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Myanmar strongly protests against intrusion and rocket attack by Thai military aircraft |
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Yangon, 11 May — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched a strong protest against the intrusion and rocket attack by Thai military aircraft against Myanmar territory in Kayin State as well as in eastern Shan State yesterday. A Thai jet fighter, believed to be a F-16 fighter aircraft, flew over Wawle, Thebawbo and Kyauket areas in Kayin State at about 9.20 am at an altitude of approximately 3,000 feet and fired five rockets. Two of them exploded, one hit a cow shed in Kyauket area and another hit the grain storage hut a few yards outside the Gawli village. Both areas are about 500 yards from the border and well inside Myanmar territory.
The second attack by a Thai fighter jet occurred at approximately 10.30 am in Mongyawn area in eastern Shan State. In this incident, one rocket fired from the Thai jet fell near Lawsansaw village and the other rocket exploded near the Hwai-aw creek. As a result of these air strikes, six people including two children were slightly injured and three cattle killed. Lawsansaw village is approximately 300 yards from the border and the Hwai-aw creek is approximately two miles from the border.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a special briefing for the Heads of Mission in Yangon, today at 1 pm in Wun Zin Min Yar Zar Hall, at the ministry regarding the incident. Deputy Minister U Khin Maung Win made a computer-assisted presentation on the situation and later answered the questions raised by the diplomats. Afterwards, the diplomats viewed the maps of the area with keen interest.
A similar briefing was held for military attaches of foreign embassies at Tatmadaw Guest House on Inya Road at 1 pm.Military attaches led by Acting Dean of the Military Attaches Military Attaché of Embassy of Japan Col Hirofumi Yasu were present.General Staff Officer (Grade-1) of Defence Service Intelligence Lt-Col Ngwe Tun clarified the incident.
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With regard
to these incidents, the Thai Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Oum Maolanon was
summoned to the Foreign Ministry and handed a strong protest note by
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Khin Maung Win at 11 am today. The
Deputy Minister also informed the Thai Ambassador that the Myanmar
reserved the right to take appropriate action to protect its national
sovereignty and territory integrity.
