AFP-Myanmar declines Thai requests (r)

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Subject: AFP-Myanmar declines Thai requests on detainees

Myanmar declines Thai requests on detainees
BANGKOK, Oct 26 (AFP) - Thailand said Tuesday it expected a prompt
resolution to a case involving 24 Thais arrested for alleged illegal
gambling in Myanmar amid worsening relations with Yangon.
Foreign ministry spokesman Don Pramudwinai said Thailand had asked Myanmar
to take care of the detainees, who are facing charges of breaching gambling
laws.

Myanmar embassy official Nyan Lynn met Thai director general for East Asia
Virasak Futrakul in Bangkok to discuss the case on Tuesday, Don said.

"We have some indication the case will finish soon," he added.

The Thais are being held in the southwestern border town of Kawthaung after
they were arrested as Thai-Myanmar relations deteriorated sharply following
a hostage drama at Yangon's embassy here.

Thai officials at the border told AFP Tuesday their counterparts in Myanmar
had declined requests for information on the case.

"We do not yet know when the trial will begin because so far Myanmar
officials have not yet responded to any letters or radio requests from us,"
said Senior Lieutenant Phetcharat Thiemchan.

Phetcharat, deputy director of the Thai-Myanmar coordination centre in
Ranong province, said it was too dangerous for his men to try to cross the
border for information as it had been sealed by Yangon officials.

Ranong Governor Thawat Hantra has told AFP he expects the Thais to be
charged with illegal entry, an offence that carries a fine of up to 1,000 US
dollars and up to three years in jail.

Unconfirmed reports in Bangkok said the men would be released 48 hours after
a court verdict and their fines would be paid by a casino operator.

Thai-Myanmar relations have worsened markedly since Yangon closed the border
on October 2, when Thailand provided an escape helicopter for five gunmen
who had been holding 38 hostages at Yangon's embassy here.

Military-run Myanmar denied Monday it was holding the Thais in revenge for
Thailand's handling of the crisis earlier this month.

"The gamblers, irrespective of nationality, were arrested for breaching the
gambling act and had nothing to do with the embassy incident in Bangkok,"
said a Myanmar government spokesman.

Phetcharat said Tuesday that up to seven gamblers with dual Thai and Myanmar
nationality had also been arrested.

Myanmar initially arrested 80 Thais just inside its territory on Friday but
later released women and children among them.

It says it will only reopen entry points when Bangkok arrests the gunmen
from the "Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors" (VBSW) organisation behind the
embassy incident.

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