Posted by Thai Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot and his team earlier on Monday crossed the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Tak province to meet Myanmar officials and to discuss the ongoing Mae Sot-Myawaddy border closure.
The Myanmar action is believed to be a protest against the construction project as it diverted some river currents which the Myanmar officials believed might erode their side of the river.
Mr Alongkorn and relevant Thai officials met with high-ranking officials from the Myanmar capital of Naypyidaw, Aung Thein, the Myanmar ambassador to Thailand and Military Attache to Thailand Col Win Maung at the Myawaddy border trade office
As head of the Thai government representatives, Mr Alongkorn discussed the continued closure of the bridge and 19 trading ports along the Moei River for the past two weeks– since July 12– which brought cross-border trade and transport to a standstill.
The deputy commerce minister had earlier met in talks in Mae Sot with government officials, civil servants and entrepreneurs and company representatives to review details of the river bank protection construction on the Thai side which apparently led to the border closure.
The Myanmar action is believed to be a protest against the construction project as it diverted some river currents which the Myanmar officials believed might erode their side of the river.
During the discussion across the Moei River, Mr Alongkorn explained to the Myanmar officials that the Thai government has suspended the public works project after the Myanmar authorities submitted letters opposing the project.
Meanwhile, U Aung Thein said his country’s concerned agencies have raised the matter as a problem to the Thai authorities at least five times, adding that the border shutdown was intended to bring about a discussion.
U Aung Thein said today’s talk with the Thai government representatives and the local authorities is likely to be beneficial.
However, there is as yet no conclusion as to whether the Mae Sot-Myawaddy border will reopen, U Aung Thein said. Representatives of both countries must discuss with their governments whether an initial agreement and request to issue from Monday’s talks is acceptable or not.
Meanwhile, both governments will raise their concerns and tentative conclusions for agreement to be carried out at the Thailand-Myanmar Township Border Committee (TBC) meeting, scheduled to be held in Tak, the provincial seat of the Thai province, on July 30, according to Deputy Minister Alongkorn.
News item courtesy of www.mcot.net/EnglishNews
