By Thai Newsroom Reporters
CONCRETE WALLS may be built along the perimeters of Thailand’s territory which shares a border with Cambodia to literally bar any intruders on a permanent basis, Palang Pracharath leader Prawit Wongsuwan advised today (July 29).
The former deputy prime minister-cum-defence minister who was once an army chief suggested that concrete walls be built along the ultimate terrains of the disputed border areas in Thailand to literally keep the Cambodians from invading Thai territory.
Prawit’s proposed, peaceful defence measure refers to the disputed border areas in Thailand’s northeastern and eastern provinces namely Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket, Surin, Buriram, Sakaeo, Chanthaburi and Trat where fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces has occurred over the last five days and could possibly be repeated at any time.
The clashes mostly occurred in Pumakhua area in Kantharalak district of Sisaket and Tamuenthom and Takhwai areas in Panom Dongrak district of Surin across the border from Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey in Cambodia.
Twelve Thai army soldiers have been killed due to the border clashes which broke out last Thursday (July 24) including a few fatalities on the Thai army side reported after ceasefire had been agreed upon by both sides, albeit to no avail.
An estimated 138,000 Thai civilians who had been evacuated from red zones in those border provinces were not yet allowed to return home despite the ceasefire.
CAPTIONS:
Top: The American-Mexican border wall, with some construction still ongoing. Photo by Greg Bulla on Unsplash
Front Page: Border wall between the United States and Mexico in El Paso, Texas. Photo by Levi Meir Clancy on Unsplash
Insert: Palang Pracharath leader Prawit Wongsuwan. Photo: Thai Rath
Also read: Thai, Cambodian army commanders reach seven-point agreement
Army slams Cambodia for violating ceasefire
Gripen jets used in real combat for the first time ever by Thai air force
Nine Thai army troops killed until ceasefire today
Thailand, Cambodia agree to immediate and unconditional ceasefire
