Ranong crossing reopens for visa runs

RANONG: Following a visit to Myanmar by Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan on Monday, border crossings between Thailand and Burma reopened yesterday afternoon, allowing foreigners from Phuket once more to take a long-tail boat from Ranong Town to the Burmese side to renew their visas. Although some media announced that all border crossings had opened yesterday morning, Ranong was initially open only for the repatriation of illegal Burmese immigrants. Pol Lt Col Sukhum Chaiyaek of Ranong Immigration, confirming the reopening, explained, “We [fully] opened the Kraburi, Paknam and Ranong Town crossings yesterday afternoon because in the morning we had a meeting [of the Township Border Committee] to discuss security matters.” He added that so far the Ranong crossings seemed quiet, in contrast with reports from the Mae Sot crossing in Tak province which was “very crowded”.