Markets mobbed as checkpoints reopen
Onnucha Hutasingh
Cambodians walk through the checkpoint at Poipet to enter Thailand at Aranyaprathey after Thai authorities reopened the border to allow them to buy food and necessities.
More than 12,000 Cambodians passed through Khlong Luek checkpoint as the border reopened yesterday after a nine-day closure that was ordered by the government in response to the sacking of the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.
By 8.30am, one hour after the reopening, about 4,000 Cambodians had flocked to buy provisions at Rong Klua market. The number hit 10,000 by noon, and by 7pm, when the border closed for the day, the figure had reached 12,220.
The border was under surveillance by about 100 army-trained rangers, defence volunteers and provincial police officers.
However, there was no presence of heavily armed guards, as had previously been the case.
Authorities continued to block children and the disabled from entering in a bid to eradicate begging at Rong Klua market.
Visitors were also prohibited from bringing in large amounts of consumer goods to ensure they did not set up shop at the market.
Those who were allowed passage walked through the checkpoint in single file, as had been requested by provincial chief Somchai Phumrat.
Orderly behaviour by Cambodians at border checkpoints was crucial to the normalisation of diplomatic ties, he said.
Mr Somchai said he hoped to reopen more temporary checkpoints by Feb 11.
Meanwhile at the market, located only 200 metres from the checkpoint, vendors and customers exchanged stories on how they had been affected by the border closure. Prices were generally maintained at levels charged prior to the closure.
``We sympathise with them. They don't have much money,'' said greengrocer Boonma Suk-on. ``Business in Cambodia also ground to a standstill.''
Sales of fresh vegetables were slow as many Cambodians had begun ordering cheaper produce from Vietnam during the border closure, she said. Vendors of fresh meat, and canned and dried food, experienced the highest demand.
Sa Kaeo Chamber of Commerce chairman Bamrung Lorcharoenwattanachai estimated the trade volume at the market yesterday at around 1.5 million baht. Before the border closure, the figure was closer to 40 million baht per day.
Elsewhere, checkpoints in Chanthaburi province handled crowds of similar size to Khlong Luek, with thousands of Cambodians queuing from 3am ahead of the reopening of five temporary passes at Sap Tari and Suan Som in Soi Dao district, and Phak Kad, Bang Chanang and Ban Laem in Pong Nam Ron district.
