A fleet of articulated trucks, carrying 60 empty cargo containers, arrived in Ban Nong Chan village in Khok Sung district of Sa Kaeo province this morning. They are to be used to form a part of the border fence or wall, which is under construction to demarcate the line between Thailand and Cambodia.
The atmosphere in Ban Nong Chan was described as tense but lively. The stand-off between Thai crowd control police and local officials, who are waiting for an order to drive out illegal Cambodian settlers from the village claimed by Thailand, and Cambodians protesting against the forced eviction, has increased border tensions.
On the Thai side of the border, the atmosphere was lively, with numerous vendors selling goods, food, soft drinks and souvenirs to the many visitors who arrived in the village to offer moral support to officials.
Today, Cambodia’s ‘Fresh News’ accused Thailand of serious breaches of Cambodia’s territorial sovereignty, in violation of the spirit of ceasefire agreement signed between Cambodia and Thailand on August 8th in Malaysia, witnessed by China and the United States.
Under the ceasefire agreement, ‘Fresh News’ said that both Cambodia and Thailand agreed to maintain their troops at their positions and refrain from moving them, including conducting patrols, into the territory of the other country.
‘Fresh News’ also accused Thailand of using heavy machinery to clear land in Ban Nong Ya Kaew, claimed by Cambodia.
