Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, in his phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, stated that Cambodia had violated the Joint Declaration by starting its attacks killing Thai civilians and damaging property and that Thailand needed to defend the lives of its people and protect its sovereignty.

Prime Minister Anutin on the night of 12 December spoke to the media after holding his phone talks with President Trump on Thai-Cambodian border clashes, with Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun also present.

He said that the U.S. President had expressed hope that the situation would return to the conditions contained in the Joint Declaration previously signed by Thailand and Cambodia in Malaysia, and said that the U.S. would not use trade tariffs to link with the Thai-Cambodian border situation.

The Prime Minister explained that Thailand had followed all conditions in the Joint Declaration, while Cambodia violated them, leaving Thailand with no choice but to defend its people and protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity from Cambodian attacks.

He stressed that Thailand did not initiate aggression but only responded; he also said that President Trump wanted to see a ceasefire. In this regard, the Prime Minister asked the U.S. President to convey the message to Cambodia that Cambodia must tell the world that it would cease fire, withdraw its forces, and clear all landmines it has laid.

He said that the ASEAN Observer Team confirmed evidence of the facts regarding the laying of new landmines by Cambodia, which have killed and injured Thai soldiers. This clearly shows that Cambodia has breached the agreement in the Joint Declaration; therefore, Cambodia must resolve it,  because it would not be right for the attacked party to do so.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the Government would not tolerate attacks on the Thai people and violations of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.