During Cambodia’s civil war (1975-79), Thailand opened the area as a refugee reception centre on humanitarian grounds. According to the army, after Thai troops secured the border area of Ban Nong Chan, barbed wire and shipping containers were installed as a temporary barrier. He welcomed the release of 18 Cambodian soldiers as a confidence‑building step but urged both sides to pursue legal mechanisms under the December 2025 Joint Boundary Committee commitments. Additional footage showed Thai soldiers discovering an underground tunnel network, while video from Samed Pass revealed seized firearms and grenades. In Surin’s Prasat Khana area, Thai soldiers reported finding women’s clothing, sex toys, gambling paraphernalia and alcohol inside another abandoned Cambodian post.

Source: Bangkok Post January 03, 2026 05:01 UTC