(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen clarified misunderstandings regarding the suspension of travel through land border checkpoints between Cambodia and Thailand.

In a message posted on his social media on Sunday (Dec. 14), Samdech Techo said his earlier advisory to the Royal Government of Cambodia concerned only land routes, which have become unsafe due to ongoing fighting and military aggression along the border.

“Yesterday, I issued a message advising the Royal Government to consider suspending land-border crossings by Cambodian and Thai citizens in order to ensure the safety of both peoples,” he wrote. “There may have been misunderstandings, or deliberate attempts by certain parties to create confusion, by claiming that Thai citizens are not allowed to return to their country.”

Samdech Techo emphasised that the suspension applies exclusively to land travel, as hostilities are occurring along the entire land border and in parts of the maritime area. He noted that air travel remains unaffected, as there is no fighting at airports.

“Therefore, Thai nationals currently residing in Cambodia may depart by air via Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. Thai citizens working near the Viet Nam border may also exit through Viet Nam and make onward arrangements to return to Thailand.

As for Cambodian citizens wishing to return to Cambodia, they should do so by air from locations with available flights to Cambodia,” he added.

Samdech Techo continued, “I reiterate once again that we have not prohibited travel for Cambodian or Thai citizen. What we are requesting to be suspended is land travel, which poses a serious danger to people’s lives. Please read my message from yesterday carefully and do not misinterpret my good intentions to protect the lives of both Cambodian and Thai people, or use them as grounds for attack against me.”
=FRESH NEWS