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1995 Appropriations Bill Report on
Subject: 1995 Appropriations Bill Report on Burma and RTG
Dear Burma Watchers,
The following is the unclassified summary of the report to Congress that the
U.S. State Department was required to provide as a result of a provision in
the Fiscal Year 1995 Foreign Aid Appropriations Law. Essentially, the State
Department was required to report the extent to which the Royal Thai
Government (RTG) was impeding international support for Burmese democracy
forces, exiles and refugees with the presumption that U.S. support for
military officer training/exchanges with the Royal Thai Army could be
jeopardized if the State Department found that the RTG was impeding that
support.
Essentially, in my opinion, while the intent of the Congressional authors
was laudable, the State Department white-washed this issue from Day One.
Secretary of State Christopher, during his visit to Bangkok at the end of
1994, essentially stated to the Thais that they didn't have anything to
worry about and that the IMET program money would go forward. The summary
speaks for itself: on one hand, they are saying the RTG doesn't impede
humanitarian support in practice and then in the next sentence they say the
RTG's practice towards the Burmese is not consistent. State Department
diplomatic mumbo-jumbo, gobbledy-gook language, a perfect example of
sounding knowledgeable while saying not a whole lot. The lesson here for
Burmese activists is don't trust U.S. bureaucrats to come up with clear
statements when, in fact, they have a institutional impetus to continue the
program (i.e. IMET for the Thais) in the first place. Anyway, here's what
was said:
"The Thai Government Efforts to Impede Support for Burmese Democracy
Advocates, Exiles and Refugees:
Royal Thai Goverment treatment of Burmese democracy advocates, exiles, and
refugees is generally humane and in accord with international norms. The
RTG does not, as a matter of policy or practice, impede humanitarian support
for non-combatant Burmese in Thailand. As a result of competing domestic
and international interests, however, Thai policy and practice toward the
Burmese are not always clear or consistent. While the Thai provide refuge
and access to new Burmese, they also seek to limit the influx of new
Burmese, occassionally compel their return to Burma, and restrict their
political activities. Senior U.S. officials have raised with their Thai
counterparts concerns about the treatment of the Burmese. While RTG
officials stress the aid they provide, they make clear Thailand does not
want a permanent refugee population. The trends in Thai policy indicate an
increasing unwillingness to permit the unfettered use of Thailand as a base
of operations against the Government of Burma"
And that's it. There is a longer, classified report which I don't have
access to. If you're unhappy about this report, I suggest you write to
The Honorable Winn Lord
Assistant Secretary of State
for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520
and tell him how you feel!