Violent Night at Ban Nong Ya Kaew
On Wednesday evening, the border crossing at Ban Nong Ya Kaew in Khok Sung district erupted in violence. Around 200 Cambodian protesters, armed with wooden sticks and slingshots, attacked Thai security forces.
A special unit from the Border Patrol Police Bureau 4 and Ranger Force Company 1301 responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. Police Colonel Thitawat Suriyachai, deputy commissioner of the provincial police, confirmed that four officers were injured. Despite pushing back the protesters, tensions remain high in the disputed area.
Massive Reinforcements Arrive
In response, Provincial Police Bureau 2 dispatched two companies—340 crowd-control officers—from neighbouring Chachoengsao and Prachinburi provinces. These elite units are tasked with bolstering the positions of existing police and military forces, protecting the Thai side of the border with barbed wire and fortifications.
Thitawat stressed: “The reinforcements are necessary to secure our positions on Thai soil.” The border fence was only erected in July, following earlier skirmishes, after Thai troops reclaimed land that had been occupied by Cambodians for decades.
A Long-Running Border Dispute
The conflict has simmered for months. In July, similar clashes occurred when Thailand moved to reclaim territory. Cambodian settlers, some living in the area for generations, resisted the measures. The Thai army condemned the latest provocations and called for a ceasefire, but protesters appear determined to continue their resistance, even with violence.
For local residents, the escalation brings uncertainty and fear. Authorities insist the situation is under control, yet the deployment of hundreds of extra police tells a different story. Tourists and locals are advised to avoid the border region as security forces brace for potential further clashes.