Burmese Shelling Forces 2,000 Thais to Flee by Phairath Khampha 31 May 2002 In the continuing, although rarely Western-media reported conflict along the Thai-Burmese border, mortar shells fired from inside Burma forced about 2,000 Thais, 500 of them schoolchildren, to flee Ban Mae Konken village in tambon Mahawan of Mae Sot district, Tak province, on May 16, 2002. No one was hurt but the village school was ordered closed for half a day. The shelling by an unidentified force inside Burma began at 12.15 hours. Three mortar rounds landed near the homes of Ming Khammukdee, 45, Seerai Ruankham, 48, and Tha Chaichana, 55, causing damage to the houses and some of their belongings, as well as power lines and fruit trees. Another mortar round landed near Wat Huai Mahawong and five others on a rice field near the village. Narong Huayphat, the kamnan [subdistrict chief] of tambon [subdistrict] Mahawan, said that before the shelling he had received a telephone warning from a Burmese man that the village would be shelled in retaliation for the May 15 attacks on two Burmese outposts by Karen National Union separatists being supported by Thai troops. A formal protest against the shelling was be made to Burmese authorities.