SURIN, Thailand – More than 500 Cambodian nationals, most of them laborers and medical patients, returned to Cambodia through the Chong Chom border checkpoint in Surin province after the Cambodian side briefly opened the gate at 10:00 a.m. The crossing was allowed for just 30 minutes.
On the Thai side, the permanent border checkpoint at Chong Chom in Dan Subdistrict, Kap Choeng District, has been operating from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. under strict humanitarian measures ordered by the Second Army Region. No general travel or goods transport is permitted—only humanitarian exceptions are allowed.
Earlier this morning, Cambodia had not opened its side of the gate, citing the need to wait for approval from the governor of Oddar Meanchey province. This left hundreds of Cambodians waiting to return home, many of whom had traveled to Thailand for medical treatment or had been working there.
At 10:00 a.m., Cambodia briefly opened the gate, allowing over 500 citizens to return. Very few Thai nationals re-entered Thailand. Authorities from both countries maintained strict control, allowing no Cambodians to enter Thailand and no Thais to cross into Cambodia, including for transport of goods.
Some Cambodians who attempted to cross into Thailand, claiming to have valid documents, were stopped and instructed by officials from both sides to turn back. Cambodia closed its border gate again at 10:30 a.m., ending the brief 30-minute window for crossings. (TNA)
