EDITORIAL
Broken fence is not fully repaired
The Nation

Problems on the Thai-Myanmar border - drug armies, rebel insurgencies and refugees - are still unresolved, thus hindering the further improvement of bilateral ties

BANGKOK: -- Relations between Thailand and Myanmar have long been defined by historical mistrust and overlapping claims. But with the improved political situation in Myanmar, and the use of armed ethnic groups as a buffer between our countries no longer a nagging factor, we are expecting to move closer to one another in more ways than one.

Thai government spokesman Teerat Ratanasevi and Min Aung Hliang, commander-in-chief of the Myanmar armed forces, have said demarcation of the common border should get back on track now that bilateral ties have improved.

Thailand and Myanmar share a border stretching 2,400 kilometres, yet no more than 60 kilometres have been officially marked.

Indeed, the two countries have come a long way since the 1990s, when cross-border shelling by Burmese forces - some directed towards refugee camps well within Thailand - brought the relationship almost to its knees.

In the 1990s, following such spats, Myanmar often responded by closing the border, thus shunning trade and other contact. The only place that never seemed affected by the political fall out was Victoria Point, where a casino is situated.

The two sides have now agreed to promote border trade by setting up more permanent checkpoints. They are also looking at the Dawei deep-sea port as a showcase for bilateral ties. Once completed, it will be a gateway for Thailand to the Middle East and Europe.

But it would be premature to rush to the conclusion that everything will be smooth sailing from now on. One should keep in mind that the factors that affected our relationship in the past are still there and mostly unresolved.

Drug armies and opium warlords continue to operate freely in the Golden Triangle, while the Myanmar government has yet to secure permanent peace deals with several ethnic rebel armies, some of whom are based just a stone's throw from the Thai border.

Drug busts are common, according to officials, stemming from bilateral cooperation between our countries but no one ever mentions where the drugs are coming from. Most are produced by groups like the United Wa State Army, a 25,000-strong outfit whose leaders are wanted by the US and Thailand for trafficking in heroin.

Given the kind of nationalism currently manifest in Myanmar, and the anti-Muslim sentiment there, it is safe to say that the country is still a long way from peace and stability.

Many of the ceasefire agreements with the ethnic armies have been in existence for two decades. About three years ago the military decided these agreements had outlived their usefulness and lashed out against the rebels. The aim was to bring the ethnic fighters under the direct command of the regular army.

Today, amid ongoing political and economic reforms, the threat posed by the ethnic armies - with exception of the Kachin - has been eliminated or greatly reduced as the government seemingly opts for negotiation.

But from the ethnic people's point of view, it was the government that violated the two-decade-old ceasefire. They did it once and they can do it again. Thus, until Myanmar's internal strife is settled for good, Thailand cannot afford to let its guard down, no matter how many checkpoints or trading posts open along the border.


-- The Nation 2013-09-20

If they know the border fence is boken, they know where it is broke. If they dont want to fix it get the police to hide and wait for illegal crossings then bang em up.

What about Thailand's internal strife?

What fence ever stopped an Army

Well a fence with holes?

Perhaps they are using Fence in the London slang meaning a middleman !

There is no border to mark.

The rivers are changing their beds, up to the rain.

I wanted to help my friend to set up a fish farm in this area.

I walked around looking for water supply.

I crossed a river bed (no water, only stones) when my friend

screamed: Come out, your are in Burma.

After a big rain the river wijll change his bed. Where is the border?

The first correct geographic investigation for the North of Thailand was made by a EU sponsored satellite program in the 90teenth.

Moving rivers were not icluded in the program.

I thought Thailand's participation in the Dawei deep-sea port was dead.

Not really up on the events there.