Thai Navy Proposes Halting Fuel, Strategic Exports to Cambodia

BANGKOK, Dec 15 (TNA) - The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) is set to propose halting exports of fuel and key strategic goods to Cambodia. 

This decision comes amid severely rising tensions following reports of Cambodian elements allegedly attempting to infiltrate and attack military and government sites within Thailand's Trat province.

The proposals will be formally tabled for consideration at the National Security Council (NSC) meeting scheduled for December 16.

The three major proposals include: requesting the NSC to pass a resolution immediately suspending all fuel and strategic supply exports to Cambodia; mandating controls on vessels suspected of running these supplies; and requesting the declaration of the sea area around Cambodian ports as a high-risk zone due to alleged indiscriminate firing by Cambodian forces that endangers passing ships. 

Captain Nara Khunthothom, RTN spokesman, stressed that these are initial proposals and measures do not constitute closing the Gulf of Thailand to navigation.

In a separate move, the RTN has requested that fishing vessels temporarily cease operations in the Trat maritime area, which includes waters south of Koh Chang and around Koh Kood.

This request aligns with a curfew that has been imposed from 7 PM to 5 AM across most of Trat province (excluding Koh Chang and Koh Kood) since December 14. These measures are being enforced to ensure public safety and to prevent the infiltration of hostile personnel in the sensitive border region. -819 (TNA)