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Thailand Closes Border Pass with Myanmar Over Possible Tension
The Thai military has ordered a permanent shutdown of Mae Sai-Ta Khi Lek border pass in this northern province of Chiang Rai following looming signs of renewed tension along the Thai-Myanmar border, the Thai News Agency (TAN) reported Tuesday.
The order was made Tuesday morning after more Myanmar troops with well-equipped arms were beefed up along the border, though they were in the Myanmar soil, said the report.
The action appeared to violate a ceasefire deal agreed between the two sides Sunday night, it stated.
Thai troops from the Pha Muang Force were then deployed at strategic points along the border as an precaution move.
Akradej Songwarawit, who heads a special force stationed at Mae Sai, was quoted as saying that the order of indefinite shutdown of the Mae Sai-Ta Khi Lek border pass was based on a martial law for security reasons.
The border situation is now considered unsafe, as Myanmar troops were beefed up and a meeting of the Thai-Myanmar Coordinating Center of the both sides was postponed.
Rangoon asked for the postponement of the meeting, originally scheduled for today, he said.
People in Mae Sai said that renewed shootings were heard overnight in the Myanmar side, and people in adjacent areas began moving out to safe places again, the report said.
The Thai military said that Rangoon troops renewed fighting with armed minority groups near the border, which normally occurred during the dry season.
Sellers and business persons near the border claimed that the border pass shutdown would affect border trade and tourism of the two countries, said the report.
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