Thailand denies Myanmar claim

Thailand denies Myanmar claim

BANGKOK (AP): In a brief war of words underlying fragile bilateral relations, Thailand has denounced a claim in a state- run Myanmar newspaper accusing Thailand of profiting from sheltering refugees from Myanmar.

On Tuesday the New Light of Myanmar newspaper, a mouthpiece for Myanmar's ruling military regime, accused Thailand of welcoming refugees for political gain and to make profits from black market trade, not humanitarian reasons.

Oum Maolanon, the Thai Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman, retorted that Thailand had faced a big burden in taking care of the refugees who had been driven from their homes by 15 years of political and economic crisis inside Myanmar.

Thailand shares a long border of over 2,000 kilometers with Myanmar, also known as Burma.

More than 120,000 refugees, mostly ethnic KarenS who have fled years of fighting between Myanmar government troops and ethnic rebels, are encamped in five Thai border provinces.