THE NATION - October 18, 1999

[m.win@xxxxxxxxxx]

THE NATION - October 18, 1999

Headlines

Three Burmese held with blast material

THREE Burmese nationals were arrested early yesterday in Ranong province
with seven sticks of dynamite and other explosives accessories, in the wake
of the bombing of four vessels in Burmese waters, the Ranong police chief
said yesterday.

Pol Maj Gen Charoen Maneewong, Ranong provincial police commander, said that
at about 3.30 am yesterday the trio were arrested by a special task police
unit in a vessel off Ranong port. The sticks of dynamite and equipment for
planting bombs were found on board.

Charoen said the explosive material found was enough to destroy scores of
trawlers and other vessels anchoring at Ranong port. Associated equipment
would have allowed the suspects to plant a bomb while giving them an hour to
escape before the explosion.

The three suspects were approaching Ranong port when they were arrested. The
special task police unit consisted of officials from local provincial
police, border patrol police, marine police and immigration police.

Earlier, two oil-container ships and two commodity-transportation vessels
were reportedly bombed in Burmese waters, Charoen revealed. All four vessels
were Burmese, and damage was worth about Bt100 million.

Charoen said police suspected that the owners of the four Burmese ships may
have suspected Thais of being behind the blasts, and hence may have sent the
trio to wreak revenge.

Thailand's relations with the Burmese junta have soured recently after Burma
closed its borders and revoked fishing concessions granted to Thai fishing
boats following the 25-hour hostage-taking crisis at the Burmese Embassy in
Bangkok on Oct 1.

Charoen added that he had asked for support from local military officials in
Ranong to investigate the motives of the three Burmese in entering Thai
waters with the explosive materials and equipment, as the military has
better resources and in-depth information on border security.

----------

THE NATION - October 18, 1999

Editorial & Opinion

THINK THAI: Dos and don'ts in Thai-Burmese links

DON'T send former army chief Gen Chetta Thanajaro to Rangoon for talks with
the military junta leaders, because he is so close to them he might cut his
own deal.

Do inform the Burmese intelligence service during the next hostage-taking so
that its officials in Thailand can inform the parties concerned promptly.

Don't allow Deputy Foreign Minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra to be a hostage,
because the die-hard students were soft on him. Please ask opposition leader
Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh: the students can take appropriate measures during
a bumpy helicopter ride.

Do send a young Thai ambassador who grew up during the Oct 14, 1973,
bloodshed to Rangoon in the future as he could promote people-to-people
dialogue so that he can perform his duty.

Don't let Burma blackmail Thailand again: ask the junta leaders to send a
list of their demands early so that suitable interest groups and businessmen
can respond with cash.

Do tell our Chinese friends as a matter of urgency that any Chinese-made
ammunition and guns and other show-off artillery pieces and surface-to-air
missiles on the Burmese side of the border may harm Thai soldiers, something
which Thailand does not want to see as our countries are preparing for the
25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Do persuade Asean members that as chairman of Asean this year Thailand
should be able to draw up provisions to suspend the membership if any member
behaves in a totalitarian manner and disregards the Asean spirit.

Don't get close to Burmese fishing trawlers in the Andaman Sea, because of
late these folks are not genuine: they bear an uncanny resemblance to
soldiers.

Do make sure the Thai government sends baskets of durians to the doves
within the Burmese army as their positions are in jeopardy.

Don't let Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sanan Kachornprasat
handle the next siege, because he has developed ''Stockholm Syndrome'' and
could give potential troublemakers permanent residence.

Do review Thailand's policy towards Burma, because there has been increased
coordination among concerned authorities, especially the Foreign Ministry
and the Thai army and local officials.

Don't shut down the Thai border, because the five fleeing students might not
be able to make it to one of the Western embassies and ask for asylum.

Do send a message to the Karen National Union that the military junta
leaders are likely to take their frustration out on them during the upcoming
dry season.

Don't evict the estimated 100,000 Burmese refugees along the Thai-Burmese
border, because the UN High Commissioner for Refugees cannot get permission
to cross the border or criticise the junta.

