Joint panel to discuss Burma's rein

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Joint panel to discuss Burma's reinforcements along Sai river

Security move blocks at least four passes

Teerawat Khumtita

Bangkok Post
April 29, 1998

Burma's recent security beef-up along the Sai river opposite Mae Sot
district which has affected cross-border transport will be discussed at
tomorrow's Thai-Burmese Border Committee meeting.

Maj-Gen Picharnmeth Muangmanee, the Chiang Rai Military District commander
who chairs the TBC's military sub-committee, said yesterday Thai and
Burmese representatives would discuss border problems as well as the issue
of Burmese refugees in Thailand at tomorrow's meeting in Burma's Tachilek.
Thai authorities would also raise for discussion Burma's April 5-23
military reinforcements along the Sai river which had practically shut down
at least four border passes in Mae Sai, he added.

Local people believed Burma's action resulted from murder of a Burmese
businessman in Tachilek by a gunman suspected to be from Thailand.

Mae Sia district chief Thavorn Cherdphan, a TBC member, said Thai and
Burmese representatives should discuss the problem at tomorrow's meeting to
prevent any misunderstanding between Thai and Burmese.

Meanwhile, the cabinet yesterday approved in principle a US proposal to set
up a landmine disposal and training centre in Thailand to remove all
landmines along its borders, government sources said.

The cabinet approved the proposal which was first raised by the US embassy
to the Foreign Ministry on February 2.

The proposal, which involves setting up a landmine disposal and training
centre in Thailand with US financial and technical assistance, was
discussed by Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai during his official US visit on
March 11-17.

Thailand must now acknowledge its interest in the centre to the US
government and put in an official request for assistance, said sources at
Government House.

Landmines, on e of the most widespread weapons used in the Cambodian civil
war, continue to pose a hazard to Thai farmers and traders living along the
Thai-Cambodian border. - Post/DPA