Thailand has blocked a shipment of Chinese generators to Myanmar that were destined for a power plant partly owned by a junta-allied ethnic armed force accused of narcotics trafficking, the Thai army said Saturday.
Thailand's Third Army stopped the shipment of some 44 containers of heavy machinery Friday at the northern border checkpoint of Mae Sai where they were also met by thousands of angry villagers concerned over pollution from the lignite-powered plant still under construction.
"The importer has voluntarily decided to transport all 44 containers back to Bangkok and then the country of origin as they feared thier goods may be destroyed by the mob," said government spokesman Yongyuth Tiyapairat.
He said trucks began the return trip at around 4:15 pm (0915 GMT) Saturday.
"There were more than 10,000 protesters here wanting to protect their rights as the power plant might cause acid rain."
The plant is some five kilometers (three miles) from the border.
Defense ministry spokesman Colonel Jongsak Panichkul told AFP the ethnic minority United Wa State Army (UWSA), which has signed a ceasefire agreement with the Yangon junta, ordered the Chinese-made machinery for the plant.
"It's cheaper and easier to transport such heavy equiptment by sea via our country than direct overland from China to Myanmar," he said – BANGKOK (AFP)
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