Thailand has imposed restrictions on all travellers heading into Cambodia, as the two countries remain locked in a bitter border dispute. The ban applies to any vehicle or person trying to cross into Cambodia from checkpoints across several Thai provinces, as well as foreign tourists flying into Siem Reap. The military said in a statement on Monday that the new restrictions "matched the current security situation". Bilateral relations between the two countries are at their worst in more than a decade, after armed clashes along the border in May left one Cambodian soldier dead. Since then, the two countries have slapped punitive measures on each other. Cambodia has banned imports from Thailand, ranging from fruit and vegetables to electricity and internet, as well as Thai dramas and films. Exemptions to the latest travel ban may be granted on humanitarian grounds - such as for students or medical patients - at the discretion of officials at the checkpoints, Thai authorities said. The restrictions would also help to counter illegal scam operations in Cambodia, according to the military. On Monday, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra vowed to crack down on scam operations in Cambodia, with measures including suspending internet services used by Cambodian security agencies. She added that foreign tourists would also be banned from taking flights from Thailand to the popular Cambodian resort town of Siem Reap. Thailand previously implemented similar measures on neighbouring Myanmar, which is also home to thriving scam networks that have entrapped thousands of foreigners. The dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has plunged Paetongtarn Shinawatra's government into the throes of a political crisis, after aleaked phone callbetween her and Cambodia's strongman ex-leader Hun Sen. In the phone call, Paetongtarn was heard calling him "uncle" and telling him to ignore a Thai military commander who "just wanted to look cool". Paetongtarn defended her demeanour as a "negotiation technique", but critics said she undermined Thailand's politically influential army. A key coalition partner of her Pheu Thai party has since left the alliance. Tensions between the two countries date back more than a century, when the borders were drawn after the French occupation of Cambodia.
Thailand bans tourists from going to Cambodia as border dispute persists
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"Thailand Imposes Travel Ban on Cambodia Amid Ongoing Border Dispute"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Thailand has enacted a travel ban on all individuals attempting to cross into Cambodia, reflecting the escalating tensions between the two nations over a longstanding border dispute. This ban applies to all vehicles and individuals at various checkpoints across Thai provinces, as well as to foreign tourists arriving by air in Siem Reap, a popular Cambodian destination. The Thai military announced these restrictions on Monday, stating that they are in response to the current security situation. Relations between Thailand and Cambodia have deteriorated significantly following armed clashes in May, which resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier. In retaliation, both nations have implemented punitive measures against each other, with Cambodia imposing a ban on imports from Thailand that includes fruits, vegetables, electricity, and even media such as Thai dramas and films. Exemptions to the travel restrictions may be made for humanitarian reasons, including medical emergencies or educational purposes, but these will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by officials at the border checkpoints.
In addition to the travel restrictions, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has pledged to intensify efforts to combat illegal scam operations that are reportedly prevalent in Cambodia. These measures include the suspension of internet services utilized by Cambodian security agencies. The prime minister's announcement also covers a prohibition on foreign tourists flying from Thailand to Siem Reap, drawing parallels to previous restrictions imposed on Myanmar, which has similarly been plagued by scam networks. The ongoing border dispute has plunged Paetongtarn's government into a political crisis, aggravated by a leaked phone conversation with Cambodia's former leader, Hun Sen, in which she appeared to undermine the authority of the Thai military. This incident has led to the withdrawal of a key coalition partner from her political alliance, further complicating the political landscape in Thailand. The historical context of these tensions can be traced back over a century, dating back to the colonial era when borders were established following the French occupation of Cambodia.
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