Thai-Burma border “may reopen soon’

RANONG: Speculation is growing that Thailand’s border with Burma, closed since May 22, may reopen later this month. Closure of the border has resulted in major economic losses on both sides of the border, and has restricted visa run options for foreigners in the South of Thailand An officer at the Immigration Department in Ranong told the Gazette today, “We’ve been closed since the problem occured and have no idea when [the border] will be open.” She said that, despite the closure, people could still go to the Andaman Club and Casino on the Burmese island of Koh Son to have visas renewed. Manoon Piyapanyawong, Head of the Export Department of Ranong Chamber of Commerce said, “At the moment the situation at the border is getting better. It is less tense than when the border was closed. I think the border may be opened again sometime this month.” K. Manoon added that since the border was closed, Thailand had lost about 15 million baht a day in business. The Burmese Government closed the border over claims that misdirected shells exploded in Burma. The dispute has since become a war of words.