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Travellers advised not to cross ill (r)



Subject: Re: Travellers advised not to cross illegally into Burma

Okkar,

Please remember that it was SPDC Secretary-1 Khin Nyunt, enraged that the Thais had released the "student activists", who personally ordered the closure of the border passes.  (see SHAN HERALD AGENCY FOR NEWS, 3 October 1999, No: 10 - 4, "Angry 'Khin Nyunt' Ordered Sealing of Border", appended below) 

Are you therefore actually saying that you consider SPDC Secretary-1 Khin Nyunt a terrorist?  

We are all going to miss you here, Okkar.

At 04:39 PM 10/4/99 -0700, Okkar wrote:
>How the lives of the ordinary people become difficult because of the terrorists.
>
>ok 
>--
>
>On Mon, 04 Oct 1999 10:41:12   shwenanda wrote:
>
><<Travellers advised not to cross illegally into Burma
>Chiang Rai
>Thais were warned against making illegal crossings into Burma through the Mae Sai border pass on its third day of closure. 
>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.
>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.
>Orders from the Burmese authorities to seal the border came on Friday afternoon, hours after the hostage crisis broke out.
>Some 1,000 additional Burmese soldiers have since been dispatched to police the border channel.
>Trans-border trade has been suspended and the provincial chamber of commerce foresaw no immediate repercussion on commercial activities. 
>Pol Maj-Gen Seri Sukpetch, head of Chiang Rai police, said it was unclear at this point when Burma would resume the border link.
>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.>>
Angry 'Khin Nyunt' Ordered Sealing of Border

It was General Khin Nyunt, believed to be the present Burmese strong man, 
himself who issued orders to seal off the border passes, after a hitherto 
unknown student group raided and held the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok on 
Friday, reported S.N.A, S.H.A.N's source in Tachilek, opposite Chiangrai of 
Thailand.

Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, who was on his inspection trip to the Golden Triangle 
casino-resort construction site in Mongphong, Tachilek District, flew into 
a rage after hearing reports about the daring raid made by a handful of 
Burmese students in Bangkok, said S.N.A. " He was reported to have told the 
local authorities to close the passage between Shan State's Tachilek and 
Thailand's Maesai without delay and to keep it closed until they received 
further instructions from Rangoon".

Orders were promptly relayed to the local populace who were forbidden from 
crossing the border for any reason. "Those caught in the act of crossing 
are to be shot on the spot and those discovered later to have violated 
their order are to be arrested, according to the order", said S.N.A.

Of the two infantry battalions in Tachilek, IB 331, assisted by local 
militia, was reported to be responsible for the town's security. The other 
IB 526, was reported to be holding positions on the hilltops along the 
border, according to the source, a citizen of Maesai who returned from 
Tachilek.

"As usual, the local people are being held responsible for feeding and 
accommodating the soldiers and the militia", added S.N.A. "They have to 
collect money even to buy cheroots and soap".

///END\\\
For further information, please contact S.H.A.N. at:
Shan Herald Agency for News.
P.O. Box. 15, Nonghoi P.O., 50007, Chiangmai, Thailand
Ph/Fax: (053) 807 121
e-mail: <shan@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

S.H.A.N. is a non-profit making, independent Shan media group. It is not 
affiliated to any political or armed organization.