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.