Ministers released in Thailand

[ausgeo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

South China Morning Post
Saturday  September 20  1997

Burma 
Ministers released in Thailand 
WILLIAM BARNES in Bangkok 
Three ministers in the government-in-exile who faced forced repatriation have 
been released in Mae Sot, just inside the Thai border, say human rights 
workers.
The "soft deportation" effectively means Thailand had acknowledged it would 
create a furore if the three, elected as MPs in a 1990 general election, were 
handed over to the military junta in Rangoon.
"There was a very sharp response. Many diplomats and journalists became 
involved. There was even a demonstration outside the Thai Embassy in Jakarta," 
a human rights activist said.
The three are Teddy Buri, the Asia-Pacific affairs minister in the National 
Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, health minister San Aung and 
justice minister Thien Oo.
Thai police had claimed that because the three did not have valid passports 
they would "definitely" be deported.
There were also fears that publicity surrounding the affair might prompt 
Bangkok authorities to re-examine its long-standing and relatively benign 
policy of allowing Burmese exiles to live and continue their political 
activities in Thailand.
"It irritates the hell out of the State Law and Order Restoration Council, 
which has been pushing the Thais to kick them out. And the Government of Prime 
Minister General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has better relations with Rangoon than 
its predecessors," said a Burmese observer.
A Western diplomat said: "In a way it has been quite reassuring. It means the 
exile community probably remains pretty safe here."
The MPs are expected to be allowed back into Bangkok soon.
The same cannot be said, however, for the many thousands of Burmese working in 
the underground economy or who have sought refuge in Bangkok as illegal 
refugees. Some estimates say there are as many as a million Burmese in this 
category.
Thai security forces have stepped up stop-and-search operations for Burmese 
illegal immigrants apparently out of fear they may turn to crime following a 
slump in the Thai construction industry, where many worked.