Do pay the phone bill for the hot line between the Bangkok and Rangoon
foreign ministries as communications have not run smoothly of late.

Don't use the Swat teams from the Royal Thai Police in any future embassy
siege: use Burmese sharpshooters instead as they can identify the students
better.

Do applaud Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai for his consistency in refusing to
visit Burma because the junta refuses to allow him to see opposition leader
Aung San Suu Kyi.

Don't allow any personel of Doctors Without Borders (Medicins Sans
Frontieres), the latest Nobel Peace prize winner, to go too close to the
Thai-Burmese border, because it is too dangerous.

Do praise the interpreter of Burmese Ambassador U Hla Maung for his
ambivalent translation that attracted headlines in all Thai newspapers.

Don't build the proposed dam on the Salween River, because Thailand will be
too dependent on Burma for future energy use.

Do promote Bangladesh-India-Myanmar-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation
(Bimstec), because Burma has pledged to promote academic exchanges even
though all universities are shut down.

Do increase the number of scholarships to Burmese students who have good
connections with the State Peace and Development Council so that they can
study in Thailand and be reunited with their old classmates.

Don't register Thai trawlers with Burmese names.

Do rename ''enhanced interaction'', the old name for the flexible-engagement
policy, ''enhanced fishing cooperation''.

Don't fan growing Thai nationalism against Burma as Thailand does not want
to fight a 52nd war (44 of which occurred during Ayudhya and Thonburi
periods).

Do let all the editors in Bangkok know that Burma has been holding the 46
million Burmese hostages since 1988 as they have failed to mention it in
their recent analyses.

BY KAVI CHONGKITTAVORN

---------------

THE NATION - October 18, 1999

Mailbag

Happy with Thailand, but UNHCR needs to rethink its policies

THE Thai government's recent attitude towards Burmese student refugees --
such as urging the UNHCR to speed up its processing for the Burmese refuge
seekers -- is highly appreciated and welcomed.

It is a positive outcome that has emerged from the Burmese Embassy seizure
recently. In the past, the Thai government did not exercise its utmost
authority to encourage the UNHCR to help Burmese refuge seekers in Bangkok
and also in the camps.

Most of the aid given by the UNHCR has been slow downed and delayed, and
carried out by the Thai authorities. The UNHCR could not have access
directly to the Burmese refugees. The so-called safe camp in Ratchaburi
province has been closed to newcomers who are approved as refugees by the
UNHCR.

Even though they have permission to resettle in the USA, Canada and
Australia, the Thai authorities denied them the right to stay in the camp.

On the other hand, the Thai policy is: first, all Burmese refugees who are
recognised by the UNHCR and approved to resettle in third countries have to
enter the safe camps before they depart to the host country.

Unfortunately, the Thai authorities have blocked their entry to the camp. It
makes the students very frustrated and angry because they are carrying
tremendous hopes of entering the camp and then resettling in third countries
as soon as possible for further studies.

They want to study in their host countries as free people, but the Thai's
two-edged policy denies them the chance to resettle in the third countries.
A Burmese saying goes: ''There is giving, but no one is receiving.''

The UNHCR needs to find people who really understand the Burmese problems
and have a kind heart. The UNHCR has rejected many true activists but many
fake activists were approved.

It is ironic that some opportunists who came to Bangkok by air were granted
refugee status while true activists from the borders were denied or marked
as border cases. Border case means they have to return to the border where
they belong.

We urge the UNHCR to review its attitude and speed up their processing of
the Burmese refugees. In the safe camp the medical treatment is inadequate
and food is not good. We would like to ask the Thai authorities to allow the
UNHCR direct access to the refugees in the safe camps and allow the
newly-approved refugees to stay in the camps as soon as possible.

Civil Society for Burma is willing to help and sponsor the Burmese refugees
whose cases have been approved by the INS from the US embassy in Bangkok.

We are also eager to help those who were former members of student and
ethnic activist groups from Burma, rejected by the UNHCR or foreign
embassies.

Civil Society for Burma is a non-profit organisation based in New York City
and headed by Htun Aung Gyaw, a former chairman of ABSDF.

Htun Aung Gyaw

NEW YORK

----------------