role (sic!), as the current ASEAN Chair, to provide avenues for dialogue. Thailand also welcomes, in principle, the initiative of Indonesia to send its observer teams to the disputed area. However, more clarity is required before the team can be deployed on the ground.

Minute of the 2nd Meeting of the Joint Border Commission 2 June 2008 & Hor Namhong's letter

http://www.box.net/shared/ilpae5oxyz

Unrest stirs between [Thai] ministry and [Thai] army

13/04/2011
Thanida Tansubhapol
Bangkok Post

Signs of conflict between the Foreign Ministry and the Thai Army emerged when Supreme Commander Songkitti Jaggabatara said last week that Indonesian observers would not be allowed to enter the disputed border area.

Gen Songkitti also said an agreement the Foreign Ministry had reached with Cambodia and Indonesia to send Indonesian observers to the disputed border area "has nothing to do with the military".

The deal was made on Feb 22 when Indonesia, as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, called the Asean Foreign Ministers meeting in Jakarta to resolve the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. The meeting ended with the two countries accepting an Indonesian observer team be stationed along their common border.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya did not directly respond to Gen Songkitti's comment but said Thailand is an open society and everybody is free to express their opinions.

Boundary talks show signs of progress [-Did the Bangkok Post reporter miss the news from Bogor?]

11/04/2011
Thanida Tansubhapol
Bangkok Post

Relations between Thailand and Cambodia are improving gradually, after they agreed to resume Joint Boundary Commission talks last week in Indonesia.

The two-day JBC talks in Bogor ended last Friday, with both sides still sticking to their original positions on how their border dispute should be settled.

However, the fact that the two sides agreed to resume the talks - held for the first time in a third country - is a step forward and holds out hope for an eventual end to their border row.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, current Asean chairman, called the meeting after Cambodian and Thai troops clashed around the Preah Vihear temple on Feb 4-7.

Thai, Cambodian Foreign Ministers to confer on draft TOR for Indonesian observers

BANGKOK, April 9 (MCOT online news) -- Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya is scheduled to discuss with his Indonesian and Cambodian counterparts later Saturday in Jakarta on the draft terms of reference (ToR) for Indonesian observers to be stationed at the disputed 4.6 square-kilometre between Thailand and Cambodia, according to an announcement issued by the Thai foreign affairs ministry.

The announcement said Mr Kasit would meet other foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japanese foreign ministry officials to discuss assistance to the latter and would use the opportunity to talk with Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong about the draft ToR.

Thailand’s has made it clear that Indonesian observers could not be positioned in the disputed area near the ancient Preah Vihear temple.

Border meet yields no result [-Another trick by Thailand?]

9/04/2011
Bangkok Post

The two-day Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission meeting has ended at the Bogor Palace in West Java with nothing resolved.

Thailand and Cambodia entered the talks in Indonesia to try to resolve their border spat.

"This matter [the border dispute] cannot be solved with one meeting," Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said, according to the Jakarta Post newspaper.

Mr Marty said he would have informal meetings with his Thai and Cambodian counterparts to discuss the problem, which he said was complex.

Meanwhile, the Royal Thai Navy will conduct an annual naval exercise as part of security preparations for any possible maritime disputes with Cambodia, with newly-acquired Gripen jet fighters taking part.

First day of Thai-Cambodian border meeting in Indonesia 'satisfying'

BOGOR, April 8 (MCOT online news) - Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday reported the first day of Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting now being held in Indonesia's Bogor was satisfying, with both sides preparing to send a joint team to survey border posts and discuss how to select a company to take aerial photos of the disputed border.

Co-chairman Asda Jayanama of the Thai-Cambodian JBC led Thai delegates to the Bogor meeting yesterday and today, while the Cambodian delegation was led by Var Kim Hong, head of the Cambodian government's boundary commission.

The meeting was described by the Thai authorities as delightful and both sides have shown understanding to each other in order to resolve the border conflict by peaceful means.

JBC meetIng off to a 'smooth start'

April 8, 2011
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation

The Thailand-Cambodia Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) met yesterday in the Indonesian city of Bogor for talks, which went off smoothly.

It was the JBC's first meeting since the border clash at Preah Vihear Temple in February, although the Thai Parliament has not yet approved the minutes of previous meetings.

Despite the meeting being hosted by Indonesia in its role as the current chair of Asean, it was convened on a bilateral basis, without the involvement of any third party, said the Foreign Minister's secretary, Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, who attended the meeting.

Kasit to clarify army view

Indonesia will be told of border observer position

7/04/2011
Bangkok Post

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya is to outline the military's opposition to Indonesian border observers with his Jakarta counterpart on Saturday.

Mr Kasit is scheduled to attend an Asean-Japan meeting in Jakarta to discuss assistance for disaster-stricken Japan.

However, he will take the opportunity to meet his Indonesian counterpart Marty Natalegawa to discuss Indonesia's role in the Thai-Cambodian conflict over the 4.6-square-kilometre area around Preah Vihear temple.

Mr Kasit has agreed with Phnom Penh and Jakarta that Indonesian observers could inspect the area.

