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News from India Newspaper (r)



"Protests greet senior Burmese general on visit to Thailand"

"The Asian Age"
Date March 9, 1999.

Chiang Rai, Thailand: Protests on Monday marked the arrival of senior
general Than Shwe, Burmese Junta leader, at the start of a two-day visit
focusing on narcotics and border tension.
Than Shwe is leading a 40-strong delegation, including junta first
secretary lieutenant general Khin Nyunt, foreign minister Win Aung, and
border, ethnic and development minister Major general Thein Nyunt. He
will meet Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai on Monday, with the
narcotics trade in the infamous Golden Triangle area, including parts of
Burma, Thailand and Laos, likely to top the agenda, officials said.
Recent clashes between Thai and Burmese Navy and fishing boats in
disputed areas of the Andaman Sea off southwestern Thailand are also
said to be priority issues. Thai police said security along the border
north of this provincial capital had been stepped up amid fears that
ethnic Burmese guerrillas could try to upset the state visit, the first
by a junta chief since 1988.  (AFP)