KNU not to reopen Three Pagoda Pass-Thanphyuzayart highway

Thu 29 Nov 2007
Joi Htaw, IMNA

The Karen National Union in a letter to the Three Pagoda Pass Township Peace and Development Council authorities has announced that it is not going to work in tandem with the Burmese military authorities to reopen the highway from the Thai-Burma border town of Three Pagoda Pass to Thanpyuzayart, Mon State.

The letter was sent not only to TPP authorities, but also to traders and businessmen who operate from across its gate in Kyungyaung village. The officer at the check point gave the letter to them.

The letter has the seal of the KNU and said that they would not take any responsibility for those passing through the Three Pagoda Pass to Thanpyuzayart road and would shoot whoever uses the vehicular route.

There are three routes, Three Pagoda Pass to Kyainnseikyi Township, Karen State, TPP to Ye Township, and TPP to Thanphyuzayart Township, Mon State.

KNU has allowed businessmen and traders the use of two roads but not TPP to Thanphyuzayart route because there are thousands of Burma Army troops using the road. They are the enemy and KNU have said they will shoot at any car, boat or people they see on this route, a person who read the letter said.

He added that KNU will take off its gate after its water trip at the end of this month and will have a meeting on December 4 to let car owners and the traders know which route they will be allowed to use.

KNU has prohibited use of the vehicular route fromT PP to Thanpyuzayart because the regime armed forces marched to their area of influence to establish four more army bases in Kyainnseikyi and Three Pagoda Pass Townships.

A car owner who used to drive from the Thai-Burma border town to Thanpyuzayart said that this will affect the local people badly because the ban and restriction is not only from KNU but also from the Burma Army's side.