Thai Army, merchants oppose bribing

[c04061998@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Thai Army, merchants oppose bribing junta to open border

Army, merchants oppose bribing junta to open border:

THE Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce and the Army
yesterday strongly objected to the idea of paying off
Burmese generals to get them to re-open the borders and
restore cross-border trade on grounds that the move could
set an unwanted precedent.

The issue can only be resolved through negotiations
between Bangkok and Rangoon, they said.

Rachan Weraphan, president of the Chiang Mai Chamber
of Commerce, said a group of northern businesses in
Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces have so far
collected nearly Bt10 million for the payoff.

Similar efforts are being carried out by Thai exporters in
another border town in Tak province, said a senior military
officer from the 3rd Army Region.

The Army is against the idea because the dispute is too
complex for the private sector or the military to handle,
said the general speaking on condition of anonymity.

A solution could only be worked out between the two
governments, he said.

The idea of giving money in exchange for opening the
border checkpoints is short-sighted and does not address
the heart of the problem, he said.

Thailand's private sector has taken up such measures in
the past and it did nothing to change the attitude of the
ruling junta on using the border closing as a leverage
whenever they wanted to get back at Thailand, he said.

''If they are a real friend as they say, such measures should
have never been taken,'' he said. ''They are just too
demanding.''

Rachan said it just was a matter of time before the junta
re-opens the border, saying the Burmese people are
suffering tremendously as the cost of household goods
and other commodities has gone up dramatically since the
border was ordered shut.

According to the officer, Burmese private sector firms
lying opposite from Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district in
Muaywadee have asked the Thai authorities for shipments
of household goods but officials have urged them to take
up the matter with Rangoon.

''After all, it's their government which has closed the
border,'' the Army officer said.

The Army officer said there has been growing resentment
against the government since the closure of the San Thon
Du checkpoint, linking Chiang Mai's Mae Ai district to a
Wa-controlled area in Mong Yawn where massive
infrastructure projects are being carried out.

Thai construction companies who received concessions
from the United Wa State Army said the closing of San
Thon Du has made it more costly for them to do business
in the area.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Kornpoj Asawinanwijit said
cross-border trade between Thailand and Burma is
relatively small, accounting for no more than Bt30 million
per day. However, the fisheries industry stands to suffer
the most as a number of Thai fishing companies were
operating in Burmese waters before Rangoon closed the
border and cancelled all the concessions.

Kornpoj said the ministry is negotiating with foreign
governments to grant or increase the number of
concessions to Thai fishermen. India, Bangladesh and
South Africa are among the countries, he said.

Government Spokesman Akapol Sorasuchart said if
Thailand and Burma failed to normalise their relationship
before the Asean ministerial meeting in November, the
issue would be raised in the talks.

The Nation

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