Cambodians flock into Sa Kaeo to return to homeland

SA KAEO, April 12 (TNA) - Thousands of Cambodian workers were passing through the immigration checkpoint in Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo province Thursday morning to return to their homeland for Songkran celebrations. Local immigration police sought more paramilitary rangers and local police to help facilitate the traffic and guarantee order. Pol Col Benjapol Rodsawat, immigration chief of Sa Kaeo, said large crowds of Cambodian workers were traveling back to the homeland on Thursday which was the eve of Songkran day, April 13. The immigration checkpoint would operate until 10pm and immigration police would not leave any Cambodian stranded there, he said. From April 5 to 11, about 22,000 Cambodian workers passed the immigration checkpoint in Aranyaprathet district to Cambodia, he said. The Thai government waives cross-border fees for migrant workers from neighbouring countries to conveniently celebrate the Songkran festival in their homeland. Meanwhile, a large number of Malaysian and Singaporean tourists and Thai people who worked in Malaysia were arriving through Sadao district of Songkhla. The heavy traffic started Wednesday but local immigration police managed to prevent congestion by operating 15 immigration booths up from normally eight. Immigration police expect 10,000-15,000 tourists to arrive through Sadao daily between April 12 and 14 for Songkran celebrations. (TNA)