The worrying message was relayed by Defence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit to his Cambodian counterpart Tea Seiha on two occasions, most recently on Sunday (Feb 22), reports the Bangkok Post.
“If the fires expand into Thailand, they could turn into border problems,” Gen Nattaphon told reporters yesterday.
The minister said undisciplined Cambodian soldiers started the fires in several spots along the border with Thailand’s northeastern provinces, and he questioned Phnom Penh’s sincerity in wanting to restore peace.
“If Cambodia wants to see peace, the bushfire problem should end. But Cambodia still does it, and another warning has been sent,” he added.
The Royal Thai Army posted details on Army Military Force, one of its Facebook pages, showing bushfires in several locations inside Cambodia, including immediately opposite Si Sa Ket and Surin provinces. It alleged that Cambodian soldiers were behind the blazes, which sent polluting smoke into Thailand.
The RTA believes Cambodian soldiers intentionally started the fires to provoke Thai soldiers, amid the fragile peace along the border following two rounds of deadly clashes last year.