SA KAEO — Ten water cannon trucks have been placed on standby for deployment to the volatile border area near Ban Nong Ya Kaew village in Sa Kaeo province, where Cambodian protesters have clashed repeatedly with Thai troops over newly installed barbed wire fencing. The move comes after four Thai crowd control officers were injured by slingshots and projectiles during confrontations on Wednesday.

Thailand Accuses Cambodia of Using Civilians to Provoke Border Clashes

Pol Maj Gen Chaikrit Pho-ah, commander of the crowd control division, stated that the water cannons—each capable of holding 12,000 liters of water and spraying up to 65 meters—will be mobilized under the directive of the national police chief. The vehicles are also equipped with long-range acoustic devices for crowd dispersal.

The barbed wire fencing, erected by Thai authorities to prevent encroachment, has sparked protests from Cambodian civilians, who are reportedly backed by government officials. Approximately 50 protesters, including monks, regrouped at the site on Thursday evening after being dispersed a day earlier with tear gas and rubber bullets.

The Thai governor of Sa Kaeo Province went to discuss with the governor of Banteay Meanchey Province and submitted eight agreements, but Cambodia did not accept the proposals and brought Cambodian people to harass Thai officials at Ban Nong Ya Kaeo,Thailand. #TruthFromThailand https://t.co/hB6Tb8es36

— บังเอิญหล่อ ฝากบอกต่อด้วย (@mylove_2019) September 19, 2025

Cambodian officials have distributed face masks to protesters to counter tear gas effects, highlighting the increasingly organized nature of the demonstrations. Thai authorities insist the fencing is necessary to protect territorial integrity and accuse Cambodian forces of encouraging provocations.

The border dispute has intensified diplomatic strains, with both sides trading accusations of aggression. Thailand maintains its use of crowd control measures aligns with international standards, while Cambodia condemns the tactics as excessive. The water cannon deployment signals a readiness to escalate containment efforts if protests continue.

Thai Forces Use Rubber Bullets, Tear Gas Against Cambodian Protesters in Sa Kaeo

The situation remains tense, with reinforcements sent to guard the fence and prevent further attempts to dismantle it. Human rights groups have called for dialogue to de-escalate the conflict, urging both nations to avoid civilian casualties and prioritize peaceful resolution.

-Thailand News (TN)