NEWS - Thai army chief departs on M

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Thai army chief departs on Myanmar mission

       Wed 16 Sep 98 - 05:04 GMT 

       BANGKOK, Sept 16 (AFP) - Outgoing Thai army chief General Chettha
Thanajaro left here Wednesday for a three-day visit to
       Myanmar to secure the release of Thai fishermen imprisoned there,
army officials said.

       Chettha, who is to retire this month, will bid farewell to his
Myanmar counterpart General Muang Aye and take part in the reopening of
       the border checkpoint between Thailand's Mae Sot district and
Myawadi in eastern Myanmar.

       His meeting with Muang Aye in Mandalay, north of the capital
Yangon, is also expected to arrange the release of 86 Thai fishermen
       jailed in Myanmar.

       The Myawadi checkpoint was originally scheduled to reopen on
Thursday following high-level talks in Bangkok earlier this month
       aimed at boosting border trade. It was closed in April.

       Two-way trade between Myanmar and Thailand decreased 31.8 percent
to 204.8 million dollars in the first half of this year, according
       to official statistics.