Thailand awaits Cambodia's decision on next GBC meeting

BANGKOK, March 29 (TNA) - Thai Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-o-cha said on Tuesday that the Thai military is awaiting a decision from its Cambodian counterpart on where should be the venue of the next Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC).

General Prayuth revealed that Thai Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and his Cambodian counterpart General Tea Banh are discussing and trying to conclude an agreed venue for the next GBC meeting.

Thailand has publicly announced its clear position on holding the next GBC bilaterally with Cambodia; while Phnom Penh has said the next Thai-Cambodian GBC should be held in a third country, namely Indonesia. According to the Thai defence minister, the Thai-Cambodian GBC is tasked with talks on border security between Thai and Cambodian military leaders; while the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) focuses on government-level-agenda.

In the meantime, General Prawit said that he has instructed the commanding general of Thailand's second army command area to fortify bunkers in areas at risk in Kantaralak District of Thailand's northeastern Si Sa Ket Province bordering Cambodia and to repair local villagers' houses damaged by clashes earlier this year between Thai and Cambodian troops under a five-million-baht project sponsored by the Government Lottery Office (GLO). The Thai defence minister affirmed, however, that sound relations remain between the Thai and Cambodian militaries. (TNA)