CHANTHABURI, Thailand – The first phase of a fence along the Thai-Cambodian border in Ban Laem, Pong Nam Ron district of Chanthaburi province has been completed, with the Thai Navy confirming that the 1.3-kilometre section, standing 3.6 metres high and constructed using concrete topped with razor wire, is now fully operational.

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A secure steel door has been installed at the border marker to enable international inspectors to verify that the fence was built on Thai soil, with construction financed by a fund established by the Chulabhorn Foundation.

A road running parallel to the fence, funded by the Royal Thai Navy, the border patrol police, and residents of Chanthaburi province, has been built to facilitate patrols by frontline troops and provide local residents with access to farmland near the border. Rear Admiral Parach Rattanachaipan, a Thai Navy spokesman, stated that the new barrier would help prevent the smuggling of contraband, adding that the RTN would now begin construction of the second phase between kilometre markers 54 and 58, a distance of just over 8 kilometres.

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He explained that the fence is a physical manifestation of Thailand’s determination to end border conflicts with Cambodia and human and contraband trafficking, reinforcing the government’s commitment to securing the nation’s borders. The completion of the first phase marks a significant step in enhancing border security and addressing long-standing issues along the Thai-Cambodian frontier, as authorities continue efforts to strengthen surveillance and control in the region.

-Thailand News (TN)