Thai ruling party courts voters by vowing to end Cambodia conflict, close scam hubs

Thailand’s ruling party, which is seeking to retain power in next month’s election, has vowed to resolve the country’s conflict with Cambodia and clean up its image as a transit hub for trafficked scam victims.The conservative Bhumjaithai Party, which took power in September, has cast itself as the most suitable defender of Thai sovereignty during the border dispute between the two Southeast Asian countries. Clashes erupted for five days last July and reignited in December before a ceasefire.If it returns to power after the February 8 vote, Bhumjaithai will maintain its stance to protect Thailand’s sovereignty while seeking to restore ties with Cambodia to reopen borders and resume trade, according to Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Thailand’s foreign minister. He is the party’s second prime ministerial candidate after incumbent leader Anutin Charnvirakul.But Sihasak warned that such progress was conditional on the December 27 ceasefire holding, allowing the two countries to withdraw heavy weapons from the border areas as well as cooperate on landmine removal and scam crackdowns.“We are determined to protect our sovereignty, our territorial integrity,” Sihasak said in an interview late on Friday.“I’m hoping that we will be able to put the conflict behind us soon, build up confidence and trust and move forward with our relationship. But this is still a very delicate period where we have to avoid all acts of provocation.”