Thai-cambodian Border Trade Returns To Normal

[george]

Thai-Cambodian border trade returns to normal

BANGKOK: -- Cross-border trade between Thailand and Cambodia returned to normal Tuesday as Thai businessmen urged the governments of both countries to quickly settle the boder dispute, which they said serves no one.

Trade had come to a virtual standstill following last week's border skirmish near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, but now has returned to normal as of Tuesday as Thai traders and entrereneurs NS Cambodian market vendors make their way across the once again busy border bridge which connects the two countrties with an official checkpoint.

Sa Kaeo Chamber of Commerce vice president Prasert Sotthipattanapong said after a meeting of Thai chamber committee members that cross-border trade between the Thai border district of Aranyaprathet and Cambodian Poi Pet has now returned to normal following the clashes between soldiers of the two neighbouring countries on October 15.

Two Cambodian and one Thai soldier died and six other Thai troops were wounded in the skirmishes in Thailand's border province of Si Sa Ket that day.

Average daily trade in Sa Kaeo province bordering Cambodia is around Bt100 million while about 9,000 persons, including tourists, cross the border on workdays and the number rises to approximately 12,000 on weekends or public holidays, said Mr. Prasert.

He urged governments of the two countries to quickly settle the border dispute and misunderstanding in order to boost trade and tourism like before.

People living along the border understand well about the real situation but not people living in cities, said Mr. Prasert.

Echoing his views was Duangchai Chantorn, vice president of the Trat Chamber of Commerce, who said average daily trade amounting Bt100 million in the border coastal province is now back to normal with between 3,000-4,000 people crossing the border on a daily basis.

"Cambodian businessmen are afraid to invest in Thailand due to the political problems here," Mrs. Duangchai said, noting that many Cambodian businesspersons had spoken with her.

She said their reluctance to invest in Thailand was mainly political but observed that misunderstandings could be settled through negotiations.

-- TNA 2008-10-21

[animatic]

Ah yes social distraction over, Somchai still on office, back to commerce

and wait for Salang to take center stage for a soliloquy.

[AussieFarang]

Who could ever call places like Poi Pet "normal"

[wayfarer108]

Normal for Poipet

[WISteve]

So the Bangkok elite get their casinos back and the hundreds of working people associated have their jobs.

If this dispute was left to the locals it could probably be settled in a day.

Amazing how there are 400+ hits on a topic when the shooting starts and four posts when it's over?

~WISteve

[AlKing]

Somchai 1, Sonthi 0.

Well done Somchai for stopping Sonthi attemp to start a war.

[animatic]

Somchai 1, Sonthi 0.

Well done Somchai for stopping Sonthi attemp to start a war.

Don't buy that one for a minute.

And Sonthi is out of office, the PAD guy is SONDHI.

They played the nationalist card to nail Samak's government,

and knocked out Nopadon for not knowing his job.

Not ever to actually start a shooting war.

That is PPP propaganda.

More like; Thailand 1 Thaksin 0