According to Reuters report on July 22nd local time, the Thai military stated that Thailand has completed the construction of the first section of permanent border fences in some border areas with Cambodia. Last year, two rounds of conflicts erupted between these two Southeast Asian neighbors, and the tensions continue to exist.
Thai Defence Forces Commander Ukrit Boontanon stated that the fence is located in Pong Nan Long District, Chanthaburi Province in the east, and is 1.3 kilometers long. It is described as "stable, strong, and durable." The fence is constructed from reinforced concrete slabs, with steel mesh and serpentine wire mesh covering the top to provide long-term security.
The fence along the Thai-Cambodia border, Reuters
The concrete wall panels here have been tested. We confirm that they can withstand small arms fire. Ukri said the military plans to build a barrier longer than 7 kilometers on top of the existing fence and also evaluate the terrain and environmental conditions in other areas along the 817 kilometer border, to determine if they are suitable for building similar barriers.
Currently, troops are still stationed on both sides of the Thai-Cambodia border. In July and December last year, the long-standing territorial dispute between the two countries escalated into an armed conflict. Both sides used military tactics such as air strikes and artillery fire, resulting in nearly 150 deaths and about 300,000 people being displaced.
Thailand and Cambodia reached a cease-fire agreement on December 27 last year.
