Thailand ready to reopen closed border checkpoint

The disclosure came from Chiang Mai governor Wiboon Sa-nguanphong following the Thai-Burma Border Supervisory Center’s meeting on 4 January. “If everything goes according to plan, the checkpoint will be reopened on 31 January,” he said.
 
Thailand has already presented the proposal to reopen the Kiu Pha Wok checkpoint, also known as BP1 (Boundary Post#1), to Burma at the 54th Township Border Committee (TBC) meeting on 29 November 2007. The Burmese side said it would forward the proposal to higher authorities for consideration.
 
The official response from Burma is expected to be made known at the 55th TBC meeting.
 
Locals on Mongton say U Kyaw Khaing, Pongpakhem sub-township officer, is currently in Keng Tung, where the Triangle Regional Command is based, to discuss the possible reopening.
 
Environmentalists meanwhile are worried that the reopening of BP1 will speed up the construction of the Tasang megadam, 140 km north of the border. “If they reopen the Kiu Pha Wok checkpoint, the dam will be finished more quickly and that will destroy the environment,” said Sai Sai of Salween Watch.
 
BP1 was closed on May 2002, following a brief confrontation between the two countries.