AP-Myanmar Border Closure Hurts Tha

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Subject: AP-Myanmar Border Closure Hurts Thais

Monday October 11 8:12 AM ET
Myanmar Border Closure Hurts Thais

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Myanmar's closure of its border with Thailand has
shut down bustling trade and is costing Thai fishermen who operate in
Myanmar waters more than $1 million a day, officials said Monday.

More than 400 Thai fishing vessels have already returned to port, leaving
thousands jobless, and an uncertain number of other vessels are stranded in
Myanmar waters, said Sutha Theareephat, the head of the provincial fishery
department at the southern port of Ranong.

Fishing operators and related businesses in Ranong have been losing some
$1.1 million a day, he said.

A Myanmar government spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity, said
Monday that all crossing points had been closed temporarily for security
reasons. The source would not say when they would be reopened.

Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai said Thailand was seeking talks with
Myanmar but warned that Thailand would seek alternative sites to fish in
Indonesian and Malaysian waters if Myanmar did not open up its waters again
to Thai boats.

Yangon unilaterally closed its land and sea borders with Thailand last week
after five armed dissidents stormed the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok. Thailand
gave the rebels safe passage to the Thai-Myanmar border in return for the
safe release of all 38 hostages.