Border Pass reopened

Border Pass reopened

The border pass between a township in eastern Shan State and Chiangmai was reopened yesterday (19 October) by the military authorities of Burma after being closed for close to three months, said a S.H.A.N. source from the border. 

The weekly market at BP-1, between Mongton and Shan State, was full with both visitors and traders from across the border who came in as many as 40 trucks, which is half the number of trucks that came to the market before 26 June, when it was ordered sealed. 

The reason, the source believed, was due to the visit to Mongton by a top official, presumably Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, 4 days earlier. "At 16:45, a helicopter gunship arrived at Mongton. It stayed there for only 15 minutes. But soon afterwards, an order went out to reopen all the checkpoints from Wanna (the gateway to Mongton from Mongpan) to BP-1," he said. 

On 17 October, a group of Thai businessmen had petitioned to Kosin Katethong, Governor of Chiangmai, to designate BP-1 (Kiew Phawok) a permanent border pass. The governor replied it would be up to the National Security Council to decide. 

Updated 
20 October 2001 

Chiangmai provincial council member, Sawasdee Boonplian, requested a 5-day per week opening of the border pass at Laktaeng, opposite Winanghaeng District, Chiangmai. A 3 day opening was reinstated instead (Tuesday, Friday and Saturday). People from the Burmese side of the border are also forbidden from visiting Piangluang, 3 km from the border. A new checkpoint has just been set up since 25 October, 1 km inside Thailand. 

26 October 2001 

Source say: The Burmese have allowed more trucks to visit the market this week. There were 60-trucks on Friday (26 October). One report says: the army unit at BP-1 is a company from LIB 360, commanded by Capt. (3) Soe Win (Mongpiang).