Senator Noppadol Inna, chairman of the Senate’s committee studying the pros and cons of scrapping the two agreements, said the panel voted in December to recommend scrapping the latter pact.
Sen Noppadol said the committee had invited agencies, including the 1st Army Area and 2nd Army Area, to provide information following recent Thai-Cambodian border clashes, reports the Bangkok Post.
Based on those briefings, he said Thailand had recovered almost all of the 15 disputed areas previously occupied by Cambodia, a factor that would weigh heavily in the committee’s decision on MoU 43.
He said the panel agreed Thailand should no longer return to Cambodia areas previously discussed under the General Border Committee (GBC) framework, arguing they had been encroached upon for at least 30 years. He cited disputed sites such as Nong Chan and Nong Ya Kaeo in Sa Kaeo.
After gathering information from state agencies and conducting site visits in all seven affected border provinces, Sen Noppadol said the committee hoped its resolution would best serve the national interest.
Once the committee reaches a decision, the matter will be sent to the full Senate, which may issue additional recommendations before forwarding it to the Cabinet for consideration.
Sen Noppadol said the committee’s earlier recommendation to revoke MoU 44 could not be submitted previously because it coincided with the dissolution of the House of Representatives. He added it would be beneficial if both proposals could now be sent together.
Responding to concerns that revoking the agreements could weaken Thailand’s position internationally, Sen Noppadol said bilateral means such as the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), GBC and Regional Border Committee (RBC) would remain in place even without the two MoUs.
“The continued clashes show the existence of these MoUs has not reduced conflict,” he said.
Rear Adm Parach Rattanachaipan said the navy’s Humanitarian Mine Action Unit is continuing mine-clearing operations in Muang district of Trat, including Ban Chamrak, Ban Nong Ri and Ban Tha Sen, all of which have seen clashes recently.
He said a large number of landmines remain and are consistent with Cambodian mines from past fighting.