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AFP-Thai opposition accuses governm



Subject: AFP-Thai opposition accuses government of supporting terrorism

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Wednesday, December 15 2:25 PM SGT=20
Thai opposition accuses government of supporting terrorism
BANGKOK, Dec 15 (AFP) -=20
Thai opposition politicians accused the Chuan Leekpai government of =
supporting terrorism, as they kicked off a three day no-confidence =
debate Wednesday against the ruling coalition.

The opposition said the government had supported international terrorism =
when it agreed to supply an escape helicopter to five gunmen who seized =
38 hostages at Myanmar's embassy here in October.

"Why did the government call the gunmen students who love democracy, =
when as a matter of fact they are soldiers fighting against the Myanmar =
government," said opposition leader Chavalit Yongchaiyudh.

Thailand's handling of the embassy crisis sent relations between Bangkok =
and Yangon into freefall, with the junta only recently reversing its =
decision to seal off its border with Thailand.

Chavalit also accused Prime Minister Chuan of totally failing to resolve =
the economic problems facing the country during his two years in office.

He accused the Chuan administration of sacrificing 70 now defunct =
finance companies and intervening in seven banks on order to please =
foreign interests which aimed to seize control of the Thai financial =
sector.

"Thailand has chosen to implement policies which are favourable to =
foreigners and allowing foreigners to control our country's major =
sectors, especially financial institutions," he said.

Chavalit said Chuan had implemented policies which discriminated against =
Thais in exchange for a 17.2 billion dollar Asian crisis rescue package =
from the International Monetary Fund.

He also accused the government of economic mismanagment as it built up =
of record national debt of 3.7 trillion baht (92.5 billion dollars).

Chavalit concluded his address by demanding Chuan step down.

Chuan is said to have set up two special "war rooms" to counter =
allegations raised against the six-party coalition, and appeared calm =
and controlled during the start of debate.

This is the third no-confidence debate against the Democrat-led =
coalition, but its parliamentary majority should ensure it continues in =
office after the crucial vote due Saturday.

However, the opposition plans to extract maximum political mileage from =
the debate ahead of national elections, which must take place within 11 =
months.


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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><B>Wednesday, December 15</B> 2:25 PM =
SGT=20
<H2><FONT size=3D4>Thai opposition accuses government of supporting=20
terrorism</FONT></H2>BANGKOK, Dec 15 (AFP) -=20
<P>Thai opposition politicians accused the Chuan Leekpai government of=20
supporting terrorism, as they kicked off a three day no-confidence =
debate=20
Wednesday against the ruling coalition.</P>
<P>The opposition said the government had supported international =
terrorism when=20
it agreed to supply an escape helicopter to five gunmen who seized 38 =
hostages=20
at Myanmar's embassy here in October.</P>
<P>"Why did the government call the gunmen students who love democracy, =
when as=20
a matter of fact they are soldiers fighting against the Myanmar =
government,"=20
said opposition leader Chavalit Yongchaiyudh.</P>
<P>Thailand's handling of the embassy crisis sent relations between =
Bangkok and=20
Yangon into freefall, with the junta only recently reversing its =
decision to=20
seal off its border with Thailand.</P>
<P>Chavalit also accused Prime Minister Chuan of totally failing to =
resolve the=20
economic problems facing the country during his two years in office.</P>
<P>He accused the Chuan administration of sacrificing 70 now defunct =
finance=20
companies and intervening in seven banks on order to please foreign =
interests=20
which aimed to seize control of the Thai financial sector.</P>
<P>"Thailand has chosen to implement policies which are favourable to =
foreigners=20
and allowing foreigners to control our country's major sectors, =
especially=20
financial institutions," he said.</P>
<P>Chavalit said Chuan had implemented policies which discriminated =
against=20
Thais in exchange for a 17.2 billion dollar Asian crisis rescue package =
from the=20
International Monetary Fund.</P>
<P>He also accused the government of economic mismanagment as it built =
up of=20
record national debt of 3.7 trillion baht (92.5 billion dollars).</P>
<P>Chavalit concluded his address by demanding Chuan step down.</P>
<P>Chuan is said to have set up two special "war rooms" to counter =
allegations=20
raised against the six-party coalition, and appeared calm and controlled =
during=20
the start of debate.</P>
<P>This is the third no-confidence debate against the Democrat-led =
coalition,=20
but its parliamentary majority should ensure it continues in office =
after the=20
crucial vote due Saturday.</P>
<P>However, the opposition plans to extract maximum political mileage =
from the=20
debate ahead of national elections, which must take place within 11=20
months.</P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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