Despite a meeting held by Thailand’s Border Administration Department on June 25 regarding border trade and travel through the Three Pagodas Pass on the Thai-Myanmar border, sources say no special relaxations have been granted and various restrictions remain in place.
According to border sources, on June 6, Thailand officially closed 42 crossing points, including over 20 previously permitted trade routes, around the Three Pagodas–Thailand border. As a result, cross-border travel for merchants and local residents remains difficult.
A border trader in the Three Pagodas area stated that Thailand has rejected Myanmar’s request to allow the passage of cargo trucks and convoys from the Myanmar side. Instead, only limited permissions have been granted for transporting bilateral goods under specific conditions.
“They won’t allow the big trucks through at all. They’re allowing Thai trucks to stop at the Nampake checkpoint and transfer the goods to smaller vehicles for entry. So only part of the goods make it through,” the trader explained.
Although some bilateral trade is allowed, merchants say the requirement to transfer goods through multiple vehicles significantly reduces profit margins.
Since the Three Pagodas Pass is not recognized as an official trade checkpoint, Thai authorities reiterated during the meeting that official goods must be routed through the Myawaddy trade gate instead.
“There are frequent restrictions at the Three Pagodas Pass. They may not last long, but when they happen, it gets strict. Then later they ease again—it’s like that,” said a resident of Three Pagodas town.
However, the closure of 42 crossing points remains in effect. Goods are currently transported through the Kyaung Gate using smaller vehicles.
The June 25 meeting at the Three Pagodas checkpoint covered various topics, including tourism promotion, disease prevention, security, and cross-border movement. Authorities also discussed reopening the Ban Pu Nam Ron checkpoint for the movement of people, vehicles, and goods, which had previously been temporarily closed on the Myanmar side.
Representatives from relevant Thai government agencies participated in the meeting, confirming that cross-border management would continue in accordance with government policy and through inter-agency coordination.
