BANGKOK, Thailand – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Phumtham Wechayachai, expressed concerns about a group of Cambodian citizens singing a patriotic song at the Ta Muen Thom Temple, located in Surin province, Thailand, on February 17. The temple, which sits on a disputed area between Thailand and Cambodia, is often visited by Cambodians for religious purposes, but the recent symbolic act of singing a national anthem raised concerns.
Phumtham stated that while the area is still disputed, with no clear demarcation of borders, Thailand allows Cambodian citizens to visit and pay respects to the temple. However, the act of singing a song or performing symbolic gestures in the area made Thai authorities uncomfortable, particularly as it could be seen as an attempt to assert a territorial claim. The Thai military commander has already lodged a formal protest, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, currently in communication with Beijing, will follow up with diplomatic channels.
In response to questions about the involvement of a senior Cambodian military officer’s wife, Phumtham clarified that the protest applies to all individuals, regardless of their status. He emphasized that the government prefers to avoid such incidents escalating into conflicts, and the protest was an expression of Thailand’s stance on preserving peace and understanding between the two nations.
In a related development, Lt.Gen. Boonsin Padklang, Commander of the 2nd Army, confirmed that a group of Cambodian soldiers had attempted to sing their national anthem at the Ta Muen Thom Temple, which led to a confrontation with Thai forces. He warned that the act could potentially be used in the future to support territorial claims and has urged Cambodia’s military leadership to avoid such behavior.
The Thai military has also communicated this protest through the Thailand-Cambodia Regional Border Committee (RBC), calling for an end to inappropriate conduct at the disputed site.
The situation has since de-escalated, with Thai forces taking appropriate action to ensure the preservation of peace and respect for the existing border agreements between the two nations.
