Thais Blockade Cassava Crossing

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
08 September 2009

Around 300 Thai citizens forced the closure of a border crossing on Tuesday, blocking attempts by Thai trucks to transport Cambodian cassava from the northern provinces of Banteay Meanchey and Oddar Meanchey.

An estimated 3,000 tons of cassava comes each day from the province’s Pouk district, angering Thai farmers, who used mechanical tillers to block the roadway, a Cambodian exporter said.

“The closing of the Boeung Trakuan border checkpoint destroyed our cassava export,” said Choeuv Taov, 56, a member of the Thmor Puak district council and a cassava trader.

“Cassava is a very important aspect of Cambodian’s livings in this area. The Cambodian people need to sell their cassava to support their living and to replant on time.” Click to read more...