Thai PM hopes Myanmar to re-open Mae Sot-Myawaddy border checkpoint soon
BANGKOK, July 22 — Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Thursday said he believed Myanmar would soon re-open the Mae Sot-Myawaddy border checkpoint after Myanmar received information about and better understands Thailand’s river bank protection construction project on the Mae Sot side of the Moei River.
Meanwhile, the postponement of his Myanmar visit indefinitely would not affect bilateral ties as the two countries are enjoying strong relations, the Thai prime minister said.
Border trade and transport at the Mae Sot-Myawaddy border was suspended after Myanmar officials shut the border at the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge crossing the Moei River and at over 20 cross-border trading ports along the river July 12.
It is believed that the Myanmar authorities were unhappy with Thailand’s building river bank protection on the Thai side because the construction caused soil and rocks to fall into the river.
Mr Abhisit said the project was ordered to be suspended and information on the project was sent to Myanmar’s authorities and from now on the two sides would hold talks under the framework of the Thai-Myanmar Township Border Committee (TBC).
The premier said Thailand would like Myanmar to re-open the border first and believed Myanmar will do so soon and after that the processes to improve understanding will start and information would be conveyed to the Myanmar government in Naypyidaw for decision to open the border.
He said Myanmar and Thailand are both concerned about their own river banks and worry that any construction could affect the river’s course and the border line. Thailand, therefore, decided to stop the project and hold talks for clarification.
As for his official visit to Myanmar, Mr Abhisit said the scheduled plan had to be postponed as both sides could not find the compromised time schedule that could match up.
The Thai premier gave assurances that bilateral ties remain strong and that he has good relations with the Myanmar leaders and that cooperation between the two countries is running smoothly.
Mr Abhisit earlier said he would visit the neighbouring country in early August, ahead of its first general election in two decades, scheduled to be held sometime this year.
The Thai premier’s trip to Myanmar was first scheduled last July but then was postponed as it coincided with the incident in which an American man swam across the lake into the home of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is confined under house arrest.
Mr Abhisit said last month that he will visit Myanmar for one or two days as part of his overseas missions to create better understanding on Thailand’s recent political crisis and violent street protests. (MCOT online news)
