Army Rangers In Mae Hong Son Engage In Battle With Unidentified Combatants

[Jai Dee]

Army Rangers in Mae Hong Son engage in battle with unidentified combatants

A gunbattled occurred between unknown combatants and the 3607th Army Ranger Company in Mae Hong Son province.

The Commander of the 36th Army Ranger Regiment, Col. Boonyuen Inkwang (บุญยืน อินกว่าง), reports that the 3607th Army Ranger Company engaged in a 5 minute gun battle with unknown combatants in Ban Sao Hin (บ้านเสาหิน ) in Mae Sareang (แม่สะเรียง) district of Mae Hong Son province. The area is 300 meters on the Thai side of the Thai-Myanmar border and 4 kilometers from the Ban Sao Hin (บ้านเสาหิน ) firebase.

Following the incident, Thai authorities found 1 deceased unidentified combatant.

The 36th Army Ranger Regiment has since dispatched reinforcements to the area to ensure security.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 12 September 2007

[Foggy Bottom]

Unusual for wet season - this type of incident normally occurs between November and June if any of the recognised "armies" from across the border are involved. Additionally, the area described is opposite mainly pro-independence Karen territories, who would not normally engage Thai troops. (Makes me wonder if a Burmese pro-government unit was trying an unauthorised flanking manoeuvre on Thai soil (like they asked for permission to do, but were refused, during the big SSA v UWSA + Rangoon forces battle opposite Doi Mae Salong in Feb-Mar 2001)?)

Speculation would point at it more likely being a drugs caravan, but it would be purely speculation, without further info forthcoming.