Thai-Malaysia Wall/NewSongkhla Border Gate

[GWR]

Scheduled for completion in 2005. This wall runs along the border of Songkhla Province with Malaysia:-
http://www.geocities.com/satelthai/projects/thai-malaysian/index.html

[GWR]

Well, we know that there has been a minor Border Crossing at this point for a long time. I've even met folks who claim to have passed thru' it legally in times of holiday congestion at Sadao & Padang. One imagines it already has similar status to the Wang Prachan Crossing in Satun Province:-

http://www.thaisnews.com/printfriendly.php?id=85796

ประจำวันพุธที่ 25 กุมภาพันธ์ 2547
Mr. TERDSAK revealed that Thailand and Malaysia also have a plan to build a road across the border checkpoints from NATHAWEE (นาทวี) – BAN PRAKOB (บ้านประกอบ) in SONGKHLA (สงขลา) to the Malaysian border in Alorstar. After the two countries finish discussing about the border and customs checkpoints, the project will be proposed to the Cabinet. The project is expected to be completed this year.

Anyone know if this project is finished, in progress or has stalled because of security concerns?

[GWR]

Well, we know that there has been a minor Border Crossing at Ban Prakob for a long time:-

http://www.thaisnews.com/printfriendly.php?id=85796[QUOTE]

More on the Feasibility Study of Ban Prakob Border Town, Amphur Nathavee, Songkhla , Thailand, 2004-2005, Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, approx. construction cost US$ 4 million:-

http://www.seatecgroup.com/index2.html

Unusually awful (& bland) graphic representation:-

http://www.seatecgroup.com/image/environment/environment4.jpg

;) The Architect's Sketch:-

http://www.seatecgroup.com/image/urban/urban4.jpg

[GWR]

It's worth noting here that Malaysia built a wall along some more porous stretches of its border with Thailand about a decade ago: -

Apart from reining in the three-year insurgency that has claimed more than 1,800 lives, Surayud said the new concrete wall would help prevent an influx of illegal workers into Thailand.

I would have thought that most of the 'illegals' were crossing into Malaysia. And the fact of the matter is that Malaysia actually finds it quite difficult to live without such labor. Not to mention the fact that it is not necessarily that difficult for such workers to cross the border. That said, one imagines that such laborers are actually trying to avoid paying too much 'tea mnoey' to the set of rogues who work on the border. It could make things just a bit more difficult for dual-citizenship fugitives, although it will probably only mean that they just cross at an even more remote forest borderline instead. There will still be vast swathes of the border that even lack regular patrols.


Malaysia says Thai security wall must be studied

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia wants to hold talks with Thailand about the economic and social impact of Bangkok's plans to extend a security wall along the countries' common border, a report said Tuesday.

"We need to look into the ramifications and implications, the cost and how it is going to affect people to people contact and the legitimate free movement of the people from both sides," Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told the New Straits Times.

Syed Hamid said Malaysia was open to measures to stop illegal cross-border activity after Thailand announced the move, seen as a bid to curb an insurgency in its Muslim-majority south.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will arrive Sunday in Thailand and is expected to meet with his Thai counterpart Surayud Chulanont.

"I think this will be one of the subjects that will be touched on by both leaders," Syed Hamid said.

Thailand already has a three-kilometre (two-mile) wall on its southern border between the Thai town of Sadao and the Malaysian town of Padang Besar.

Surayud said Sunday his government would extend the existing wall south by 27 kilometres to Yala, one of three restive southern provinces bordering northern Malaysia.

Apart from reining in the three-year insurgency that has claimed more than 1,800 lives, Surayud said the new concrete wall would help prevent an influx of illegal workers into Thailand.

"It has always been the intention of both countries to stop smuggling and illegal border crossings," Syed Hamid was quoted as saying.

"Whatever is considered to be the most effective, should be looked into by both sides," he said.

The ongoing violence in southern Thailand has strained its relationship with Malaysia, with reports of insurgent training camps in Malaysia and claims that Thai restaurants there are funding the separatist movement.

Thailand also believes that militants behind the insurgency are abusing dual citizenship to escape across the border with Malaysia after committing attacks.


Agence France Presse



International Herald Tribune article from 1991 about Malaysia's plans to wall certain parts of the border. I believe some short stretches of this wall were eventually built (Satun Province?). I remember seeing televised reports in the mid-90s of the wall under construction, as it caused the inevitable furore about border allignment and social impacts: -

http://www.iht.com/articles/1991/07/10/fenc.php

[GWR]

Thai-Malaysian wall to expand 10 kms

Songkhla (TNA)

On the heels of the summit of their prime ministers, Thai and Malaysian military commanders have agreed to extend the existing security wall along their border by 10 kilometres.

The announcement was made at a joint press conference following the 87th meeting of the joint border committee in Songkhla.

Fourth Army Region commander Lt-Gen Viroj Buajaroon, who is in charge of Thai military operations in the south, and Lt-Gen Zulkifli bin Mohammed Zin, Malaysian regional commander, told a press conference that the single wire fence would run to the east and west of Baan Dan Nok border checkpoint in the Thai town of Sadao in Songkhla province, opposite Malaysia's Kedah state.

Both sides would hold another round of consultation on Thursday to agree on terms of reference.

Thailand already has a three-kilometre (two-mile) wall on its southern border between the Thai town of Sadao and the Malaysian town of Padang Besar.

Their commanders also said that both sides would increase military patrols along the 647-kilometre border and exchange security-related information.

Thai and Malaysian leaders held a summit meeting earlier this week to discuss joint efforts to curb an insurgency in Thailand’s Muslim-majority south.

Before the meeting, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Sunday his government would extend the existing wall south by 27 kilometres to Yala, one of three restive southern provinces bordering northern Malaysia.

Apart from reining in the three-year insurgency that has claimed nearly 2,000 lives, Gen Surayud said the new concrete wall would help prevent an influx of illegal workers into Thailand.(TNA)-



Expirable link: -

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=116794