6,000 Cambodian Illegals Pushed Back Across Border

[george]

Over 6,000 Cambodian illegals pushed back across border

SA KAEW: -- Security officers have repatriated over 6,000 Cambodians over the past few days, as Cambodian nationals attempt to take advantage of the Songkran vacation period to gain entry into Thailand.

Col. Khanit Saphitak, deputy commander of the locally-based Burapha Task Force, told reporters today that since 1 April, security officers had captured at least 100 Cambodians attempting to cross the border back into Cambodia for the holiday period.

The main concern now is that after the Songkran vacation, these Cambodians will attempt to return to Thailand to work, possibly bringing drugs across the border with them.

Col. Khanit said that he had ordered a crackdown on illegal Cambodian immigrants along the joint border between the two countries.

According to Pol. Lt. Col. Niruti Ruengjintana, deputy superintendent of the Aranya Prathet immigration police, since 1 April immigration officials have sent over 6,000 illegal immigrants back to Cambodia.

--TNA 2005-04-13