
Army seals border with Cambodia, closes border temple ruins
Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang signed his order on Wednesday for the closure of the border and the ancient temples from Thursday onward, citing as the reason Cambodia's 'inhumane act' and violation of sovereignty and the Ottawa Treaty by its attacks with landmines.
The regional army chief wrote that landmines had been laid in Thai border areas near Chong Bok and Chong An Ma crossings of Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani province and their explosions seriously injured Thai soldiers.
The act was 'grave threat to peace and stability along the border of both countries,' the commander's order read.
His order prohibits border crossing by all kinds of vehicles, people, trade and tourists and Ta Muen Thom and Ta Kwai temple ruins are closed for 'security system improvement'.
Lt Gen Boonsin wrote that the closure order was aimed at protecting Thailand's sovereignty and territory and the safety of Thai citizens' life and properties and at expressing opposition to the use of anti-personnel landmines.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Bangkok Post
6 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Thailand accuses Cambodia of 'flagrant violation' of truce
BANGKOK - Thailand accused Cambodia on Wednesday of a "flagrant violation" of a truce deal to end cross-border fighting, saying Cambodian troops launched an overnight attack on the frontier. The nations agreed a ceasefire starting Tuesday after five days of clashes killed at least 43 on both sides, as a long-standing dispute over contested border temples boiled over into open combat on their 800-kilometre (500-mile) frontier. But Thailand's foreign ministry said its troops in Sisaket province "came under attack by small arms fire and grenade assaults launched by Cambodian forces" in an offensive which continued until Wednesday morning. "This represents a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement," said a foreign ministry statement. Thai government spokesman Jirayu Huangsab also reported overnight clashes but said in a statement "the Thai side maintained control of the situation" and "general conditions along the border are reported to be normal" from 8:00 am (0100 GMT). Cambodia has previously denied breaking the truce, designed to end fighting which has seen the two countries evacuate a total of more than 300,000 people from the border region. An AFP journalist on the Cambodian side who heard a steady drumbeat of artillery fire since fighting began last Thursday reported hearing no blasts between the start of the truce and Wednesday morning. - 'Still fragile' - The armistice got off to a shaky start in the early hours of Tuesday, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of continuing attacks in "a clear attempt to undermine mutual trust" -- before peace generally prevailed. Meetings between rival commanders along the border -- scheduled as part of the pact -- went ahead, with Thailand's army saying de-escalation steps were agreed including "a halt on troop reinforcements or movements that could lead to misunderstandings". But later in the day a foreign affairs spokeswoman for Bangkok's border crisis centre, Maratee Nalita Andamo, warned: "In this moment, in the early days of the ceasefire, the situation is still fragile". Jets, rockets and artillery have killed at least 15 Thai troops and 15 Thai civilians, while Cambodia has confirmed only eight civilian and five military deaths. The flare-up has surpassed the death toll of 28 in violence that raged sporadically from 2008 to 2011 over the territory, claimed by both nations because of a vague demarcation made by Cambodia's French colonial administrators in 1907. The peace pact was sealed in Malaysia after intervention from US President Donald Trump -- who both Thailand and Cambodia are courting for a trade deal to avert his threat of eye-watering tariffs.

Bangkok Post
7 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Protests lodged as ceasefire pact broken
Thailand lodged diplomatic protests against Cambodia on Tuesday for violating their ceasefire agreement, Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said. He said the protests were submitted to the prime minister of Malaysia, in his capacity as Asean chair, and to the United States and China, which are serving as observers in the Thai-Cambodian border dispute. The move followed reports that Cambodian forces continued firing along the border despite the ceasefire agreement reached on July 28. The agreement was intended to halt all hostilities as of midnight on July 29. While declining to disclose the contents of the letters, Mr Maris said the Thai government had lodged protests against Cambodia under available frameworks, including its use of anti-personnel landmines banned under the Ottawa Convention. He said Thailand also addressed the United Nations Security Council and affirmed that it exercised its legitimate right to respond to violations of its sovereignty with restraint and within the bounds of international law. Cambodia broke truce: RTA The Royal Thai Army (RTA) on Tuesday accused and condemned Cambodia of intentionally breaking the ceasefire agreement, which took effect at midnight, by firing shots at many Thai locations afterwards. The RTA said in a statement that Cambodia, after midnight, opened fire at Thai locations in the Chong Arn Ma, Chong Bok, Prasat Ta Kwai, Phu Makheu and Sam Tae areas. "That shows an intention to violate the (ceasefire) agreement and ruin a mutual trust system. The army condemns the