Eviction Orders Spark Outrage on Thai-Cambodian Border
The long-running border feud between Thailand and Cambodia is boiling over once again. Thai officials have posted stern eviction notices in three languages, warning Cambodian villagers they have just 15 days to pack up and go—or risk up to 15 years behind bars and crippling fines.
Six huge warning signs now tower over Ban Nong Ya Kaew and Ban Nong Chan in Khok Sung. The message is blunt, written in Thai, English and Khmer: this land is now a protected forest under Thai law.
Miss the deadline, and the consequences are severe. The 1941 Forest Act threatens up to 15 years in prison and fines as high as 100,000 Baht. The clock is ticking fast: Ban Nong Ya Kaew must clear out by October 3, Ban Nong Chan by October 10.
Locals Protest as Military Blocks Celebrations
As the eviction orders went up, more than 300 Thai villagers from Sa Kaeo and Chanthaburi gathered in protest. Waving a 25-metre national flag, they tried to mark Thai Flag Day near the border fence. But the military quickly stepped in, blocking their path and keeping them away from the disputed zone.
Waraporn Thong, 63, a former village chief from Ban Nong Ya Kaew, is furious. “We will stop cooking and bringing water for the soldiers and officials here,” she vows. She slams the authorities for refusing to cooperate with locals.
A Bitter Dispute Decades in the Making
This bitter conflict didn’t start overnight. In the late 1970s, Cambodian refugees fleeing civil war settled in these border forests. Since then, around 40 Cambodian families have built homes here, as aerial photos show.
Now, after a fiery exchange at the UN General Assembly in New York, tensions have exploded. Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow and Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn accuse each other of border violations, civilian expulsions and military incidents.
Fears of Further Escalation
Thai officials defend their crackdown, citing security concerns. They say they want to avoid any move that could break the fragile ceasefire or spark new violence.
The forest protection unit has already filed complaints with Khok Sung police on September 17 and 25. Now, their threats are spelled out in bold, multilingual warnings.
Countdown to Crisis
Will Cambodian families be forced from their homes? Or can diplomats pull off a last-minute deal? The deadline is closing in—and tension on the border is at breaking point.