NORTHERN BORDER: Burmese reject Thai protest note

Published on Jun 21, 2002

Row over shelling into Thai territory, 2 troops injured

A Burmese border committee yesterday refused to meet their Thai counterparts to receive a formal protest over the shelling of Thai military outposts that left two soldiers injured.

Border officials said the Township Border Committee, a bilateral forum made up of local officials from both sides, refused to meet their Thai counterparts to accept the formal protest.

A number of Burmese shells were fired across the border on Wednesday around Ban Lak Thaeng in Chiang Mai's Wieng Haeng district, forcing the Thai military to retaliate with smoke shells and then live rounds.

Thai territory was bombarded with seven more shells yesterday afternoon but stopped immediately after troops retaliated with live rounds.

Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh yesterday urged soldiers to exercise restraint and urged those on the frontline to tough-it-out. Chavalit said diplomatic channels between the two countries were still open, but there would be no formal protest at government level over the incidents.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra backed the call for restraint, saying the shelling was unintentional. His statement contradicted officials on the frontline who said the shelling over the past two days was intentional because a number of rounds were landing well inside Thai territory.

Army chief General Surayud Chulanont said the Army had responded to the shelling accordingly, citing the general rules of engagement for military personnel operating near sensitive areas.

According to internationally accepted military operational standards Thailand is within its rights to respond to stray shells by firing smoke shells. If the other party continues with its shelling, retaliation with live rounds is permissible.

Thai-Burmese diplomatic relations hit a low ebb following last month's flare-ups, which involved government troops from both sides. The incidents also involved the Shan State Army, a Shan rebel group, and a pro-Rangoon group, the United Wa State Army.

Rangoon accused the Thai Army of shelling their positions to aid the Shan rebels who have overrun a dozen Burmese outposts since late last month. The Thai Army denied the charges, claiming the shelling was merely retaliation against a violation of Thai sovereignty.

Burma responded by mobilising battalions of front-line troops along the border and launching an all-out offensive against the Shan.

More than 2,000 people living in villages in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son have been displaced because of Burmese mortar and artillery fire straying across the border.

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