Thailand
Cambodian traders rally amplify border opening
About 1,000 Cambodian traders have assembled at the Thai-Cambodian checkpoint in Ban Khlong Luek to protest against the prolonged border closure, yesterday.
It was reported that the traders organised on the Cambodia side of the border and voiced their demand for the checkpoint to re-open so they could enter Thailand to trade at the Rong Klua market for second-hand goods.
The protest in the early morning had intensified, prompting the Banteay Meanchey provincial office to step in and successfully persuade the protesters to disperse around 9am.
Upon hearing of the said protest, some Thai traders thought that border businesses might resume and drove about 100 trucks with goods to the checkpoint hoping to be given the green light to enter Cambodia.
At the same time, Thai security authorities led by Aranyaprathet district chief Sawanit Suriyakul were present at the border to maintain order.
Consequently, Col Chisanu Rodsiri, deputy chief of the Burapa task force, and 30 local administrative officials had a dialogue with the representatives of the Banteay Meanchey provincial office to discuss the problem.
According to the report, Cambodian authorities were informed by the protesters that they suffered economically from the extended emergency decree imposed by the government to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
Prior to this gathering, the traders sent a letter of approval to conduct a peaceful rally along the said border addressed to the governor of Banteay Meanchey which was denied after.
Traders urged the authorities to open borders to facilitate their economic struggles which can cause additional problems aside from the burden brought by the current COVID- 19 pandemic.
Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50729394/cambodian-traders-rally-amplify-border-opening/