Soccer crazy soldiers of a Burmese Army battalion based on the Thai-Burma border stole buffaloes from Thai villagers to force them to give a television set and a satellite dish antenna so that they could watch the World Cup matches, said cattle owners.

The buffaloes were reportedly stolen two days ago. They were owned by villagers in Lug Teng in Piangluang Chiangmai's Wianghaeng District, opposite Shan State South’s Mongton Township, where the soldiers are based. The soldiers belong to a camp near Pangkamkaw border based Mongtong Township, said an owner. The number of buffaloes stolen was 23.

On June 9, the owners were informed by a seiner officer from the camp to come and fetch their buffaloes. But to take back the buffaloes, villagers were told to bring one television set, one satellite dish antenna and a mobile phone. The excuse was that their cattle crossed over to the Burmese Army controlled area, said Pa Pee, who had 10 buffaloes seized.

According to the officer, the buffaloes entered the area over two days. “Your buffaloes crossed over into our area. So you must give one satellite dish antenna, a TV and one mobile phone for your buffaloes”, Pa Pee quoted the officer as saying.

“We gave them money, which they did not accept. They said they wanted a TV set, a satellite dish antenna and a mobile phone because they wanted to watch World Cup matches,” Pa Pee said. “We were told to bring the items before the World Cup began.”

A buffalo owner said, “Our buffaloes can’t across into their land. We have been feeding them for years. They have never gone over to that side. It was a trap because we saw broken fences and foot prints of soldiers.”

However, 20 buffaloes were released on June 9 after the owners went to the base and promised to give, what was asked for. The rest three were released the next day after villagers brought over a 21 inch TV set, a satellite dish antenna and a mobile phone including money cards, said another owner.
“We spent almost 10,000 Baht,” he said.