AFP-Thailand welcomes negotiations

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Thailand welcomes negotiations in Myanmar
Wed 19 Aug 98 - 12:06 GMT 

BANGKOK, Aug 19 (AFP) - Thailand expressed the hope Wednesday that Myanmar
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be able to take part in talks
between her National League for Democracy (NLD) and the country's junta.

A foreign ministry statement said Thailand welcomed Tuesday's meeting
between between Khin Nyunt, the secretary of the ruling State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC), and NLD chairman Aung Shwe.

"Thailand hopes the dialogue will be without conditions and will continue
while giving a chance for Aung San Suu Kyi to take part," it said.

It said the meeting -- billed as the first in a series of talks between the
rival camps of Myanmar politics -- was a potentially positive development
for Southeast Asia as a whole.

"Thailand wants to see national reconciliation between all political sides
and races in Myanmar, including the minority groups," the statement said.

"This will lead to the end of conflict and political tension, and give
peace and stability to Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region."

Thailand confirmed it did not want to interfere in the internal affairs of
its neighbour but instisted on its right to speak out on matters that could
affect it directly.

"Thailand has good will for the people who call for democracy and needs to
express its stance about problems that might affect Thailand or the
region," the ministry statement said.

Yangon and Bangkok have been locked in a diplomatic debate about the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations' general policy of non-interference
in the internal affairs of member states.

Thai foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan has led a push to review the policy in
favour of a more pro-active and open approach which allows member states
leeway to criticise each other directly.

Myanmar's junta and its opponents on Tuesday held their first round of
direct talks this year, as Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi began the
second week of a roadside stand-off with the military rulers.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been blocked on a road outside Yangon, while she was
on her way to visit provincial supporters.

The NLD won the 1990 election by a landslide majority but the junta has
refused to give up the iron grip over the nation it has held since 1962.

The junta has consistently refused to include Aung San Suu Kyi in
invitations for dialogue with the NLD.