2 Editorials from the Thai Press

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BANGKOK

SUMMARY OF THE THAI PRESS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1999

(NOTE:  The following is an unedited summary of selected news, columns   
and editorials from the Thai press.  It should be read in conjunction   
with the Bangkok English language newspapers.  Items are selected for   
summary based upon their interest and usefulness to US officials.  This   
press summary should not be considered a balanced reflection of what   
appears in the Thai press on any given day.  This is not an official   
document and the producers assume no responsibility for accuracy of   
translations.)


2. 	Burmese Prime Minister and State Peace Development Council Chairman   
Gen THAN SHWE's Mar 8-9 visit to Thailand as guest of the Thai Government   
is aimed at promoting bilateral relations and cooperation in narcotic   
suppression.  The itinerary of visit appears to make no mention of any   
negotiation on conflicts and clashes prevailing along the Thai-Burmese   
border, particularly those claiming the lives of Thai officials.  Coupled   
with mounting sanctions by the world community and US boycott of a recent   
meeting on narcotic problems in Burma, this visit of the Burmese leader's   
seems to be chiefly serving Burma's own purpose of creating a better   
image in the eyes of the world community with no assurance of any   
tangible solution of the narcotic problem.  - Daily News editorial


MARCH 9

2.      The current visit here by Gen THAN SHWE, Chairman of the State
Peace
Development Council and head of the Burmese junta, as guest of the Thai
Government is meant to thrash out problems of narcotic drugs from Burma
and border conflicts that have at times estranged the two countries.  It
is a good thing for ASEAN to accept Burma as its new member since mid
1997.  The Burmese leader's visit should help to strengthen Burmese
relations with not only Thailand itself but also the other ASEAN member
countries.  We hereby confirm our objection to US "boycott" of the
meeting on narcotic problems organized by Interpol in Rangoon recently.
We mean to give the Burmese junta an opportunity to disprove its covert
support for narcotics producing and trafficking as alleged by Burmese

students taking political asylum here, to explain why it must protect two
drug kingpins, namely "KHUN SA" and 'LO SING HAN', and to correct itself
accordingly.  Any pledge to help the world community suppress narcotic
drugs and eradicate raw material (opium) he might come up during his visit
here should help to improve its image.  We believe in the Thai
Government's ability to counsel him on substitute crops growing in light
of Thailand's long experience.  At the same time, Gen THAN SHWE could take
the chance to learn from Thai democratic development and political
history the adversities of dictatorial rule and come to realize that any
further attempts to block the Burmese people's access to the outside
civilized world would not only destroy their chance of better living but
also cause endless suspicion and confrontation inside Burma.  - Siam Rath
editorial