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BKK Post, April 4,1998: Exports of



BKK Post, April 4,1998.BORDER

Exports of goods to Burma
banned due to frontier clashes

Officials cite security
problems for closure

Supamart Kasem
Tak

   Exports Of goods to Burma through Eborder checkpoints in four districts of Tak would be temporarily suspended starting from Sunday to prevent security problems caused by fighting in Burma.

   Border officials in Tak yesterday requested customs and. security officials to ban the exports of goods to Burma via border passes in Thai Song Yang, Mae Ramat, Phop Phra and Umphang districts starting from April 5.

   The measure will not cover Mae Sot district.  Six border checkpoints in this district will remain open to crossborder trade from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

   Yesterday, copies of an announcement on the measure signed by Fourth Infantry Regiment Task Force commander Col Chatchapat Yamngarmriab were sent to customs and immigration officials, district chiefs and other concerned agencies.

   Security forces were reportedly dispatched to border areas of the four districts to ensure that there would be no deliveries of goods within three kilometres of the border.

   Col Chatchapat said the current border  situation was not good for cross-border trade due to, fighting which pits Burmese troops and their allies, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, against Karen National Union guerrillas in Burma.

   The measure would be enforced temporarily until the situation improves and  the safety of Thai exporters and customs officials could be ensured in the four districts, he added.

   But many local businessmen  men said yesterday that the move may not prove to be a wise one as it could intensify cross-border trade problems already suffering from Burma's ban on imports of Thai products through, many border checkpoints since late last year.