Panel resumes border talks

The fifth meeting of the Thailand-Cambodia Joint Boundary Commission began in Bangkok yesterday, with a focus on demarcation issues and ways to avoid conflict.

This session will discuss demarcation of Area 5 along Surin province's border with Cambodia, from Border Markers 1 to 23. Delegates will also discuss the progress of aerial photography of the area, and the proposed establishment of new permanent border checkpoints by Cambodian authorities in Banteay Meanchey, across from Aranyaprathet district in Sa Kaew province, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Thanee Thongkhakdee.

Cambodian Senior Minister Var Kim Hong, also the Cambodian chairman of the JBC, led Cambodian delegates while the Thai side is led by Banthit Sothipalarit, the Thai chairman of the JBC. The Thai officials are from the Foreign Ministry and the Royal Thai Survey Department.

The meeting, which will also resume discussion of topics raised at the fourth session held in Indonesia, ends today. The two sides are scheduled to announce the results of the meeting at 2.30pm.