2 days ago
Thailand 'unexpectedly' shuts border to tourists, leaves thousands stranded
Thailand has closed two border crossings to tourists amid tensions with Cambodia following a deadly clash on May 28 in the disputed Emerald Triangle region. Both countries agreed to reposition troops to reduce conflict and plan further talks on June 14. Cambodia will file a complaint with the International Court of Justice over the border dispute, which Thailand does not fully recognise.
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Thailand has shut two of its border crossings to tourists as a "safety measure" amid ongoing tensions with its neighbour, Cambodia. The 'unexpected' move left thousands of people stranded, as per a report by the Bangkok decision comes after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a short military skirmish on May 28 in the Emerald Triangle, the region where the borders of the two neighbouring countries and Laos countries on Sunday reached an agreement to reposition their troops in the disputed border area. There has been sporadic violence on the Thai-Cambodian frontier since 2008, resulting in at least 28 disputes in recent days over border controls and troops, the two sides met Sunday and agreed to reposition their soldiers. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said she had spoken to the Cambodian government and talks had reached a "positive conclusion"."Both parties have agreed to jointly adjust military forces at points of conflict to reduce the atmosphere of confrontation," she wrote on discussions were due on June 14, the prime minister added. Cambodia's defence ministry said the two militaries met and "decided to adjust forces of both sides, to return to appropriate positions to reduce confrontations".Influential former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen said adjusting forces through "mutual understanding" was "essential to avoid large-scale violent clashes".Thailand and Cambodia have long been at odds over their more than 800-kilometre-long (500-mile) border, which was largely drawn during the French occupation of Indochina. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Monday the kingdom would file a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the border ICJ ruled in 2013 that the disputed area belonged to Cambodia, but Thailand says it does not accept the ICJ's jurisdiction.
