A LOT of Thais working at Cambodia’s Poipet border town, just opposite Rong Kluea market in Aranyaprathet subdistrict, Sa Kaeo province, rushed to pack their bags and cross back to Thailand after news spread that Ban Klong Luek border checkpoint would be closed at 2 p.m. today (June 7), Amarin TV said.
As a result, the immigration and baggage check units plus the joint checkpoint military control unit, manned on the Thai side by the 12th Ranger Regiment Control Unit, had to increase their staff after a large number of Thais carrying their belongings, including pets, flocked in to return to Thailand.
In particular officers of the 12th Ranger Regiment Control Unit had to answer questions whether the border checkpoint would actually be closed.
Thais working in Cambodia, particularly Poipet, said they have been following news closely after the clash in Chong Bok, Ubon Ratchathani province, on May 28.
They had been getting warnings everyday since the clash and this morning after Cambodians informed them that the border crossing would be closed at 2 p.m. they immediately informed their supervisors and packed their clothes to return to the Thai side.
Meanwhile, the Phnom Penh Post said today that Thailand has reportedly unilaterally closed the border crossings in Sa Kaeo province, with the Thai defence minister claiming that “all other efforts are exhausted”. The Thai province borders Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey and Battambang provinces.
In a notice to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Kim Sovanna, head of the Cambodia General Consulate in Sa Kaeo province said that this morning the consulate was notified of the closures by the Thai military.
“They reported that, effective from June 7, 2025, the border checkpoints and corridors between Thailand and Cambodia will be temporarily closed (unilaterally) pending negotiations regarding the Thai-Cambodian land border dispute,” he said.
“This follows Cambodia’s refusal to negotiate on four points — namely, the areas of Ta Moan Toch, Ta Moan Thom, Ta Krabei, and Mum Bei — during the upcoming June 14 plenary meeting of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC). Cambodia has demanded that Thailand resolve the issue at the International Court of Justice (ICJ),” he added.
According to Sovanna, the border checkpoints and corridors in other provinces along the Thai-Cambodian border will also be closed.
CAPTION:
Thais in Poipet flocking back to the Thai side today, June 7, 2025. Photos: Amarin TV
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