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Thailand And Myanmar On Warpath?
by Kazi Mahmood
JAKARTA, May 15 (IslamOnline) - Three days after a successful operation against
intruding forces from Myanmar (Burma), Thailand is facing an ultimatum from the
military junta in Rangoon.
On Tuesday, Myanmar demanded that Thailand's army withdraw from 35 outposts
along the disputed border between the two nations, or face the use of force.
Late last week, an ethnic minority force penetrated the borders of Thailand and
occupied hills in the region.
"Burmese and United Wa State Army [USWA] soldiers occupied Hua Lone hill
near Ban Norlae in Fang district of Chiang Mai," a source said.
The source also said the small army of intruders (20-30 soldiers), allied to the
military junta in Rangoon, remained in the hills despite an artillery
bombardment.
They were later forced out after a series of artillery bombings and what
appeared to be a tactical display of force with the use of an F-16 fighter jet
used to intimidate the intruders.
Lt-Gen. Wattanachai Chaimuenwong, Thailand's Third Army commander, said Hua Lone
hill was retaken by Thai troops without casualties. The intruders entered
Thailand on Monday and were forced back after taking more than 200 artillery
shells.
A unit of the Pha Muang force will set up a position on the hilltop to prevent
further intrusions and block drug trafficking routes, he said.
The latest row between the two countries is based on an old border dispute that
has never been settled. The Thai authorities have said that border committees
should be set up and settle the dispute.
Confident the disputed area is in Thai territory, Foreign Minister Surakiart
Sathirathai said his country would protest against the intrusion by the
Rangoon-allied ethnic army on Thai soil.
Thailand's prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, is planning a state visit to
Myanmar scheduled for June. Thai authorities hope the dispute will not force a
postponement of the visit, considered crucial for regional cooperation.
In the latest dispute, Myanmar's junta and USWA officials say a Thai F-16
fighter jet fired two rockets near the Myanmar town of Mong Yawn last week,
wounding several troops.
Thailand says the jet was flying surveillance and triggered a sonic boom that
led the Myanmar-based forces to believe it was a bombing attempt by the jet.
The jet was flying over Thai airspace and was not carrying weapons, Thai
authorities said, insisting its air forces would only be used in a large-scale
battle.
"We had no intention of provoking the Burmese soldiers. It was just a
scheduled training flight," the Thai army said.
Thai Defense Minister Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said repeated incursions by
Burmese and Red Wa soldiers on Thai soil were a very small matter and should not
be taken seriously.
He earlier said insurgents who occupied Hua Lone hill saw it as a vantage point
in the defense of Takhi outpost in Burma against the Shan State Army (drug
warlords), and should be allowed time to withdraw.
Yongchaiyudh said the intrusion by 20-30 soldiers a couple of hundred meters
into Thailand was of little significance because relations between Thailand and
Burma have improved considerably.
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