Myanmar fighting spills into Thailand, 2 killed<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (AP): Heavy fighting between Myanmar troops and a
\nrebel group spilled into Thailand on Sunday, killing two
\ncivilians and injuring at least 37 soldiers, the Thai army said.<\/p>\n
The fighting erupted in at least three Myanmar border areas
\nbetween Myanmar soldiers and the Shan State Army, a guerrilla
\ngroup fighting for independence for the ethnic Shan minority.<\/p>\n
There was no word on casualties from the Myanmar side, and the
\nMyanmar government would not comment on the fighting.<\/p>\n
Thailand said it was taking a "very serious" view of the
\nfighting.<\/p>\n
"We will use all necessary means to protect our sovereignty
\nand territorial integrity," Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman
\nPradap Pibulsonggram told The Associated Press.<\/p>\n
"We would also like to see the problem resolved as soon as
\npossible and we call on Myanmar to cooperate with us," he said,
\nadding that diplomatic action will be taken on Monday. He did not
\nelaborate.<\/p>\n
Thai army spokesman Somkuan Sangpataranet told the AP that
\nMyanmar troops fired a barrage of shells at the guerrillas, and
\nsome landed across the border in the northern Thai town of Mae
\nSai, killing two people.<\/p>\n
He said Thai troops also fought a gun battle with about 200
\nMyanmar soldiers who intruded onto Thai soil in the nearby Mae
\nFah Luang district while chasing the Shan rebels. Seven Thai
\nsoldiers were injured in the fighting, he said.<\/p>\n
Thai army Lt. Gen. Wathanachai Chaimuanwong said the Myanmar
\ntroops captured 19 Thai soldiers, but a Thai unit later rescued
\nthem. Some 30 Myanmar soldiers were injured in the fighting with
\nthe Shan army, he told reporters.<\/p>\n
According to unconfirmed reports, two Myanmar soldiers were
\nkilled, Col. Somsuk Suansombat, a Thai army intelligence officer,
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
A border committee was trying to convince the Myanmar troops
\nto withdraw from the mountainous area, where the border is often
\nfuzzy and an uneasy truce prevails.<\/p>\n
Somkuan, the army spokesman, said that in a third incident,
\nMyanmar troops fired automatic rifles at a Thai army helicopter
\non a supply mission flight over Mae Aye, about 100 kilometers (60
\nmiles) from Mae Sai. The aircraft was damaged but landed safely,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The Myanmar soldiers appeared to have launched the operation
\nto pave the way for the United Wa State Army, a pro-government
\ngroup, to take full control of the region.<\/p>\n
The Wa enjoy virtual autonomy in the area, while Shan militias
\nhave fought the Myanmar government for independence for the past
\nfour decades, funding the resistance with drugs.<\/p>\n
Because of the fighting, authorities closed the border
\ncrossing at Mae Sai, which is on the northernmost tip of
\nThailand, about 720 kilometers (440 miles) north of Bangkok.<\/p>\n
After about 10 shells landed in Mae Sai, shopkeepers closed
\ntheir shops and the streets became deserted, said Fuen Kam, a
\nresident contacted by telephone. He said the rockets damaged some
\nbuildings.<\/p>\n
"This is some of the heaviest fighting I have ever heard in
\nthe area," Fuen Kam told the AP before leaving town with hundreds
\nof other residents.<\/p>\n
Most of the serious fighting is believed to be taking place at
\na hill about three kilometers (two miles) west of the town of
\nThakhilek, which is separated from Mae Sai by a canal.<\/p>",
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