Laos occupies islands near Thai side of Mekong

Laos occupies islands near Thai side of Mekong

BANGKOK (DPA): In another sign of rising bilateral tensions between Thailand and Laos, Laotian militia have occupied three islands near the Thai side of the Mekong River, provincial officials said on Tuesday.

About 30 Laotian troops and militia occupied the islands Mano 1, Mano 2 and Pha Kham last week, forcing dozens of Thai farmers to depart, said Chiang Rai Governor Samrerng Boongopakorn.

"The islands actually belong to Laos according to a Thai-Laos border treaty signed when Laos was still a French colony," said the governor, in a telephone interview with Deutsche Presse- Agentur (DPA).

He said that although the islands belong to Laos, they are closer to the Thai bank and have been occupied by Thai nationals who have grown crops such as corn there since 1995.

"The Lao side has given two reasons for occupying the islands," said Samrerng. "The first is to stop drug trafficking and the second is to prevent anti-government rebels from entering their country."

On Aug. 11 Laos reportedly arrested eight rebels belonging to the Hmong ethnic minority group who crossed the Mekong River to the Laotian side from the islands.

Thai-Laos relations have been tense since July this year when an anti-communist force used Thailand as its springboard to seize the border checkpoint of Wang Tao, opposite the Chang Mek border pass in Ubon Ratchathani Province, 550 kilometers northeast of Bangkok.

At least six rebels died in the attack, and 27 others were arrested in Thailand where they fled after the failed operation. Laos has repeatedly asked Thailand to deport the rebels to Laos to face trial.