Thai Defence Minister Sees Need to Step up Bid to Mend Ties with MyanmarDefense Minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyuth has reiterated that the government would step up efforts to mend divisions with the Myanmar counterpart so that the border disputes could be settled as soon as possible, the Thai News Agency (TNA) reported Thursday.His statement came after a Buddhist Karen troop stormed a Thai village in the northern province of Tak early this week, killing three people. Chavalit, who is also deputy premier, said on Wednesday that the border conflicts with Myanmar are among the urgent problems the government had tried utmost to address since it took office around two months ago. "We tried to seek ways to ease tension along the border of the two countries. But since the disputes are rather complicated, it might need time and patience before they are settled," he stated. The former prime minister said the military had made an all-out effort to contain the worsening of the border conflicts and that the tension would ease if governments of the two neighboring countries stepped up building mutual understanding. He conceded the attack on the Thai village would more or less affect efforts being made by Thai Foreign Minister Surakiat Sathienthai to settle the border disputes on the table. |
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