Burma shuts checkpoint at Mae Sot
Thai officials on the border with Burma yesterday put on a brave face after the junta abruptly shut the Mae Sot-Myawaddy crossing.
Tak Governor Chumporn Ponrak, who visited the crossing yesterday, told reporters his office requested a formal explanation from Burma.A prolonged closing could affect cross-border trade via the checkpoint worth about Bt1 billion to this country, he said. Yesterday's action by Burma appeared to be a tit-for-tat move in response to Thailand's decision to close a border checkpoint last week at Kanchanaburi's Three Pagodas Pass after two border patrol policemen were abducted by the pro-government Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. The pass was reopened after their release two days ago. Burma's decision to close the border yesterday not only jolted Thai officials but was a chilling reminder of six years ago when on-and-off tension between Thai and Burmese troops flared up, resulting in cross-border shootings and shelling. Then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made fence-mending visits before anxiety subsided. Analysts said tension along the border was deep-rooted in Burma's insurgency and Thailand's refusal to crack down on Burmese rebels who rely on Thailand as their economic lifeline. The Nation
|
