Cambodia has given the Thai military one day to reopen or lift the unilateral restrictions on border checkpoints that were imposed following recent border tensions. If they are not fully opened by tomorrow morning, June 17, Cambodia will ban the import of Thai fruits and vegetables.
In a special address on the morning of June 16, Senate president Hun Sen explained that he had attempted to ease tensions by holding phone negotiations with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
However, he noted that the Thai military unilaterally decided to close checkpoints or tighten border crossings and threatened to cut off other services.
“If Thailand does not agree to reopen the checkpoints to their regular schedule, tomorrow we will begin implementing measures across the border, banning the import of fruits and vegetables into Cambodia. At this time, Cambodia does not need to import anything,” he said.
“Thai citizens should protest against their own military because it was them who closed the border, not the Khmer. I ask our Thai brothers and sisters not to be angry with Cambodia, as this is the result of the Thai military’s violation of the law,” he added.
Cambodia earlier responded to Thai threats to cut off internet and electricity supplies by cutting them off themselves and closing the Doung International border checkpoint in Battambang province. The crossing is a key trade route linking Thailand and Vietnam, with the road seeing hundreds of trucks transporting goods to Vietnam daily.
Hun Sen noted that it will be very easy for Thailand to resolve the issue. All it has to do is announce the lifting of border restriction orders.
He emphasised that “the possibility of banning Thai goods from entering Cambodia is high if the border is not reopened for normal operations”. Cambodia may turn to goods from other countries and completely cut off reliance on Thailand, he noted.
He also reiterated his calls for Cambodian citizens working in Thailand to consider returning, as he believed the border issue will not be resolved quickly, particularly after Cambodia requested that the International Court of Justice (IJC) help to resolve issues concerning the Emerald Triangle area and the Ta Moan Tauch, Ta Moan Thom and Ta Krabei temples.
Hun Sen warned that Cambodian workers may face discrimination from Thai soldiers or Thai extremist groups. He added that Khmer medical patients or students in Thailand should also think about returning to Cambodia, where the government will explore ways to assist them.
He noted that if Thailand has not violated international law or attempted to seize Cambodian territory, it should support Cambodia’s June 15 submission to the IJC, while noting that the issue of the four areas cannot be resolved bilaterally, and adding that Cambodia does not recognise Thailand’s unilaterally drawn map.
According to the Senate president, the latest developments at the border indicate that the Thai military wants to wage war with Cambodia, something Cambodia does not desire but will respond to in reality, as it has “sufficient military strength”.
Despite this provocation, he called on Cambodian citizens not to engage in extremist acts like those committed by Thai citizens in recent days. Protests were staged in front of the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok, led by former yellow-shirt protest leader Sondhi Limthongkul.
