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Chavalit faces flak for Burma visit
- Subject: Chavalit faces flak for Burma visit
- From: ausgeo@xxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 00:52:00
16 May 1997
The Nation
Chavalit faces flak for Burma visit
PRIME Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh leaves this morning on a two-day official
visit to Burma amid strong domestic and foreign opposition to his talks with
an ''illegitimate" Burmese regime.
Unlike other official trips where Chavalit has been accompanied by a big
entourage of leading businessmen and investors, none have been officially
included in the delegation to Burma, said Boonchong Weesommai, the premier's
secretary-general.
Boonchong, though, did not rule out the possibility that major investors in
Burma, as well as those who are eyeing certain potential economic projects,
might make their own way to Rangoon.
The secretary-general said only the presidents of the Federation of Thai
Industries, the Board of Trade and the Thai Bankers Association were
travelling with Chavalit.
Although the Burmese junta has allowed about 10 selected Thai journalists to
follow the premier, the group has been warned only to cover Chavalit's
itinerary and not to seek meetings or interviews with Burmese pro-democracy
leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Defending Slorc's decision, Foreign Minister Prachuab Chaiyasarn said it was
''the sovereign right of each country" to impose such restrictions. Foreign
Ministry Spokesman Surapong Jayanaman said it is widely known that Slorc has,
for quite a while now, only allowed residents of University Avenue to use the
road.
''Each country has its own sovereign right to introduce rules and regulations
it deems appropriate to control the media. Whether the media from a democratic
system agrees or not, it is up to the journalists to express their own views
and opinions," Surapong said.
Chavalit's agenda has not been publicly disclosed, but official sources said
the former Army chief, who is the first foreign dignitary to break the
international isolation after Slorc seized state power in a September 1988
bloody coup, would mainly concentrate on bilateral economic cooperation.
During separate meetings with Slorc leaders Gen Than Shwe and Lt Gen Khin
Nyunt, the Thai premier will assure the Burmese regime of Thailand's unfailing
support at a time when Burma is facing tough US economic sanctions.
He is expected to express Thailand's support for Burma's membership to Asean
and offer to help improve a road from the Thai-Burmese bridge across the Moei
River to Rangoon.
He will also express his strong support for Thai investors' activities in
Burma, as well as urging Slorc to facilitate the entry of Thai investors into
the country.
Apart from witnessing the signing of a border crossing agreement, Chavalit is
expected to discuss the possibility of the two countries cooperating in the
development of several deep-sea ports in southern Burma's Tenasserim division.
The ports will mean shorter routes for Europe-bound shipments of Thai products
as they would not have to use the Malacca Strait.
Among other issues, the premier will seek cooperation to deal with about
700,000 illegal Burmese immigrants in Thailand and urge the regime to reform
the dual foreign exchange rate for the kyat.