Thailand Calls on Myanmar to Open the Myawaddy-Mae Sot Border Checkpoint

(07/10/2011)

Thailand has called on the Myanmar government to open the Myawaddy-Mae Sot border checkpoint, which has been closed since 18 July 2010. The call was made by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who paid a visit to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on October 5, as part of her ASEAN familiarization trip. The closure of the border checkpoint has had an impact on border trade, as the checkpoint is a major overland border crossing point between Myawaddy in Myanmar and Mae Sot district in Tak province of northern Thailand. During her one-day visit to Naypyidaw, Myanmar’s capital, Prime Minister Yingluck discussed bilateral issues with Myanmar President Thein Sein. She urged Myanmar to push for the progress of the development of Myanmar’s Tavoy deep-sea port and industrial estate, as well as the construction of an international highway between Tavoy and Kanchanaburi in western Thailand. During the discussion, Thailand expressed its support for the development of infrastructure connectivity in the subregion. It agreed with Myanmar on the construction of a road link between the foot of the Tanao Si mountain range on the Thai side and Myanmar’s Kawkareik, the improvement of the road linking Myawaddy and the foot of the Tanao Si mountain range, and the repair of the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge. Both countries discussed the possibility of forming a joint committee to seek ways to increase bilateral trade. The discussion also touched on the drug issue along the Thai-Myanmar border. The two countries agreed to cooperate more closely in exchanging information on the drug problem and suppressing drug smuggling along the border. They will forge cooperation in the crop substitution program to reduce opium poppy cultivation, in accordance with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s initiatives. Prime Minister Yingluck said that Thailand would provide fair treatment for Myanmar workers and accelerate the process of proving Myanmar citizenship among displaced persons in Thailand. Moreover, Thailand would give cooperation in looking after 100,000 displaced persons from Myanmar on a humanitarian basis and providing them with occupational training. Prime Minister Yingluck admired the democratic process in Myanmar, saying that Thailand would not allow anti-Myanmar government groups to use Thailand as their base to fight the Myanmar government. In addition, she said, Thailand is ready to promote Thai-Myanmar relations and cooperation at all levels and dimensions, so that they could move smoothly toward the realization of the ASEAN Community by the year 2015.