Thailand and Cambodia seek to ease simmering border tensions

(Reuters)

BANGKOK/PHNOM PENH, June 14 – Thai and Cambodian officials met on Saturday to try to ease tensions amid fears of military clashes after a long-running territorial dispute reignited, leading both countries to mobilise troops on the border.

The two neighbours share an 820-km (510-mile) land border, parts of which are undemarcated and include ancient temples that both sides have contested for decades. The latest standoff followed a brief skirmish on May 28 that left a Cambodian soldier dead.

“The Thai government hopes to use the platform to resolve the situation peacefully,” Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted about the meeting on her Facebook page on Friday.

The row comes at a challenging time for Thailand’s government, which is losing popularity in prolonged struggle to spur economic growth. Paetongtarn’s administration is under pressure to take a tougher stand on Cambodia, accompanied by initially strong rhetoric from the Thai military.

Despite both countries pledging dialogue to handle the issue and to calm nationalist fervour, Bangkok has threatened to close the border and cut off electricity supplies to its neighbour.