ISTANBUL
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Monday that Cambodia will not enter talks with Thailand on reopening their shared border unless Thailand reopens all crossing points first, the Khmer Times reported.
Manet accused Thailand of unilaterally closing the border gates and said any reopening must be led by Bangkok.
“I hereby announce that once Cambodia has closed the gates, we will not reopen selectively just because you decide to,” he said.
“The closure is permanent unless Thailand reopens all border points simultaneously, exactly as they were prior to June 7. Only then will Cambodia consider reopening. Let me make this very clear,” he added.
Manet noted that if Thailand reopens all border points, Cambodia would respond within five hours. Restoring normal operations would show goodwill and mutual trust.
However, the prime minister stressed that no dialogue would take place until Thailand makes the first move.
Thailand has shortened operating hours and closed some border checkpoints since June 7. In response, Cambodia delayed its opening hours by one hour and shut some crossings as well, according to Bangkok Post.
Thailand’s Second Army Region chief, Lt. Gen. Boonsin Padklang, said a full reopening would only follow a Regional Border Committee meeting to address concerns over military reinforcements.
Separately, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra vowed to tighten border controls and crack down on scam networks believed to operate from inside Cambodia.
Tensions have been escalating between the two Southeast Asian countries since May 28, when Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged gunfire along the border, resulting in the death of one Cambodian soldier.