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<font face="ARIAL" color="#800000"><b>BURMESE EMBASSY SIEGE<br>
</font><font size=7 color="#000000">Ambassador says relations will stay
intact<br>
</font></b><font size=5><i>Expert sees already bad ties worsening<br>
</font></i><font size=3><b>Post Reporters<br>
</font><font size=5>B</font></b><font size=3>urma's ambassador to
Thailand said the hostage-taking would not harm bilateral relations, but
an analyst disagreed.<br>
Ambassador Hla Maung, who escaped the hostage-taking because he was
outside the premises at the time of the raid with six other embassy
officials, said bilateral relations would remain good. "The Thai
government is trying hard," he said. "Our relations are still
good relations, no problem."But Chayachoke Chulasiriwongs, Burma
specialist at Chulalongkorn University, believes the incident will worsen
already bad relations.<br>
"Relations were already bad. What happened yesterday will only make
matters worse," Mr Chayachoke said.<br>
The ambassador expressed confidence the 13 embassy officials held inside
would be safe because of the attention Thai authorities were giving the
matter.<br>
Foreign Ministry officials as well as the prime minister's secretary had
contacted him, and the permanent secretary for foreign affairs had
cancelled a trip to Europe in order to deal with the problem.<br>
"I like this manner," he said. The ambassador said he tried to
reach a captive embassy official by calling his mobile telephone, but a
man who identified himself as Johnny answered.<br>
The ambassador urged him "not to make trouble with our
staff".<br>
Mr Chayachoke faulted the Thai government, especially intelligence
agencies, for allowing the incident to happen.<br>
It will raise concern about the safety of other embassies in Thailand, Mr
Chayachoke added. <br>
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