Thai traders at Rong Kluea Market in Sa Kaeo province protested earlier today, demanding that the Thai government and authorities urgently negotiate to resolve the border issue, as the current one-month border shutdown has caused businesses in the provinces bordering Cambodia to suffer losses exceeding $300 million.
According to Thailand’s NBT news outlet, dozens of Thai vendors and wholesalers protested at the market, calling on the government and relevant Thai authorities to “expedite negotiations to reach a swift resolution”.
The protest took place as Thai MP Rangsiman Rome conducted a two-day visit to border provinces. On July 7, he visited the Khlong Luek border checkpoint. Located near the market, it is adjacent to Cambodia’s Poipet checkpoint, in Banteay Meanchey province.
According to NBT, upon arriving at the market, Rangsiman was greeted by vendors who have been affected by the closure of the checkpoint, who told him that the border closure has caused them significant income losses.
The protestors carried a banner with a message for the Thai leadership.
“Your Excellency, we understand and respect you, but the people on the border are starving,” it read.
“Do you understand us? Why did this happen? Why don’t we fix it at the source? We trade with Vietnam and Cambodia. Are we going to let this collapse?” it added.
Rangsiman expressed support for those affected. While acknowledging that he lacks direct decision-making authority in this matter, he nonetheless pledged to do his utmost to relay their concerns to the government, said NBT.
A representative of the local businessmen revealed that the Sa Kaeo Chamber of Commerce estimated damages across Chong Chom, Chanthaburi, Trat, and Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaeo province at approximately 10 billion baht, equivalent to about $300 million.
In Aranyaprathet alone, over 1,000 businesses, both small and large, in sectors such as consumer goods, automotive and agriculture, have been affected. Most losses stem from pre-ordered goods, especially near-expiry food items and partially collectible debts, according to NBT.
Anan Ngamnityahong, an exporter of car tyres, noted that although his products have a long shelf life, the border closure has prevented him from meeting order quotas, leading to financial imbalances due to fixed costs such as electricity, water and labour. He called on the government to negotiate an urgent resolution.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Senate president Hun Sen have repeatedly stated that if Thailand undoes the unilateral border restrictions imposed by its military to the pre-June 7 status quo, Cambodia will follow suit.
