First Army warns of legal action against Cambodians encroaching on Thai land, urges cooperation
First Army warns that legal action will be taken against Cambodians violating Thailand’s border, urging Cambodia to manage its citizens and prevent further encroachment.
Major General Surawit Daengchan, Spokesperson for the First Army Area, on Thursday addressed the recent issue of Cambodian nationals assembling to pressure Thai soldiers at Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaew in Khok Sung district, Sa Kaeo. This follows the order by Governor Parinya Phothisat of Sa Kaeo to place warning signs instructing 170 Cambodian households to vacate Thai territory. The governor stressed that failure to comply would result in legal action under Thai law.
The applicable laws include:
- Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979), Sections 11, 62, and 81, which carry penalties of imprisonment for up to 2 years and a fine of up to 20,000 baht.
- Forest Act B.E. 2484 (1941), Sections 54 and 72, which carry penalties of imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of up to 50,000 baht, or both. If the encroached area exceeds 25 rai (approximately 10 acres), the penalty increases to 2–15 years of imprisonment and a fine of 10,000-100,000 baht.
Surawit confirmed that the situation is under control and not unexpected. Following the governor’s order to place the warning signs, Cambodian nationals—including children, women, and the elderly—gathered to protest against the Thai soldiers. While the protests were allowed to occur, Surawit reiterated that the signs were placed in Thai territory and any encroachment or destruction of the signs, similar to the past incident involving the removal of barbed wire, would lead to legal action.
He also stressed that the Thai military does not want to press charges against Cambodian citizens but has coordinated with the Cambodian authorities to organise their citizens and prevent further encroachment or destruction of property. However, if the violations persist, legal action will be pursued to the fullest extent under Thai law.
When asked how long the warning period would last before legal action is enforced against the Cambodian encroachers at Ban Nong Chan, Surawit explained that border management discussions are ongoing at the upcoming meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) between Thailand and Cambodia to establish clear operational guidelines.
