Royal Thai Army Col. Udomek
Seetabut and Cambodian 5th Sector commander, Lt. Gen. Bun Seng, jointly sign
a memorandum between Thailand and Cambodia.
Manoon Makpol
Thailand and Cambodia will designate 64 villages along
their mutual border as drug-free zones in an attempt to curtail cross-border
drug trafficking.
Royal Thai Army Col. Udomek Seetabut and Cambodian 5th
Sector commander, Lt. Gen. Bun Seng announced the anti-drug plan at the 19th
General Border Committee meeting Sept. 21-23 in Jomtien.
The semi-annual meeting also saw an agreement to expand
Thailand’s royally sponsored “To Be No. 1” program to Cambodia and an
affirmation of efforts to bring cross-border trade into compliance with the
ASEAN Free Trade Agreement and crack down on shady tour operators.
The meeting continued both sides’ recent focus on curbing
drug and smuggling across the border. The latest plan to focus on cleaning
up border-area villages is the boldest move yet. Both sides said they plan
to create “white villages” that are drug-free and focus on increasing
employment and education to discourage drug use.
Both sides would also establish To Be No. 1 “friends
corners” in villages to create a network among border-zone youths and offer
activities that offer an alternative to drug use. The To Be No. 1
organization was established by HRH Princess Ubolratana and stages dance
contests, music competitions and other activities around Thailand to keep
kids off drugs.
Udomek and Bun said the two sides will also continue
promoting the benefits of trade under AFTA in preparation for establishment
of the ASEAN trade bloc in 2015. Customs agents will begin subjecting
agricultural products to AFTA’s certification and inspection of origin
requirements.
Finally, Thai and Cambodian officials promised to toughen
inspection of tour operators and unlicensed tour guides to prevent fraud and
exploitation of tourists.
