Thai-Burma border reopens

RANONG: Thailand’s border with Burma reopened at 6 am today for the first time since May 22 and the situation quickly returned to normal. Pol Cpl Nopadol Chompuboot, of Ranong Provincial Immigration Office, said Burmese were crossing to Thailand to buy food and goods while tourists were crossing to Burma. Cpl Nopadol added, “People from Thailand and Burma are happy to have the situation back to normal. Some Burmese could not get back home and many foreigners in Thailand need to renew visas across the border.” Stafford Steer, Manager of Chalong-based F1 Visa Run, said, “After the border was closed there was a significant drop in traffic. Normally we take about two buses with 10 people each time. I think numbers will increase naturally with the high season coming.” In term of business, Damrong Kachornmartboot, President of the Ranong Chamber of Commerce, said, “This is good for both Burma and Thailand because during the closure we lost at least 10 million baht a day. I believe a similar sum has been lost on the Burmese side.” The border was closed on the orders of the Burma’s military junta.