Thailand’s Military Takes Control, Shuts All Land Borders to Cambodia
The Thai military has closed all land border crossings between Thailand and Cambodia, including the frequently used Aranyaprathet/Poipet crossing in Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province.
The border closure occurred immediately after Cambodia announced it would no longer accept oil and other fuel deliveries from Thailand and simultaneously declared its intention to take Thailand to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the ongoing border conflict. Thailand, however, showed no interest in this, likely because it had previously lost two ICJ cases related to the dispute over the Cambodian temple of Preah Vihear.
Important: Tourists can enter the country via all airports without any problems. Flights from Bangkok are also possible without any problems. Cambodia is safe, no internal unrest is expected in Cambodia at this time. This is also reflected in the current rating of the American Department of State for Cambodia at level 1. This means that Cambodia is currently rated safer than Germany (level 2) with level 1.
Thailand bases its territorial claim on a self-created map, while Cambodia refers to an older map with a less precise scale. However, this older map was once negotiated between Thailand and France when Cambodia was under French colonial rule. As Cambodia is considered the legal successor to these agreements, the question arises as to why Thailand refuses to recognize this basis.
According to available information, the disputed area contains no significant natural resources, but mainly forested areas and some smaller temple complexes.
Background
A rekindled border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia has been simmering for several weeks. Already in May, there was a clash between Thai and Cambodian troops, in which a Cambodian soldier was killed. Cambodia subsequently demanded an investigation into the incident, which Thailand failed to provide. As a result, both countries increasingly stationed troops along the border, and on the Thai side, the military took control of the border regions. Martial law was even declared in some provinces.
Thailand then threatened to cut off internet and electricity supplies to Cambodia. Cambodia, in response, independently severed the connections and established alternative internet connections. The country was already largely independent due to its own access system to the AAE-1 submarine cable to Europe.
The situation further escalated after a confidential conversation between the Thai Prime Minister and the former Prime Minister of Cambodia was leaked. In this conversation, the Thai head of government made derogatory remarks about a high-ranking military commander. The incident not only led to a deterioration in bilateral relations but also to a government crisis within Thailand: nine ministers reportedly resigned as a result, further pressuring the civilian government.
Following this, the previously threatened halt to oil exports to Cambodia was made public. However, before Thailand could take action, Cambodia pre-empted this threat by imposing an import ban on oil products from Thailand itself.
Even before this, there had been temporary, uncoordinated closures of individual border crossings by the Thai military – mostly for an indefinite period. These measures led to significant restrictions on the movement of people and goods. In response, Cambodia prohibited the import of agricultural products from Thailand, after calls for an export stop had also been heard from Thailand.
After Cambodia’s official import stop for oil products, the nationwide closure of all land borders by the Thai military finally occurred. Currently, only schoolchildren and medical emergencies are permitted to cross the border.
The closure led to large crowds on the Thai side – many Cambodians wanted to return home but were turned away by Thai border troops. Although Cambodia allowed some Thai travelers bound for Thailand to pass, the Thai military also refused entry to them.
After reports emerged suggesting that the refusal to allow Cambodian citizens to leave was being classified as a potential human rights violation, some border posts temporarily opened – some with restrictions on the number of people allowed through daily – to facilitate repatriation.
For foreigners, crossing land borders is generally not possible at present, not even for spouses of Thai/Cambodian citizens.
Shortly thereafter, the UN published a critical report on criminal organizations in Cambodia. Thailand immediately seized upon this report and justified the border closure with the protection of its own citizens. Given the actual course of events, however, this justification appears highly questionable.
At airports, immigration checks continue to be carried out by the regular Thai immigration authorities. At the land borders, however, the Thai military has, as initially stated, completely taken over control, partly under the invocation of martial law.