Thai army blocks fuel exports to Laos over fears supplies could reach Cambodian troops

Thailand has blocked fuel exports to Laos amid fears the supplies could reach neighbouring Cambodia.

The Second Army Area imposed tighter controls on December 15, following reports of unusually large fuel shipments in the border town of Chong Mek in Ubon Ratchathani province.

The army said the ban only covers fuel products and military supplies, while other exports were subject to existing cross-border procedures.

Footage shows trucks clogging the border crossing today after the embargo was implemented.

Police Major General Pairat Phukcharoen, commander of Immigration Bureau 4, was at the checkpoint with customs officials to monitor the situation.

He said: 'The Chong Mek border crossing can be accessed through the Nong Nok Khien border crossing opposite Stung Taeng in Cambodia.

'The Cambodian and Lao border crossings remain open as usual. This makes it possible that the oil entering the country may be sold to Cambodia for unknown purposes. In this situation, with such an unusual volume, we must be suspicious and wonder if it is being used for military operations, which could make our own military operations more difficult.'

Fuel truck driver Natthaphong Khemkhaeng said that he had been waiting to cross the border since the previous night to deliver fuel for a PTT customer in Laos.

He said: 'When the ban was imposed, I had to wait for instructions from the company to bring the oil back and move it to another location. Right now, I'm just waiting for instructions from the company on what to do.'

Fuel companies PTT and Bangchak have both released statements saying they do not export fuel to Cambodia in line with government policies.

Fighting flared up earlier this month as the Thai army claimed Cambodian troops fired on a Thai engineering team building an access road in a disputed border area.

At least 15 Thai soldiers and one civilian have been killed since fighting resumed. In Cambodia, at least 11 civilians have died, while the number of soldiers dead is believed to be much higher.

Around 600,000 people have been displaced on both sides of the border.

Cambodia's assault has largely been wayward, unguided rockets fired indiscriminately into Thai territory, while Thailand has used precision drone strikes and fighter jet strikes on military sites.

Former Khmer Rouge henchman and Cambodian dictator Hun Sen - who was a leading figure in the genocide of his own people in the 1970s before assuming power in 1985 and overseeing the murder of thousands of opposition figures and critics - has repeatedly claimed that he wants peace and that Thailand is the aggressor.

Thai officials claim the ongoing border confrontations are a threat to national security, and the areas must be secured.