Wa denies kidnapping of Thais

Wa denies kidnapping of Thais

A Wa officer in Tachilek, interviewed by S.H.A.N. through telephone, rejected outright the group had anything to do with the Thais missing in Burma since Friday. 

The officer, who is a battalion commander in the United Wa State Army, told S.H.A.N. that actually it was the Burmese military that had held up the land-cruiser and taken into custody all of its 7 occupants. "They wanted Yawserk in a exchange for them," he said. 

Gen. Wattanachai Chaimuenwong, Commander of the Third Regional Army, Royal Thai Army, however, dismissed the claim with a light laugh saying, "That's a bit of a tall story." 

Meanwhile conflicting reports about whether or not the abductors were Wa or Burmese kept coming. 
Thai authorities were also reported to have approached Thai entrepreneurs doing business with Burma to help solicit for early release of the 7 officials. 

Thailand, according to Xinhua, was the largest foreign investor during the first quarter of the year.