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BKK Post(16-10-99)Border closure ba



Subject: BKK Post(16-10-99)Border closure backfires

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<font size=3D5><b>Border closure backfires<br>
</font><font size=3D3>Supamart Kasem Thirawat Kamthita<br>
</b>Burma's border towns are running short of food, fuel and other goods
since Rangoon shut the border with Thailand two weeks ago.<br>
Prices have soared and the black market is beginning to thrive
again.<br>
Thai officials and traders in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai, said Burmese
traders were sneaking across the Moei river from Tachilek township to buy
goods at Tha Kralam, Koh Sai and Tha Nam Ban Sailomjoi markets.<br>
The smugglers revealed that prices of consumer goods in Tachilek and
towns in the hinterland had at least doubled since the closure.<br>
Banchong Numkam, mayor of Tha Sai Luad, said the closure had hit the
Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, the junta's ally, which taxed goods
passing through its territory for its primary source of income.<br>
Mr Banchong said the DKBA was considering teaming up with the Karen
National Union, its adversary, in reviving the black market trade which
had brought both a fortune.<br>
Traders from both countries were keen to participate if the border
remained shut.<br>
Mr Banchong said Myawaddy villagers opposite Tak were suffering a severe
shortage of essential goods. Smuggling had intensified and the cost of
fresh food and fuel had jumped tenfold.<br>
The mayor said Burmese, particularly on the border, were facing a worse
predicament than Thais, as goods from Rangoon could not reach them.<br>
The border closure had boosted business for Thai vendors and restaurants
because tourists could not cross over into Burma and were spending more
here.<br>
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</font><font size=3D5><b>Thai troops repel invaders<br>
</font><font size=3D4><i>Shots exchanged as Kayah rebels retreat<br>
<br>
</font></i><font size=3D3>Cheewin Sattha<br>
</b>Thai troops fought a brief gunbattle with intruding Kayah rebels in
this northernmost province on Thursday.<br>
Lt-Gen Sanan Kachornklam, the Defence Ministry spokesman, said yesterday
the clash erupted at 5.30pm in tambon Huey Phueng, Muang district, when a
paramilitary ranger unit stumbled on a band of 15 Kayah rebels about one
kilometre inside Thai territory.<br>
The rangers called a firebase to fire warning mortar shots.<br>
However, the intruders returned fire, and a gunfight ensued for about 10
minutes. No casualties were reported on either side.<br>
After the clash, more Burmese troops were seen massing along the
Thai-Burmese border.<br>
Soldiers of the 7th Task Force Regiment were sent to the area. Lt-Gen
Udomchai Ongkhasing, head of the 3rd Army Corps, inspected the area
yesterday and ordered the local Thai-Burmese Border Committee to lodge a
formal protest with Burma.<br>
Earlier in the week, Thai troops conducted an artillery-firing exercise
using live ammunition near Nam Piang Din and Doi Saeng passes. Sources
said the drill might have caused misunderstanding among Burmese
authorities.<br>
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