THERE was chaos at two key Thai-Cambodian checkpoints this morning (June 23) with motorcycles and all other two-wheeled vehicles forbidden from crossing over to the Thai side at one of them while Cambodians were unable to return to their homeland at the other, Amarin TV said.
Meanwhile Second Army Region Commander Lt. Gen. Boonsin Phadklang said after a meeting at the Defence Ministry that he is waiting to hear from Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra at a meeting of securities agencies today whether to further step up border control measures.
He confirmed that he does not intend to clash with Cambodians but if fighting breaks out or misunderstanding escalates further it is possible for the entire border to be closed.
He insisted that measures must be in place to control these crossings.
At Ban Klong Luek checkpoint, Aranyaprathet province, Sa Kaeo province, a new control measure forbidding motorcycles and all two-wheeled vehicles from crossing over from the Cambodian to the Thai side was imposed this morning leading to tension.
This action was taken in response to Cambodia now refusing to accept any oil and gas from Thailand.
Normally there is a large number of Cambodian workers riding motorcycles waiting to cross over to the Thai side but this morning none were around.
Cambodian officials came to negotiate, claiming they were not informed in advance while some workers voiced their dissatisfaction stating that they had to bring their vehicles to process their papers at Thai customs or face a fine.
Meanwhile at Chong Sa-ngam checkpoint in Si Sa Ket province Cambodian officials refused to let their citizens return home, chasing them away to other crossings with the latter then verbally abusing them.
The Thai side of the checkpoint opened a little late, at 8.20 a.m. rather than 8 a.m., with officials having to first check with the military whether there was any change on opening it.
Ms. Sareerot, a Cambodian from Siem Reap province, said three to four days ago she brought her sister to see a doctor on the Thai side. As her condition has improved, she came to the crossing to return home even though she had found out the Cambodian side was now closed, hoping that negotiations between the two countries would lead to those who had shown up to return but this was not the case.
She said she might now return via some other crossing or stay a while longer in Thailand.
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Ban Klong Luek and Chong Sa-ngam border checkpoints this morning, June 23, 2025. Photos: Amarin TV
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