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BKK POST: January 27, 1998:THAILAND
- Subject: BKK POST: January 27, 1998:THAILAND
- From: suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 19:40:00
BKK POST: January 27, 1998:THAILAND-BURMA
Army chief tries to
solve fishing row
Uamdao Noikorn, Wasana Nanuam
Alongstanding Thai-Burmese dispute over illegal fishing in
Burmese waters by Thais is likely to be settled soon as Rangoon
has offered to revive its relations with Bangkok based on
transparency.
A significant progress was seen yesterday after a meeting
between top officials of the Agriculture and Cooperatives
Ministry and the army chief, Gen Chettha Thanajaro, who visited
Burma last week.
"The offer by the Burmese government is a very good sign for
Thailand. The fishery industry is very important here and I'm sure
Thais don't want to lose this big fishing ground," Gen Chettha
said in a press conference yesterday.
A newly formed committee will start working out proposals and
measures to curb rogue Thai fishing boats for submission to the
ministry in 15 days.
The committee is made up of the ministry's deputy
director-general Kookiat Suwannalak and representatives of its
Department of Fisheries and the armed forces.
It is expected future talks with Burma would be fruitful since this
was the first time the armed force had agreed to lend a hand.
Previous talks yielded little success partly due to Thai fishing
operators' reluctance to play by the rule and the country's lax law
enforcement.
Rangoon has warned its renewed relations with Thailand would
be successful only with a clear-cut policy and strong commitment
from the Thai side, said Gen Chettha.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Virat Rattanaset yesterday admitted
the bad image of Thai fishermen posed a major obstacle to future
talks with Rangoon, citing the fact Thais, whether intentionally or
not, have continued to fish outside their concessioned areas in
Burma.
Their practice has led to several arrests by Burmese authorities
and added to diplomatic rows between the two countries over a
repatriation issue.
Some Thai operators have also cheated Burma of concession
fees by adding at least three unlicensed boats to a registered one,
resulting in overfishing.
Three years ago, Burma officially refused to renew its fishing
concessions to Thai fishermen.
Mr Virat also planned to look into a report on Burma's refusal to
accept concession payment in baht following the economic
downturn in Thailand, insisting on being paid in US dollars only.
"Paying in dollars has cost Thai fishermen about 54 million baht
per boat per month or so I heard," he said.
Plodprasop Surasawadi, a former Department of Fisheries,
confirmed Burma used to accept both Thai and US currencies
and started refusing to take the baht only last year.
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Last Modified: Tue, Jan 27, 1998