[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
BURMA/THAILAND
DATE=1/20/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244401
TITLE=THAILAND-BURMA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A RECENT CLASH BETWEEN THAI AND BURMESE NAVY SHIPS HAS
GIVEN FRESH IMPETUS TO PROPOSALS FOR NEW CONFIDENCE-BUILDING
ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN THE TWO NEIGHBORS. AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT
GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM BANGKOK, SKIRMISHES BETWEEN THAI AND
BURMESE FORCES HAVE BECOME MORE COMMONPLACE.
TEXT: THAILAND HAS REITERATED ITS CALL FOR JOINT NAVAL PATROLS
AND HAS PROPOSED SETTING UP A DIRECT COMMUNICATION LINK, SUCH AS
A HOT LINE, BETWEEN THAI AND BURMESE OFFICIALS. THAI SPOKESMEN
SAY THE PROPOSALS WERE CONVEYED TUESDAY IN A MEETING BETWEEN THAI
OFFICIALS AND BURMA'S AMBASSADOR TO THAILAND.
THE RESPONSE OF THE BURMESE SIDE IS NOT KNOWN. HOWEVER, A THAI
STATEMENT SAYS THAILAND HAS SUGGESTED THE PROPOSALS BE DISCUSSED
IN DEPTH AT THE NEXT MEETING IN MARCH OF THE JOINT BORDER FISHERY
COORDINATION CENTER.
THE PROPOSALS GOT NEW LIFE FOLLOWING SEVERAL SKIRMISHES AT SEA
BETWEEN THAI AND BURMESE NAVAL VESSELS. THE INCIDENTS HAVE
USUALLY ARISEN OUT OF THE PRESENCE OF FISHING TRAWLERS IN
DISPUTED WATERS OF THE ANDAMAN SEA.
IN THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT ON JANUARY 12TH, THAI AND BURMESE
FISHING BOATS BEGAN FIRING ON EACH OTHER, AND PATROL BOATS JOINED
IN. BURMA SAYS FOUR OF ITS NAVAL OFFICERS WERE KILLED, BUT THAT
HAS NOT BEEN INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRMED. BOTH THAILAND AND BURMA
EACH SAY THEIR BOATS WERE WITHIN THEIR NATIONS' OWN TERRITORIAL
WATERS.
EARLIER THIS MONTH, TWO THAI NAVAL OFFICERS WERE KILLED IN A
SIMILAR SKIRMISH AT SEA.
// REST OPT //
SUCH FLARE-UPS BETWEEN THAILAND AND BURMA HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH
INCREASING FREQUENCY ON LAND AS WELL AS AT SEA.
THOUSANDS OF PRIMARILY ETHNIC MINORITY BURMESE HAVE TAKEN REFUGE
IN THAILAND TO ESCAPE FIGHTING BETWEEN BURMESE TROOPS AND ETHNIC
INSURGENTS. MOST LIVE IN CAMPS ON OR NEAR THE BORDER IN NORTHERN
THAILAND. THAILAND HAS PROTESTED TO BURMA OVER INCURSIONS ONTO
THAI SOIL BY BURMESE TROOPS PURSUING THE REBELS. ARMED MILITIA
GROUPS ALLIED WITH BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAVE ALSO CROSSED
THE BORDER TO BURN REFUGEE CAMPS AND INTIMIDATE THE REFUGEES INTO
RETURNING TO BURMA.
A REPORT IN THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE BANGKOK POST NEWSPAPER WEDNESDAY
SAYS A BURMESE SOLDIER ARRESTED SUNDAY HAS CONFESSED TO
ESPIONAGE. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THE SOLDIER WAS SENT TO
THAILAND TO GATHER INTELLIGENCE ON THAI-BASED ETHNIC BURMESE
RESISTANCE GROUPS AND ACTIVITY IN THE REFUGEE CAMPS. (SIGNED)
NEB/GPT/FC/JO
20-Jan-99 5:11 AM EST (1011 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.