(Kampong Chhnang): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet reaffirmed Cambodia’s firm stance regarding the reopening of border checkpoints with Thailand. Samdech Thipadei asserted that reopening the border is not a complicated issue, as the “key has already been handed to the Thai side.” The decision now rests with Thailand, and once Thailand reopens the border, Cambodia will reciprocate.
The premier spoke on Monday (Jul. 14) during the inauguration of achievements at the Royal Gendarmerie Training Centre (Phnom Chum Sen Reak Reay) in Kampong Chhnang Province.
Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet outlined three specific conditions for Thailand to meet in order for the full reopening of the border such as (1) Thailand must be the first to officially announce the reopening and guarantee that it will not unilaterally close the border again; (2) All border checkpoint must be reopened simultaneously, partial openings are unacceptable; (3)The border operations must return to the pre-7 June status quo, with standard operating hours from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
“Cambodia wants the simplest solution. We ask only three conditions. The key is already with Thailand. There’s no need for negotiations, just open the gates,” the premier underscored.
Once Thailand fulfils these three conditions, Cambodia will follow suit within a maximum of five hours, reopening all crossings. The premier emphasised that Cambodia never wished to close the borders but was compelled to respond to Thailand's repeated unilateral closures driven by its military forces.
The prime minister made it clear that Cambodia does not intend to engage in tit-for-tat tactics, such as arbitrarily opening or closing crossings. Cambodia understands the hardship such actions cause for citizens, but it affirms its right to respond to threats posed by Thai military movements.
Samdech Thipadei continued, “Cambodia wants a clear, permanent solution that ends Thailand’s use of border closures as a game or as leverage over the livelihoods of local communities. The issue of border disputes should not be resolved through such methods.”
Prime Minister Hun Manet concluded that any discussions on military coordination reforms can only take place once the border crossings are fully restored to their original state. He emphasised that Cambodia is not the party causing tensions and reiterated that the “key” to resolving the matter lies with Thailand. Cambodia, he added, reserves the right to use all necessary means to protect its territorial integrity.
=FRESH NEWS
