Thailand studies idea of ​​building border wall with Cambodia

Bus in Thailand on February 20 carrying victims rescued from scam dens

Reuters on March 3 quoted Thai government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub as saying that the country is studying the idea of building a wall on part of the border with Cambodia to prevent people from crossing the border, in the context of many countries trying to crack down on scam rings.

"If we do it, how will we do it? What will be the results and how will it help solve the problems? This is a study," he said, without mentioning the length of the wall.

The Cambodian government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thailand's border wall idea.

Thailand and Cambodia share an 817-km border. The Thai Ministry of Defense previously proposed building a 55-km wall between Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province and Cambodia’s Poipet (Banteay Meanchey) area, which is currently protected only by barbed wire.

Southeast Asia is struggling to crack down on the scams, especially those operating along Thailand’s borders with Myanmar and Cambodia, according to the United Nations. Hundreds of thousands of people have been victims of human trafficking and scams in recent years.

Last week, Thai police received 119 citizens from Cambodia, after an operation in Poipet helped free 215 people from a scam ring.

In Myanmar's Myawaddy city, more than 7,000 foreigners are waiting to be taken to Thailand, which is coordinating with embassies to help them repatriate.

A Thai lawmaker said last week that efforts to crack down on scam dens were not enough, estimating that there were about 300,000 people operating in scam dens in Myawaddy alone.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thai-lan-nghien-cuu-y-tuong-xay-tuong-bien-gioi-voi-cambodia-185250303144851366.htm