Cambodian workers who last week fled Thailand en masse have begun trickling back into the country as concerns over a harsh military crackdown are easing, officials say.
Former education minister Chaturon Chaisaeng receives flowers from supporters as he arrives at a military court hearing to consider a request to detain him for another 12 days for disobeying the junta. He was not detained since he is already out on bail. Apichart Jinakul
Col Phichit Meekhunsut, commander of a special task force unit under the 12th Military Ranger Regiment, yesterday visited a border checkpoint in Sa Kaeo’s Aranyaprathet district, which was set up by soldiers, police and customs officers to check on Cambodian migrants returning to the country.
More than 100 Cambodians entered the country yesterday through the Aranyaprathet border from the Cambodian town of Poipet, he said.
Col Phichit said he had instructed Aranyaprathet immigration officers to assist the returning workers.
Speaking after crossing the border yesterday, Oam Sarei, 28, said he left Thailand 10 days ago for fear of being arrested by Thai troops following rumours of a looming crackdown.
After arriving home, he said he had heard the assurances made by Thai troops and Cambodian authorities that there would be no crackdown, so he decided to come back.
He said he was issued with a temporary border pass which limits his stay in the country to seven days, during which time he will need to apply for migrant worker status with the Labour Ministry.
Oam said he believed many more Cambodians would return to Thailand.
Meanwhile, the number of Cambodians leaving Thailand via the Aranyaprathet border pass continued to thin yesterday. Tens of thousands of Cambodian nationals have crossed through the checkpoint in the past 10 days. Soldiers and state officials visited the Rong Kluea border market to ramp up a campaign to allay fears of a labour crackdown.
In Surin, 316 Cambodian workers travelled back to their country through the Chong Jom-Osamed border checkpoint in Kap Choeng district on Thursday, a sharp decrease from the thousands who fled earlier in the week.
Cambodian troops reportedly provided 30 lorries to transport them home.
Thai officials, meanwhile, set up makeshift tents near the border in Kap Choeng to proceed with the documentation process for workers returning to work in Thailand.