“Big Dul” revealed that the Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces directly contacted the Myanmar counterpart and invited the military attaché to discuss concerns after Thailand was affected by clashes involving ethnic minority groups.
At 16:12 on 2 Nov 2026 at the Surasakmontri Command in Udon Thani province, General Adul Boonthamcharoen, Minister of Defence, spoke about the Thai-Myanmar border situation, noting that Thai people continue to be affected by ongoing conflicts. He said these are internal conflicts along the border. He and the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Armed Forces directly called the Myanmar Commander-in-Chief and invited the military attaché to express their concerns, receiving a positive response. Additionally, regional commanders and provincial officials have prepared support plans for affected residents. The situation appears to be easing somewhat but remains a domestic issue between Myanmar and ethnic minority groups.
Regarding relocating people to safe areas, General Adul said this decision lies with provincial governors, district chiefs, and the Third Army Region Commander, based on safety assessments in the area.
Acknowledgement of ongoing conflict along the Thai-Cambodian border
After inspecting the Ta Moeng Thom Temple in Surin province, General Adul acknowledged that conflicts persist but talks continue at government and Ministry of Defence levels. However, the Ministry has temporarily paused direct talks, allowing discussions through the Deputy Secretary of the Thai-Cambodian Regional Border Committee (RBC) and military channels. He noted that building understanding at the local level is key to implementing the Joint Statement. Without progress in the Joint Statement talks, other dialogue levels will not proceed, as government-level discussions have already taken place. He reassured the public of military readiness and urged them to trust official statements and communications from provincial authorities and military units, affirming that no significant cause for concern exists since military forces control key and occupied areas.
Regarding movements at Hill 642, where Cambodian troops attempted to climb up, General Adul said the Suranaree Task Force and the Second Army Region Commander have issued orders under rules of engagement, including talks and warning shots as initial alerts. He believes both sides understand each other, as morning discussions showed the situation remains fully under control. He said both sides are listening and the situation is manageable.
General Adul acknowledged existing concerns but emphasized commanders’ vigilance—from small arms platoon leaders to colonels in the area and task force commanders—who remain constantly prepared. He noted that given ongoing conflicts and awareness of neighboring countries’ conditions, readiness is essential.