Hotline to link up Cambodia

The Thai and Cambodian defence forces will open a hotline to hasten bilateral cooperation, the joint border meeting in Cambodia decided yesterday.

The hotline will enable the two sides to establish rapid communication at both the decision-making and operation levels, said Defence Ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantrawanit.

It was among agreements reached at the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) meeting in Siem Reap, attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, who represented the Thai armed forces, and his Cambodian counterparts.

Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh said bilateral relations were at their most cordial in many years and pledged to work to maintain the strong ties. He said he agreed with the move to establish closer contact via the hotline.

Maj Gen Kongcheep said military cooperation on border affairs also extends to economic developments to uplift the quality of life for both peoples, and an exchange of education activities.

Gen Tea Banh said he appreciated Thailand’s efforts to take care of border issues and set policies to provide labour protection for migrant workers, many of whom are Cambodians.

The meeting was briefed on peacekeeping missions and operations on the common border.

Signs of progress included the convenience of border crossings, trans-border labour agreements and the battle against drugs trafficking, the military said.

The Thai side said cooperation in the areas of border patrol and surveillance, farming, public health and culture also was making headway.

In particular, exchanges of cultural and sporting activities have continued regularly, in addition to joint border disaster relief training between officials.

Cambodian officials have also visited the Thai side to tour royally-initiated farm projects and the sufficiency economy model.

Thai-Cambodian authorities, meanwhile, have increased cooperation in the “white communities” border project marked by the setting up of the Border Peacekeeping Committee co-chaired by the supreme commanders of the two countries.

The project aims to fight the spread of illegal drugs trafficked across the border.