Bangkok Post News (19199)

[mandalay@xxxxxxxxxx]

Burmese ambessador urges talks to prevent clashes

Thai proposal for joing patrols mulled

Burma's Ambassador to Thailand, Hla Maung, yesterday agreed that the two
countries should quickly discuss measures to prevent future clashes at sea,
a Foreign Minister source said.
The ambassador made his comments during talks with Foreign Ministry Deputy
Permanent Secretary Sawanit Kongsiri to examine Thai proposals for joint
patrols, the setting up of a hot aison officials at the border
co-ordination centre in Ranong.
The talk followed a clash in a disputed area in the Andaman Sea on January
12 which reportedly killed three Burmese and damaged a Burmese patrol boat.
There were also alleged intrusions in a nearby area by two Thai navasl
vessels on January 16.
In the latest incident, Mr Sawanit quoted the Royal Thai Navy as stating
that its vessels had never trespassed into Burmese waters. The RTN however
left open the possibility of their passing through unclear territory, the
source quoted him as adding. 
But Burma's director-general for political affairs, Nyunt Maunt Sein, in
protesting the latest incident with the Thai ambassador in Rangoon, Pensak
Chalarak, on Sunday, emphasised that Thai naval boats had entered Burmese
waters.
They did so after a Burmese naval vessel had tried to communicate with them
by light signal, the Burmese official was quoted as saying.
The Burmese government considered such "deloberate and provocative actions"
as being " against the spirit of good-neighbourliness as well as of Asean
community". They also "could give rise to undesirable misunderstandings and
consequences."
Meanwhile, a Burmese soldier has been arested on suspicion of conducting
intelligence work in a refugee camp in Suan Phueng district, Ratchaburi.

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