ADDRESSING PUBLIC ANGER
Landmines were not the only incidents inflaming Thai sentiment, said Sihasak.
He pointed to the clash between the two countries’ militaries in July, where Cambodia allegedly launched artillery fire into civilian sites in Thailand, causing a number of civilian deaths.
“What we have to bear in mind as we try to go forward with the implementation of the accord … is public sentiments,” he said. “Being a democracy … we have to take (into) consideration the feeling of the public.”
Still, Sihasak said Thailand is “committed to the implementation – faithful implementation – of the joint declaration”, as long as Cambodia accepts accountability.
“We hope that the Cambodian side will recognise how important it is for them to take responsibility for what happened,” he said. “Up to now, they haven’t taken responsibility.
“If they keep evading the facts … then what do we do? We want to move on. They need to move on. They need to take responsibility for what has happened, and then we can move on.”
He acknowledged the rising nationalist sentiment in Thailand over the border dispute.
“These kinds of sentiments are normal when you have a situation like this. We hope that, as we move forward, as we try to get things back on track, the public will have a better understanding.”
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/thailand-cambodia-peace-deal-landmines-foreign-minister-5563666
