Myanmar will send a letter of apology to Thailand for an air intrusion by a MiG-29 fighter jet over the Thai soil in Tak's Phop Phra district on June 30, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said on Tuesday.
Speaking before the weekly cabinet meeting, Mr Don said he had talked with Myanmar's Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin during the 7th Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bagan, Myanmar, on Monday.
They discussed a number of issues, including the intrusion into Thai air space by a Myanmar air force MiG-29 on June 30.
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Mr Don said the Myanmar foreign minister expressed regret, saying it was unintentional and Myanmar would send an official letter of apology to Thailand.
Asked if Myanmar said it would prevent a recurrence of the incident, since its forces were still attacking ethnic minority fighters along the border with Thailand, Mr Don said Myanmar had affirmed it would not allow it to happen again.
Mr Don said a similar incident occurred over 10 years ago. When informed of the intrusion, Myanmar had then effectively prevented a recurrence, he added.
On the Thai side of the border, in Tak province, Infantry Company 1413 of the 14th Infantry Regiment was conducting regular patrols along the border near Wao Lay Nua, Wao Lay Tai and Moker Thai villages in tambon Wao Lay and Muen Luechai village in tambon Phop Phra, keeping a close watch on the fighting between Myanmar government forces and the Karen rebels.
Under an agreement made by the Thai-Myanmar Township Border Committee, if artillery shells land on the Thai side of the border, Thailand would fire a warning smoke shell. If the shelling continued in a way that it could put the Thai people in danger, the Thai side could return fire with live ammunition.
