As of 2 May 2011
Skirmishes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers in Phanom Dong Rak district, Surin province
- The intensity of fighting between Thai and Cambodian troops along the border has eased in some areas following a temporary ceasefire agreed between both sides on 2 May 2011.
- While sporadic clashes with exchanges of light gunfire continue intermittently in some areas, heavy weapons are not being deployed.
- Efforts are being made by both senior Thai and Cambodian military officers to prevent further escalation.
- The skirmishes which started on 22 April are localized and have only affected a small part of Phanom Dong Rak district, a remote, mountainous part of Surin province, and adjacent parts of Buri Ram province.
- The latest round of fighting that broke out on 1 May took place in the vicinity of Prasat Ta Muen Thom, Prasat Ta Muen, and Prasat Ta Kwai in the Phanom Dong Rak district of Thailand's Surin Province, west of Preah Vihear Temple.
- Residents of Thai villages along the border were evacuated.
- Given the situation, the Thai army closed the Chong Jom border pass in the Kab Choeng district of Surin province and Chong Sa-ngam border pass in the Phu Sing district of Si Sa Ket province. However, these border crossings are not regular routes for tourists.
- The Thai Cabinet is scheduled to discuss at a meeting on 3 May the establishment of a legal team to prepare a response to Cambodia’s petition to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) seeking clarification over its 1962 ruling on the Preah Vihear temple.
- Sites Closed to Visitors
The Ta Muen group of sanctuaries consisting of Prasat Ta Muen Thom, Prasat Ta Muen Toch, and Prasat Ta Muen, in the sub-district of Ta Miang in Phanom Dong Rak district of Thailand's Surin Province and Pha Mor E-Daeng cliff and Khao Phra Viharn National Park in Kantaralak district of Si Sa Ket province are closed to visitors.
- All other historical sites and tourist attractions in the provinces of Buri Ram and Surin have not been affected and are operating normally. These include Phanom Rung Historical Park in the Chalerm Phrakiat district of Buri Ram province and the Ban Ta Klang Elephant Village and Study Centre in Tha Tum district of Surin province. All continue to welcome a steady stream of local as well as international visitors.
- Hotels and resorts in the provinces of Buri Ram and Surin reported an average occupancy rate of 60% for the 28 April – 3 May period, while the average occupancy rate for Si Sa Ket province for the same period was at 40%.
- No other parts of Bangkok or Thailand, especially tourist destinations, have been affected by this situation and everything continues elsewhere as normal.
- The situation with Cambodia has no affect on tourists visiting Thailand.
Impact of the border situation on tourists:
- As the area where the border skirmishes are taking place is about 300 Km east of Bangkok and mainly in an isolated area of Surin province, they have no impact on visitors to Thailand.
- Given its small area, isolation and considerable distance from Bangkok and other tourist destinations in Thailand, visitors should not have their holiday or safety affected by the disagreement between Thailand and Cambodia over this border incident.
- The situation in the area around Preah Vihear Temple, where similar skirmishes took place earlier this year, remains normal
- Air and land travel between Thailand and Cambodia continues to operate as normal, other than the Chong Jom border pass in Surin and Chong Sa-ngam border pass in Si Sa Ket.
Credit: TAT News (www.tatnews.org)
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