Restraint appeal to Burmese authori

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Bangkok Post
July 9, 1998 

Restraint appeal to Burmese authorities
Rangoon hits back at 'foreign meddling' 

Thailand expressed concern yesterday at developments in Burma and urged
restraint in what is seen as a test of the Thai call for "flexible
engagement" among Asean members.

The Foreign Ministry said instability in Burma could retard efforts towards
economic recovery in the region because the international business
community tended to view the region as a whole.

Instability in Burma also could spur a fresh influx of refugees into
Thailand, adversely affecting border trade, co-operation against illegal
workers and drug trafficking, it said.

The comments came after a stand-off between Burmese security forces and
Aung San Suu Kyi of the opposition National League for Democracy 50km north
of Rangoon.

Security forces tried to prevent Mrs Suu Kyi, accompanied by Aung Shwe, the
league chairman, from meeting colleagues at Taikkyi Township. At one point,
the security forces lifted their car and turned it towards Rangoon.

But the two leaders eventually were allowed to meet a local representative
and returned to Rangoon yesterday.

Calls for restraint have drawn a testy reaction from Rangoon, which
criticised foreign governments for what it considered interference.
In a statement yesterday, Burma's ministry of foreign affairs said: "Recent
statements made by certain responsible ministers regarding their concern on
the pre-supposed situation in Union of Myanmar [Burma] are found to be
presumptuous."

The statement came the day after Thailand expressed concern at developments
in Burma and called for restraint between the junta and the league.

The United States condemned the junta's refusal to allow Aung San Suu Kyi
to visit party members. "The authorities in Myanmar have been exercising
utmost restraint in dealing with the aggressive and confrontational
attitude of certain elements," Burma's statement said.

Rangoon said Bangkok's comments could potentially affect relations and were
against the spirit of Asean. "It is regrettable that presumptuous
observation and remarks made on isolated and wrong information could lead
to misunderstanding and a misconception not only in bilateral relations but
also intra-Asean," it said.

Tension between the ruling State Peace and Development Council and the
opposition has intensified since late June after the league stepped up
pressure for recognition of the 1990 election it won by a landslide.

The league on June 24 demanded the convening by Aug 21 of the parliament
elected eight years ago. The state-run New Light of Myanmar subsequently
threatened to jail Aung San Suu Kyi and further restricted the movements of
League MPs, requiring those outside Rangoon to report to local police twice
daily. Some 40 MPs have been arrested.

In Bangkok, the Foreign Ministry expressed concern for an outbreak of
violence ahead of the 31st Asean Ministerial Meeting in Manila on July
24-25.

Surin Pitsuwan, the foreign minister, currently in Indonesia, has called on
Asean to ditch its non-interference policy in favour of a more flexible
approach.

He argued a new approach was needed to prevent or diminish internal
problems that might endanger the region.

On Tuesday, Lauro Baja, the Philippines foreign under-secretary, said Mr
Surin's call would be discussed by foreign ministers at the Manila talks.

Manila was already taking a position of "flexible engagement" with Burma
aimed at avoiding upheaval in that country, he added.