Guards close the Cham Yeam border crossing in Koh Kong province on June 8. Kampuchea Thmey
The Thai embassy in Phnom Penh has announced stringent new measures to restrict operating hours at multiple land border crossings between Thailand and Cambodia, even as tensions at the border reportedly eased after both side “adjusted” their forces at the border.
The changes affect permanent and temporary border crossings across several Thai provinces, with specific provisions for students, restrictions on vehicles and limitations on cross-border activities.
The embassy claimed that the measures aim to regulate cross-border movement while addressing local needs and security concerns. The closing of some crossings was implemented last week, including in Thailand’s Chanthaburi, Trat, Sa Kaeo, Buriram, Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket and Surin provinces, as well as at least one popular tourism site in Sisaket.
Below is the list of border crossings and their opening hours.
Chanthaburi and Trat provinces
In Chanthaburi and Trat, all permanent border crossings – corresponding with Cambodia’s Daung International Border Checkpoint in Battambang province, Phsar Prum in Pailin and Cham Yeam in Koh Kong – have adjusted their operating hours to 8am-4pm.
Cambodian students who live in Thailand but study in Cambodia are an exception, and can cross between 6am and 5pm.
Other border crossings in these provinces, primarily used for local trade and community access, will also be open from 8am-4pm.
Sa Kaeo province
In Sa Kaeo, all Thai citizens are prohibited from crossing for gambling or tourism purposes, while trucks with more than six wheels are required to use the Thai-Cambodia Friendship Bridge at the Stung Bot crossing. The bridge will be open from 8am-4pm.
Cambodian students are permitted to cross for school from 6am-8am and 5pm-6pm. All
The Aranyaprathet-Poipet and Phnom Dei permanent crossings will operate from 8am-4pm.
The Ban Ta Phraya and Ban Nong Prue crossings will operate from 8am-12pm.
Buri Ram province
The Chup Koki crossing in Oddar Meanchey will allow individuals to cross to access markets from 9am-12pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. No vehicles are permitted to cross.
Ubon Ratchathani province
The An Ses border crossing will allow individuals to access markets on Thursdays, from 9am-12pm. No vehicles are allowed.
Sisaket province
The Choam international border crossing will be open from 8am-3pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Individuals and vehicles may cross as per existing regulations, although shipments of construction materials are prohibited.
Additionally, the Pha Mo I Daeng tourist site within Khao Phra Wihan National Park has been closed until further notice, pending the “normalisation” of the situation.
Surin Province
The O Smach permanent border crossing will be open from 8am-3pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Individuals and vehicles may cross as per existing regulations, although shipments of construction materials are prohibited.
The Thai embassy in Cambodia encouraged travellers and traders to plan accordingly, ensuring compliance with the new hours and restrictions.
The border restrictions appear to be in response to Cambodia’s declaration of its intention to bring four disputes – the Tamoan Thom, Tamoan Toch and Ta Krabie temples and the Mum Bei area – to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for resolution.
The decision to bring the case to international court followed a May 28 exchange of fire in the Mum Bei area which saw one Cambodian soldier killed.
On June 10, Prime Minister Hun Manet released a June 6 notice instructing Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn to lead a committee tasked with preparing documents to file the case.
The 15 member committee will select an international legal team to bring the case to the ICJ, as proposed by the government’s legal affairs team.
The legal affairs team will work with an international legal team to compile the necessary documents, which will then be reviewed by the committee. The committee will also oversee a diplomatic team, established in the same notice.
The committee will engage with the ICJ to proceed with the case and represent Cambodia before the court, from the filing of the complaint to the completion of proceedings.
They will report directly to the prime minister and seek guidance where necessary.
