The Thai government has launched an emergency repatriation plan for thousands of its nationals trapped in Cambodia after a key border crossing was shut down amidst intensifying military clashes.
Thailand is urgently trying to bring home up to 6,000 citizens stranded in Cambodia after the Poipet border checkpoint was closed because of heavy fighting along the frontier. Authorities confirmed Tuesday (16 December) that the closure has left thousands of Thai workers and travelers unable to get home by land as the conflict enters its second violent week.
The crisis centers on the crossing between the Cambodian city of Poipet and Thailand’s Aranyaprathet district. Cambodia closed the gate citing safety concerns, with former leader Hun Sen saying the move was necessary to protect civilians from “indiscriminate firing” by Thai forces. But Thai officials have condemned it, arguing it violates international humanitarian principles by basically holding civilians hostage.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok has told stranded citizens to travel to the consulate in Siem Reap, about 150km away, to arrange emergency flights home since air travel is still open. Meanwhile, the security situation keeps getting worse. Fighting is now being reported in eight border provinces. The clashes have already killed nearly 40 people and displaced more than 500,000 civilians on both sides of the border.
“The army said there has been continuous fighting across the border line. The situation is still in flux,” said Surasant Kongsiri, a spokesman for Thailand’s Defence Ministry.
Cambodia’s Defence Ministry stayed defiant, saying its forces would “continue to stand strong, brave and steadfast in their fight against the aggressor.”
The conflict, which flared up again earlier this month over disputed territory, has turned into the most serious military confrontation between the neighbors in years. To squeeze Cambodian supply lines, the Thai military has also stopped fuel shipments passing through the Laotian border, worried the gas was being diverted to support Cambodian troops.
The violence has drawn international concern. The United States Embassy issued a security alert warning American tourists to avoid all travel within 50km of the border because of “active hostilities” and an “unpredictable security situation.”
With diplomatic channels currently strained, the repatriation effort depends heavily on flights from Siem Reap. Thai authorities are warning that if the fighting spreads further inland, they might need to take more drastic evacuation measures for citizens still in Cambodia.
Also Read / Fighting rages on between Thailand and Cambodia despite Trump’s ceasefire claim.
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