Cambodia is quietly encroaching by illegally farming on Thai soil. Villagers in Sa Kaeo have reached their limit, emphasizing that they have farmed the land since their grandfathers' time. Meanwhile, the ranger troops are advancing efforts to protect sovereignty and handle Cambodia's "say one thing, do another" behavior.
There have been reports of Cambodian farmers secretly crossing into Thai territory to cultivate land near the border at Ban Ang Sila, adjacent to Ban Nong Jan in Khok Sung District, Sa Kaeo Province. They have been quietly advancing along the Thai border despite established boundary markers and sovereignty lines. However, the Cambodian side ignores these and claims the area has been their farmland for over 40 years.
The question is whether this constitutes an encroachment on Thai sovereignty. This situation has caused significant concern among the local landowners.
Local villagers revealed they have endured watching Cambodians farm on Thai land, firmly stating it is a clear intrusion because their families have cultivated this land since their grandfathers' era. The so-called 'red line' Cambodian claims extend nearly a kilometer into Thai territory. The area involved is not small, covering over 2,732 rai. When asked if, as lifelong residents, they trust Cambodia, one villager said they do not.
“Before the ranger troops arrived to stop the situation, they would say one thing. Once the troops came, they changed their story, saying they wanted to farm first. They can't just ask to farm first. This isn’t about the JBC; this is clearly Thai land. We have evidence proving it belongs to Thailand.”
Following these events, the Eastern Force, specifically Ranger Company 1205, has carried out patrols to prevent encroachment along the border. The SEE TRUE team has also followed this mission.
The ranger company stated that, as everyone knows, there are problems with agricultural land along the border due to unclear boundary lines, causing disputes between residents on both sides. Negotiations have taken place but have yet to yield results. Recently, a village headman reported that villagers went to plow fields, but Cambodian soldiers refused to allow it, prompting the commander to order protection for the villagers.
Due to the dispute caused by Cambodian farmers encroaching on Thai land and causing tension, a patrol mission was launched to monitor any further violations by Cambodians. At boundary marker 45 near Ban Non Mak Mun, the land is contiguous, so this marker serves as a straight dividing line: Thailand to the right, Cambodia to the left. Patrols are conducted by either side.
After patrolling boundary marker 45, officials took the news team to patrol around marker 48, an area with past border disputes and clashes. The patrol required extreme caution because both sides might have unexploded ordnance. This area falls under the responsibility of Ranger Company 1205.
When asked whether Cambodia’s contradictory statements and actions complicate Thai operations, Lt. Col. Asawin Saothong, Chief of Staff of Ranger Battalion 12, said it is a factor, but they cannot neglect their duties. Regardless of Cambodia's tactics, they must keep up and respond accordingly. Their objectives are to defend sovereignty and maintain peace for local residents—these are the main duties of border soldiers.
To resolve the issue, Thai military officials arranged negotiations with Cambodian forces to prevent Cambodians from farming and encroaching on Thai sovereignty. The SEE TRUE team also covered this event. The atmosphere was tense, with clear divisions of tasks: one group negotiated while others guarded the Srisuphan Road area.
Cambodian forces sent representatives for the talks. The Thai side's mission was to ensure villagers could manage their land and highlight that Cambodian farming exceeded the red boundary line. After negotiations, officials left the area. The mission achieved its goal: Cambodia acknowledged which land belongs to Thailand and promised to restrain their people from further encroachment.
Although this negotiation clearly prohibits Cambodian farmers from encroaching on Thai sovereign land, concerns persist because Cambodia has a history of "saying one thing but doing another," promising one thing but repeatedly encroaching along the border.
Going forward, close attention must be paid to whether Cambodia will honor the agreement or continue old tactics. Meanwhile, Thai ranger troops remain steadfast in their duties, patrolling, monitoring, and defending Thai territory with full commitment. Every step they take is to prevent any infringement on Thai sovereignty, not allowing even a single inch to be encroached upon.
Follow #ScoopNewsSpecial, the sharp news variety show that investigates, verifies, and covers all areas, exposing every truth every Saturday at 6 p.m. on Thairath TV Channel 32.