Border authorities on both sides of Myanmar and Thailand have closed two illegal crossing points linking the Three Pagoda Pass area in Karen State, Myanmar and Kanchanaburi Province in Thailand.

The Myanmar main border gate has been closed since 2007, but many local people still pass the gate by motorcycle or car.

Now, cars or motorcycles cannot pass at this border gate anymore, but  people have made the crossing at other illegal points.

“Motorcycles are still able to cross the border from Palaung Japan and Guu Bar villages, the New Mon State Party-controlled area,” said a resident of Three Pagoda Pass Town.

The Thai military placed concrete blocks at The Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) border gate on February 25th at 10 a.m. The [authority] from Myanmar also closed the Nyaung Ben Dout gate the day after.

Thai authorities ordered the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF), which recently increased its military force in Three Pagoda Pass near Daung Wine, to withdraw its troops, according to the sources close to the area.  

However, the BGF troops remained in the area, so the Thai army closed the BGF gate while the Myanmar authorities shut down the Thai-based Nyaung Ben Dout gate.

Since ancient times, the Three Pagoda Pass area has not demarcated the border between  Myanmar and Thailand.

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi explained during the public meeting held in Kyar Inn Seik Kyi on February 24th, if gates are opened in the area where both sides have not officially accepted, it could lead to controversy and could ruin a friendship between the two countries.

In 1990, Myanmar troops invaded the NMSP area, including the  NMSP headquarters. After that, the Myanmar authorities set up Three Pagoda Pass town and officially opened the Thai-Myanmar border gate in 1993.