BANGKOK, April 1
(Xinhuanet) -- The Thai Third Army, which is
responsible for the
Thai-Myanmar border security, had reinforced
security around Pang Noon
outpost, 800 kilometers north of Bangkok,
as a fresh round of fighting
between Myanmar troops and Shan
rebels appeared imminent, the Bangkok Post
reported Monday.
Maj. Orachai Boonsukchitseri, 241st battalion
deputy commander,
was quoted as saying that the recent deployment of three
battalions comprising about 1,500 Myanmar troops signalled
preparations
were under way for a dry season offensive against
hundreds of Shan State
Army (SSA) fighters whose bases straddle
the rugged terrain.
There are five SSA military bases located near Pang Noon,
including Kaw
Muang, just 1.5 kilometers east of the outpost,
regarded as the strongest,
and Kaw Hom, which houses a training
camp and a field
hospital.
The Thai officer said that to overrun SSA bases in
this area
would make Myanmar attacking forces suffer heavy casualties
because the SSA bases are on high ground.
However, the more
concerned matter for the Thai Army is that
the Myanmar troops could launch
an unexpected cross-border raid
and temporarily occupy the Pang Noon
outpost, 500 meters inside
Thai territory, to use it as a springboard for
strikes against SSA
bases.
Last February, a similar operation
of the Myanmar troops
triggered fire exchanges between the two
countries.
Between 50 to 80 Myanmar troops were reportedly
killed as
border forces launched hundreds of mortar rounds and artillery
shells.
So the Thai officer warned that if the Myanmar
troops made the
same mistake as they did last year, they would have a lot to
answer for.
Despite the heightened military activity in the
area, Jao Gorn
Juen, SSA military commander, said he was not over-concerned
about
the impending Myanmar offensive.
He was quoted as
saying that unless Pang Noon was taken by
Myanmar, the Myanmar troops'
offensive was unlikely to have a
major effect.
While Gen.
Surayud Chulanont, the Thai army commander, had
given assurances that he
would never allow this to happen, the
report said.
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