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Thai Press on Burma



Subject: Summary of the Thai Press, Mon, Oct 11, (fwd)

BANGKOK
SUMMARY OF THE THAI PRESS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1999

(NOTE:  The following is an unedited summary of selected news, columns and
editorials from the Thai press.  It should be read in conjunction with the
Bangkok English language newspapers.  Items are selected for summary based
upon their interest and usefulness to US officials.  This press summary
should not be considered a balanced reflection of what appears in the Thai
press on any given day.  This is not an official document and the
producers assume no responsibility for accuracy of translations.)

I. 	MAJOR HEADLINES:

		2. 	Thai fishermen threaten to close the gulf to
retaliate against Burma for cheating them out of fishing fee.  - Siam   
Rath
		3. 	'CHUAN' shrugs off Burmese refusal to reopen fishing
concession and vows to find a new fishing source.  - Ban Muang (1)
		4. 	CHUAN shrugs off whatever Burmese retaliation.  -
Thai Rath sub-headline (1)
		5.	CHUAN jointly prodded to hold bilateral talks with
Burma; BANHAN-THAKSIN observe the damage of Burmese retaliation and urge   
the
PM to expedite bilateral negotiation; the PM blames the Interior   
Minister's
foul mouth for severe Burmese retaliations.  - Krungthep Thurakit (18)

		2.	The Burmese junta has apparently been playing a
two-faced role in thanking the Thai Prime Minister in writing for   
settling
the recent seizure of the Burmese Embassy here in an amicable way and
subsequently closing Burmese border passes to Thailand and lifting   
fishing
concession at Thai expense.  The Burmese junta seems to be unfairly   
putting
the blame wholly on Thailand without admitting the fact that it is the   
root
cause of all problems, originating from its rise to power by   
non-righteous
means, disrespect for the Burmese people's rights and the results of   
recent
election as well as its abuse of power to suppress Burmese students and
people, compelling them to seek refuge in Thailand.  In this case, the
Burmese people may righteously use the Thai soils to launch
counter-operations against the Burmese junta in a bid to retrieve their
country from dictatorial rule.  The Burmese Government should try to   
realize
its being the root cause of Thai involvement.  Such a two-faced policy   
would
not do Burma any good in the long run but rather would inevitably bring
enmity to the Thai people at Burmese expense.  In fact, the Burmese junta
should have sincerely thanked Thailand for accepting it as an ASEAN   
member
despite global resistance and for doing its best to safeguard people held
hostages in the recent Burmese Embassy seizure.  - Matichon editorial and
similar comment by SOMMAI PARITCHAT

		3.	GREEN HEAD NEWS AGENCY sympathizes with the Burmese
junta for resorting to border closure and fishing concession lifting in
retaliation for dissatisfactory Thai handling of the recent Burmese   
Embassy
seizure by five Burmese student leaders.  The author would not blame the
Burmese junta for making the retaliation despite its immense impacts on   
Thai
industry in various related fields.  He also deems it unfair to fault the
leading Burmese student called JOHNY or the Thai authorities concerned
either.  Rather, he takes this as a matter of mutual interest and urges   
the
Thai Government to seek to talk it over with its Burmese counterpart,
preferably by tasking persons on good terms with key Burmese military
leaders like "Big MONG" [Gen MONGKHON AMPHONPHISIT] and "Big WIANG" [Gen
CHETTHA THANACHARO] to represent Thailand.  The author cautions the
Government against tasking Foreign Minister SURIN PHITSUWAN.  He does not
elaborate.  - Thai Rath column

		4.	MANGKON HALEP takes the Burmese Government to task
for finding every excuse to close all border passes to Thailand and lift
fishing concession to Thai trawlers.  It arbitrary deeds give him an
impression that the Burmese junta is treating the Thai people like   
"second
class" people.  - Thai Rath column