Cambodians lose homes as Thailand makes gains following clashes
Bangkok insists it has merely reclaimed land that was part of Thailand and had been occupied by Cambodians for years
A sign hanging from a rusty shipping container installed by Thai forces on what they say is the border with Cambodia proclaims: “Cambodian citizens are strictly prohibited from entering this area.”
On opposite sides of the makeshift barricade, fronted by coils of barbed wire, Cambodians lamented their lost homes and livelihoods as Thailand’s military showed off its gains.
Thai forces took control of several patches of disputed land along the border during fighting last year, which could amount to several square kilometres in total.
Cambodian Kim Ren said her house in Chouk Chey used to stand on what is now the Thai side of the barricade, and was bulldozed by Bangkok’s forces after a ceasefire agreement in December.
“The Thais reset us to zero. We don’t have any more hope,” she told reporters this week.
Just to the north, where the village is known as Ban Nong Chan, Thai soldiers stood guard in front of an excavator filling a truck with debris during a military-organised media tour.