Thai-Myanmar border trade goes on as usual

RANONG, July 16 (TNA) - Border trade between Thailand's southern Ranong Province and Myanmar’s Kawthaung township has been unaffected by Myanmar’s detention of dozens of Thai nationals for illegal entry and forest encroachment. Narumon Khoraphum, chairperson of Ranong’s chamber of commerce, has affirmed that border trade between Thailand and Myanmar has remained brisk, with normal transactions so far. Khint Win, chairman of Kawthaung's chamber of commerce, which is opposite Ranong, acknowledged that Ranong and Kawthaung are like sister cities which have to rely on each other, insisting that the detention of dozens of Thai people in Myanmar currently has, therefore, not affected the Thai-Myanmar border trade. Colonel Pornsak Poonsawat, Commander of a Thai army border unit, said that he has been informed by Myanmar soldiers that all the Thai detainees in Myanmar remain safe and Myanmar soldiers will soon hand over the Thai detainees to Kawthaung police for further legal action.(TNA)