Myanmar borders might reopen
The border crossings ordered closed by the leader of an armed Karen minority group might be open again, judging from the fact that Thai and Myanmar vendors seem to be travelling back and forth. The closures were apparently put in effect last week.
Weerawong Suwannawong, a senior official in Tak province’s Phob Phra district, said it appeared the border closure had been lifted, though military officials were wondering whether the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) had been ordered to do so by Myanmar authorities.
Neither Myanmar government nor DKBA have issued any statements about the border closure.
Weerawong said he did not know whether the blockades had been completely or partially lifted, though most Thai vendors and tourists are not crossing over to Myanmar in droves like before because they know that the DKBA leader, General Na Kha Muay, still faces an arrest warrant.
“Relations between Thai and Karen locals have not returned to normal, so the trust [on the Thai side] has not fully been regained,” he added.
The socalled lifting of the blockade came one day after the DKBA leader issued a statement denying having anything to do with the production or trade in drugs, as implied in an arrest warrant issued nine years ago. Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung dredged up this warrant, since he is leading the Thai government crackdown on narcotics.
Chalerm renewed his attacks yesterday, saying the Karen leader was a wanted man and had to be arrested, though he seemed to have softened his stance from calling the DKBA chief “one of those blacklisted”.
