Thailand’s new PM vows to tackle Cambodia border conflict, economic woes | Border Disputes News

Tensions over border disputes had sharply escalated in July throughout a five-day battle between the neighbouring international locations.

Thailand’s new prime minister has mentioned his authorities will suggest a referendum to deal with an ongoing dispute with its neighbour, Cambodia, over a demarcation settlement.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul informed reporters on Monday that “to be able to keep away from additional battle”, the federal government will push for a vote on whether or not Thailand ought to revoke the present memorandum of understanding on border points with Cambodia.

Thailand and Cambodia have lengthy argued over undemarcated factors alongside their 817km (508-mile) land border, however tensions sharply escalated in July throughout a five-day battle. The combating ended after a ceasefire was brokered by Malaysia on July 28.

Within the worst combating between the 2 international locations in a decade, at the very least 48 individuals had been killed and a whole bunch of 1000’s had been briefly displaced.

However for years, the 2 international locations have relied on an settlement, signed in 2000, which units out the framework for joint survey and demarcation of the land boundary.

In one other settlement in 2001, it offered a framework for cooperation and potential useful resource sharing in maritime areas claimed by each international locations.

Nonetheless, in Thailand, the agreements have come beneath public scrutiny over the previous decade, particularly following the most recent clashes.

In keeping with Charnvirakul, the brand new referendum would supply a transparent mandate on the matter of the agreements.

Panitan Wattanayagorn, a political scientist at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn College, cautioned in opposition to the revocation of the agreements as fixing the difficulty.

“Their revocation might not be a direct answer to the battle between Thailand and Cambodia, as a result of it might create a vacuum,” he informed the Reuters information company.

“The federal government should clarify what’s going to exchange them, and this needs to be agreed by Cambodia as nicely,” he mentioned.

On the similar time, Charnvirakul additionally pledged in his inaugural speech in Parliament to deal with the nation’s financial system and push for a brand new and extra democratic structure as he faces a self-imposed deadline to name for elections in 4 months.