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Bkk Post -Border closure backfires



Reply-To: "TIN KYI" <tinkyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Bangkok Post - Oct 16, 1999.
THAI-BURMESE RELATIONS

Border closure backfires
Supamart Kasem Thirawat Kamthita

Burma's border towns are running short of food, fuel and other goods since
Rangoon shut the border with Thailand two weeks ago.

Prices have soared and the black market is beginning to thrive again.

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.

The smugglers revealed that prices of consumer goods in Tachilek and towns
in the hinterland had at least doubled since the closure.

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.

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.

Traders from both countries were keen to participate if the border remained
shut.

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.

The mayor said Burmese, particularly on the border, were facing a worse
predicament than Thais, as goods from Rangoon could not reach them.

The border closure had boosted business for Thai vendors and restaurants
because tourists could not cross over into Burma and were spending more
here.