Thai Prime Minister who is being suspended from office Paetongtarn Shinawatra has spoken out about the fighting at the Thailand - Cambodia border, and said that Thailand will continue to resolutely respond.
In a sharing on July 24, Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra affirmed that Thailand always complies with international regulations but is currently forced to act. "We may have to take measures that we have previously tried to avoid," she said.
Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra added that although military retaliation is still an option, Thailand's main goal is always to avoid blood splashing.
On the same day, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura said that the country cannot completely cut off diplomatic relations with Cambodia at this time because that would mean closing down channels that help cool down border conflicts.
Maintaining a certain level of diplomatic relations is necessary to control the current tensions. "Cutting off all relations will reduce pressure from both sides and it will be difficult for the two countries to find a common voice for peace," he said.
For his part, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet called on the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency meeting after the Cambodia - Thailand border war.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has written a letter to current UN Security Council President Asim Iftikhar Ahmad - Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations - requesting an emergency meeting of the 15-member agency to discuss the conflict.
Mr. Hun Manet emphasized that military escalation with Thailand is taking place and Cambodia has a clear commitment to dialogue.
The last time an ASEAN country asked the UN Security Council to convene an emergency meeting on armed conflict with a neighbor was in February 2011.
At that time, Cambodia requested the 15-member agency to intervene in the border conflict with Thailand. That time, the battle involved the issue of Preah Vihear Temple, located on the border between the two countries. The Security Council called on both sides to exercise maximum restraint and ASEAN to play an active role in resolving the dispute.
The UN Security Council may approve Cambodia's request in the coming days.
Meanwhile, on the afternoon of July 24, Cambodian Information Minister Neth pheakta called on social media users to avoid sharing information, including unverified images or videos, especially images depicting military activities, warships, transferrals or weapons.
He said that the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Spokesperson of the Royal Government of Cambodia and senior leaders are 4 official sources.
On the afternoon of July 24, Thai Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said that 11 civilians and 1 Thai soldier were killed in the current conflict with Cambodia.
