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Residents and traders selectively allowed border crossing
Thu 06 Sep 2007,
IMNA
Traders and residents in Three Pagoda Pass on the Thailand border are being selectively allowed to cross over for imports and exports by the Burmese military authorities even though the border is officially closed.
Fuel, vegetables oil, timber, and trucks carrying tins are being allowed to cross the main check point after traders and residents made a request to the Burmese local army commander four days ago.
"The Burmese authorities allowed the crossings because they have understood residents and traders in the area have been badly impacted by the border closure. Being allowed to cross the border has made the daily life of residents a little easier," said by a trader association member.
Residents in Three Pagoda Pass have been facing acute problems over the past five month's because of the closure. They paid a premium on goods they procured from either side and were finding it difficult to access what they wanted. Residents on the Burmese side mostly had to contend with prices of commodities rising since the beginning of the closure.
Trucks from both sides carrying goods and commodities are allowed to cross in the early morning and in the evening after Burmese authorities permitted the crossings.
The permission was given after General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, the Thai Royal Army Commander and Chairman of the Council for National Security visited Burmese Senior General Than Shwe and Vice Senior General Maung Aye in Nay Pyi Taw (Kyatpyi) Pyinmana last week.
Authorities on both sides announced the border to be reopened for three days to allow the Tin Mining Company carries raw tin to Thai territory as of August 28.
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