Thailand suspects leak of internal border order to Cambodian social media

A senior naval officer has raised suspicion that an internal order, issued yesterday by the commander of the Burapha Task Force, Maj-Gen Benjaphol Dechartivong Na Ayudhya, to ease border crossing restrictions and allow Thai-owned trucks stranded in Cambodia to return to Thailand, had been leaked to the Cambodian government.

Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, spokesman for the Thai-Cambodian Border Situation Administration Task Force Centre observed today that the urgent order had been shared on both Cambodian social media and appeared on the Facebook page of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on the same day, before Cambodian officials were officially told to open the border to allow the stranded trucks to return to Thailand.

The order was addressed to the head of immigration officials in Sa Kaeo province, instructing the opening of the check points at the Thai-Cambodian Friendship Bridge in Ban Nong Ian, Ban Khao Din and Ban Nong Prue for seven days and during specified hours.

Rear Admiral Surasant said that the Cambodian immigration officials had not opened the border at the three check points after the Thai immigration officials had contacted their Cambodian counterparts.

On the same day, however, Hun Manet had announced his rejection of the Thai proposal.

The Burapha Task Force issued a statement today, announcing that it has not revoked the reprieve, allowing Cambodian workers whose border passes and permits to work in Sa Kaeo have expired, to stay on.