Aranyaprathet: Chaos erupted this morning at the Khlong Luek checkpoint as the Thailand-Cambodia border crossing opened at staggered times, leaving a large crowd stranded and waiting in anticipation. This confusion arose as the checkpoint adjusted its opening times for the first day, creating an unexpected delay for travelers.
According to Thai News Agency, the Aranyaprathet Immigration Checkpoint, a permanent border crossing at Ban Khlong Luek in the Aranyaprathet District of Sa Kaeo Province, experienced significant disruption as the Thai side opened its gates at 8:00 a.m. However, the Cambodian side remained closed without any prior indication of their subsequent opening time. This left a multitude of Cambodians, Cambodian workers returning from Thailand, Thai casino employees, and foreign tourists stranded and waiting for the Cambodian authorities to open their side of the border.
The situation prompted Pol. Col. Naphatphong Supaporn, Superintendent of the Immigration Bureau of Sa Kaeo Province, and Lt. Saroj Yotha, Commander of the 1201st Infantry Company, to seek clarification from Cambodian officials. They were informed that the Cambodian side would open at 9:00 a.m., per an order from the Cambodian commander. Consequently, Thai officials had to inform travelers that the Thai checkpoint opened an hour earlier than its Cambodian counterpart.
The chief of the Immigration Bureau of Sa Kaeo Province explained that the Burapha Task Force coordinated with the 1201st Infantry Regiment to open the Khlong Luek border checkpoint at 8:00 a.m. Despite the hour-long overlap, travel for Thais to the Poipet side for tourism has been restricted, with only those working in Poipet permitted to stay for up to seven days. Foreigners, however, can continue to travel freely in and out as usual.
At 9:00 a.m., when Cambodian officials finally opened the Poipet side, the Khlong Luek border checkpoint buzzed with activity as Cambodians, mostly vendors from Rong Kluea Market, flocked to the Thai side.
Meanwhile, at the Aranyaprathet Immigration Checkpoint's departure terminal, Cambodian workers began lining up to return home, causing queues to stretch nearly 100 meters beyond the terminal, reflecting the day's earlier chaos.