AAP(22/3/96)+REUTERS: THE AAP NEWS

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Subject: AAP(22/3/96)+REUTERS: THE AAP NEWS IN CORRECTION 

	CORRECTION CORRECTION CORRECTION
BURMA REFUGEES CORRECTION     
   Foreign Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER says he's aware of reports of 
alleged ill-treatment of returning Burmese refugees but will look 
into the situation.
	   Mr DOWNER was responding to calls from the Australian Council 
for Overseas Aid and the Burma non-governmental group forum which 
released the report.
	   The report identifies serious problems with the UN High 
Commissioner for Refugees' repatriation of Rohingya refugees from 
Bangladesh to Burma and raises concerns about Thailand's treatment 
of refugees.
	   Mr DOWNER says he'll consider the material -- at the same time 
announcing a further $2 million to help Burmese refugees living on 
the borders of Thailand and Bangladesh.
	   aap RTV kaw/ccs/jlw/bb
	   EDS: Repeating and correcting story from March 20, clarifying Mr 
DOWNER was AWARE of reports, not UNWARE as sent.


	ASIA: THAIS REGRET ABSENCE OF BURMA AT SECURITY DIALOGUE
ASIA SECURITY
   By Sutin Wannabovorn of Reuters
	   SAMPRAN, Thailand, March 21 Reuter - The Thai hosts of a 
22-country Asia-Pacific security dialogue said today they regretted 
the absence of Burma, saying future security problems with that 
country along their long common border were possible.
	   Military officials from 22 countries, including the United 
States, China and Russia, gathered for a second day of talks today 
with the focus on confidence-building measures, but Burma stayed 
away.
	   "It is very regrettable that Burma turned down our invitation," 
a Thai military officer said.
	   Thailand has border disputes with all of its neighbours as well 
as a maritime boundary disagreement with Vietnam, but the disputes 
with Burma were seen as the most serious and the ones most likely 
to lead to confrontation, the officer said.
	   "Burma even claims that some four-lane roads and mountains in 
Thailand are part of their territory and they are persistent on 
that," the officer said.
	   "I predict that if these problems are not urgently settled the 
disputes could lead to armed confrontation between the two 
countries," said the officer, who declined to be identified.
	   Thai Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa became the first Thai 
leader to visit Burma in 16 years when he travelled to Rangoon for 
a two-day visit earlier this week.
	   Though he was well-received by Burma's military government and 
both sides hailed the visit as a new chapter after a period of 
tense relations, diplomats in Rangoon and Bangkok said their border 
was a serious potential source of future disputes.
	   The Thai military highlighted the problem in a defence white 
paper published earlier this month.
	   "It is certain that Thailand will face problems in the future 
concerning unclear borders," the white paper said.
	   "During the Cold War, these areas were carefully monitored to 
prevent infiltration by the enemy, but after the Cold War, they 
became vulnerable because some areas have not been demarcated."
	   The document also pointed out the potential danger to Thailand 
of internal problems in neighbouring countries, including changes 
in leadership and economic systems.
	   Thai officers attending the seminar said a border conflict with 
Burma could be sparked by competition for economic resources.
	   One officer cited two border conflicts with Laos in the 1980s, 
the second of which, in late 1987 and early 1988, was sparked by 
Thai loggers cutting trees in a disputed area.
	   The Thai officer said relations with their Burmese counterparts 
had deteriorated in recent years and were unlikely to improve 
significantly soon, despite Banharn's visit.
	   "In the old days, when there was a problem we could settle it 
straight away but now they refuse to talk with us at almost every 
level. Their attitude of mistrust towards us prevails," he said.
	   Thai officers said border problems would be highlighted at 
today's talks at the seminar, which were focusing on 
confidence-building measures.
	   The three-day meeting is co-hosted by the Thai defence ministry 
and Thailand's Institute of the National Defence Studies.
	   Participating are the seven ASEAN members -- Brunei, Indonesia, 
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - plus 
Australia, Cambodia, Canada, China, Laos, Japan, South Korea, New 
Zealand, Russia and the United States.
	   Observing are Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, France and the United 
Kingdom.
	   REUTER br