Cambodia has halted the importation of Thai fruits and vegetables, citing Thailand's failure to fully open all border checkpoints. This move, reported by the Khmer Times, was announced by Lt Gen Sok Veasna, the director-general of Cambodia's General Department of Immigration. All gates were shut for the transportation of these goods from Thailand.
On Monday, Hun Sen, the former prime minister and current senate president of Cambodia, issued an ultimatum demanding the reopening of checkpoints, failing which a ban on Thai produce would be enforced.
Despite this ban, people and other Thai goods are still permitted across the border. At Ban Hat Lek checkpoint in Khlong Yai district, Cambodian efforts were visible in obstructing trucks loaded with Thai fruits and vegetables.
In the morning, approximately 30 trucks waited at the border with various products. Fresh and frozen seafood cargoes were granted passage after gate openings at 8 AM, while vehicles carrying fruits and vegetables were stopped. Truck drivers awaited talks between officials for further developments.
Among those awaiting clearance, Chatree Em-od, a driver with frozen seafood, experienced no impediments to his routine border crossings. Siwanart Prachanthasri, transporting produce from Talad Thai market to Koh Kong province, was instructed to hold at the border despite the known bans, as the situation was monitored.
Khong Yai district chief Cherdsak Chumnasiaw stated the Koh Kong customs office enforced the fruit and vegetable ban while allowing items like construction materials.
Concurrent with these border activities, Cambodia reached out to the International Court of Justice in The Hague regarding the broader territorial dispute, which Thailand seeks to address through bilateral discussions.
Source: Bangkok Post