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BKK POST: January 24, 1998: THAI-BU (r)



January 24, 1998
THAI-BURMESE RELATIONS

              Burmese troops
              say sorry to Thais
              for seizing islet

              Using it as passage way to some units 

              Supamart Kasem 
              Tak

              Burmese troops have apologised to Thai soldiers for seizing an
              islet in the Moei River in Tambon Mahawan of Mae Sot district
              on Sunday, claiming they only used the islet as a passage way to
              some Burmese military units.

              The move came after members of the local Thai-Burmese
              Border Committee agreed at a meeting in Myawaddy on
              Thursday that Thailand and Burma should not allow armed
              troops to enter the disputed islet in Ban Mae Konekane until an
              agreement on border demarcation is reached.

              Burma's Light Infantry Regiment 116 commander Lt-Col Hla
              Thein Swe told deputy commander of the Fourth Infantry
              Regiment Task Force Col Chainarong Thanaroon at a lunch
              meeting in Burma opposite Ban Mae Konekane yesterday that
              he was sorry that Burmese soldiers had used the disputed islet
              for travelling between the Palu Camp and other nearby military
              units.

              Lt-Col Hla Thein Swe who assumed office on Thursday said
              high-ranking Burmese military officers wanted the two countries
              to withdraw all armed soldiers from the disputed area because
              they demanded peaceful methods to solve the border problem.

              Thai villagers could make use of land on the islet pending the
              border dispute settlement process and Burma would be ready to
              facilitate Thai officials' inspections to ensure the withdrawal of its
              troops from the islet.

              Thai border officials in the area reportedly requested the TBC
              yesterday to push for negotiations for the border dispute
              settlement speedily.

              Kamnan of Tambon Mahawan Narong Huayphad will lead
              villagers of Ban Mae Konekane who own land on the islet to
              inspect their land today.

              FIRT commander Col Chatchapat Yamngarmriab said he had
              already submitted a report on the talks on disputes over land in
              Ban Mae Konekane and near Wat Prathat Khok Chanh Phuak
              to the Thai-Burma Joint Commission chaired by Foreign Minister
              Surin Pitsuwan via the Third Army.

              Tak authorities and a Thai-Burmese border coordinating team
              reported the matter to the commission via the Interior Ministry
              and the Supreme Command Headquarters.

              A 340-rai plot in Ban Mae Konekane was cut off from the
              mainland in 1993 following severe flooding. Thailand had a
              two-million-baht embankment built in the area in May 1994 to
              prevent further soil erosion but the embankment was later
              destroyed by another flood.




                                     




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Last Modified: Sat, Jan 24, 1998