ST-Myanmar expected to charge 24 Th

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Subject: ST-Myanmar expected to charge 24 Thai gamblers 

The Straits Times
OCT 25 1999
Myanmar expected to charge 24 Thai gamblers

BANGKOK -- Thai officials said yesterday they expected 24 Thai gamblers
being held in Myanmar to be charged within days for allegedly violating
immigration laws.

The men were among a group of more than 70 Thais arrested on Friday for
allegedly crossing illegally from southern Ranong province into Myanmar to
gamble at a casino.

The detention of the Thais has further strained relations between the two
neighbours following a hostage crisis at Yangon's embassy here this month in
which gunmen demanded democracy in military-run Myanmar.

"We have asked for a quick trial and that any punishment be confined to a
fine, not jail," said Ranong provincial governor Thawat Hantra.

He said if convicted of crossing the border illegally, the men would face
fines of up to US$1,000 (S$1,667) or three years' jail.

He said earlier reports indicated 32 Thais were still being held in Myanmar
but it now appeared that eight of the men were Myanmar locals.

Mr Thawat said the wives and children of the Thai gamblers were released on
Friday, along with nine men on Saturday.

Myanmar closed its border with Thailand on Oct 2, after Bangkok provided an
escape helicopter for five anti-junta gunmen who had held 38 people hostage
at Yangon's embassy.

Myanmar was angered by Thailand's handling of the crisis, especially at
comments by a senior Thai minister who described the gunmen as "not
terrorists, but student activists fighting for democracy".

Yangon has indicated it will only reopen the border when the gunmen from the
Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors (VBSW) organisation are arrested.

Thailand has issued arrest warrants for the radical student activists but
says it does not know their whereabouts.

Senior VBSW members told AFP earlier this week the gunmen were on the run
inside Myanmar. -- AFP