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Travellers advised not to cross ill
Subject: Travellers advised not to cross illegally into Burma
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<font size=7 color="#FF0000"><b>Travellers advised not to cross illegally
into Burma<br>
</font><font size=3 color="#000000">Chiang Rai<br>
</font><font size=5>T</font></b><font size=3>hais were warned against
making illegal crossings into Burma through the Mae Sai border pass on
its third day of closure. <br>
Burma shut its side of major border passes, including the Tachilek pass
opposite Chiang Rai, on news of the Burmese embassy hostage stand-off
which ended peacefully on Saturday.<br>
Security reasons were cited for the temporary closure and the authorities
have told Thais not to attempt illegal crossings or risk severe
punishment from Rangoon.<br>
Orders from the Burmese authorities to seal the border came on Friday
afternoon, hours after the hostage crisis broke out.<br>
Some 1,000 additional Burmese soldiers have since been dispatched to
police the border channel.<br>
Trans-border trade has been suspended and the provincial chamber of
commerce foresaw no immediate repercussion on commercial activities.
<br>
Pol Maj-Gen Seri Sukpetch, head of Chiang Rai police, said it was unclear
at this point when Burma would resume the border link.<br>
The police also stepped up its border patrols for the sake of peace and
order, although there was no record of Burmese students ever staging
anti-Rangoon movements in the province.<br>
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