Cambodia: Cambodia closes Ban Laem border checkpoint, leveraging Chanthaburi's fruit season to export to Vietnam, which results in a large number of stranded trucks. The move is expected to pressure Thai business operators to urge their government to reopen the border. In response, security officials are proposing to draft a protest letter and potentially involve the international community.
According to Thai News Agency, the closure of the Ban Laem border crossing in Thep Nimit Subdistrict, Pong Nam Ron District, Chanthaburi Province, has been confirmed. The closure of this primary route has prevented vehicles, including trucks transporting Thai goods, from passing through, leading to a backlog on the Cambodian side. Trucks carrying Cambodians who crossed over to purchase goods in Thailand are also unable to return to Cambodia.
The most recent updates indicate that pickup trucks, trucks, and sidecars owned by Cambodians, meant to procure fruits and vegetables from Thailand for resale in Vietnam, remain stuck on the Thai side. However, the number of Thai trucks marooned on the Cambodian side is still uncertain.
The closure reportedly took advantage of the regular Friday goods transport from Thailand to Cambodia, aiming to damage Thai fruit and vegetable products without compensation. Security officials are now preparing to urge the government to submit a formal protest to the international community, arguing that Cambodia's actions have unfairly affected citizens uninvolved in governmental conflicts.
Officials from the Chanthaburi Provincial Commerce Office visited Ban Laem Checkpoint in Pong Nam Ron District to assess the situation. They found that while the border remains closed to vehicles, it is still open to the general public. Nearly all shops near the border have shuttered, resulting in a subdued trading environment. An estimated 120 goods vehicles are stranded on the Thai side, including those transporting consumer goods and fruits.
The closure is reportedly a strategic move by the Cambodian government to pressure Thai businessmen to expedite solutions for minimizing the border's closure duration. Cambodia is aware that Chanthaburi Province is currently exporting a significant volume of fruit products through Ban Laem to both Cambodia and Vietnam. Consequently, the commerce office has advised exporters to consider alternative checkpoints, like Ban Pakkat or Ban Sap Tari, for their shipments temporarily.