Cambodia Agrees To Opening of 3 Border Passes Adjoining Thai Border

Phnom Penh 22 January 2011 -- Reaksmei Kampuchea in Khmer language

The Cambodian Interior Ministry has officially agreed that the provinces of Batdambang and Banteay Meanchey could open daily -- earlier it was only for four days a week -- three of their border passes adjoining Thailand's Srah Kaev province."

According to a copy of the order signed by the deputy prime minister and interior minister "obtained by Reaksmei Kampuchea", "based on the outcome of the unofficial Cambodian-Thai meeting of officials in Cambodia's province of Siemreab and in Thailand's province of Ubon Ratchathani in 2003, "the royal governments of the two countries decided to open border passes from 0700 to 2000."

The three border passes are:

1. Phnum Dei border pass in Sampoeuv Loun district, Batdambang province;

2. Malai border pass in Malai district, Banteay Meanchey province, opposite Nong Proeu in Arantaprathet district, Srah Kaev province; and

3. Boeng Trakuon border pass in Thmar Puok district, Banteay Meanchey province, opposite Ta Phraya pass in Ta Phraya district, Srah Kaev province."

Cambodia and Thailand agreed on border crossing between the two countries on 21 June 1997.

A sub-decree dated 9 July 2001 stipulated that there are officials from four institutions stationed at the local and international border passes:

Head of the border crossing office, representing the provincial authorities of the Interior Ministry, as president; border post police chief as vice president; and officials from the customs and excise, and from Camcontrol offices.

Cambodia's provinces of Batdambang and Banteay Meanchey and Thailand's province of Srah Kaev held talks and decided on 23 December 2010 to request the two countries' governments to allow the opening of the above three border passes.

The Thai side lets the provincial authorities decide but Cambodia requires national-level authorization, which the Interior Ministry has now given.