Thai and Cambodian locals rush to cross at Surin’s Chong Chom–O’Smach checkpoint on its first day of reopening under new military-regulated hours. SURIN, Thailand – The permanent Chong Chom–O’Smach border crossing in Kap Choeng district, Surin province, officially reopened on Monday under new military-enforced border control measures. Thai authorities unlocked the gate at 8:00 AM, while their Cambodian counterparts opened the O’Smach side at 9:00 AM. The reopening saw a surge of Thai and Cambodian traders and locals eager to cross the border, with long lines of cargo trucks forming on both sides. Thai military personnel and related officials began by unlocking and opening the gate at the Chong Chom permanent checkpoint, allowing cross-border travel to resume under an adjusted schedule set by the Suranaree Task Force (2nd Army Region). Under the new regulation, the border will now open three days per week — Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, a reduction from the previous daily operation. On the Cambodian side, near the gate at O’Smach, many people gathered to take photos and observe the Thai officials. However, the barbed-wire barriers had not yet been removed at that point, leaving some Cambodians — including traders, locals, and cargo trucks — waiting about 100 meters from the border, behind temporary fencing. Meanwhile, on the Thai side, Cambodians who had been stranded in Thailand, along with Thai motorcycle taxis, vans, and freight trucks, lined up along the Thai military base zone about 350 meters from the gate. Military officials carried out security checks and screenings before allowing people to move toward the gate. Finally, at 9:00 AM, Cambodian officials unlocked the gate on their side, prompting visible joy among Cambodians who had been waiting to return home. Freight trucks then slowly began processing documentation to cross the border, marking a return to controlled but functional trade and travel in the area. The reopening is part of broader coordination between the two countries amid efforts to de-escalate recent border tensions. Cargo trucks and public transport pile up on both sides of the border as freight drivers and passengers await screening and clearance. Cambodians stranded in Thailand cheer as O’Smach officials unlock the border gate at 9 AM, signaling a cautious return to normalcy.   Controlled crossings resume after diplomatic efforts ease Thai-Cambodian border strains, with both sides opting for peace over provocation.