Kanchanaburi: The Mai Kradok checkpoint in Sangkhla Buri district has been temporarily closed following clashes between Myanmar troops and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) near the border on Wednesday.
There were no reports of any incursions or people fleeing the fighting from Myanmar into Kanchanaburi.
Suthiporn Siwawethapikul, chief of Sangkhla Buri district, said two clashes occurred hours apart at a military base in Myanmar’s Payatongzu district, about 9 kilometres from the border.
The first clash took place in the morning, followed by the second, which could be heard across the border by Thai authorities, according to Mr Suthiporn.
Mr Suthiporn said the KNLA, who managed to seize the base, reported 13 Myanmar soldiers were killed and seven firearms and a large number of cartridges were taken.
He said there was no incursion into Thai territory.
“However, to be on the safe side, security officials have suspended border crossings [at the Mai Kradok checkpoint] for the time being,” he said.
In the meantime, a joint force of police, soldiers and local leaders were conducting regular patrols of border areas at night to prevent any attack from spilling into Thailand, according to a source.
The source said the border situation is likely to intensify in the coming days and the Myanmar military is expected to launch an offensive to retake the military base from the KNLA.
The border area Payatongzu has been quiet after the clashes as residents stay indoors and shops are closed.
Maj Gen Banyong Thongnuam, commander of the Surasee Task Force, said the temporary closure of the Mai Kradok checkpoint followed concerns of a renewed clash.
Meanwhile, residents in Myanmar’s Three Pagodas Pass area, who live near the Mai Kradok checkpoint, were going about their usual business yesterday.