Sa kaeo: Cambodian villagers compelled Thai soldiers to dismantle barriers at the Ban Nong Chan border crossing in Khok Sung District, highlighting ongoing tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border.
According to Thai News Agency, the incident unfolded when Thai soldiers used concertina wire and car tires to obstruct the route to Cambodia at the Ban Nong Chan crossing. In response, Cambodian soldiers enlisted Khmer villagers to act as shields, pressuring the Thai soldiers to remove the obstructions. The Thai soldiers, however, refused, asserting that the area is sovereign Thai territory, which nearly escalated into a chaotic situation as tensions rose among the villagers.
Cambodian soldiers attempted to garner international sympathy by showing ASEAN soldiers a video of two Cambodians pleading for leniency while surveying the border area. The clip depicted the disputed region from the Ta Phraya-Bueng Takuan relaxation point to Khok Sung District and Ban Nong Chan. Cambodia contends that Thai soldiers have encroached on its heritage farmland, which has been a cause of concern for local Thais who believe Cambodians are occupying what they consider Thai territory.
A temporary inspection team, including representatives from seven ASEAN countries-Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam-visited the area to assess the situation. The team aimed to investigate Cambodia's claims that Thai soldiers are causing significant hardship by blocking the village crossing and encroaching on Cambodian territory.
In a related development, the Ministry of Interior announced an extension for Cambodian workers to continue working in Thailand. The Royal Gazette website published an announcement allowing Cambodian workers, under specific conditions, to remain working in the Kingdom for an additional six months. These workers are required to report to immigration officials within 15 days of the announcement's publication and subsequently every 30 days.