Myanmar crossings reopened

Bangkok Post
The Thailand-Myanmar border returned to normal yesterday after Karen rebel leader Na Kham Mwe ended a blockade of goods through his rebel-controlled areas.

BACK TO WORK: Farmers from Tak province cross into Myanmar after Karen rebel leader Na Kham Mwe opened all border crossings under his control. PHOTO: ASSAWIN PINITWONG

He had closed access to all 12 border crossings for about two weeks to retaliate against the Thai government's warrant for his arrest on drug trafficking charges.
Border residents from Tak's Phop Phra district to Kanchanaburi's Sangkhla Buri district welcomed the reopening. Several Thai farmers were seen crossing the border on trucks.
Bo Toh, a close aide of the rebel leader, said the resumption of border trade was at the request of Thai business operators in Myanmar.
He said senior Myanmar officials had raised the matter with the rebel leader but had exerted no pressure.
"Myanmar has given us authority to oversee the areas. The border is reopened to avoid affecting Thai operators and farmers in Myanmar," Bo Toh said.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said Thai authorities had forwarded the warrant for the rebel leader's arrest to Myanmar.
He said he would travel to Myanmar if necessary to discuss the warrant. Na Kham Mwe is wanted for having 920,000 methamphetamine pills in his possession, he said.
Mr Chalerm, who traded barbs with the Karen rebel leader this week, expressed confidence his move would help curb drug trafficking.
Col Therdsak Ngam-sanong, spokesman for the Third Army, said yesterday the force had no information about Na Kham Mwe's alleged involvement in the drug trade.
He said the arrest warrant was probably based on old information related to the anti-narcotics campaign several years ago.
"The number of seized drugs in each operation is a few thousand. The western border is unlikely to be a drug production base. It is more a trafficking route," Col Therdsak said.
He said the Karen rebel group's main earnings are from land development and mining concession taxes.
In the area opposite Tak province, armed militants of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) have tightened security around the house of Na Kham Mwe, their supreme commander, to prevent a raid by Myanmar authorities to arrest him.
Meanwhile, army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has instructed the Third Army to tighten security in border areas.
Security will be reinforced in the Three Pagodas area in Kanchanaburi to prepare for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's cabinet meeting in the province on next Saturday and Sunday.