Ailing Cambodian woman allowed to cross border for treatment

Thai marines, manning the border checkpoint at Ban Pak Kardin Chanthaburi, opened the gate to allow an aging Cambodian woman, suffering from a blood infection, to reach a district hospital in Thailand for emergency treatment late Friday night.

An ambulance was sent to the checkpoint at about 9pm last night to receive the 67-year-old patient, identified only as Mrs Yang Thach, who had developed a severe headache, high fever and shivering.

It is reported that the hospital in Cambodia was unable to treat the patient due to shortage of medical equipment and specialists. The Cambodian hospital then sought permission from Thai authorities for the patient to be taken to a Thai hospital for the required treatment.

The marine commander in charge of the border checkpoint allowed the patient through on humanitarian grounds.

Meanwhile, 23 Thai nationals were arrested by Thai border guards in Ban Saensuk of Aranyaprathet district in Sa Kaeo province, as they were trying to sneak across the border into Cambodia late Friday night, with the help of a guide.

The group, comprising nine men, including the guide, and 14 women, was spotted heading towards Poipet, about 300 metres from the border road. The border guards ordered them to stop and three shots rang out.

The guard, identified as Krai Chantha, suffered a bullet wound to the left side of his chest and was rushed to the district hospital.

All the Thais were later taken to Klong Namsai police station for questioning, during which they said they wanted to return to Cambodia to work in casinos. They claimed that they paid the guide between 2,500 and 5,000 baht each to take them into Cambodia.