Tensions over border disputes had sharply escalated in July throughout a five-day battle between the neighbouring international locations.
Revealed On 29 Sep 2025
Thailand’s new prime minister has stated his authorities will suggest a referendum to deal with an ongoing dispute with its neighbour, Cambodia, over a demarcation settlement.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul advised reporters on Monday that “in an effort to keep away from additional battle”, the federal government will push for a vote on whether or not Thailand ought to revoke the present memorandum of understanding on border points with Cambodia.
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Thailand and Cambodia have lengthy argued over undemarcated factors alongside their 817km (508-mile) land border, however tensions sharply escalated in July throughout a five-day battle. The combating ended after a ceasefire was brokered by Malaysia on July 28.
Within the worst combating between the 2 international locations in a decade, a minimum of 48 folks had been killed and tons of of 1000’s had been briefly displaced.
However for years, the 2 international locations have relied on an settlement, signed in 2000, which units out the framework for joint survey and demarcation of the land boundary.
In one other settlement in 2001, it supplied a framework for cooperation and potential useful resource sharing in maritime areas claimed by each international locations.
Nevertheless, in Thailand, the agreements have come underneath public scrutiny over the previous decade, particularly following the most recent clashes.
In accordance with Charnvirakul, the brand new referendum would supply a transparent mandate on the matter of the agreements.
Panitan Wattanayagorn, a political scientist at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn College, cautioned in opposition to the revocation of the agreements as fixing the difficulty.
“Their revocation will not be a direct resolution to the battle between Thailand and Cambodia, as a result of it may create a vacuum,” he advised the Reuters information company.
“The federal government should clarify what is going to substitute them, and this must be agreed by Cambodia as nicely,” he stated.
On the similar time, Charnvirakul additionally pledged in his inaugural speech in Parliament to deal with the nation’s economic system and push for a brand new and extra democratic structure as he faces a self-imposed deadline to name for elections in 4 months.
