On December 29, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul pledged to promote the border wall construction project with Cambodia, provided that his Bhumjaithai Party continues to hold power after the general election next year.
According to local media, Mr. Anutin - leader of the Bhumjaithai Party - said that the plan to build a wall along the Thai-Cambodian border and the policy of strengthening security forces will be maintained if this party wins the election scheduled to take place on February 8.
According to him, the cost of building the border fence will mainly be taken from the national defense budget, within the framework of the national security enhancement campaign.
Mr. Anutin emphasized this stance during a visit to Ta Kwai Temple and Hill 350 in Phanom Dong Rak district, Surin province - areas where serious clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers occurred before the two sides reached a ceasefire agreement on December 27.
The Thai military is expected to deploy the wall construction in stages, starting from areas without disputes, likely Pong Nam Ron district, Chanthaburi province.
The estimated cost is about 7 million baht (222,000 USD) per km, excluding the cost of building a patrol road behind the fence for security purposes.
In October, the Thai military also pledged to implement Princess Chulabhorn Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana's initiative, which builds a "Thailand-Cambodia border wall" to improve the safety of soldiers and people living in border areas.
