[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

Burma plan runs into Thai protest



                                         October 3, 1998 


                                    


                       BORDER

 Burma plan runs
 into Thai protest

 Over fishing rights at disputed islands

 Ranong provincial authorities recently protested to Burma through the
 Burma-Thailand Regional Border Committee over Burma's plan to
 grant a fishing concession to a Malaysian firm over three small
 disputed islands off the coast of Ranong.

 Deputy Ranong governor Boonchuay Kerdsukhon, on behalf of the
 governor, reportedly filed the protest letter to the Burmese side
 through the local border dialogue mechanism following Burma's
 repeated claim on Thursday over Koh Ganga, Koh Nok, and Koh
 Kan, provincial sources said.

 The two neighbours have claimed rights over the
 less-than-one-square-kilometre area since the reign of King Rama IV.
 Negotiations have never caused positive results in demarcation,
 leaving the three islands undeveloped and untouched by both
 countries.

 Ranong province said its counterpart province Kawthaung in Burma
 could not just claim the rights with the British-made map and allow a
 Malaysian firm to exploit the area for the benefits of fisheries, said the
 local sources.

 Any rights justifications must be made through the joint task force, said
 the Ranong officials.

 The military joint border committee at the provincial level also filed a
 similar protest letter to the Burmese authorities saying that the Thai
 military map shows the three islands belonging to the Thai territory. 

 The Ministry of the Interior and Foreign Ministry have yet to be
 informed of the local movement.

 "We have to check it first before seeking clarification or proceed to
 any higher-level protest. But in principle, the contentious points are
 purely technical," a Foreign Ministry official said.

 Meanwhile, more than 3,000 Karen refugees being sheltered in Ban
 Nai Soi will soon be moved to two Muang district camps to prevent
 further forest destruction in the area.

 Mae Hong Son Governor Samrerng Boonyopakorn who heads the
 provincial border command centre said officials had agreed with a
 plan to transfer 3,176 Burmese refugees from Ban Nai Soi camp to
 Ban Pang Kwai and Ban Pang camps in Muang District instead of Ban
 Mae Surin shelter in Khun Yuam District as earlier agreed due to
 budget constraints.

 The refugees have been accused by Ban Nai Sai villagers of stealing
 their agricultural produce, encroaching on their land, destroying forests
 and polluting the stream in the area, he said.

 According to him, the relocation operation will be directed by the chief
 of Muang district.

 After their relocation, the refugees will be barred from leaving their
 shelters and face repatriation if they refuse to obey orders, Mr
 Samrerng said.

 In another development, the Thai embassy in Rangoon reportedly
 announced that only four Thai logging firms have been allowed by
 Rangoon to import logs from Burma through five border passes in
 Mae Hong Son until December 31, 1998. 

 Burma's Commerce Ministry has also imposed a ban on log exports
 through three border checkpoints in Kawthaung, Myawaddy and
 Tachilek.

                                                       
                                                       Classifieds

                                                       Jobs
                                                       Property
                                                       Entertainment
                                                       Investment
                                                       Education
                                                       Travel
                                                       Sales

                                                       Learn English

                                                       Weekly 

                                                       Database
                                                       Horizons
                                                       NiteOwl
                                                       Student
                                                       Weekly
                                                       Real Time

                                                       Special

                                                       We Care
                                                       Street Art

                                                       Back Issues

                                                       Last Month
                                                       Archive

                                                       Company
                                                       Servcies
                                                       Subscriptions
                                                       Advertising

                                                       Annual Report
                  


 © Copyright The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 1998
 Last Modified: Sat, Oct 3, 1998
 For comments and letters to the editor see : notes
 Comments to: Webmaster
 Advertising enquiries to Internet Marketing