Burmese soldiers allegedly shot at cargo boats traveling along a river between the border of Myanmar and Thailand.

Two vessels belonging to locals in Mae Hong Son province in the north of the country reportedly suffered damage from gun shots on Saturday, December 11.

Villagers said they were returning from a cargo delivery on the Salween River close to the village of Ban Mae Sam Lab when snipers opened fire.

Thai soldiers from the 36th Ranger Regiment are understood to have started negotiations with Burmese forces to stop them from shooting civilian boats.

They said an agreement had been in place since April that cargo vessels, usually wooden longtail boats, could travel freely along the river.

It is not clear if the gunmen are rebel forces or linked to the country’s military rulers.

Sayan Phosuwan, director of Ban Tha Ta Fang School in the Mae Sariang District, said staff had now re-inforced the building with sandbags amid fears shooting in the area could escalate.

He said: "The school is now also a bunker to allow students to shelter in an emergency. They are ready to do drills to escape serious combat. They must always be alert. In fact, we do not want children to see violence. But from the border area, it is inevitable."

Burmese soldiers allegedly shot at cargo boats travelling along a river between the border of Myanmar and Thailand.

Two vessels belonging to locals in Mae Hong Son province in the north of the country reportedly suffered damage from gun shots on Saturday December 11.

Villagers said they were returning from a cargo delivery on the Salween River close to the village of Ban Mae Sam Lab when snipers opened fire.

Thai soldiers from the 36th Ranger Regiment are understood to have started negotiations with Burmese forces to stop them from shooting civilian boats.

They said an agreement had been in place since April that cargo vessels – usually wooden longtail boats – could travel freely along the river.

It is not clear if the gunmen are rebel forces or linked to the country’s military rulers.

Sayan Phosuwan, director of Ban Tha Ta Fang School in the Mae Sariang District, said staff had now re-inforced the building with sandbags amid fears shooting in the area could escalate.

He said: ‘ The school is now also a bunker to allow students to shelter in an emergency. They are ready to do drills to escape serious combat.

‘They must always be alert. In fact, we do not want children to see violence. But from the border area, it is inevitable.’