SA KAEO – Tensions at a primary border crossing escalated on Wednesday as Cambodian immigration officials refused to allow Thai nationals to leave Cambodia through the Poipet-Klong Luk checkpoint in Sa Kaeo province, stranding an unknown number of Thai citizens. The reasons for the refusal were not immediately clarified by Cambodian authorities.

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In a tit-for-tat response, Thai immigration officials delayed the return of Cambodian migrant workers seeking to re-enter Cambodia via the same crossing. The reciprocal move led to rising frustrations, with many Cambodian nationals eventually leaving the congested checkpoint area.

Hundreds of Thais seeking to return from Poipet were facing a long wait at the border on Thursday as Cambodian immigration officials were delaying processing, according to local reports.

Thai authorities have temporarily opened the Khlong Luek border checkpoint in Aranyaprathet… pic.twitter.com/3xWfwAE0bv

— Bangkok Post (@BangkokPostNews) December 11, 2025

The Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh intervened in the afternoon, submitting a formal letter to Cambodia’s Interior Ministry requesting permission for a group of Thais—reportedly workers based in Poipet—to return home through the border checkpoint. The diplomatic appeal highlights the direct impact of ongoing military clashes on civilian movement and cross-border relations.

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The bottleneck at Poipet-Klong Luk, a vital land crossing between the two nations, underscores the spillover of military hostilities into civilian life, disrupting the flow of people and deepening bilateral strain.

-Thailand News (TN)