Security Tightened At The Myanmar Border

[george]

Security tighten at the Myanmar border

CHIANG RAI: -- Security along the Myanmar border has been tightened with extra police and soldiers on duty thoroughly searching every vehicle and individual crossing into the border town of Tachilek after three huge bomb blasts shook the capital Yangon on Saturday.

Two-way trade between Tachilek and the Thai border district of Mae Sai in Chiang Rai province has slowed significantly as a result of the increased security at the Myanmar check-points.

Rumours that Myanmar's ethnic rebels planned to sabotage Tachilek had earlier been circulating, causing trade and tourism between the two countries to dip dramatically in the past three days.

Twenty people reportedly died when three bomb blasts rocked two packed shopping centres and the Yangon Trade Centre, where Thailand was holding a trade fair, on Saturday afternoon. Authorities issued an official toll of 11 dead and 162 injured.

More than a hundred people were also hurt in the explosions. All the victims were Burmese.

--TNA 2005-05-08

[Ajarn]

I went to Tachilek last week, by car, just after the bridge had reopened after an earlier security alert. Nobody looked in my car, or even questioned me. In fact, they didn't even stamp my passport out or in.... Zero paperwork on either side. Just took the cash for crossing, held my passport and owner's book, and waved me through... Pretty lax security, it seemed to me, on both sides.

[george]

Closure of Myanmar border 'will have minor impact on trade'

BANGKOK: -- The Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, Rachane Potjanasuntorn, today brushed off the significance of Myanmar's decision to close its borders following Saturday's explosions in the Myanmar capital of Yangon, saying that the impact on trade with Thailand would be minimal.

While admitting that trade would be affected, Mr. Rachane expressed confidence that the border closure would only be temporary, as prolonged closure would prove too detrimental to the Myanmar economy.

While Myanmar imports consumer goods through border trade with Thailand, the main Thai import from Myanmar is natural gas which comes through pipelines and is, thus, unaffected by the border closure.

--TNA 2005-05-09

[ThaiPauly]

Closure of Myanmar border 'will have minor impact on trade' 

BANGKOK: -- The Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, Rachane Potjanasuntorn, today brushed off the significance of Myanmar's decision to close its borders following Saturday's explosions in the Myanmar capital of Yangon, saying that the impact on trade with Thailand would be minimal.

While admitting that trade would be affected, Mr. Rachane expressed confidence that the border closure would only be temporary, as prolonged closure would prove too detrimental to the Myanmar economy.

While Myanmar imports consumer goods through border trade with Thailand, the main Thai import from Myanmar is natural gas which comes through pipelines and is, thus, unaffected by the border closure.

--TNA 2005-05-09

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am planning a trip to Mai sai on Thursday with Ajarn to get my Son's passport stamped. does anyone know if this means they will be unable to do it?

Cheers

TP.