Thailand’s local forest protection unit has ordered Cambodians living in Ban Nong Chan village, in Sa Kaeo’s Khok Sung district, to move out within 15 days or face arrest and potential imprisonment.
Officials were seen erecting signboards, in Thai, Cambodian and English, detailing the order and the legal consequences for offenders.
The unit filed complaints, with Khok Sung police last week, against those who have allegedly illegally occupied the village, which is on forest land, without permission.
The Forest Act prohibits the construction, destruction, seizure or occupation of forest land, with offenders facing imprisonment for up to 15 years and a fine of 100,000 baht on conviction.
Those who are not legally entitled to the land have been ordered to move out of the area within 15 days. Failure to comply will result in legal action, read the announcement dated September 26.
Nong Chan has been at the heart of the controversy and a flashpoint between Thailand and Cambodia. Thailand insists that it is on Thai territory and had allowed Cambodians to take shelter, as they fled a civil war, on humanitarian grounds.
The Cambodians, however, refused to return to their country when the war ended.
