Thailand denies Thaksin-Cambodia secret deal on Gulf territory

The Government of Thailand firmly denied allegations that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra orchestrated a clandestine agreement with Cambodia’s previous leader, Hun Sen, concerning contested maritime territories in the Gulf of Thailand. Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai dismissed these claims, emphasising that no such deal could occur without official involvement.

“There is no such deal whatsoever. How can anyone who has no official role reach any deal?”

The formation of the Joint Technical Committee (JTC) to address the overlapping claims area (OCA) is still pending under the 2001 memorandum of understanding (MoU).

This committee will be established after Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra returns to Thailand following the APEC summit in Peru, scheduled for November 10-16.

Phumtham, who also serves as a deputy prime minister, noted that the Foreign Affairs Ministry will oversee the JTC’s formation, which will comprise officials from various relevant agencies, including the Royal Thai Navy’s Hydrographic Department and legal experts.

The Pheu Thai-led administration’s initiative to rekindle negotiations with Cambodia has faced scepticism, primarily due to the close ties between Thaksin and Hun Sen. The latter’s visit to Bangkok earlier this year heightened concerns about the MoU.

Koh Kut

On November 9, Thaksin addressed the situation, urging that his relationship with Cambodia should not be linked to the MoU.

“The two matters should never be linked because they are different things.”

Phumtham assured that tourism on Koh Kut has stabilised after the government clarified that negotiations over the OCA would not impact Thailand’s territorial claims on the island in Trat. Initially, hotel bookings on the island plummeted by 30% but the situation has improved following government reassurances.

During a visit to Koh Kut on November 9, Phumtham aimed to reassure residents of Thailand’s sovereignty over the island. He emphasised that local officials and navy personnel are committed to safeguarding the area.

Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul also led a delegation to Koh Kut to affirm Thailand’s territorial claims. He referenced the French-Siamese treaty of 1907, which confirmed Koh Kut as part of Thailand. Under this treaty, the French ceded the Dan Sai and Trat territories to Siam, including all islands south of Laem Ling, such as Koh Kut.

Anutin reiterated that the 2001 MoU remains the framework for JTC discussions on the OCA boundaries with Cambodia. Should both nations agree on joint development, their respective parliaments must endorse the agreement.

Maritime border

“We don’t want to waste time worrying about things that will never happen. It is now focusing on how to improve the local economy.”

Thailand and Cambodia both lay claim to the resource-rich OCA, which spans approximately 26,000 square kilometres in the Gulf of Thailand. The 2001 MoU, established during Thaksin’s administration, aimed to jointly develop sections of the OCA and establish a maritime border.

It specified that maritime border demarcation and joint development should be an indivisible package, with a Thailand-Cambodia JTC to facilitate discussions.

Despite several discussions since the MoU’s inception, progress has stalled, primarily due to both sides’ reluctance to concede territorial claims, reported Bangkok Post.

In addition to the Palang Pracharath Party, Warong Dechgitvigrom, chairman of the Thai Pakdee Party, is campaigning for the revocation of the 2001 MoU, seeking 100,000 signatures to support the initiative.