By Touch Yuthear
The Mekong Times
Thai “gangsters” have been harassing Cambodians crossing the border into Thailand at Koh Kong’s Cham Yeam border crossing, resulting in the crossing’s temporary closure, Cambodian officials have said. The crossing has now reopened after a discussion with Thai authorities.
Sang Sokun, Cambodian Cham Yeam crossing chief, said yesterday that Cambodian authorities had locked the gate at the Cambodian-Thai border May 19 to prevent Cambodians entering Thailand for security reasons after suspicions were raised by a menacing group of “12 Thai gangsters” involved in “irregular activities” on the Thai side of the border.
The 12 Thais behaved rudely, slinging insults at high-ranking Cambodian government officials and normal Cambodians entering Thailand, said Sang Sokun, adding that the group also took photographs of cars carrying senior Cambodian officials.
“After the irregular activities, [border] officials asked permission from the relevant higher authorities to close the border crossing temporarily and requested a meeting with [Thailand’s] Trat provincial governor and other relevant Thai officials to discuss the activities of the Thai group,” said Sang Sokun.
Rin Sopha, a Cambodian border official also present at the meeting, said the Cambodian authorities requested the Thai authorities ban such behavior, otherwise Koh Kong provincial and border authorities would again close the border crossing.
Thai authorities promised to prevent such a situation recurring in future, Rin Sopha claimed.
Sang Sokun, Cambodian Cham Yeam crossing chief, said yesterday that Cambodian authorities had locked the gate at the Cambodian-Thai border May 19 to prevent Cambodians entering Thailand for security reasons after suspicions were raised by a menacing group of “12 Thai gangsters” involved in “irregular activities” on the Thai side of the border.
The 12 Thais behaved rudely, slinging insults at high-ranking Cambodian government officials and normal Cambodians entering Thailand, said Sang Sokun, adding that the group also took photographs of cars carrying senior Cambodian officials.
“After the irregular activities, [border] officials asked permission from the relevant higher authorities to close the border crossing temporarily and requested a meeting with [Thailand’s] Trat provincial governor and other relevant Thai officials to discuss the activities of the Thai group,” said Sang Sokun.
Rin Sopha, a Cambodian border official also present at the meeting, said the Cambodian authorities requested the Thai authorities ban such behavior, otherwise Koh Kong provincial and border authorities would again close the border crossing.
Thai authorities promised to prevent such a situation recurring in future, Rin Sopha claimed.
