Reports of impending border reopening doing the rounds

Reports of impending border reopening doing the rounds

The border that has been closed since 22 May might be reopened on 12 August, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's birthday, according to a report filed by Thai TV Channel-7 this morning. 

Lt-Gen Udomchai Orgkhasingh, Commander of the northern Third Regional Army, was also quoted as saying it would be soon. 

Shan traders on both sides of the border, while acknowledging the reports, said they had only heard them on the Thai side. "On our side, the officials are still quiet about it," said one residing in Tachilek. Another one living in Mae Sai added, "I've talked to some immigration officers who said they believed the reopening would be within the month, although they were not sure about the exact date." 

The chief customs officer in Chiangrai disclosed that the department had suffered a 90% reduction of its revenue during the two-month closure. Earlier the Thai Chamber of Commerce had reported that the trade loss had gone up to more than 5 billion baht. 

Meanwhile, withdrawal of Burmese troops "due for the exercises on 12 August" from Monghsat, opposite Chiangrai province, is being reported by local sources. "The 5 armored vehicles that were in Monghsat since last month have gone back to the north yesterday, though the 105 mm howitzer is still in the IB (Infantry Battalion) 49 command post compound," said one. Departures of troops from Monghsat to Mongpiang, a town 100 miles north of Monghsat and 65 miles west of Kengtung were noted by the sources since 6 August, the same day when Burma's three top generals: Than Shwe, Maung Aye and Khin Nyunt were meeting Dr Surakiart Sathirathai, Thailand's foreign minister in Rangoon.