At least 100 Cambodian villagers gathered at the border opposite two villages in Sa Kaeo province on Friday to protest as Thai soldiers prepared to clear landmines ahead of an operation to push back encroachers.
The Royal Thai Army said on Facebook that Cambodian villagers and reporters assembled near Ban Nong Ya Kaeo and Ban Nong Chan in Khok Sung district around 9.30am, shortly before Thai soldiers arrived to begin mine-sweeping operations. The effort is part of a plan to remove Cambodian settlers from areas inside the two Thai villages.
Authorities said 135 Cambodian households have illegally occupied parts of Ban Nong Chan, with another 35 in Ban Nong Ya Kaeo. They have been ordered to leave immediately.
Ban Nong Ya Kaeo faces Cambodia’s Prey Chan village, while Ban Nong Chan lies across from Chouk Chey village, both in Banteay Meanchey province.
Officials are awaiting approval from the National Security Council (NSC), which met Friday morning to decide whether to proceed with the army’s plan targeting the Cambodian settlers in the two villages and another at Ban Ta Phraya in Ta Phraya district. The number of Cambodians living in Ban Ta Phraya remains unclear.
Tensions along the eastern border have risen since Oct 1, when Thailand’s First Army Region informed Cambodia’s Fifth Army Region of the mine-clearing plan to be conducted by the Burapha Task Force. Cambodia has objected, saying the move violates a peace pledge made by the two countries’ defence ministers during last month’s General Border Committee meeting.
Meanwhile, a convoy of trucks carrying shipping containers – sponsored by social activist ‘Gun Jompalang’ as part of a controversial initiative to reinforce border security – has arrived at the Thai-Cambodian border at the Thai-Cambodian border in Ban Nong Chan, Khok Sung distict of Sa Kaeo.
The first batch, consisting of 20 trucks transporting 40 containers, reached the parking area of the Aranyaprathet district customs office before 10am on Friday after departing from Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri early this morning. An additional 20 containers are expected to arrive on Saturday.
Guntouch Pongpaiboonwet, also known as Gun Jompalang, said he took pride in contributing to national security. The initiative had been planned long in advance and was awaiting the right moment for deployment, he added.
The containers would be installed in a classified military zone and are intended to serve as a temporary barrier following operations to push back Cambodian nationals from disputed areas.
Mr Guntouch said that waiting for a permanent fence would take too long, and claimed the containers were a million percent stronger than concrete walls.