SA KAEO, Thailand – Thailand and Cambodia began a joint drone survey today to temporarily map and demarcate a disputed 13-kilometer section of their border, from Pillars 42 to 47, following an agreement reached on Tuesday.
The aerial survey started at 9:00 a.m. to acquire imagery for temporary border pillar placement, which will be followed by a joint ground survey along the claimed lines (Thai/blue and Cambodian/red).
The process aims to clarify encroachment issues in villages like Nong Ya Kaew and Nong Chan, where Thai officials estimate up to 134 rai (21.4 hectares) of land is affected by Cambodian settlement, depending on the boundary line used. Demining teams will clear the area before the ground survey.
Once completed, the data will be reported to both governments before being presented at the next Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) meeting. Residents found to be outside the agreed-upon boundary lines will eventually be asked or pushed to relocate.
Foreign Military Attachés Briefed
Concurrently, 20 foreign military attachés from 17 countries arrived in Sa Kaeo for a security briefing. The agenda included the border situation, joint demining efforts, and measures against scammers operating in Poipet, Cambodia.
Thai officials detailed new security measures, including installing 17.5 km of barbed wire in high-risk areas along the canals to prevent illegal crossings by Thais joining scam operations.
Thailand reiterated its commitment to peace, confirming that it will not take any unilateral action in the claimed areas until a formal joint agreement is reached. Following the briefing, the attachés were scheduled to inspect the border operations, demining sites, and the temporary demarcation work. (TNA)
