[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
BKK POST: January 24, 1998: THAI-BU (r)
- Subject: BKK POST: January 24, 1998: THAI-BU (r)
- From: suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 22:58:00
January 24, 1998
THAI-BURMESE RELATIONS
Burmese troops
say sorry to Thais
for seizing islet
Using it as passage way to some units
Supamart Kasem
Tak
Burmese troops have apologised to Thai soldiers for seizing an
islet in the Moei River in Tambon Mahawan of Mae Sot district
on Sunday, claiming they only used the islet as a passage way to
some Burmese military units.
The move came after members of the local Thai-Burmese
Border Committee agreed at a meeting in Myawaddy on
Thursday that Thailand and Burma should not allow armed
troops to enter the disputed islet in Ban Mae Konekane until an
agreement on border demarcation is reached.
Burma's Light Infantry Regiment 116 commander Lt-Col Hla
Thein Swe told deputy commander of the Fourth Infantry
Regiment Task Force Col Chainarong Thanaroon at a lunch
meeting in Burma opposite Ban Mae Konekane yesterday that
he was sorry that Burmese soldiers had used the disputed islet
for travelling between the Palu Camp and other nearby military
units.
Lt-Col Hla Thein Swe who assumed office on Thursday said
high-ranking Burmese military officers wanted the two countries
to withdraw all armed soldiers from the disputed area because
they demanded peaceful methods to solve the border problem.
Thai villagers could make use of land on the islet pending the
border dispute settlement process and Burma would be ready to
facilitate Thai officials' inspections to ensure the withdrawal of its
troops from the islet.
Thai border officials in the area reportedly requested the TBC
yesterday to push for negotiations for the border dispute
settlement speedily.
Kamnan of Tambon Mahawan Narong Huayphad will lead
villagers of Ban Mae Konekane who own land on the islet to
inspect their land today.
FIRT commander Col Chatchapat Yamngarmriab said he had
already submitted a report on the talks on disputes over land in
Ban Mae Konekane and near Wat Prathat Khok Chanh Phuak
to the Thai-Burma Joint Commission chaired by Foreign Minister
Surin Pitsuwan via the Third Army.
Tak authorities and a Thai-Burmese border coordinating team
reported the matter to the commission via the Interior Ministry
and the Supreme Command Headquarters.
A 340-rai plot in Ban Mae Konekane was cut off from the
mainland in 1993 following severe flooding. Thailand had a
two-million-baht embankment built in the area in May 1994 to
prevent further soil erosion but the embankment was later
destroyed by another flood.
© The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. All rights reserved 1998
Contact the Bangkok Post
Web Comments: Webmaster
Last Modified: Sat, Jan 24, 1998