¡¡¡¡YANGON, Aug. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- A high-ranking Myanmar official confirmed on Friday that the Myanmar authorities have arrested a total of 18 Thai nationals following the unilateral closure of border points with Thailand due to May 20 border clashes between the two countries.

¡¡¡¡Colonel San Pwint, Deputy Head of Department of the Myanmar Defense Ministry, told a press meeting that of the 18 Thai detainees, three, who were found in possession of stimulant drug tablets, are under trial in the border town of Tachilek.

¡¡¡¡Of the remaining 15, who were charged with illegal entry, five have each been sentenced to five years of prison terms and the other ten are still under trial.

¡¡¡¡Meanwhile, the Thai side said that these Thai nationals were forced to remain in the Myanmar side of the border for their regular job, without being able to return to the Thai side in timeout of Myanmar's closure of its border following the incident.

¡¡¡¡So far, the Myanmar side has not yet reopened its border pointswith Thailand. Enditem

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