Petrol rationing is been enforced in Myawaddy border township, as many motorists and motorcyclists have been queueing up in front of petrol stations since Thailand suspended fuel supplies to five locations in Myanmar on Wednesday, in the latest bid to disrupt the operations of Chinese-run scam call centres.
Meanwhile, in Tachileik township, opposite Thailand’s Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai, Laos has decided to cut the supply of electricity from 30 to just 13 megawatts, forcing officials to adjust electricity allocation, with priority being given to hospital, schools, clinics, banks and telecom service providers.
Thai PBS reporters is Mae Sot district, opposite Myawaddy, say that each motorcyclist is only allowed to buy 5,000 kyat (80.38 baht) of petrol, while each motorist is limited to 30,000 kyat’s worth.
Ethnic Karens’ Border Guard Force (BGF) troops have been deployed at gas stations to maintain order. The price of petrol has jumped to 58.19 baht per litre.
Burmese have been flocking to the Thai border to fill up with fuel, because the prices are much lower and petrol is readily available. Smuggling fuel is, however, prohibited.
It is reported that officials in Tachileik may reactivate a coal-fuelled power plant, if the power cut is prolonged, and this will cause air pollution in Mae Sai district.
The Myawaddy Hospital is also experiencing occasional blackouts, posing a serious threat to critically ill patients, although generators have been installed.
An emergency meeting was held by the management of the hospital, with public health officials, the BGF and government officials, to find alternative sources of power.
Although many people continue to live life as usual, a number of shops have closed due to the electricity shortage.
Thailand’s deputy prime minister for security affairs, Phumtham Wechayachai, said yesterday that Thai and Myanmar citizens are still allowed to cross the border, adding that Myawaddy Hospital can send critically ill patients to Mae Sot Hospital for treatment if needed.
Asked how long the petrol, electricity and internet connection cuts will last, he said it will depend on the effectiveness of the measure vis-à-vis limiting or ending the operations of the scam call centres.
He said that, initially, a six-month timeframe has been set for the assessment of the measure, adding that this is a difficult decision because it involves humanitarian and public safety issues.
