BY SAING SOENTHRITH | JANUARY 9, 2015
The Thai side of the An Ses border checkpoint—which Thailand closed late last month in response to roadwork on the Cambodian side in Preah Vihear province—will reopen Friday, following a meeting of Cambodian and Thai officials Thursday, officials said.
The meeting was held between Preah Vihear provincial governor Oum Mara and Serm Chainarong, the governor of Thailand’s adjacent Ubon Ratchathani province, as well as military representatives from both sides, said Nuon Nov, the deputy commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces’ Division 4, who also attended the talks.
Mr. Nov said the meeting centered on the road construction and that Thailand had agreed to reopen the border at 9 a.m. Friday.
“Thailand said that in the future, if we want to pave the road on our side, we need to send a message to Thailand first,” he said, adding that Cambodian officials agreed to do so.
On December 28, Thai soldiers approached the road crews and ordered them to stop work because they were in a disputed area and in violation of a memorandum of understanding to not develop the area, Choam Ksan district governor Chea Kimseng said at the time.
When the roadwork continued, Thai soldiers closed the Thai side of the border as some 200 additional troops reinforced the area, according to Mr. Kimseng.
Mr. Kimseng said Thursday that officials at the meeting decided to reopen the checkpoint because it would benefit communities on both sides.
“The meeting…was fruitful for both of our citizens on the border and in neighboring provinces, because goods can be exchanged,” he said.
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