Cambodia negotiates reopening of informal border crossings

Mech Dara | Publication date 08 January 2018 | 17:40 ICT

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Officials at a year-end police meeting at the National Police Commissariat today in Phnom Penh. National Police

Ratanakkiri provincial authorities are trying to resolve a border dispute with Vietnam, urging the Vietnamese to reopen four recently blocked border crossings, according to National Police spokesman Kith Chantharith.

Speaking to reporters following a year-end meeting of police officials today, Chantharith downplayed the severity of the dispute.

“We are having a special negotiation. The Ratanakkiri provincial governor is solving the problem without any huge challenge,” he said.

In December, Vietnam proposed creating four official border checkpoints in Ratanakkiri, although Cambodian officials rejected all but one proposal. In response, the Vietnamese dug trenches and built fences on the roads leading to informal checkpoints, preventing soldiers and ethnic minorities living in Cambodia from crossing the border easily.

“The security situation along the border is generally quiet, but Vietnam has closed off roads at four checkpoints in Andong Meas district, Ratanakkiri province because Vietnam was angry with Cambodia’s disagreement of the proposal to open an official road,” reads the National Police report on the situation.

The report claims that Vietnamese troops built fences across the four roads on December 23.

The statement also contained “objectives” for border forces in the New Year.

“Focus on leading and managing border police forces in terms of discipline, psychology and livelihood,” the paper reads, adding “protect the safety of the border technical committee in measuring the border and planting border posts”.