Text of report by Thai newspaper Phuchatkan

Chiangmai News Centre: A delegation of almost 50 Chiangrai municipality officials and press members visiting China’s Xishuangbanna since 15 October, who were due back to Thailand today via Tachilek-Mae Sai border checkpoint, have been stranded in Burma following a reported coup attempt.
Reports on the coup attempt in which Burmese Army Commander Gen Maung Aye, in the early hours of 19 October, reportedly sent armed troops to seize Burmese Military Intelligence (MI) and surround the residence of and
detain Burmese prime minister Gen Khin Kyunt remain sketchy.

Meanwhile, the situation along the Burmese-Thai border remains calm. Reports said that the situation in the capital Rangoon has been closely monitored by Burmese officials in Tachilek town and especially by Burmese intelligence officials positioned along Burmese-Thai border who have not been disarmed and detained, while over 70 of their colleagues along the Burmese-Chinese stretch of the border were arrested by troops loyal to Gen Maung Aye last night. Reports said the Burmese-Thai border checkpoints at
Tachilek, Myawadi, among others, remain open as of 1130 local time today.

Police Col Sa-ngop San-udorn, Immigration superintendent of Chiangrai’s Mae Sai district, said the situation at Mae Sai border remains normal. He said there has been no report of any violent incident. Col Sa-ngop added that Thai officials have been in constant contacts with their Burmese
counterparts to check on new developments. He said the news about a possible coup had been circulated for the past one to two weeks. Then two days ago, the Burmese authorities became specially strict with Thai agricultural imports until the coup was staged late last night.

Sources in Chiangrai also added that the Chiangrai municipality and other concerned agencies are trying all possible avenues to contact the Burmese authorities to ascertain the safety of the delegation of Chiangrai
municipality officials and press members. The Thai delegation set out by boat on 15 October and was due back via Burma’s Hla-Keng Tung-Tachilek and Mae Sai district of Chiangrai Province today. The delegation reportedly was already in Burma on the evening of 18 October and contact was since lost.