Dozens of workers and travelers were left stranded on Tuesday at Thailand’s main land crossing with Cambodia, as the Thai military shut down all border points in response to rising tensions over a territorial dispute.
The closures, enforced across all seven Thai provinces bordering Cambodia, now allow only students and individuals seeking medical treatment to pass through.
According to a report by Agence France-Presse (AFP), the decision followed renewed clashes last month that left a Cambodian soldier dead—reigniting a long-standing border conflict between the two countries.
At Ban Khlong Luek checkpoint in Sa Kaeo province—the main overland route to Cambodia’s Siem Reap province—Cambodian vendors who regularly travel into Thailand for work found themselves unable to return home.
Many had to stay overnight at their shops after being blocked from crossing back. Riot police were deployed near the closed gate as people turned away in frustration and confusion.
Among those affected were Cambodian nationals traveling with children, including a family attempting to return home following a bereavement.
With no clear explanation from authorities, travelers were left to wait near the sealed checkpoint, uncertain of when—or if—they could proceed.
Foreign tourists were also caught in the disruption. Several, including long-term backpackers, had planned to cross by land into Cambodia but were forced to reconsider their routes, with some expressing concern over rising travel costs and the impact of political tensions on tourism.
The border dispute stems from unresolved sections of the 800-kilometer frontier drawn during the French colonial period in the early 20th century.
Although sporadic clashes have occurred since 2008—resulting in at least 28 deaths—the situation had remained relatively calm in recent years until the latest flare-up.
In response, Cambodia has banned the import of Thai fuel, oil, fruits, and vegetables. The incident has also intensified political pressure on Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is facing calls to resign after a leaked phone conversation with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen prompted accusations of appeasing Phnom Penh and undermining military authority.
Thai border police said they had not received instructions on when crossings would reopen and noted that local officers were acting under military orders with limited information.
