Thailand to protest shooting on border

Thailand to protest shooting on border

BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand is to protest the recent shooting of a Thai civilian at the border with Myanmar, a Thai official said yesterday.

Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has ordered the defense and foreign ministries to lodge an official protest, deputy government spokesman Withiya Kaewparadai said.

Chuan described as an "over-reaction" the incident in which Myanmarese soldiers stopped a Thai man who was in Myanmar illegally and then shot him as he fled across the Sai River to Thailand.

The circumstances of the shooting, which was said to have taken place on the outskirts of the Myanmarese market town of Tachilek last Sunday, were unclear.

Officials here said that the Thai man was retarded and was apparently carrying a toy pistol which the Myanmarese mistook for a real one.