Thai Army Bans Fuel Exports at Laos Border Amid Cambodia Clashes

UBON RATCHATHANI, Dec 15 (TNA) - Hundreds of tanker trucks are stranded at the Chong Mek border crossing after Thailand's Second Army Area Command banned the export of all fuels and military materiel. The move comes amid escalating clashes on the Thai-Cambodian border.

The ban, effective midnight, affects the major crossing into Laos, which links to Cambodia's Stung Treng province.

On Monday, approximately 100 large oil tankers were halted at the gate. Drivers are waiting for rerouting instructions after the military acted on suspicious export volumes.

Immigration officials noted that the unusual traffic increase raised concerns the fuel could be diverted for military operations by the Cambodian side.

The military cited a significant jump in authorizations: 180 fuel trucks were exported in the first five days of fighting (starting Dec 7), compared to 281 trucks in the entire month of November.

The suspension of over 100 waiting trucks this morning was enacted for security reasons. -819 (TNA)