Bkk Post-TROUBLE AT SEA

[tinkyi@xxxxxxx]

TROUBLE AT SEA

Burmese ambassador urges talks to prevent clashes
Thai proposals for joint patrols mulled

Burma's Ambassador to Thailand, Hla Maung, yesterday agreed that the two
countries should quickly discuss measures to prevent future clashes at sea,
a Foreign Ministry source said.

The ambassador made his comments during talks with Foreign Ministry Deputy
Permanent Secretary Sawanit Kongsiri to examine Thai proposals for joint
patrols, the setting up of a hot line and the stationing of Burmese liaison
officials at the border co-ordination centre in Ranong.

The talks followed a clash in a disputed area in the Andaman Sea on January
12 which reportedly killed three Burmese and damaged a Burmese patrol boat.
There were also alleged intrusions in a nearby area by two Thai naval
vessels on January 16.

In the latest incident, Mr Sawanit quoted the Royal Thai Navy as stating
that its vessels had never trespassed into Burmese waters. The RTN however
left open the possibility of their passing through unclear territory, the
source quoted him as adding.

But Burma's director-general for political affairs, Nyunt Muang Sein, in
protesting the latest incident with the Thai ambassador in Rangoon, Pensak
Chalarak, on Sunday, emphasised that Thai naval boats had entered Burmese
waters.

They did so after a Burmese naval vessel had tried to communicate with them
by light signal, the Burmese official was quoted as saying.

The Burmese government considered such "deliberate and provocative actions"
as being "against the spirit of good-neighbourliness as well as of Asean
community". They also "could give rise to undesirable misunderstandings and
consequences."

Meanwhile, a Burmese soldier has been arrested on suspicion of conducting
intelligence work in a refugee camp in Suan Phueng district, Ratchaburi.

The suspect, identified as Chief Warrant Officer Mi Fuya, 29, was caught on
Sunday night near the Karen refugee camp in Tambon Suan Phueng.

According to police investigators, the Burmese suspect allegedly confessed
that he and his friends had been sent by his agency to gather information at
various refugee camps in Thailand.

His group entered the country via Mae Sot before hiring a pick-up to take
them to the refugee camp, which houses over 8,000 Karens, mostly supporters
of the Karen National Union, which has been fighting against the Burmese
government.

Sources said about 45 Burmese intelligence officers reportedly contacted job
agents to enter the country under the guise of workers.