Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand regarding the unprovoked armed attacks by Cambodian troops at the Thai-Cambodia border on 22April 2011
With regard to the unprovoked armed attacks on 22 April 2011 by Cambodian troops on Thai soldiers and civilians, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand wishes to state the following facts:
1. From 06.30-07.00 hours of 22 April 2011, Cambodian troops opened fire and launched heavy weapons, including mortars and artillery, without any provocation, into the area of Ta Kwai Temple and along the Thai-Cambodian border towards Ta Muen Temples, situated in Surin Province, Thailand. The Cambodian troops launched these attacks after a Thai Military Patrol Unit encountered armed Cambodian soldiers constructing bunkers in the area of Ta Kwai temple in Thai territory and informed the Cambodian side that such acts clearly violate Thai sovereignty.
2. At 08.00 hours, a discussion was held by the commanders of both local forces during which a ceasefire was agreed. However, at 08.30 hours, the Cambodian side restarted the firing of mortars and artillery into Thai territory, constituting a breach of the aforementioned agreement. The said exchange of fire lasted until 09.35 hours.
3. These unprovoked armed attacks by Cambodian troops caused at least the death of three Thai soldiers, the injury of many soldiers, as well as the destruction of many civilian buildings and evacuation of nearly 10,000 civilians.
4. The Thai side has never opened fire first and has always exercised maximum restraint. However in light of Cambodia’s actions, Thailand was left with no choice but to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity by using proportionate means under international law.
5. Thailand protest in the strongest terms the unprovoked armed attacks of Cambodia on both Thai military and civilians, and the construction of the bunkers which is a clear violation of international law, the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Thailand and the Government of Cambodia on the Survey and Demarcation of Land Boundary. Thailand has exercised its inherent right of self-defence on the basis of necessity, proportionality and strictly directed at military targets from where the attacks were launched by Cambodian troops.
6. Thailand reaffirms its commitment to resolve any pending boundary issues peacefully and calls on Cambodia to resolve the dispute through the existing bilateral mechanisms including the General Border Committee (known as GBC), Regional Border Committee (sub-committee under the GBC), known as RBC, and the Thai Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (known as JBC). As a matter of fact, Thailand discussed with Cambodia on the work in relation to survey and demarcation in the area around the Ta Kwai temple during the Meeting of the JBC at Bogor City, Indonesia, on 7-8 April 2011. The Record of Discussion of the said Meeting, which states that Thailand expressed its desire and readiness to commence survey work in Sector 5 (the area where Ta Kwai temple is located), demonstrates sincerity of the Thai side to solve the boundary issues through peaceful means under the JBC mechanism. In this regard, the Ministry of Defence of Thailand is in the process of consultation with the Cambodian counterpart with a view to convening the GBC and RBC meetings soonest.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th