Aranyaprathet: The first day of the Khlong Luek checkpoint closure was marked by a quiet atmosphere, with Cambodians waiting to cross the border back to their home country. The border checkpoint in Sa Kaeo Province saw limited activity, with only a few students crossing the border. According to Thai News Agency, the closure was ordered by the army, affecting the Thai-Cambodian border crossing. Approximately 40 Cambodians gathered in hopes of being able to return to Cambodia. Despite the allowance for students to travel between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., there were relatively few students crossing. The Sa Kaeo Provincial Police commander deployed 170 riot control officers to maintain security and assist immigration officers in communicating with the waiting Cambodians. As more people arrived, it was announced that the border crossing would open from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to allow Cambodians to return home. Many were unaware of the closure or underestimated its strictness, but they cooperated well upon underst anding the situation. Besides Cambodians, a few Thais and foreigners also attempted to cross the border for work or business purposes. Despite the closure, the overall situation remained normal.
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