Surin: Tourists continue to flock to Prasat Ta Muen Thom in Surin Province, even after recent disturbances forced visitors into bunkers. Despite the tension, both Thai and Cambodian tourists are visiting the site, although security personnel on each side of the castle have been reduced to three.
According to Thai News Agency, Prasat Ta Muen Thom in Phanom Dong Rak District is teeming with tourists eager to support soldiers defending national sovereignty. Following an incident that occurred at the site, the number of soldiers on duty has been decreased by three on each side. Despite the situation, tourists arrived early, using private cars, tour buses, and vans.
One group, comprising 150 passengers from Pak Nam Laem Sing Subdistrict Municipality in Chanthaburi Province, brought donations to boost the morale of soldiers and police on the front lines. Another group, led by Ms. Jane Yanaprides, included about 40 people who traveled from Bangkok in four vans, wearing shirts emblazoned with “Love you Thailand.”
Amid the donations, two soldiers received 10,000 baht each for their brave response against Cambodian soldiers during the disturbance. This gesture has resonated with Thai citizens nationwide. The tourists expressed no fear of further clashes, emphasizing their mission to provide moral support to the officers safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty.
Normally, the castle opens to tourists between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. However, today it opened later due to a meeting to review the operational plan. The soldiers from both sides agreed to reduce their numbers from 10 to 7 at the site.
Lt. Col. Chakkrit Piyasupharik, commander of the 21st Infantry Battalion, assured that the situation has returned to normal. He clarified that the Cambodian tourist who confronted Thai soldiers was not a female soldier, as rumors suggested, and confirmed that Cambodian authorities will implement stricter tourist screenings.
At the castle’s entrance, four complex bunkers built by the Kan Chom Phalang Foundation are near completion. Two bunkers, each accommodating 80 people, are finished, with the remaining two expected to be completed soon. Parking arrangements have been adjusted for quick evacuation in emergencies, with vehicles instructed to face the road.