Picture courtesy of MGR

Residents near the Chong Chom border crossing in Surin province say they are preparing for a possible third round of fighting, citing daily provocations by Cambodian troops and rising insecurity, with some households ready to evacuate. The comments came as uncertainty along the Thai–Cambodian border continued to affect local communities and cross-border trade.

The concerns surfaced after reports that the Japanese government had urged Thailand and Cambodia to reopen border crossings quickly, following closures that have reportedly affected several Japanese companies operating in the area. Journalists visited villages and the border market zone at Chong Chom in Dan subdistrict, Kap Choeng district, Surin, near the permanent Chong Chom–O Smach crossing, to gauge local opinion.

According to residents interviewed, many oppose reopening the checkpoint, arguing that tensions remain high and that border communities do not feel safe. One local resident, Ms Wilaiporn Suwannahong, of Ban Dan village, said Japan should not interfere in a bilateral issue, adding that locals preferred to live separately and did not want the crossing reopened.

She claimed Cambodian forces had been provoking Thai troops on a daily basis and alleged that weapons had been moved into the area in large numbers. “They provoke us every day and want to create another war,” she said, adding that forest areas had been burned and that residents felt increasingly vulnerable.

Ms Wilaiporn said villagers believed a third clash was likely and had already prepared for evacuation. She said her family had kept clothes and essential belongings packed in fertiliser sacks since previous evacuations and had never unpacked them.

She also stated that residents had received compensation payments following earlier incidents, which were used to buy food, repay debts incurred during evacuation, and set aside funds in case they were forced to leave again. With the national election, she said uncertainty remained high and confidence in stability was low.

The border closures have disrupted trade and movement at Chong Chom, a key crossing point between Surin and Cambodia’s O Smach area. While external stakeholders have raised concerns about economic impacts, residents interviewed stressed that security considerations outweighed commercial interests.

Manager online reported that authorities have not announced any immediate changes to border policy. Local communities say they remain on alert, monitoring developments closely as tensions persist.

Key Takeaways

• Border residents in Surin say they are preparing for possible renewed fighting and evacuation.

• Locals oppose calls, including from Japan, to reopen the Thai–Cambodian border crossing.

• Residents report daily provocations and ongoing insecurity near the Chong Chom checkpoint.

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from MGRonline 2026-02-08

 

 

I thought Trump had sorted this out, isn't it ine of the 8 wars he has stopped hence claiming the NOBEL prize or am I mistaken?.

2 hours ago, Hardcastle P said:

I thought Trump had sorted this out, isn't it ine of the 8 wars he has stopped hence claiming the NOBEL prize or am I mistaken?.

He said he did- and we all know he is an honorable man who would never tell a lie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8 hours ago, Hardcastle P said:

I thought Trump had sorted this out, isn't it ine of the 8 wars he has stopped hence claiming the NOBEL prize or am I mistaken?.

Of course, he did, and he got 2 peace prizes, Nobel and the much more precious inaugural Fifa prize, which comes with a wearable medal.