Cambodia halts Thai fuel imports amid border tensions

PHNOM PENH — Cambodia banned imports of all fuel and gas from Thailand from Sunday midnight, following the rise in border tensions between the two ASEAN member states.

"Starting from midnight (Sunday), all fuel and gas imports from Thailand will be halted," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a post on his official social media platforms.

"Fuel supply companies in Cambodia are able to import sufficiently from other sources to meet domestic fuel and gas demands within the country," he said.

Additionally, Cambodia advised its citizens on Sunday to avoid traveling to Thailand.

Thailand on Monday announced heightened measures to crack down on cybercrime that target Cambodia, including barring travel by casino tourists and cutting internet services to Cambodian military and security agencies.

Officials will tighten border restrictions with Cambodia by stopping cars and individuals attempting to enter or leave Thailand with exceptions for students, medical patients or others who need to purchase essential goods, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said.

Border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand have risen recently after soldiers of both countries briefly exchanged gunfire in a disputed border area on May 28, resulting in the death of a Cambodian soldier.

The tensions have triggered political turmoil in Thailand after a phone call between leaders was leaked, prompting domestic criticism of Paetongtarn's conduct.

The ruling Thai party's biggest coalition partner withdrew earlier this week as calls grew louder for her to step down and she was forced to apologize over her phone conversation with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.

Paetongtarn also faces scrutiny from the judiciary after a group of senators seeking her removal petitioned the Constitutional Court and an anti-graft body to investigate her conduct over the leaked phone call.

Thailand's government said on Monday that it would push ahead with a cabinet reshuffle this week.

"I'm 100 percent confident that we will move ahead strongly after the cabinet reshuffle is completed this week," Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said.

"You will see a new way of working that's different from before."

Xinhua - Agencies