The Royal Thai Army says the border situation in Ranong remains under control despite some skirmishes in a Myanmar village on the other side that have prompted villagers to flee to Thailand for safety.
A safe zone will be designated to take the scores of villagers who have crossed the Kra Buri River into Ban Hat Tun and Ban Khum Wai Daeng villages in tambon Pak Chan of Kra Buri district, said Maj Gen Sirichan Nga-thong, a deputy spokeswoman for the army.
Such zones are usually set up to handle Myanmar villagers who flee to the northern province of Tak whenever there are battles between a Myanmar military force and Karen guerrillas, she said.
On Tuesday a gunfight believed to involve the use of rifles broke out near a pier in a Myanmar village known to local Thais in the southern province of Rayong as Ban Wai Daeng, seized about three months ago by a Karen guerrilla movement comprising around 160 armed members, a source said yesterday.
The village is close to Kawthaung province on the other bank of the Kra Buri River, opposite Ranong.
During the gun battle, which continued until dusk, Thai villagers recorded an audio clip of the gunfight while security officers observed the situation. There was no report of any shots being fired in the direction of the Thai villages along the border.
A Myanmar family consisting of a father, a disabled mother who arrived in a wheelchair and some children confirmed the fight took place in Ban Wai Daeng.
Maj Gen Woradet Detraksa, commander of Thep Satri Task Force, said more Thai soldiers and border patrol police have been deployed to reinforce their presence in the area since minor skirmishes in Myanmar erupted one or two months ago. Such fights between the Myanmar military and Karen guerrillas have not occurred along this border before, he said, adding the Thai military and border patrol police were scaling up their patrols.
A contingency plan has been put in place in case more measures are needed to maintain border safety, Maj Gen Woradet added.
The military is taking care of the Myanmar villagers on a humanitarian basis while ensuring the safety of both Thai and Myanmar residents in the border area, said the source.