In a letter to governors of provinces bordering neighbouring countries on Wednesday, Minister of Interior Sar Kheng introduced measures to prevent Cambodians from crossing illegally into neighbouring countries.

“I would like to inform [the governors] that recently some people have crossed the borders illegally while those neighbouring countries are in a state of emergency to prevent and stop the Covid-19 pandemic,” Sar Kheng wrote.

He said the measures are being put in place to strengthen border controls, maintain peace, and protect the people by preventing the spread of Covid-19 in Cambodia.

“The Ministry of Interior asks the provincial governors and the heads of the provincial Unified Command Committees, and the principal administrations to immediately call a meeting to advise all police forces along the borders to collaborate and introduce measures to stop illegal entry and exit via corridors bordering neighbouring countries,” he said.

Sar Kheng also advised the provincial governors close to the borders to search for and arrest intermediaries who enticed Cambodians to cross the borders illegally.

“In case the police in neighbouring countries arrest Cambodians who cross the borders, the provincial administrations have to contact and coordinate [the case] with the police in the other country quickly to request they send them back to Cambodia and pay attention to health checks, implement quarantine measures and transport,” he said.

Sar Kheng said neighbouring countries are still in a state of emergency to stop the Covid-19 pandemic. Hence, the provincial administrations have to educate, advice and disseminate information to locals so that they will not travel to neighbouring countries in the short term.

Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak could not be reached for data on the number of people who were enticed by intermediaries to migrate to bordering countries.