Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - New Battambang governor puts focus on border

New Battambang governor puts focus on border

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Migrant workers who were caught working illegally in Thailand and were sent back to Cambodia on October 18. FOREING MINISTRY

New Battambang governor puts focus on border

Newly-appointed Battambang provincial governor Sok Lou instructed law enforcement officers along the border to increase their vigilance and work to prevent illegal border crossing into Thailand.

Large numbers of Cambodians are lured across the border into Thailand each year by employment brokers who facilitate their passage and set them up with a job on the other side.

Battambang provincial Department of Information director Sous Sopheak, who also serves as the provincial administration’s spokesman, told The Post on October 18 that during a meeting on October 14, Lou urged all relevant authorities to eliminate the flow of illegal migrant workers into Thailand by targeting the brokers who profit off of the situation for prosecution.

Lou said during the meeting that illegal border crossings in Battambang usually occurred in districts like Kamrieng, Phnom Proek and Sampov Loun.

“[Sok Lou] also reminded the local authorities in these districts to continue to pay attention to administrative inspections at locations where they suspect people intend to cross the border and to make every effort to identify the broker responsible when they apprehend any migrants, who should also be educated on the dangers and difficulties associated with it,” he said.

Kamrieng district governor Sok Kim Khon told The Post on October 18 that people were often cheated by brokers after they illegally crossed the border into Thailand because of promised work. Not only that, but the Thai authorities are stricter now due to Covid-19 and they often send migrants back.

“Our officers are working nonstop, without any holidays. And they have never slept well, especially the forces along the border. We are working hard to prevent people from entering Thailand illegally,” he said.

According to Kim Khon, the people who were being smuggled into Thailand illegally were not residents of Kamrieng district, but mostly from other provinces across the country. They were following the instructions of brokers who know about all of the border checkpoints and were aware that they were reopened in his district to allow people who had family in Thailand to cross over and help with the fruit harvest because Thailand was facing a labour shortages.

Kim Khon said greater effort needed to be made to educate migrants as to why they should not cross the border illegally and more should be done to provide them with employment opportunities in Cambodia so they do not have any reason to go to Thailand.

According to the Battambang provincial administration’s summary report for September, border security operations prevented 19 incidents of attempted border crossings involving 198 people, including 65 women and 28 minors.

Thai authorities were also busy in September, carrying out 78 deportations involving 1,245 people including 477 women and 24 minors.

Although it is difficult to determine the exact number of Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand at any given point in time, some recent estimates by labour experts pegged the pre-pandemic number as high as 1.2 million, with a 60 per cent male to 40 per cent female gender ratio.

Separately, Cambodian Consulate General in Thailand’s Sa Kaeo Province on October 18 facilitated with Thai authorities the release of 104 Cambodian migrant workers for return to Cambodia, said Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation spokesperson Koy Kuong.

Kuong said the migrant workers were coerced by brokers to cross the border illegally to look for work in Thailand and had been arrested by Thai authorities.

“Consulate General officials had instructed the workers about the risk of illegal border crossings and the transmission of Covid-19. We cooperated with Thai authorities for the return of all 104 workers to Cambodia,” Kuong said.

MOST VIEWED

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom

  • PM warns of int’l election interference

    With the national election scheduled to take place in less than two months, Prime Minister Hun Sen has warned foreign nations and their diplomats not to interfere into Cambodia’s domestic affairs. He also hinted that their statements on court verdicts handed down to any