Thailand And Malaysia Tighten Border Security

[george]

Thailand and Malaysia tighten border security

Kuala Lumpur: -- Malaysian and Thai marine police have begun joint patrols along the Sungai Golok river, which separates the two countries, to prevent Thais fleeing the violence in their country from entering Malaysia illegally.

The Commander of Malaysia's Pengkalan Kubor marine police base in Kelantan, Ahmad Abu Bakar, said the vessels of the two police forces will patrol from Pengkalan Kubor to Kampung Kubang Pak Itam, about 20km upriver.

The move was made after 131 Thais, including women and children, illegally crossed into Malaysia's Kelantan on August 30.

Meanwhile, the two countries are working closely to bring peace to the volatile Thai South, Thai Foreign Ministry's spokesman Sihasak Phuangketkeow was quoted by AFP as saying in Bangkok on Sept. 4

--VNA/Agencies 2005-09-04