Thais Briefly Close Border Over Planned Border Office

Thailand briefly closed two checkpoints along its Cambodian border on Saturday morning over plans to put up a new building where a chicken coop once stood in Oddar Meanchey province, officials said on Sunday.

Provincial police chief Men Maly said the O’Smach International Checkpoint and smaller Chup Kaki checkpoint were closed by Thailand in protest against plans to build new, larger poultry farm facilities in Samraong City.

“The Thai side was angry and they closed the border gate for about three hours because our Cambodian side removed the old chicken cage with the desire to build a new one,” he said.

Samraong City governor Un Sopheak, however, said the chicken coop was taken down in order to make way for a new building for Cambodian border guards.

“Our immigration police removed the old chicken cage to construct the new building to replace the old guard post, but the Thai side opposed the new construction,” he said.

Both officials said the checkpoints were reopened after Oddar Meanchey governor Sar Thavy met with his counterpart from Thailand’s Surin province, though they did not know what agreement had been reached. Mr. Thavy could not be reached for comment.

[email protected]

Related Stories

Latest News