(Ratanakiri): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet appealed to the Cambodian public not to allow the issue surrounding the Emerald Triangle area to escalate into an ethnic conflict, stressing that such a situation would be detrimental to the nation.
The premier spoke on Saturday (Jun. 7) at the inauguration of school buildings and achievements in the education sector in Ratanakiri Province.
The premier noted that although some Thai extremists have called for the expulsion of Cambodian workers and a boycott of trade with Cambodians, these appeals have not been acted upon.
Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet stated that not all Thai citizens harbour hostility toward Cambodians. He pointed out that while Bangkok has a population of over five million people, only about 200 extremists took part in protests outside the Cambodian Embassy—highlighting that this number is a small minority. Cambodia has already experienced the dangers of ethnic tensions, notably in 2001, when false information sparked outrage that led to the burning of the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh.
Prime Minister Hun Manet stressed that issues related to borders must be left to experts and the government to resolve.
He further explained: “Border issues should be addressed as border issues. Trust the government and our armed forces to resolve any incidents at the scene. If we allow these issues to escalate into a broader ethnic conflict, it will spread nationwide, leading to arrests and deportations on both sides. We need to preserve stability, solidarity, and friendship. If something happens, we will resolve it. So, I urge everyone to remain calm and trust in the Royal Government. We will use technical mechanisms, international legal channels, and if necessary, our armed forces to protect the nation’s territorial integrity. Do not turn this into a conflict on Facebook that spirals into physical violence.”
Samdech Thipadei continued, “In Thailand, there are extremists calling for Cambodians to be expelled and for shops to stop selling to Cambodians. But does everyone in Bangkok follow them? No! These people are just a minority. However, if Cambodians and Thais start clashing with each other, it will become something else entirely—a real problem.”
Currently, the Cambodian government has decided to take the Cambodia–Thailand border issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in an effort to resolve the dispute peacefully. Cambodia has committed to accepting the ICJ’s decision, regardless of the outcome.
=FRESH NEWS
