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Reuter-Myanmar paper lashes out at

Subject: Reuter-Myanmar paper lashes out at Thailand over workers 

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Myanmar paper lashes out at Thailand over workers=20
05:40 a.m. Dec 13, 1999 Eastern=20
YANGON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - A commentary in an official Myanmar newspaper =
lashed out at neighbour and fellow ASEAN member Thailand on Monday for =
its handling of the repatriation of illegal Myanmar workers.=20

``If they respected the sovereignty of their own country and their =
neighbour, there would not be any problem concerning illegal workers,'' =
the commentary in the Kyemon newspaper said.=20

The article, attributed to ``an advocate,'' appeared as senior =
immigration officials from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian =
Nations (ASEAN) were gathered in Yangon for an annual conference.=20

It referred only to ``the other country'' but was clearly directed at =
Thailand, whose relations with Myanmar have been strained since armed =
dissidents took over Yangon's embassy in Bangkok in early October.=20

``These problems will remain as a never-ending story as long as ``the =
other country'' does not mend its ways,'' it warned.=20

Thailand restarted a policy of repatriating 600,000 illegal Myanmar =
workers after its neighbour shut its border to trade in protest at the =
embassy attack. Yangon reopened the border on November 24 after an =
eight-week closure, but relations remain edgy.=20

The commentary said the workers had left Myanmar illegally and were =
working in Thailand illegally.=20

``It shows complete lack of due consideration to ask Myanmar to legally =
accept Myanmar citizens after having had them work secretly and =
illegally.''=20

The commentary also complained Thailand had allowed armed opponents of =
the government to remain in a border buffer zone since Myanmar's =
independence in 1948 and let refugees stay who were not real asylum =
seekers but insurgents and their families.=20





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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT size=3D+1><STRONG>Myanmar paper =
lashes out at=20
Thailand over workers</STRONG></FONT> <BR>05:40 a.m. Dec 13, 1999 =
Eastern=20
<P>YANGON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - A commentary in an official Myanmar =
newspaper=20
lashed out at neighbour and fellow ASEAN member Thailand on Monday for =
its=20
handling of the repatriation of illegal Myanmar workers.=20
<P>``If they respected the sovereignty of their own country and their =
neighbour,=20
there would not be any problem concerning illegal workers,'' the =
commentary in=20
the Kyemon newspaper said.=20
<P>The article, attributed to ``an advocate,'' appeared as senior =
immigration=20
officials from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations =
(ASEAN) were=20
gathered in Yangon for an annual conference.=20
<P>It referred only to ``the other country'' but was clearly directed at =

Thailand, whose relations with Myanmar have been strained since armed =
dissidents=20
took over Yangon's embassy in Bangkok in early October.=20
<P>``These problems will remain as a never-ending story as long as ``the =
other=20
country'' does not mend its ways,'' it warned.=20
<P>Thailand restarted a policy of repatriating 600,000 illegal Myanmar =
workers=20
after its neighbour shut its border to trade in protest at the embassy =
attack.=20
Yangon reopened the border on November 24 after an eight-week closure, =
but=20
relations remain edgy.=20
<P>The commentary said the workers had left Myanmar illegally and were =
working=20
in Thailand illegally.=20
<P>``It shows complete lack of due consideration to ask Myanmar to =
legally=20
accept Myanmar citizens after having had them work secretly and =
illegally.''=20
<P>The commentary also complained Thailand had allowed armed opponents =
of the=20
government to remain in a border buffer zone since Myanmar's =
independence in=20
1948 and let refugees stay who were not real asylum seekers but =
insurgents and=20
their families.=20
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