Increasing border restrictions are being enforced for travellers crossing Thailand to Cambodia, blocking tourists from crossing by land.
The restrictions were announced by Thailand's prime minister as tensions continue to escalate between the countries amid a border dispute. This is following an armed confrontation on 28 May where a Cambodian soldier was killed.
Despite the two countries agreeing to de-escalate the dispute they continue to implement or threaten measures that keep tensions high.
On Monday, Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said the country would boost screening at land borders and block departing tourists. Only students, medical patients and others who need to purchase essential goods can enter or leave Thailand.
She said the measures were aimed at those heading to Cambodia’s lucrative casinos but all tourists appear blocked.
The Thai army said it had implemented the measures at every land border checkpoint between Thailand and Cambodia in five provinces. It would stop anyone crossing for non-essential purposes.
Cambodia has also blocked internet services, electricity and fuel supplies from Thailand in retaliation for the border dispute. This could cause economic unrest in both countries.
Prior to the boycott, monthly imports of gasoline and other fuel from Thailand to Cambodia were 85,426 metric tons, accounting for 30% of all national imports. The average natural gas import from Thailand was 1,848 metric tons which is 4% of the national total according to the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce.
Paetongtarn has also said Thailand is considering blocking exports that could facilitate scam operations in Cambodia and will coordinate with other countries to crack down on cybercrime based in Southeast Asia.
An April UN report found that transnational organised crime in East and Southeast Asia spread lucrative scam operations across the globe. It identified Cambodia as one of the world’s worst cyber hubs.
Thailand has already implemented measures aimed at online scam operations in neighboring Myanmar, severing electricity, internet and gas supplies to border towns where the scams were based earlier this year.
Paetongtarn has been criticised over her soft stance towards Cambodia, especially by right-wing rivals of her father former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
A leaked phone call between Paetongtarn and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, the former prime minister who ruled Cambodia for over four decades, sparked outrage and calls for her resignation.
Some nationalist activist groups have planned a rally calling for her resignation.