act," said RTA spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree. Thailand took retaliatory measures in accordance with its right to self-defence, he said. He said Thailand did not invade anywhere. It was blocking incursions and protecting its sovereignty in compliance with international rules. Thailand complied with the ceasefire agreement as it stopped firing immediately at midnight, Maj Gen Winthai said. Col Richa Suksuwanon, deputy army spokesperson, said the RTA received reports from the Suranaree Task Force of renewed hostilities during the early hours of July 29. According to these reports, shortly after the ceasefire was supposed to take effect, Cambodian troops launched provocations in the Phu Makheu area of Si Sa Ket, prompting retaliatory fire from Thai troops. The exchange of gunfire continued into the morning. A similar confrontation occurred in the Sam Tae area of Kantharalak district, also in Si Sa Ket, where gunfire reportedly lasted until 5.30am, said Col Richa, adding Cambodian forces also fired explosives throughout the night. In Surin province, the 2nd Army Region reported explosions near the Ta Kwai temple ruins in Phanom Dong Rak district at 3am and again at 5am. Video footage taken by military personnel at 6.29am on Tuesday appeared to capture ongoing gunfire in the background, further corroborating the reported clashes. 11 key sites secured: TCBSAC RAdm Surasan Kongsiri, spokesman for the Thai-Cambodian Border Situation Administration Centre (TCBSAC), said Thai forces had secured 11 key locations along the Thai-Cambodian border as of Tuesday morning. They were Phu Makheu, Chong Arn Ma, Ta Muean Thom, Prasat Ta Kwai, Chong Bok, Don Tuan, Sattasom, Chong Chom, Chong Sai Ta Ku in Ban Kruat district of Buri Ram, Preah Vihear and Phran Yao. He said the conflict resulted in the displacement of over 188,000 civilians, 15 civilian deaths, 12 critically injured, 13 moderately injured and 13 with minor injuries. RAdm Surasan said the TCBSAC also condemned Cambodia for using ancient ruins as shields, and the act was a violation of Unesco guidelines. The 2nd Army Region Tuesday detained 18 surrendering Cambodian soldiers following the clash in the Samtae area of Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket and upheld humanitarian principles for the care and medical treatment of wounded personnel. Maj Gen Winthai said the incident occurred after Cambodia employed heavy and other weapons, firing into Thai territory. The Thai side deployed the Cavalry Battalion Task Force to conduct counter-operations and clear Cambodian positions. Containing damage: Phumtham Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai blamed the breach of the ceasefire agreement on poor communication or a lack of discipline from the Cambodian side. He said the unconditional ceasefire was agreed to allow for the conflict resolution process to continue, and discussions will be conducted under the bilateral mechanisms of the Regional Border Committee (RBC) and the General Border Committee (GBC). Mr Phumtham said the army's proposal at the July 28 meeting was accepted in principle.

Bangkok Post
9 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
188,000 evacuees urged to stay in shelters
The Interior Ministry has reported there are now 188,000 evacuees across seven Thai-Cambodian border provinces, as authorities urged residents to stay in shelters pending official safety clearance. Interior permanent secretary Unsit Sampuntharat said a total of 188,734 people have been evacuated to 770 shelters in seven provinces bordering Cambodia due to the recent border skirmishes. In Si Sa Ket, there are 82,021 people in 435 shelters; Surin has 55,898 in 130 shelters; Buri Ram has 24,480 in 112 shelters; Ubon Ratchathani has 21,838 in 68 shelters; Sa Kaeo has 2,652 in 13 shelters; Trat has 1,621 in eight shelters; and Chanthaburi has 224 in four shelters. Mr Unsit said he had been instructed by acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai to order all provincial governors and district chiefs to communicate clearly with evacuees that they must remain in designated shelters until official clearance is issued regarding their safety. Authorities were also told to provide sufficient supplies of food, drinking water, and daily necessities to evacuees. Donation centres have been opened in affected provinces to receive aid from the public to support those in need. "Once the security agencies confirm it is safe to return, the government will coordinate with relevant agencies to assist citizens in returning to their homes," Mr Unsit added. Meanwhile, at the Ban Laem and Ban Phak Kad checkpoints in Pong Nam Ron district, Chanthaburi, thousands of Cambodian nationals have continued to cross the border back into Cambodia, citing uncertainty about the security situation, despite the ceasefire agreement between Thai and Cambodian forces. Although the daily volume of returnees has decreased, many Cambodians are still lining up each day to return home. The Ban Laem checkpoint opened as usual at 9am, with regular immigration and special processing lanes operating smoothly. At the Ban Phak Kad checkpoint, the number of crossings dropped from several thousand the previous day to only a few hundred Tuesday. One Cambodian worker said that while his hometown was closer to Ban Laem, he chose to cross at Ban Phak Kad to avoid overcrowding. He welcomed the ceasefire efforts but remained unconvinced they would last. Also Tuesday, the Election Commission voted to postpone indefinitely the by-election for Constituency 5 in Si Sa Ket, scheduled for Aug 10.