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The Nation (17-10-99)Army, merchant

Subject: The Nation (17-10-99)Army, merchants oppose bribing junta to  open border

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<font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times" size=3D5><b>Army, merchants oppose
bribing junta to open border<br>
</font></b><font size=3D3>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. <br>
The issue can only be resolved through negotiations between Bangkok and
Rangoon, they said. <br>
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. <br>
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. <br>
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. <br>
A solution could only be worked out between the two governments, he said.
<br>
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.
<br>
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. <br>
''If they are a real friend as they say, such measures should have never
been taken,'' he said. ''They are just too demanding.'' <br>
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. <br>
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. <br>
''After all, it's their government which has closed the border,'' the
Army officer said. <br>
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. <br>
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. <br>
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. <br>
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. <br>
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. <br>
The Nation<br>
-------------------------------------------=A0 <br>
</font><font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times" size=3D5><b>Casino operator to
mediate with Rangoon<br>
</font></b><font size=3D3>AThai businessman with close ties to the Burmese
military has agreed to act as a go-between to resolve the conflict on
fishing rights between Thai fishermen and Rangoon.<br>
Vikrom Aiyasiri, chairman of Andaman Club Company which operates a casino
on the Burmese side of the border, was approached by a group of owners of
fishing trawlers, fish merchants, cold storage and animal feed operators
to convince the Burmese junta to reopen its border and allow Thai
trawlers to fish in Burmese waters.<br>
Chalit Thiemwongkhae, who operates a fishing fleet and an animal feed
factory, said they were pinning their hopes on Mr Vikrom.<br>
Mr Chalit also urged Thai officials not to publicly air their views
regarding conflicts with Burma.<br>
Mr Vikrom said he would raise the Thai fishermen's plight with a senior
Burmese army delegation scheduled to visit the border area opposite
Ranong tomorrow.<br>
The Ranong chamber of commerce reported that since Burma closed the
border two weeks ago, the fishing industry and related businesses had
lost about 1.5 billion baht.<br>
Chotiwat Thongkol, manager of a Siam Commercial Bank branch, said the
amount of cash handled by the bank in the last fortnight had dropped to
five million baht a day from 20 million baht before the border
closure.<br>
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