Army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree said yesterday (June 23) that the First Region Army and the Second Region Army implemented the measures along the border in Buri Ram, Sa Kaeo, Si Sa Ket, Surin and Ubon Ratchathani provinces.
Under the measure, all vehicles are blocked from crossing the border. Travel by Thai and foreign people including tourists and all kinds of trade are prohibited, reports the Bangkok Post.
The army only permits border crossing for humanitarianism including the travel of urgent patients and students and activities necessary to people’s everyday life, at the discretion of local military units.
The measure was in line with the government’s policies concerning national security and conflict with Cambodia which saw tensions in political, diplomatic and military aspects, Maj Gen Winthai said.
The intensified measure also supported responses to call centre and hybrid scam operations which have greatly affected Thai people, he said.
The Chanthaburi and Trat Border Defense Command of the navy imposed the same measure along the border in Chanthaburi and Trat provinces.
The border conflict erupted when Cambodian troops entered Chong Bok area of Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province in April.
Anti-graft body to probe PM
Meanwhile, the National Anti-Corruption Commission reportedly resolved to investigate the ethics of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra regarding her recent phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen.
The resolution responded to a petition from Senate Speaker Mongkol Surasajja on Friday last week. He submitted petitions asking the Constitutional Court and the NACC to relieve Prime Minister Paetongtarn of her duties following the leak of the telephone call with Hun Sen.
The official letter asked whether Prime Minister Paetongtarn had committed corruption by willfully violating the constitution or laws, or seriously breached ethical standards.
Simultaneously, a request was submitted to the Constitutional Court, asking it to determine whether Ms Paetongtarn’s tenure as prime minister should be terminated in accordance with Sections 160 and 170 which concern the ethics of ministers and the termination of ministers’ office.
The conversation included derogatory remarks about the commander of the 2nd Army Region, branding him an adversary, as well as a submissive tone towards the Cambodian strongman, in which Ms Paetongtarn signalled readiness to comply with Hun Sen’s demands - an act viewed as a serious affront to Thai national interests.
It was reported that the NACC ordered officials concerned to transcribe the audio recording, translate Cambodian conversations in the phone call, question witnesses and study legal aspects in the ethical case of former prime minister Srettha Thavisin. If officials find a case, they will propose the NACC form a probe committee to handle the case of Ms Paetongtarn.
Meanwhile, the office of the Constitutional Court said that the court’s next meeting to consider cases was set for July 1.