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Student groups told to 'respect hos

Subject: Student groups told to 'respect hospitality', 

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<font size=5>Student groups told to 'respect hospitality'<br>
<br>
</font><font size=3>PONGSAK BA1-NGERN <br>
The Nation<br>
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THE Thai government should make it clear to Burmese students living in
Thailand that they are allowed to stay here on condition they do not do
anything that may infringe upon Thai hospitality or be seen as
ungrateful, said a retired army general who negotiated with Burmese
student hijackers 10 years ago.<br>
Gen Thienchai Sirisamphan said the actions of the armed Burmese student
dissidents, who overran the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok on Friday, was
considered by many Thais to be an ungrateful act, considering the country
had provided them with sanctuary because they face persecution in their
homeland.<br>
?From now on the Thai government should make the Burmese students here
understand that they should live here peacefully and must not get
involved in any political or violent activities,? Thienchai told <i>The
<b>Nation.<br>
</b></i>On Oct 6, 1989, Thienchai, then deputy premier, negotiated with
two Burmese students, Ye Yint and Ye Thi Ha, who hijacked a Burmese
domestic airliner and forced it to fly to Thailand. Ye Thi Ha is the
alias for San Niang, who was also involved in the Burmese Embassy siege.
Thienchai congratulated the Thai government for securing a peaceful end
to saga. However, he warned other foreign dissidents with a point to make
could possibly use Thailand to stage similar activities out of the belief
they would be released like the five Burmese students.<br>
The government should also increase security for the Burmese and other
diplomatic missions that may be targeted by dissident groups, Thienchai
said.<br>
?But these students are not terrorists. If they were, they would have
resorted to violence. They just wanted the Burmese government to abide by
their demands,? he said, adding that stricter measures should be imposed
at the Maneeloy holding centre for Burmese students </font><font size=1>.
</font><font size=3>He said the Burmese students could hide 
weapons.<br>
Meanwhile, an executive member of New Aspiration Party, Muk Sulaiman,
said that he would bring the hostage saga to the notice of the House
committee on military affairs tomorrow.<br>
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