Thailand's military has closed border crossings into Cambodia to almost all travellers, including tourists and traders, as tensions escalate over a longstanding territorial dispute. All vehicles and travellers, both Thai and foreigners, will be prohibited from crossing into Cambodia across seven provinces, according to statements by Thailand's army and navy.
Tensions between Cambodia and Thailand have soared since May when troops briefly exchanged fire at a contested area of the border, killing a Cambodian soldier. The incident has led to tit-for-tat actions by both governments, and rising nationalism on either side of the border.
Thailand's prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is facing a political crisis over the handling of the dispute, said on Monday that screening at land borders would be increased, and exemptions would be made only in some cases such as patients requiring medical treatment, or students travelling for education. The latest border closures follow a series of retaliatory measures imposed by both governments, including Cambodia banning Thai films, cutting internet bandwidth, and suspending fruit, vegetable, gas and fuel imports from Thailand.
Paetongtarn is facing calls to resign over her handling of the dispute, and has been accused of failing to take a tough stance against the former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. Last week, a phone call between her and Hun Sen was leaked, in which she criticised a senior Thai military commander and told Hun Sen she would 'take care of it' if he wanted anything. The call infuriated her family's longstanding enemies in the military, and was cited by one of her government's coalition partners as a reason for its departure from government.
On Monday, Paetongtarn said Thailand would consider blocking exports to Cambodia that could be used by criminal gangs running scam operations, and would work with others in the region to crack down on cybercrime. The border crossing closures cover the provinces of Ubon Ratchathani, Surin, Buriram, Sri Sa Ket, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi and Trat.
