The river piers serving the Tha Rongruey, Tha Chomphu, Tha Buareng, Tha Korphai, Tha Jeh Kaseng and Hua Saphan communities in Sungai Kolok district were closed on June 3 for lack of operating licences.

Narathiwat Taskforce Commander Maj Gen Wicharn Suksong said insurgents used the piers to smuggle bombs into Thailand and launch attacks in the southern border provinces.

But he passed on the residents’ complaints to his superior and it was agreed that the piers could reopen on condition that community representatives help soldiers screen people arriving by river.