Myanmar authorities have reopened the Nyaung Ben Dout border gate early this morning after authorities from both sides had closed the Thai-Myanmar border gates linking the Three Pagoda Pass area in Karen State, Myanmar with Kanchanaburi Province in Thailand.
However, Thai authorities continue to block the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) checkpoint on the Thai border with concrete blocks. Thai authorities did not elaborate on the reasoning.
“[They] shut down suspected areas of drug smuggling into Thailand. Currently, Thailand has a special drug project, but we do not know the details”, said an unidentified authority from the Myanmar Police Narcotics Control Force.
Mr. Niyom Termsrisuk, Secretary-General of the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), told Bangkok Post on February 26th security has been tightened in the Golden Triangle 1511 area, which links China, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
The Bangkok Post news reported this operation could last until the end of March.
Although the Myanmar main border gate has been closed since 2007, most local people pass through the gates with motorcycles or cars illegally.
Three Pagoda Pass town is located on the Thailand and Myanmar border, there is no territory demarcation between the countries. There are Mon, Karen, Burmese, Dawei. Laos (Shan) and a few Thai people live in the Three Pagoda Pass area.
In addition to the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF), there are the Karen National Union (KNU), Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), The Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army – Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC, the New Mon State Party (NMSP) as well as ethnic armed organizations that have established their liaison offices in the Three Pagoda Pass Town.
