The Minister of Defense guarantees that 'Uncle John' will return to Thailand without any exchange conditions, crediting the 2nd Army Region Commander for swift coordination and expressing confidence it will positively influence bilateral negotiations.
On 15 May 2026 at Rajamangala University of Technology Isan (RMUTI) in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Lieutenant General Adul Boonthamcharoen, Minister of Defense, together with Lieutenant General Weerayut Raksin, Commander of the 2nd Army Region, jointly announced the success of the case involving the Cambodian authorities repatriating Mr. John Sainoi, a Thai citizen who was arrested while collecting forest products near the border, back to Thailand. They stated this event was the result of excellent cooperation between the governments and militaries of both countries.
Lieutenant General Adul revealed that as soon as the incident was known, the 2nd Army Region quickly coordinated on the ground, leading to today's release. He said this is a good sign for building trust and reducing conflicts along the border. He confirmed that this repatriation involved no exchange conditions at either the military or government level, and there are currently no plans to open additional border checkpoints. Everything remains strictly in accordance with the Joint Statement. He also emphasized that although relations are smooth, the Thai military remains fully prepared to defend sovereignty and adhere to disciplined engagement rules.
The Minister of Defense also spoke about progress in bilateral negotiations, stating that if the cooperative atmosphere continues, mechanisms such as the General Border Committee (GBC) at the Ministry of Defense level, the Regional Border Committee (RBC), and the Joint Border Commission (JBC) will be actively pursued. He views that security mechanisms can operate simultaneously with foreign affairs efforts immediately.
Lieutenant General Adul confirmed that an important next goal is to expand from small-scale cooperation to regional missions, such as combating scammer networks and implementing ceasefire agreements to achieve sustainable peace along the border. He urged the public to trust the military’s work and rely on official government information to prevent confusion from occasional border incidents caused by local troop skirmishes, which are normal and require special operational caution.