"The Irrawaddy spoke to Sunai Phasuk of Forum-Asia, a Bangkok-based rights group, about new efforts by the Thai government to engage Burma. Question: What do you think of Thai Prime Minster Thaksin?s recent proposal to act as a negotiator between the SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] and ethnic groups? Answer: This is the cornerstone of Thaksin?s Burma policy, but perhaps it is the most unrealistic part of his policy. His achievements—I guess we cannot call them achievements yet—but we see concrete moves in efforts to build up economic ties and efforts to create communication channels. But in terms of the role of Thailand in mediating the conflict between the SPDC and ethnic groups, Thailand hasn?t proved it has any credentials, apart from it?s geographical location..."