Thailand bans tourists from entering Cambodia as military closes crossings
Thailand has significantly restricted movement across its border with Cambodia, with its military closing crossings to nearly all travellers, including tourists and traders. The drastic measure comes amid heightened security concerns and escalating tensions stemming from a long-standing border dispute between the two Southeast Asian nations.
Relations between Bangkok and Phnom Penh have sharply deteriorated following an armed confrontation on May 28, which resulted in the death of one Cambodian soldier in a relatively small, contested territory. Despite both sides having agreed to de-escalate the dispute, a series of ongoing or threatened actions continue to keep tensions high.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra confirmed on Monday that Thailand would intensify screening at land borders and prevent tourists from departing the country. She stated that only students, medical patients, and individuals needing to purchase essential goods would be permitted to enter or leave Thailand. While the Prime Minister indicated the measures were primarily aimed at curbing travel to Cambodia's "lucrative casinos," the directive appears to effectively block all tourists.
The Thai army said in a statement later Monday that it had implemented the measures at every land border checkpoint between Thailand and Cambodia in five provinces, and that it was stopping all crossings except for people with essential needs.
Cambodia, for its part, has boycotted some Thai internet services, and blocked electricity and fuel supplies from Thailand in response to the border dispute. Prior to the boycott, Cambodia imported 30% of its gasoline and other fuel from Thailand.
Paetongtarn also said Monday that Thailand will consider blocking exports that could facilitate scam operations in Cambodia and will coordinate with other countries and international agencies to crack down on cybercrime based in Southeast Asia.
Thailand earlier this year implemented measures aimed at cracking down on online scam operations in neighboring Myanmar, severing electricity, internet and gas supplies to border towns where the scams were based.
Paetongtarn's comments suggested Thailand would soon impose similar measures aimed at similar scam operations in Cambodia.
An April U.N. report named Cambodia as a hub for scam operations in which workers go online to lure victims through false romantic ploys, bogus investment pitches and illegal gambling schemes.
Paetongtarn has been attacked over her perceived soft stance toward Cambodia, especially by right-wing nationalists who are longtime foes of her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
A phone call leaked last week between Paetongtarn and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, the former prime minister who ruled Cambodia over four decades, sparked outrage and calls for Paetongtarn's resignation.
Critics said she tried to appease Hun Sen, a longtime friend of her father, and made Thailand look weak by calling a Thai army commander in charge of the disputed border area as "an opponent." Several nationalist activist groups have planned a rally this week to demand Paetongtarn's resignation.
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The Independent
7 hours ago
- The Independent
Cambodia accuses Thailand of escalating tensions with new land crossing restrictions
Cambodia's government on Tuesday accused Thailand of escalating border tensions by imposing new restrictions that have blocked almost all land crossings, especially for tourists heading into Cambodia. Relations between the neighbors have deteriorated following an armed confrontation on May 28 in which one Cambodian soldier was killed in a relatively small, contested territory along their border. While the two sides have agreed to de-escalate their dispute, they have continued to implement or threaten measures that have kept tensions high. The Thai army on Monday imposed heightened restrictions at border checkpoints with Cambodia following an order from Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to allow only students, medical patients and others with essential needs to enter or leave Thailand. That also makes it impossible for thousands of tourists to cross between the two countries. Pen Bona, a spokesperson of the Cambodian government, said Tuesday that Cambodia has committed to resolve the conflict through diplomatic channels, but tensions have soared because of Thailand's actions. 'The Cambodian government has already stated that we will not initiate any border closure,' and that it will also lift restrictions if Thailand does so first, he said. Cambodia has boycotted some Thai internet services, banned Thai fruits and vegetables, and blocked electricity and fuel supplies from Thailand in response to the border dispute. Prior to the boycott, Cambodia imported 30% of its gasoline and other fuel from Thailand. Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet on Monday visited troops at the border and a temporary shelter for thousands of civilians who were evacuated from the area. He said that while Cambodia doesn't want war, 'we cannot stand by and let us be abused.' In addition to border restrictions, Paetongtarn also announced measures targeting online scam operations in Cambodia. They include blocking exports that could facilitate such activities in Cambodia and coordination with other countries and international agencies to crack down on cybercrime based in Southeast Asia. Pen Bona said that while he recognized that Cambodia "is being exploited by online scammers,' many such operations are also based in Thailand. 'This is a very shameful thing that is happening in Thailand, but they are trying to divert the story from Thailand to Cambodia,' he said. Thailand earlier this year implemented measures to crack down on online scam operations in neighboring Myanmar, severing electricity, internet and gas supplies to border towns where the syndicates were based.
