[Thailand's] Defence ready for GBC meeting

Published: 2/12/2011
Bangkok Post

The Defence Ministry is ready for the next General Border Committee meeting with Cambodia, Defence Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa (pictured) said yesterday.

He said the ministry is working with Cambodia on scheduling the meeting which is expected to take place this month.

Gen Yutthasak said the meeting's framework has been discussed with the Foreign Ministry which would also join the Thai delegation to the GBC meeting in Cambodia.

The defence minister's comments followed a Cambodian news report the Cambodian defence ministry had sent an invitation to its Thai counterpart to attend the GBC meeting.

According to the news report by Cambodia's CEN news agency, the invitation, signed by Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh, was sent through the Thai ambassador to Cambodia on Tuesday. The meeting was scheduled for Dec 20-25 in Phnom Penh.

The International Court of Justice's order on the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia might be on the agenda, the report said.

Gen Yutthasak said Thailand is preparing to replace troops with border patrol police but this is not yet finalised. He suggested that each side deploy no more than 400 personnel.

He said even though the Thai troops would be withdrawn, they should be ready to support police.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdee said yesterday the framework for the next GBC meeting has been finalised and is awaiting the prime minister's approval.

Mr Thani also said Thai authorities are working with their Cambodian counterparts to send a Thai medical team to examine the health of yellow shirt activist Veera Somkwamkid, who is in a Phnom Penh jail for illegal entry and espionage, as he is suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

Veera was hospitalised after his condition worsened.