Cambodia PM orders halt to fuel imports from Thailand
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Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Manet said energy companies would be able to “import sufficiently from other sources to meet domestic fuel and gas demands” in the country.
PHOTO: AFP
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PHNOM PENH – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on June 22 that the country would halt all fuel imports from neighbour Thailand, as tensions escalate over an ongoing border dispute.
The nations have been at loggerheads since a Cambodian soldier was killed in May as troops exchanged fire in a disputed area
“Starting from midnight tonight, all fuel and gas imports from Thailand will be halted,” he said in a Facebook post.
He said energy companies would be able to “import sufficiently from other sources to meet domestic fuel and gas demands” in the country.
Thailand has placed restrictions on several border checkpoints citing “national security”, and on June 22 Cambodia closed two crossings in retaliation.
In statements issued on June 22, Cambodia’s foreign ministry urged citizens not to travel to Thailand unnecessarily, while Thailand’s consular affairs department warned Thais in Cambodia to avoid “protest areas”.
The border spat has triggered political turmoil in Thailand after a phone call between leaders was leaked
The ruling Thai party’s biggest coalition partner withdrew earlier this week as calls grew louder for her to step down, and she was forced to apologise
Thailand was Cambodia’s third-biggest trading partner in 2022, according to the World Bank, with imports reaching US$3.8 billion (S$4.89 billion), of which fuels accounted for 27 per cent.
Earlier on June 22, Cambodia’s Defence Ministry accused the Thai army of violating an agreement by escorting about 150 cyclists to visit a disputed temple near the border.
The Thai army denied any violation, saying there had been a “misunderstanding”. AFP
