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BP: Cheesman's statement irks a
- Subject: BP: Cheesman's statement irks a
- From: suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 03 Apr 1998 00:04:00
April 3, 1998
BORDER
Cheesman's
statement irks
army chief
Aid worker 'has really disappointed us'
Wasana Nanuam
The army chief was yesterday apparently unhappy with an
Australian aid worker's statement that he had crossed the border
into Burma voluntarily.
Nick Cheesman, 28, and colleague Ms Ngamsuk
Rattanasathien, 30, returned to Thailand safely on Wednesday. It
was earlier believed they had been abducted by pro-Rangoon
Democratic Karen Buddhist Army guerrillas last Friday.
The DKBA insisted the two were invited into Burma to take
pictures of one of its bases damaged in a counter-raid by its
rivals from the Karen National Union.
"I don't believe it was an invitation. He (Mr Cheesman) was
forced at gunpoint to cross the border. His statement is
unacceptable. In that situation he can't say he was invited.
However, we are relieved he has been freed. And it shows we
can talk with Burma and the DKBA," said Gen Chettha
Thanajaro.
"The army and the army chief are upset over Mr Cheesman's
remark that we were too excited. Gen Chettha was really
worried about him. He has really disappointed us," said an army
source.
The source said Gen Chettha had asked Burmese military
officers to help negotiate with the DKBA for the pair's freedom,
and had also sent Thai officers over to secure their release.
"So if he insists he was invited, the army will file a charge of
illegally leaving the country against Mr Cheesman," said the
source.
However, the army chief maintained no charges would be filed
against Mr Cheesman.
But Gen Chettha said he would be warned against such action
because Thailand would be held responsible if something went
wrong.
"Although he has broken the law, we cannot punish him. But we
have to make him realise he can never do that again. It is a bad
example. What if the DKBA had not freed him?"
Australian Ambassador to Thailand William Fisher yesterday
thanked Gen Chettha for the army's effort in helping secure the
release of Mr Cheesman.
The Foreign Ministry also claimed credit for the release.
"The army is a coordinator in the case. The army commander
contacted Burma several times to seek his release. But we are
always behind the scene," said Deputy Foreign Minister
Sukhumbhand Paribatra, who inspected the border area on the
day the pair returned to Thailand.
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Last Modified: Fri, Apr 3, 1998