Top Cambodian officials leave for Indonesian meetting on border issue with Thailand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y6ovULwaYI&feature=player_embedded

Cambodian Officials Leave for Indonesia to Discuss Border Issue with Thailand

2011-04-06
Xinhua

A delegation of Cambodian senior officials on Wednesday left Phnom Penh for Indonesia to attend the meetings with Thailand over the border conflict next to the Preah Vihear temple.

The meetings of Cambodia-Thai General Border Committee (GBC) and Joint Border Committee on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) will be held on April 7-8 in Bogor, aimed to negotiate on the border conflict.

The meetings, arranged by Indonesia as the status of ASEAN chair, follow the deadly clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops over the disputed border areas near Preah Vihear temple on Feb. 4- 7.

Cambodian delegation was headed by Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong. Speaking at Phnom Penh International Airport before leaving for the meetings, Hor Namhong said that the main target of the meetings is to determine the term of reference in order to enable Indonesian observers to monitor the ceasefire at the disputed border areas.

[Thai General] Songkitti rejects Indonesian observers [... when the generals are politicking!!!]

Military 'unhappy with Kasit over border meet'

6/04/2011
Wassana Nanuam & Thanida Tansubhapol
Bangkok Post

Songkitti (Photo: TNA)

Indonesian observers will not be allowed to enter the disputed border area surrounding the centuries-old Preah Vihear temple, Supreme Commander Songkitti Jaggabatara says.

Gen Songkitti led the chiefs of the army, the navy and the air force in making the statement at a press conference after a meeting of the military top brass at the Royal Thai Air Force headquarters yesterday.

It was the first time Thai military leaders have formally announced their position on the issue.

Phnom Penh wants Indonesia to host JBC meet

April 6, 2011
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation

Cambodia insists it will attend the meeting of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) late this week only on the condition that it is hosted by Asean chair Indonesia, not by Thailand.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong wrote to remind his Thai counterpart Kasit Piromya on Monday that the JBC meeting was proposed by Indonesia and is being held in that country, in the city of Bogor.

Who would host the JBC meeting became an issue when Kasit wrote to Hor Namhong last Friday that Thailand as the host of the fifth Thailand-Cambodia JBC meeting was ready to convene the meeting on April 7-8 in Bogor.

The JBC is a bilateral mechanism to handle demarcation of the land boundary between Thailand and Cambodia. The two countries have taken turns hosting the meeting from time to time since its establishment in 2000.

Thai-Cambodian GBC Will Not Take Place In Bogor

BANGKOK, April 4 (Bernama) -- The proposed parallel meeting of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) and General Border Committee (GBC) in Bogor, Indonesia on Thursday, will not materialise.

Instead, only the JBC will proceed as planned for two days, beginning that day.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said today the GBC could not take place as defence ministries of both countries were still negotiating the proposed meeting.

According to local news reports, Thai Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon insisted the JBC should be held first, followed by the GBC.

Thailand agrees to send representative to JBC meeting

April 5, 2011
By Nuntida Puangthong, Piyanart Srivalo
The Nation

Asda Jayanama, chief of the Thailand-Cambodia Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), will be representing Thailand at the JBC meeting in Indonesia later this week, though it is unlikely that the leader of the General Border Commission (GBC) will go.

Asda will attend the meeting in Bogor on Thursday and Friday, even though the Parliament is refusing to consider minutes of the previous JBC meetings, secretary to the foreign minister, Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, said.

The JBC, which oversees land demarcation between Thailand and Cambodia, faced controversy when the parliament hesitated to consider the minutes of its previous three meetings. The lawmakers are still unclear on whether the minutes need to be passed before JBC meets again, while the Constitution Court refused last week to rule on the need of the Parliament to approve such documents. The issue is still pending.

To avoid legal consequences, no documents will be signed at the upcoming meeting, Chavanond said, adding that the officials would only review progress of the previous work and focus on topics that do not involve changes to the boundary. Basically, the meeting would discuss which agency should be put in charge of taking aerial photographs for boundary survey and demarcation, he said.

[Thailand's] Chavanont leaving for Indonesia [for JBC meeting preparation]

4/04/2011
Bangkok Post

Chavanont Intarakomalyasut, secretary to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, will leave for Indonesia on Wednesday, April 6, to prepare for the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) meeting in Bogor on April 7-8.

He will be accompanied by Asda Jayanam, the Thai chairman of the JBC, and other officials.

Mr Chavanont said the JBC meeting would be held as scheduled, even though the Thai parliament postponed consideration of the minutes of three previous JBC meetings.

The minutes of the three JBC meetings are not about the re-demarcation of the border, he added.

Cambodia softens stance on JBC meeting [-More Thai tricks to fool Hun Xen?]

Chavanond: Other items to be discussed

5/04/2011
Thanida Tansubhapol & Pradit Ruangdit
Bangkok Post

Thailand has successfully lobbied Cambodia to attend Joint Boundary Commission talks in Bogor, Indonesia, on April 7-8, despite the Thai parliament failing to approve three minutes on border demarcation.

The minutes arose from JBC meetings in 2008 and 2009.

"Phnom Penh softened its position after Thailand [successfully] lobbied it over the past week," Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to the foreign minister, said yesterday.

The parliament last week adjourned approval of the JBC documents due to a lack of a quorum.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had previously threatened that his country would no longer negotiate with Bangkok on border demarcation if the Thai parliament did not pass the three JBC documents.