[Thailand's] Prawit: GBC must be bilateral

Published: 24/03/2011
Bangkok

The next General Border Committee (GBC) meeting must be between Thailand and Cambodia only, without a third party, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon (pictured) reaffirmed on Thursday.

Gen Prawit said he had personally discussed this matter with Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh.

Moreover, the Thai Defence Ministry had sent a letter to his Cambodian counterpart, asking it to call a GBC meeting as soon as possible so that the military leaders of the two countries can together discuss border problems.

The GBC is co-chaired by the defence ministers of Thailand and Cambodia. It is separate from the Joint Border Commission (JBC), under the Foreign Ministry.

Gen Prawit said he believed Cambodia would not postpone the meeting again and that a date would be agreed upon soon.

He said Cambodia was supposed to host the 8th GBC meeting this year. But if Cambodia was not ready, Thailand would be willing to host it, he added.

At the next GBC meeting the two sides would discuss problems in implementing agreements over the disputed border area, security along the border, illegal labour, drug smuggling and other crime, he said.

Gen Prawit today chaired a meeting of the Defence Council.

The meeting was attended by Gen Kittipong Ketkowit, the permanent secretary for defence, Gen Songkitti Jakkabatara, the supreme commander, Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, the army commander in chief, Adm Kamthorn Phumhiran, the navy chief, and ACM Ithaporn Suphawong, the air force chief, who are also members of the GBC.

Col Thanathip Sawngsaeng, the defence spokesman, said Gen Prawit reaffirmed to the meeting that the GBC must be bilateral without the presence of representatives from Indonesia or any other third countries.

"We will not go to Indonesia. The meeting must be held in either Thailand or Cambodia only. However, there would be no problems if Indonesia wants to come as a listener," he quoted Gen Prawit as saying.

On the Joint Border Commission meeting, Col Thanathip said this is a matter for the foreign ministries of the two countries to jointly agbree on a nmeeting and venue.