DESPITE Thailand being ready to reopen the Thai-Myanmar checkpoint in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province from today (June 1) onwards the Myanmar government still kept it locked with this seen being due to a lack of officials and concern about the resistance movement, Naewna newspaper said.
Reporters at the border saw that the Myanmar side of the checkpoint in Tachileik district remained locked with there being only a few officials on duty.
Likewise on the Thai side the checkpoint remained locked.
This key border crossing remained closed despite Chiang Rai Governor Mr. Passakorn Bunyalak holding talks with Tachileik Governor Mr. U Minnai on May 24 to reopen it.
A source at the border said while Chiang Rai is ready to reopen the checkpoint from today onwards Tachileik is unable to do so because the central government is still considering the details of Chiang Rai-Tachileik discussions.
It was also reported that the Myanmar government is struggling because they only have a small number of officials left to run border affairs as many who support Aung San Suu Kyi had fled after political turmoil started rocking the country.
However the Myanmar junta is in the midst of recruiting replacements.
The Myanmar authorities are also concerned about the anti-junta resistance People’s Defence Force (PDF) that had previously mounted action in Tachileik
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The Chiang Rai-Tachileik checkpoint remains locked on both sides of the border. Photos: Naewna
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