Reuters
9 hours ago
- Reuters
Over 200 foreigners rescued from scam centres still stranded along Thai-Myanmar border
June 24 (Reuters) - More than 200 foreign nationals rescued from scam centres in eastern Myanmar remain stranded along the war-torn country's border with Thailand, according to a local rebel group overseeing their repatriation. For years criminal networks have trafficked hundreds of thousands of people to scam compounds across Southeast Asia, including many along the Thai-Myanmar border, where victims are forced to work in illegal online schemes, according to the United Nations. Karen National Army, a rebel group that claims to have repatriated more than 8,000 foreign nationals after rescuing them from scam centres in Myanmar's Myawaddy area in recent months, said it was currently housing 216 people, including citizens of Vietnam, China, the Philippines, and Indonesia. "We are giving food and medical supplies to these people," KNA spokesperson Naing Maung Zaw told Reuters on Tuesday. "Some are even pregnant, and we are providing health care for them." Since February, Thailand has halted electricity, internet, and fuel supplies to five Myanmar border areas, including Myawaddy, in a bid to disrupt the scam centres, which have become an escalating regional security concern. Two residents of Myawaddy, which lies across from the Thai town of Mae Sot, said that there hasn't been any electricity supplied from Thailand for months. Power supplied by the Myanmar government has not been stable, leaving much of the settlement - and the scam centres surrounding it - reliant on generators, they said. Thailand's embattled Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on Monday that her administration was planning to curtail electricity supplies to illegal operations in Cambodia, following a sharp decline in relations between the neighbours. "After we cut electricity and water to Myanmar, the number of complaints dropped significantly," Paetongtarn told reporters. "We've since learned that the criminal activity has moved from Myanmar to Cambodia." The Cambodian government denies the allegations. International pressure to shut down the scam centres intensified following the abduction of Chinese actor Wang Xing, who was kidnapped after arriving in Thailand in January. He was later rescued by Thai police, who located him across the border in Myanmar. Criminal networks, mainly emanating from China, are known to run several of these scam centres, including those in the Myawaddy region, according to the United States Institute of Peace.
The Independent
10 hours ago
- The Independent
Thailand bans tourists from entering Cambodia as military closes crossings
Thailand has significantly restricted movement across its border with Cambodia, with its military closing crossings to nearly all travellers, including tourists and traders. The drastic measure comes amid heightened security concerns and escalating tensions stemming from a long-standing border dispute between the two Southeast Asian nations. Relations between Bangkok and Phnom Penh have sharply deteriorated following an armed confrontation on May 28, which resulted in the death of one Cambodian soldier in a relatively small, contested territory. Despite both sides having agreed to de-escalate the dispute, a series of ongoing or threatened actions continue to keep tensions high. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra confirmed on Monday that Thailand would intensify screening at land borders and prevent tourists from departing the country. She stated that only students, medical patients, and individuals needing to purchase essential goods would be permitted to enter or leave Thailand. While the Prime Minister indicated the measures were primarily aimed at curbing travel to Cambodia's "lucrative casinos," the directive appears to effectively block all tourists. The Thai army said in a statement later Monday that it had implemented the measures at every land border checkpoint between Thailand and Cambodia in five provinces, and that it was stopping all crossings except for people with essential needs. Cambodia, for its part, has boycotted some Thai internet services, and blocked electricity and fuel supplies from Thailand in response to the border dispute. Prior to the boycott, Cambodia imported 30% of its gasoline and other fuel from Thailand. Paetongtarn also said Monday that Thailand will consider blocking exports that could facilitate scam operations in Cambodia and will coordinate with other countries and international agencies to crack down on cybercrime based in Southeast Asia. Thailand earlier this year implemented measures aimed at cracking down on online scam operations in neighboring Myanmar, severing electricity, internet and gas supplies to border towns where the scams were based. Paetongtarn's comments suggested Thailand would soon impose similar measures aimed at similar scam operations in Cambodia. An April U.N. report named Cambodia as a hub for scam operations in which workers go online to lure victims through false romantic ploys, bogus investment pitches and illegal gambling schemes. Paetongtarn has been attacked over her perceived soft stance toward Cambodia, especially by right-wing nationalists who are longtime foes of her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. A phone call leaked last week between Paetongtarn and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, the former prime minister who ruled Cambodia over four decades, sparked outrage and calls for Paetongtarn's resignation. Critics said she tried to appease Hun Sen, a longtime friend of her father, and made Thailand look weak by calling a Thai army commander in charge of the disputed border area as "an opponent." Several nationalist activist groups have planned a rally this week to demand Paetongtarn's resignation.
