Thai-Cambodia border trade reviving

SA KAEO, Nov 15 (TNA) – Cross-border trade at the Thai-Cambodian frontier in Sa Kaeo’s Aranyaprathet district on Sunday showed a gradual return to normal after convicted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra left Cambodia.

At Aranyaprathet’s Ban Klong Luek border crossing, trade activities at Rong Klua market were lively as most Cambodian traders from Poipet resumed their business activities in the area.

Border tensions eased after Thailand’s fugitive ex-premier flew out of Cambodia's Siem Reap on Saturday.

Many Cambodians were following Cambodian media reports on Thursday’s detention of a Thai engineer by Cambodian authorities in Phnom Penh on charges of spying on Mr Thaksin.

Local Cambodian market talk suggested that the issue could be a trivial matter which will affect bilateral relations to the extent that the Aranyaprathet border crossing would be closed.

Regular Thai gamblers, meanwhile, begin returning to hit the casinos in the neighbouring country.

The atmosphere in on the border in Si Sa Ket province, on the other hand, is still worrisome.

Both Cambodian military and traders along the border of Thailand’s Si Sa Ket province and Cambodia are still concerned about rumours of the closure of the Chong Sa-ngam border crossing.

Anxieties led to Cambodians crossing the border Sunday to stock up on dried Thai foodstuffs and everyday necessities from a market in Phu Sing district to keep in reserve.

Chakkrit Tomasa, a customs official at the Chong Sa-ngam border point, said that the number of Cambodians crossing the border sharply decreased while the amount of purchased goods increased.

Meanwhile, Thai villagers in Praipattana subdistrict near the border have built underground shelters, with financial support of provincial officials, to improve the security of the villagers.

In other developments, Thai foreign ministry official Thani Thongphakdi said that Thailand had presented the letter asking for access to the Thai detainee in Phnom Penh.

The foreign ministry information department deputy director said the ministry had forwarded a letter seeking permission from Khmer authorities to visit detained 31-year-old Siwarak Chothipong, an engineer at Cambodia Air Traffic Services (CATS).

The Thai worker was accused of given confidential information on Mr Thaksin’s flight schedule to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.

Mr Thani said until now there was no reply from Cambodia giving permission, but it is the weekend and the office concerned is not open. The ministry would closely follow up the request.

Flash floods hit Thai-Cambodian border markets, checkpoints

BANGKOK, Oct 9 (TNA) - Flash floods from the hills along Thai-Cambodian border in Thailand’s eastern provinces poured into the market at a checkpoint for border trade between the two neighbouring countries, more than 200 vendors were affected by the inundation which caused damage estimated at over Bt30 million (US$850,000).

Runoff floods from Cambodia’s Phnom Preuk hill in Battambang province and Khao Ta Ngok in Thailand's Sa Kaeo province combined with flash flooding from Khao Soi Dao in Chanthaburi which flowed into the Thai-Cambodian checkpoint for border trade at Ban Sub Taree and at Ban Suan Som in Soi Dao district of Chanthaburi.

The markets at both checkpoints were submerged, with border traders rushing to transfer their goods and products to higher ground as the water level is likely to continue to rise.

Flash floods also hit the 522th Marine Company base near the border.

There were no reports of casualties.

Cambodian border market destroyed by Thai soldiers

A Cambodian soldier obtains water to drink at a burnt market near an ancient Hindu temple where Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged rifle and rocket fire in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh April 4, 2009. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Saturday a border clash with Thailand around a 900-year-old Hindu temple would not escalate into a more serious conflict. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Cambodian soldiers examine a burnt market near an ancient Hindu temple where Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged rifle and rocket fire in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh April 4, 2009. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Saturday a border clash with Thailand around a 900-year-old Hindu temple would not escalate into a more serious conflict. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Markets along Thai-Cambodian border revive as tensions ease

17 February 2009
MCOT

Cross-border trade between Thailand and Cambodia along the northeastern province of Surin has been staggered since the border dispute between the two countries over the ancient Preah Vihear temple and overlapping area erupted in mid-2008. Today, the situation has returned to normal, but how’s the trading of the two nations? Let’s find out.

Cambodia’s O’Smach market across from Thailand’s Chong Jom border crossing in Surin has been revived, after seven months of tension and the military standoff between the two countries eased.

A Cambodian trader said the border dispute and the deadly clashes last year scared Thai customers who usually crossed the border to the market, while the Cambodians were also reluctant to cross into Thai territory for fear they could not return to their homeland if tensions rose.

With the situation having improved in January thanks to border talks, O’Samach market welcome about 600 Thais daily. The number might not be as many as before the border dispute flared up, but it’s much better than the last quarter of 2008.

"When the Preah Vihear dispute eased, Thai people came back to our market as they did before. But our sales still drop to 70%. We used to sell 100% before the border problems happened," said a Cambodian trader.

As normal trade activities resume, people seem more comfortable, as seen in a traditional coffee shop where Cambodians usually relax during the trading day. They enjoy sipping tea and coffee while watching DVD movies with their friends.

Across the border in Thai territory is Chong Jom market. Here the atmosphere is also lively. As most of the traders are Cambodian, when the tensions flared they all closed their shops and fled to their home. Now they’re come back, bringing more traders with them. Market operators say market expansion is needed to facilitate these new traders.

"The old Cambodian traders told their descendants that trading in the Thai market was always doing well. So they followed the old traders here. Now we have to expand the market area to support these new comers, said Plaeng Charoensuk, Chong Jom Market Operator.

Cambodians are still dependant on purchasing everyday necessities, as well as construction materials and petrol from Thailand, while they export mainly agricultural products to the kingdom.