Mondulkiri police and a Vietnamese delegation from Binh Phuoc have joined forces to combat crimes along their shared border.
On August 25, they met to discuss past efforts in ensuring security and peace along this frontier.
The meeting was led by Orn Bunny Rithy, Mondulkiri’s deputy police chief for security, and Buoy Minh Sai, commander of Vietnam’s Binh Phuoc border army.
“The aim is to strengthen our joint efforts against human trafficking, drug smuggling, armed robbery and other offences,” Buoy Minh Sai said.
“I urged both military sides to work together, ensuring stricter monitoring of people crossing the La Pa Ke and Hang Yieng border checkpoints to gamble, as this impacts our border security,” he added.
Bunny Rithy agreed on the matter, pledging to work closely with the Vietnamese delegation and to relay these concerns to Mondulkiri’s main police station.
The Vietnamese representatives expressed the need to address any border issues amicably and within each side’s authority.
Reflecting on past successes, both parties lauded their 2022 collaboration and charted a course for continued cooperation this year.
Addressing the broader issue, Am Sam Ath, deputy director of local rights group LICADHO, told The Post on August 27 that while setting a clear direction is crucial, the effective implementation of laws is just as vital. He highlighted significant drug-related challenges, urging collaboration between border countries – Vietnam, Thailand and Laos – to halt drug smuggling.
“We’ve observed drug smuggling and human trafficking along these borders. While it’s essential to clamp down on these issues, addressing corruption and holding complicit officials accountable is equally critical,” he added.
