The overlapping claim area covers about 26,000 square kilometres in the Gulf, including the Kut Island, half of which was claimed by Cambodia when it unilaterally drew the maritime border line. Cambodia and Thailand, during the administration of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra two decades ago, signed a memorandum, known as MOU44, as a framework for joint development of oil and gas in the overlapping claim area.

Pairat said that an average of 300,000 tourists visit Kut island each year, generating substantial revenue for Trat province, adding that Kut Island was badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and he does not want to see anything else hurt tourism on the island.
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He insisted that Kut Island is in Thai territory, in accordance with the treaty signed between Siam (the previous name of Thailand) and France over 100 years ago.

He also claimed that there is no conflict between Thailand and Cambodia over Kut Island, adding that the Navy will protect Thailand’s territorial sovereignty.

The government's position over the Koh Kut island dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has been subjected to a smear campaign, said Noppadon Pattama, a Pheu Thai Party list MP.

He warned against anyone spreading false information claiming Thailand had lost the island in Trat under a memorandum of understanding signed with Cambodia in 2001.

"Koh Kut still belongs to Thailand. That's a fact. No one has ceded the island to Cambodia. I have never heard Cambodia assert territorial claims over Koh Kut," said Mr Noppadon, a former foreign minister.

"Stop spreading lies that Thailand has lost the island. The government is duty-bound to protect Thai territory, and no one is allowed to cede any land."

Pichit Chaimongkol, leader of the Network of Students and People Reforming Thailand, posted on Facebook that the group will hold a rally in front of Government House on Tuesday to oppose any attempt to cede territory on Koh Kut island in Trat to Cambodia.

"The Pheu Thai-led government said we will not lose Koh Kut. Can we believe them?" he wrote.

Meanwhile, Supitnattha Rangkatekaew, a member of the Vocational Student Group Protecting the Monarchy, said the group will hold a gathering on Saturday in front of the provincial hall in Trat's Muang district to inform the public about the Koh Kut dispute.

However, Koh Kut district chief Phairat Soysang warned against demonstrations on the island itself, noting that protests could harm tourism, which is a primary source of income for local communities.