Sa kaeo: The Royal Thai Army led a media team to the border area of Ban Nong Ya Kaeo in Sa Kaeo Province, where they discovered that Cambodians continue to stay at the site where clashes recently took place.
According to Thai News Agency, the Royal Thai Army Public Relations Center, during a visit to Ban Nong Ya Kaew, observed a significant number of Cambodians camped near the barbed wire fence, close to the site of the September 17th clash. This presence is believed to be a move to assert claims over Thai territory.
Colonel Chainarong Kasi, Commander of Task Force 12, clarified that Cambodians claim to have lived in the area for a long time; however, he asserted that the area within the blue triangle is unequivocally Thai territory, as per MOU 43. This memorandum indicates that only certain red and blue lines remain under negotiation. He emphasized that even if border markers are destroyed or moved, Thailand's borders remain unchanged.
Thai authorities are prepared to address any intrusion into the barbed wire fence with legal action, supported by police officers trained in riot control. The military's role is limited to assisting in breaches of the fence, with no weapons used to prevent further international incidents. Thailand has sent protest letters to Cambodia 12 times since 2008 and posted signs urging Cambodians to vacate the area, but Cambodia has not taken action. Thailand has reclaimed over 100 rai of Ban Nong Ya Kaew land from Cambodians, with approximately 35 rai still inhabited by Cambodians.
The situation ties into a broader context, with Kamnan Lee reportedly recruiting protesters, allegedly backed by higher-ranking figures who benefit from proximity to Chinese gray business groups and call center gangs expanding from Poipet. Despite conversations with Major General Choeng Tum, no agreement has been reached to prevent incitement.
Addressing local villagers' concerns about potential infiltration and traps, the commander of Task Force 12 reassured that the reclaimed areas are safe for farming. During the media's visit to Nong Ya Kaew, Thai villagers expressed support for the military and police by singing the Thai national anthem as a symbolic gesture.