Bkk Post -Tachilek governor dismiss

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Subject: Bkk Post -Tachilek governor dismissed; Burma angry at Thai foray onto its soil

Bangkok Post - Oct 24, 1999.
THAI-BURMESE RELATIONS

Tachilek governor dismissed
Sacking linked to border opening bribe

Theerawat Khamthita

The governor of Tachilek in Burma has been sacked in connection with
unconfirmed reports that Thai traders tried to bribe him to persuade Rangoon
to reopen the border.

Pol Col Panuwat Meepien, Mae Sai police chief, said he heard Lt-Col Ko Ko
Teh had been sacked by Gen Maung Aye, the Burmese army commander.

Burma had not informed Thai authorities of such action, but he believed it
may have stemmed from the Burmese government's dissatisfaction over reports
in Thai newspapers of massive goods smuggling across the Thai-Burmese border
despite Rangoon's decision to close it.

Samrerng Boonyopakorn, the Chiang Rai governor, said he learned Lt-Col Ko Ko
Teh had been recalled to Rangoon but did not know whether he had been
sacked.

The governor declined to confirm if Thai traders had collected money among
themselves to bribe Tachilek authorities. He said even if the report were
true the method was unlikely to be effective as the power to reopen the
border rested with the central government.

But a trader, who asked not to be identified, said it was true because he
himself had made a contribution.

He said the amount collected from Mae Sai traders was probably about 10
million baht and part of it could have been given to the Burmese last week
at a golf course in Tachilek.

The bribe might not lead to an immediate re-opening of the border, but it
was local leaders who would advise the central government when to do so, he
said.

Apart from the Thai traders, merchants in Tachilek might have also paid
money to the Burmese authorities.
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Burma angry at Thai foray onto its soil

Burma has made a formal protest to Thailand after a group of armed men
attacked a camp on its soil, wounding five Burmese soldiers and damaging
several buildings and other properties costing over US $500,000.

A protest letter submitted by Lt-Col Ta Khu, chairman of the local
Thai-Burmese Border Committee, said that on October 14 a group of 50 armed
men launched an attack on a Burmese military camp.

The attack, on Na Mon Luang village in Shan State, was launched from the
Thai border and lasted 30 minutes, the letter said.

Five Burmese soldiers were wounded and several buildings, including a food
storage centre, were burnt down.

Lt-Col Ta Khu accused Thai authorities of allowing the intruders to use Thai
soil as their sanctuary.

On May 1, the Thai side lodged a similar protest with Burma demanding
230,000 baht compensation after Burmese soldiers crossed the border and
attacked a police station in Mae Hong Son.