RTN chief assures Thailand’s waters are in good hands on Koh Kut

Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Chief Jirapol Wongwit touched down on the picturesque island of Koh Kut, Trat province, bringing with him a message of unwavering commitment: Thailand’s national interests and sovereign waters are in safe hands. His mission? To boost the morale of the RTN’s brave men and women posted at the nation’s eastern maritime frontier.

Jirapol laid it out straight: the navy’s top job is safeguarding the country’s watery borders, just as the government decrees. He reinforced the fleet’s pledge to uphold Thailand’s sovereignty and guarantee security in these vital regions.

While on Koh Kut, Jirapol donned his inspector’s cap, scrutinising the conditions in which his personnel live and work, checking out their gear, and ensuring robust communication lines between the island and command central in Bangkok. True, they’ve made operational leaps, but hurdles like water and power infrastructure still need ironing out.

Concerns were afloat regarding a maritime spat with neighbouring Cambodia, but Jirapol was quick to calm the waters. The shared waters, known as the Overlapping Claims Area (OCA), are serene, with fishermen from both nations happily netting their catches without any drama.

When quizzed about resource-sharing talks with Cambodia, Jirapol kept it crisp and clear: that’s a job for the government suits.

“The navy is doing its best to safeguard the nation’s sovereign territory and maritime resources. The two countries aren’t in conflict over the OCA.”

The spotlight turned sharp recently on the 2001 memorandum of understanding (MoU) about the OCA, sparking a fiery domestic debate. Saknarong Siriporn Na Rajasima of the Thai Sang Thai Party voiced fears that this MoU, allowing resource sharing, might underhandedly nod to Cambodia’s claims, even suggesting ownership of Koh Kut—a move, he insists, clearly crossing international law lines.

Wary of losing their ground, Saknarong demanded a halt on any resource-sharing deals until there’s a fresh marquee on maritime boundaries, ditching the 2001 MoU he slams as a Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf faux pas, reported Bangkok Post.

In response to the fuss kicked up by the Palang Pracharath Party, the government shut down rumours of any chit-chats with Cambodia, casting a suspicious eye on the party’s motives.

Meanwhile, in a move to steady the ship, Pheu Thai Party’s Noppadon Pattama, a list MP and ex-foreign affairs chief, brushed off the brouhaha.

Rest easy: the island of Koh Kut is rightfully Thailand’s, thanks to the Siam-France Treaty and no one’s about to hand it over to Cambodia.