Border police:Karen leader didn’t cross into Myanmar

BANGKOK, April 26 (TNA) - Search for a leading Karen human rights activist, Po La Chee, also known as "Billy" Rakjongcharoen, who has disappeared mysteriously since April 17, 2014, has been continued, while a senior border police officer has reiterated that the Karen leader has not crossed the border into neighbouring Myanmar. Dismissing reports that "Billy", a native of Kaeng Krachan District of Phetchaburi Province had crossed and lived with a Myanmar soldier in a Myanmar village, opposite a Thai village in adjacent Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Police Colonel Pirasak Klibchan, Commander of Border Police in Prachuap Khiri Khan, told reporters on Saturday that he had checked with a high ranking Myanmar soldier and was informed that no one saw "Billy" in the border area. The provincial border police commander explained if "Billy" crossed into Myanmar border, he had to show his border pass to Thai authorities and his photograph would be taken and the record could be traced back within one week. According to press reports, the leading Karen human rights activist was briefly detained by officials of the Kaeng Krachan National Park on April 17 for possessing illegally-harvested wild honey and he has not been seen after his release. (TNA)