Charly Hofmann had to flee in pick-up with his wife and his Thai family.
Photo made available
A former conflict around the border between Thailand and Cambodia has again degenerated. Tens of thousands of people had to flee. Among them is Charly Hofmann, a Swiss living in the region.
Thursday, when clashes between Thailand and Cambodia resumed, Charly Hofmann was still optimistic on social networks. Friday morning, Swissinfo tried to contact this 71 -year -old Swiss for an interview. “We are evacuating. On the way to San Kaeo. I drive. I can’t speak, ”he replied.
Around noon (Swiss time), it could be attached by phone from a Thai city located 80 kilometers. He and his family are safe. “We are accommodated in a gymnasium,” he explains.
The conflict area was actually far from his home, but shots suddenly broke out just 17 kilometers from his home. “This is why the village chiefs said that it was necessary to evacuate,” says Charly Hofmann.
With two pick-ups loaded with people, food, clothes and even a motorcycle, the latter fled hastily. “This morning again, I was quietly doing a Nordic walking session. Now we have left behind our house, 60 cows and rice fields that extend over a large area like 25 football fields. ”
Charly Hofmann lives in Thailand just ten kilometers from the border with Cambodia. We see it here on its tractor in 2016.
Photo made available
Not a tourist destination for the Swiss
The latent border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia again broke out. Shooting and dead exchanges were reported on both sides, and tens of thousands of people fled. The border posts are closed, the ambassadors recalled and evacuations take place.
The combat zone is far from the usual tourist circuits, notably reports the SRF German -style radio. Rarely Swiss tourists go to the province of Surin, about 400 kilometers west of Bangkok. Northwest of neighboring Cambodia is not a classic tourist destination either.
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAE) indicates that, according to the Travel Admin application, around 40 Swiss travelers are currently in Cambodia. In Thailand, there are 670s.
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Charly Hofmann knows no other Swiss from abroad having fled the conflict. “I am practically the only foreigner in the region,” says this original Zurichois, installed in Thailand since 2011.
The DFAE closely follows the situation linked to tensions between Cambodia and Thailand. Tips for travelers are regularly updated. Currently, it is not recommended to go to the border area.
“In a few days, we may be able to go home”
The heart of the conflict is a border area disputed for decades around old temples. The dispute dates back to the colonial era and has given rise to several clashes over the years. Charly Hofmann had never experienced such a situation in 14 years. “For my wife, who has grown up here, it’s not the first time,” he says.
The point on the conflict in the RTS telejernal of July 24:
The Swiss hopes to be able to go home in a few days, ten kilometers from the Cambodian border. “For the moment, I sleep here in this gymnasium. I am curious to see how things will evolve, ”he adds.
A return to Switzerland is not possible for him. If the conflict was to last, he plans to go on vacation in Pattaya or Koh Samui until the situation calms down.
Charly Hofmann has not been in contact with the Swiss representation in Bangkok in recent days. “However, local authorities know that I fled with my wife and his family.” He thus follows the recommendations of the DFAE.
The Department of Foreign Affairs asks the Swiss nationals on site to follow the instructions of the local authorities and to keep informed via the media or travel agencies. “In the event of an emergency, they can at any time contact the Swiss representation in Bangkok or the Helpline DFAE,” said the DFAE on request.
Text reread and verified by Giannis Mavris, translated from German using AI/OP
Approximately 490 people are registered in the Swiss register abroad to Cambodia. According to the DFAE, this figure also includes family members not holding Swiss nationality.
The same goes for the Thailandwhere around 13,430 people are registered in the Swiss register abroad.
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