Thai Navy Chief Confirms Border Wall Construction

CHANTHABURI, Oct 9 (TNA) - Thailand's navy chief has ordered an operation to reclaim all Thai territory along the Cambodian border in Chanthaburi and Trat provinces, vowing not to surrender "even an inch" of land. 

This comes as the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) confirms it will move ahead with constructing a border fence between boundary markers 52 and 58, a measure approved by the national security council and agreed upon by both countries in that specific section. 

RTN spokesperson Rear Admiral Parach Rattanachaiphan noted the fence is crucial for security, aiming to halt cross-border crime, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration. 

Simultaneously, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul addressed foreign mediation in the border dispute, stating that while he acknowledged the good intent of figures like U.S. President Donald Trump, he would only allow talks if Cambodia first met four strict preconditions: the withdrawal of all military forces, removal of landmines and weapons, departure of all encroachers, and verification that all threats to Thailand have been removed. 

Separately, security remains a top concern, with the Burapha Force conducting drone surveillance ahead of an October 10 deadline set by the Sa Kaeo governor for Cambodian nationals encroaching on Thai territory to leave the area, with officials currently on high alert despite finding no mass concentrations of people yesterday. -819  (TNA)