Joint teams to border ahead of GBC

24 May, 2011
Source: Bangkok Post

Three joint survey teams comprising members from Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia will examine the disputed area on the Thai-Cambodian border ahead of the General Border Committee (GBC) meeting, defence spokesman Col Thanathip Sawangsaeng said on Tuesday.

Col Thanathip said this was agreed on by the defence ministers of Thailand and Cambodia at the Asean Defence Ministers Meeting in Jakartar, Indonesia, earlier this month.

Each of the three teams will comprise three officials - one Thai and one representative each from the Cambodian and Indonesian embassies. It had not yet been decided when they will go or how they will be deployed, he said.

All nine members of the three teams will be civilians and be unarmed.

The examination of the disputed area by the survey teams will lead to the 8th GBC meeting between Thailand and Cambodia.

The teams are not part of the terms of reference (TOR) for the planned positioning of the Indonesian Observers Team to the disputed area, Col Thanathip said.

Details of the observer team's assignment may be discussed during the GBC meeting, he added.