JAKARTA - The Thai military closed border crossings to Cambodia for almost all travelers, including tourists and traders.
The closure was carried out on the grounds of security concerns as tensions between the two Southeast Asian neighbors continued to escalate as border disputes continued to heat up.
The worsening of the relationship was sparked by brief armed clashes in the border area that killed a Cambodian soldier late last month.
The two governments have since announced actions designed to punish each other, including the recent suspension of imports of Thai fuel and gas by Cambodia.
Thailand will now limit all vehicles, tourists and traders to cross all land border checkpoints in seven provinces bordering Cambodia, the military said in a statement issued on Monday, June 23 evening.
There are exceptions for humanitarian reasons, such as for those who need medical attention, students, and other urgent issues over the security unit's policy at the checkpoint.
The restrictions are "in accordance with the current security situation, particularly in dealing with the conflict in the region between Thailand and Cambodia which continues to increase politically, diplomatically and militarily," the military said.
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The military said the action would also assist in taking action against centers of illegal fraud in Cambodia, which was marked by Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Monday.
Paetongtarn said Thailand would stop supplying cross-border essential goods, including electricity, to areas where illegal operations take place.
The prime minister has been criticized for his handling of border disputes, particularly after a leak of a phone call between him and Hun Sen, a former Cambodian leader, which appears to show he is demeaning a senior Thai military commander.
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