FOREIGN Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said during a visit to Sweden that the Nordic country is concerned about tensions along Thai-Cambodian border following the neighbouring country’s use of human shields and that he will raise this issue at a UN meeting in Geneva tomorrow, Naewna newspaper said this evening (Aug. 26).
Earlier Maris and Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson witnessed the signing of a contract for the sale of four Gripen fighter jets produced by Saab to Thailand.
ACM Punpakdee Patanakul, the Thai air force commander, signed the deal on behalf of Thailand.
Saab said in a separate statement that the value of the order, which includes three Gripen E jets and one Gripen F, as well as equipment, support and training, was around 5.3 billion crowns ($556 million) and deliveries would take place in 2025-2030, according to a Reuters report published by Yahoo!News
Thailand already has one squadron of Gripen C/D fighters.
In his discussion with Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard Maris mentioned that Cambodia’s use of civilians as shields as is happening at Ban Nong Chan, Sa Kaeo province, violates the UN Charter and worsens the border situation with Stenergard saying Sweden understood this.
Maris added that he personally believes local authorities must take precautions to prevent conflict as the involvement of civilians makes military operations difficult and could further exacerbate tensions.
“Tomorrow (Aug.27), I will have the opportunity to address a UN meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. I will raise this issue and express my concern that using civilians as a means of pressure, creating tension, or escalating border tensions is inappropriate and violates international agreements and international law,” Maris said.
Under the current circumstances the Thai ambassador cannot be sent back to Cambodia but Thailand is constantly monitoring the situation and as soon as there are some signs that Cambodia is sincere in resolving the border situation relations will gradually develop for the better, he said.
Maris emphasised that human shields are never used for protection and civilians should not be used to create problems while mentioning to the Swedish Foreign Minister that this creates a lack of trust.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page: Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa with his Swedish counterpart Maria Malmer Stenergard. Photo: Naewna
Insert: Thai and Swedish teams at the signing ceremony for the purchase of four Gripen fighter jets. Photo: NNT
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