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The Nation - Diplomatic relations w



Reply-To: "TIN KYI" <tinkyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: The Nation - Diplomatic relations with Burma sour

The Nation -Oct 8, 1999.
Headlines
Diplomatic relations with Burma sour

DIPLOMATIC tension between Thailand and Burma grew yesterday following the
closure of border checkpoints and suspension of concessions for Thai
fishermen by Burma and a strong response by Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai to
Rangoon's criticism of Bangkok's handling of last week's hostage crisis.

The military government in Rangoon has yet to reopen the border checkpoints
or allow Thai fishermen into its waters, bringing cross-border trade to a
standstill over the past five days.

Chuan, in what is considered the strongest remarks on the situation by a
senior Thai official so far, accused Rangoon of sending mixed signals.

''On the one hand Burma sends an official letter to thank us. But on the
other, its officials have been issuing critical statements,'' Chuan said.

He insisted that the Thai authorities had done their best to peacefully
solve a problem which had its roots in Burma.

''They cannot escape anywhere,'' Chuan said, referring to Burma's
pro-democracy students in general. ''So they come to our country, which is
helping to solve the problem. So, in fact, Burma cannot criticise us.''

Burma should understand that Thailand had to put the safety of embassy staff
and other hostages first, he added.

A state-run newspaper in Burma on Wednesday attacked Thailand's handling of
the hostage crisis. It said that bilateral relations could be harmed if
Bangkok did not tighten security over ''terrorist'' refugees from Burma
residing on Thai soil.

Col Thein Swe, former military attache at the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok,
went on government radio on Tuesday to accuse the Thai intelligence service
of being a sham for not being able to anticipate the embassy takeover.

Thein Swe is a leading member of the Office of Strategic Studies, a powerful
think-tank under the command of security chief Lt Gen Khin Nyunt.

But the statements made by the state-run media contradicted those made by
the Burmese head of state.

Chairman of the ruling State Peace and Development Council Gen Than Schwe
had sent a letter thanking Chuan for his efforts in solving the crisis
peacefully.

He also praised Deputy Foreign Minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra for his
courage. Sukhumbhand volunteered to travel with the rebels when they flew by
helicopter to the Thai-Burmese border in exchange for the release of the
hostages.

The five attackers, who called themselves the Vigorous Burmese Student
Warriors, stormed the Burmese Embassy last Friday, taking 38 people hostage
at gunpoint, while holding 51 others in a different section.

Interior Minister Sanan Kachornprasart had earlier referred to the five
gunmen as ''students fighting for democracy'', instead of ''terrorists''.

Infuriated by the statement, Rangoon issued a reply on Monday saying: ''One
wonders if at any point during the entire siege of the embassy, the
trigger-happy gunmen's ... activity had resulted in the death of not only
the embassy staff but families including children, can they still be
regarded as 'not terrorists, but students who are fighting for democracy',''
the statement said.

Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand, Sukhumbhand tried
to clarify Sanan's statement, saying that although the five armed attackers
were not ''international terrorists'', nevertheless, what they did
constituted a ''terrorist act''.

''We will proceed legally because they have committed a crime under Thai
law,'' he said. ''However, there is a void in the Thai legal system in
giving a legal definition of international terrorist.''

Although the Thai security agencies has vowed to restrict the movement of
dissident groups operating in and around the Thai border, it was
nevertheless understood that these students had escaped persecution and
sought refuge here, Chuan said.

In a separate interview, Sukhumbhand reaffirmed the National Security
Council's decision to impose stricter controls on the movement of Burmese
dissident groups in Thailand.

However, the country's policy towards refugees residing on Thai soil would
not be changed.

Thailand must continue its present policy of providing temporary refuge for
the Burmese, he said.

The security council has said that the raid on the Burmese Embassy
constituted a threat to national security.

But Sukhumbhand emphasised that the Burmese had not requested more security
measures despite numerous reports last month saying that Burmese dissidents
throughout the world were planning a series of protests against the military
government.

The Nation