Bangkok: Eastern forces have arrested Chinese and Cambodian nationals who illegally crossed the border through a natural border crossing. Meanwhile, Sa Kaeo Immigration confirmed that the Khlong Luek checkpoint remains fully closed and has cancelled the concessionary channel for stranded Thais and Cambodians.
According to Thai News Agency, there have been rumors circulating on social media about the Khlong Luek border checkpoint in Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province, opening a concession lane. This lane was meant to allow Cambodians stranded in Thailand and Thais stranded in Cambodia to return to their hometowns, operating only on Wednesdays and Sundays, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. However, it has been confirmed that other border crossings will remain closed.
Reports from this morning showed that the Aranyaprathet Immigration checkpoint at Ban Khlong Luek is still closed, secured with a padlock and chain, similar to the Cambodian side. The Immigration Bureau of Sa Kaeo Province also confirmed that the Khlong Luek border checkpoint is entirely closed. The temporary waiver, which was a small gate next to the Thai-Cambodian Friendship Bridge, ended on August 31. This concession lane was established to assist Cambodians and Thais in returning to their respective countries on humanitarian grounds. The Immigration Bureau expressed its inability to open or close the checkpoint due to martial law and apologized for any public confusion.
The Eastern Forces recently arrested three Chinese and Cambodian men illegally crossing the border. These individuals were found near Non Khi Lek village, about 500 meters from the border. Initial investigations revealed that they had traveled from Cambodia intending to enter Thailand but lacked passports or any other documents.
In a separate incident, another group of 16 Cambodian workers was discovered hiding in a nearby sugarcane field. They confessed their intent to illegally enter Thailand to work in Sri Racha District, Chonburi Province, although they possessed passports.
Authorities also encountered a group of five Thais near the scene. They claimed they were trying to cross back into Cambodia to have their faces scanned for opening a bank account, known as a "mule account," but lacked passports or identification documents. All three groups were detained and handed over to investigators at Khlong Nam Sai Police Station for prosecution.
In a related development, Cambodian soldiers were reported planting explosives near Prasat Ta Kwai in Surin Province. The Royal Thai Army received a report from Army Area 2 about the detection of improvised explosive devices planted by Cambodian soldiers near the area of barbed wire for self-defense in Thai territory.
Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvari highlighted that these actions clearly violate the ceasefire agreement, with the use of improvised explosive devices aiming to attack Thai soldiers on Thai soil. These provocative actions have escalated tensions between the two countries, contradicting Cambodia's portrayal as a peace-loving nation committed to the ceasefire.
Despite Cambodia's assertion of commitment to the ceasefire and international law, the Thai army accused Cambodia of using the ceasefire agreement as a communication tool to gain international sympathy. The Thai army claims Cambodia's actions, including landmine planting and drone usage, contradict their peace-loving image. The recent use of improvised explosive devices in border areas and the distortion of news to defame Thailand have further fueled tensions.
In a separate incident, the Royal Thai Army, along with the Ministry of Justice's Institute of Forensic Science, collected evidence from Cambodian artillery shell strikes on Phanom Dong Rak Hospital in Surin Province. The incident on July 24, 2015, resulted in significant damage to hospital buildings, necessitating the evacuation of patients.