MCOT English NewsThai locals near the Preah Vihear area are facing a serious economic problem, and they hope the new prime minister will solve the dispute along the border so they can enjoy better lives. Let’s hear some locals’ voice their opinions to the Prime Minister in this report from the Thai News Agency.
It has been two months after the anti-government dhamma group claimed ownership of Preah Vihear, causing Cambodia to close the ancient Khmer temple on July 16th.
Locals of Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket province have been severely affected by the Thai-Cambodian border dispute. Their business and tourism income have fallen to almost zero.
Not only does poverty menace the locals, the Cambodian Civil War also haunts them, as a Khmer gunshot explosion once fell on Thai territory, injuring many locals in the arms and legs.
Kantharalak district chief shared with us how one of his dwellers felt.
Prasert Aram-sriworapong, Kantharalak district chief said "Mr. Aran, a local resident, feels that after the incident, he must be the one who faces this karma, for he lives in the area and has nowhere else to move to."
Due to the poor quality of life and feelings of the area being unsafe to live, the locals of Kan-tha-ra-lak (???-??-??-???) district want their new government to speed up negotiations in the Thai-Cambodian border problem. Although the problem remains unresolved, they want commerce and tourism to be boosted as it was in the past.
Due to the poor quality of life and feelings of the area being unsafe to live, the locals of Kantharalak district want their new government to speed up negotiations in the Thai-Cambodian border problem. Although the problem remains unresolved, they want commerce and tourism to be boosted as it was in the past.
Noi Tongpanya, a local trader "I want Preah Vihear to be reopened because now we have no income. If the ancient temple is closed, everything goes quiet."
The locals’ hope now depends on the Somchai Wongsawat administration. They want the new prime minister to visit the area so he can acknowledge the real problem.
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