PHNOM PENH — The Regional Border Committee (RBC) has no mandate to determine or alter the border line, Ek Sam Oun, commander of Cambodia’s 5th Military Region, told his Thai counterpart in response to a demand to evict Cambodian residents from the border area as a precondition to hold the planned talks.

Sam Oun issued this statement in a letter he wrote in response to a letter sent by Worayos Luangsuwan, commander of Thailand’s 1st Army Area and co-chair of the RBC on the Thai side.

The second extraordinary meeting of the RBC with representatives of the Cambodian and Thai military regions is set to be held on Oct. 10 in Banteay Meanchey province’s Poipet city.

In his letter dated Oct. 4 and released by Cambodia’s Ministry of Defence, Worayus said that he would agree to attend the RBC meeting on the condition that the Cambodian authorities prepares an eviction plan for the Cambodian civilians living in the contested border areas opposite Nong Chan Village and Nong Ya Kaeo Village in Thailand’s Khok Sung District, Sa Kaeo Province, and opposite Ta Phak Ya Village in Sa Kaeo Province’s Ta Phak Ya District. In his letter, Worayos Luangsuwan stipulates that Cambodia must submit its evacuation plan of these three areas to Thailand by Oct. 7.

In response, Sam Oun said that the proposed Oct. 10 RBC meeting between the two regional commands was consistent with the outcome of the 1st Special General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting and the first extraordinary RBC Meeting between the 5th Military Region and the 1st Army Area on Aug. 22.

Regarding Chok Chey and Prey Chan villages, which are situated along the border on the Cambodian side, Sam Oun said that any action must be carried out in accordance with the agreement reached at the 1st Special GBC meeting on Sept. 10, particularly point 8 of the Agreed Minutes, which recognized the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) as the mechanism to bring solution to issues related to joint survey and demarcation. 

Sam Oun pointed out in his statement said that the RBC at the regional level is only authorized to address local incidents, de-escalate tension, and resolve issues on the ground through peaceful means. “The RBC does not have the mandate or the authority to determine or alter the boundary line,” he said.

Sam Oun also mentioned the on-the-ground observations, which have clearly demonstrated that, in some areas, there are land occupation and use by Thai nationals on territory within Cambodian sovereignty. This situation underscores the complexity and sensitivity of resolving border issues, which must be addressed in full respect of the agreements and principles previously established and agreed upon by both sides, he said. 

“Cambodia remains committed to upholding the understandings reached between the two countries, including refraining from unilateral actions and awaiting the outcome of the JBC meeting regarding the case of Chok Chey and Prey Chan villages—including areas where Thai infrastructure has been constructed and Thai nationals are operating beyond existing border pillars,” Sam Oun said.

“Cambodia calls for the convening of the JBC meeting at the earliest possible opportunity to find a peaceful and mutually acceptable solution,” he stated.

Cambodia’s 5th Military Region also called for the full respect of the agreements reached at past meetings of the GBC and RBC while emphasizing the importance of creating an environment conducive to a peaceful resolution of the border issue including avoiding all actions that could affect the safety and livelihoods of people on both sides of the border, pending the decision made at the JBC meeting.