The Thailand-Cambodia border dispute

[Gaybutton]

Thailand refuses to recognise an international court ruling.

That bothers me. What's the point of the existence of an international court if one or both sides can refuse to abide by the ruling, and do so with no penalties or sanctions?

[Jun]

Cynical me says neither side wants to resolve the dispute. It's handy for both governments to have somewhere where they can beat their chests and wave their nationalist flags when they want to divert attention from domestic political matters.

That's a proven tactic for many autocratic governments. Which is what we have, with rigged elections.

Now Cambodians will get just 7 days when crossing the land border into Thailand. That's going to be inconvenient for certain bar boys and bar managers. At least for those here legally, with passports and up to date immigration stamps.
I imagine a few will just go home and stay home until this has blown over.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... s-citizens

What's the point of the existence of an international court if one or both sides can refuse to abide by the ruling, and do so with no penalties or sanctions?

There is also not much chance of resolving the dispute if Thailand has no intention of respecting independent judgements.

[Gaybutton]

That's going to be inconvenient for certain bar boys and bar managers. At least for those here legally, with passports and up to date immigration stamps.

Don't forget, if Cambodians are in Thailand working as bar boys then they are working - and that is illegal. They don't seem to be all that worried about immigration.

[Jun]

They don't seem to be all that worried about immigration.

I gather it's common to hand over 1000~1500 for VIP service at immigration.
That works for a 60 day stamp, but I can't imagine many doing it every 7 days.

[Gaybutton]

[but I can't imagine many doing it every 7 days.

I can't imagine what this move is supposed to accomplish in the first place.

[Dodger]

This dispute over who owns the property where the Preah Vihea Temple sits has been going on for over a century. My previous Boy Special and I built a home in the town of Kantharalak which sits directly on the Thai side of the border where these military conflicts always take place, and would occasionally sit in our back yard listening to the mortar rounds being fired.

The Cambodian boys know how to cross into Thailand if they really want to get here. There are other crossings besides the main border crossings that are being clamped down right now - but not sure what kind of controls Thai Immigration has on this 7 day restriction. Only time will tell.

[Gaybutton]

not sure what kind of controls Thai Immigration has on this 7 day restriction.

They could always follow Trump's example and build a border wall. That'll stop 'em . . . !

[Jun]

A Cambodian friend is intent on returning home for a few days next month to get a passport. I'm in favour of the upgrade to "legal" status.

However, I think that makes sense if he can get a 60 day stamp, but doing border runs every 7 days has to be uneconomic. I understand they can get 60 days if arriving by air, but that's just going to push up the price of flights.

[Dodger]

The Cambodian boys can figure out how to handle border crossings and visa matters for themselves. They've been doing this for decades and know every angle.

The dumber they act - the smarter they are.

[Gaybutton]

A Cambodian friend is intent on returning home for a few days next month to get a passport.

Did you mean visa? If he is in Thailand without a passport, that is real trouble waiting to happen.

If you meant visa, he should not overstay. If his current visa is about to expire, then he should wait in Cambodia until the border restrictions are rescinded.

Either way, Dodger is right. These boys know what they're doing and they don't need advice from farang - unless they ask for advice.