thailand
Cambodian migrant worker Sa Phay’s rented room in Rangsit, Thailand, on November 11, 2019 (Matt Surrusco/VOD)

As Border Shuts, Cambodians in Thailand Face Bleak Outlook

Heng Sreynop says she lives in a red zone in Thailand, and fears Covid-19. She says she understands why the borders need to be closed, but it adds to the pressure. “If we wanted to escape, we couldn’t escape. We don’t know where to escape.”

Authorities at the O'Smach International Border Checkpoint check temperatures of Cambodian workers returning from Thailand, in a photograph posted to the Immigration Department's Facebook page on March 23, 2020.

Up to Quarter of Returnees From Thailand Testing Positive for Covid-19

As much as 25 percent of migrant workers coming back from Covid-stricken Thailand are testing positive, according to provincial authorities, as some returnees said they believe they are contracting the disease in crowded quarantine centers along the border.

Snack vendors park behind a CPP sign in Mondulkiri province's Sen Monorom City on October 17, 2020. (Danielle Keeton-Olsen/VOD)

Lawyer Requests Early Release for Jailed Sandal-Thrower

Jailed sandal-thrower Sam Sokha, sentenced twice for incitement after being extradited from her escape to Thailand, should be released five months early due to health concerns amid the pandemic, her lawyer asked the Kampong Speu Provincial Court.

Authorities at the O'Smach International Border Checkpoint check temperatures of Cambodian workers returning from Thailand, in a photograph posted to the Immigration Department's Facebook page on March 23, 2020.

Cambodian Workers Caught Up in Thai Covid-19 Surge

Some Cambodian workers are caught in a wave of Covid-19 at their workplaces in Thailand and under pressure to maintain their livelihoods, while many others have fled back to Cambodia to escape the disease and the risk of difficulties in getting treatment or poor deals from employers.

Authorities at the O'Smach International Border Checkpoint check temperatures of Cambodian workers returning from Thailand, in a photograph posted to the Immigration Department's Facebook page on March 23, 2020.

Thai Border on Alert as Imported Covid-19 Cases Rise

Health authorities have announced a rise in imported Covid-19 cases as Cambodian police say they are increasingly concerned about illegal crossings to and from Thailand amid pressures on people’s livelihoods.

illustration of people holding Wanchalearm masks over their faces

What Happened to Wanchalearm?

A year after Wanchalearm Satsaksit vanished, authorities say there is no proof he was abducted in Phnom Penh. A joint investigation reveals details of the Thai dissident’s escape from Thailand, life in exile in Cambodia and the last days before he disappeared.