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Diplomatic relations with Burma sou

Subject: Diplomatic relations with Burma sour

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<font size=5><b>Diplomatic relations with Burma sour<br>
</font></b><font size=3>DIPLOMATIC tension between Thailand and Burma
grew yesterday following the closure of border checkpoints and suspension
of concessions for Thai fishermen by Burma and a strong response by Prime
Minister Chuan Leekpai to Rangoon's criticism of Bangkok's handling of
last week's hostage crisis. <br>
The military government in Rangoon has yet to reopen the border
checkpoints or allow Thai fishermen into its waters, bringing
cross-border trade to a standstill over the past five days. <br>
Chuan, in what is considered the strongest remarks on the situation by a
senior Thai official so far, accused Rangoon of sending mixed signals.
<br>
''On the one hand Burma sends an official letter to thank us. But on the
other, its officials have been issuing critical statements,'' Chuan said.
<br>
He insisted that the Thai authorities had done their best to peacefully
solve a problem which had its roots in Burma. <br>
''They cannot escape anywhere,'' Chuan said, referring to Burma's
pro-democracy students in general. ''So they come to our country, which
is helping to solve the problem. So, in fact, Burma cannot criticise
us.'' <br>
Burma should understand that Thailand had to put the safety of embassy
staff and other hostages first, he added. <br>
A state-run newspaper in Burma on Wednesday attacked Thailand's handling
of the hostage crisis. It said that bilateral relations could be harmed
if Bangkok did not tighten security over ''terrorist'' refugees from
Burma residing on Thai soil. <br>
Col Thein Swe, former military attache at the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok,
went on government radio on Tuesday to accuse the Thai intelligence
service of being a sham for not being able to anticipate the embassy
takeover. <br>
Thein Swe is a leading member of the Office of Strategic Studies, a
powerful think-tank under the command of security chief Lt Gen Khin
Nyunt. <br>
But the statements made by the state-run media contradicted those made by
the Burmese head of state. <br>
Chairman of the ruling State Peace and Development Council Gen Than Schwe
had sent a letter thanking Chuan for his efforts in solving the crisis
peacefully. <br>
He also praised Deputy Foreign Minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra for his
courage. Sukhumbhand volunteered to travel with the rebels when they flew
by helicopter to the Thai-Burmese border in exchange for the release of
the hostages. <br>
The five attackers, who called themselves the Vigorous Burmese Student
Warriors, stormed the Burmese Embassy last Friday, taking 38 people
hostage at gunpoint, while holding 51 others in a different section.
<br>
Interior Minister Sanan Kachornprasart had earlier referred to the five
gunmen as ''students fighting for democracy'', instead of ''terrorists''.
<br>
Infuriated by the statement, Rangoon issued a reply on Monday saying:
''One wonders if at any point during the entire siege of the embassy, the
trigger-happy gunmen's ... activity had resulted in the death of not only
the embassy staff but families including children, can they still be
regarded as 'not terrorists, but students who are fighting for
democracy','' the statement said. <br>
Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand, Sukhumbhand
tried to clarify Sanan's statement, saying that although the five armed
attackers were not ''international terrorists'', nevertheless, what they
did constituted a ''terrorist act''. <br>
''We will proceed legally because they have committed a crime under Thai
law,'' he said. ''However, there is a void in the Thai legal system in
giving a legal definition of international terrorist.'' <br>
Although the Thai security agencies has vowed to restrict the movement of
dissident groups operating in and around the Thai border, it was
nevertheless understood that these students had escaped persecution and
sought refuge here, Chuan said. <br>
In a separate interview, Sukhumbhand reaffirmed the National Security
Council's decision to impose stricter controls on the movement of Burmese
dissident groups in Thailand. <br>
However, the country's policy towards refugees residing on Thai soil
would not be changed. <br>
Thailand must continue its present policy of providing temporary refuge
for the Burmese, he said. <br>
The security council has said that the raid on the Burmese Embassy
constituted a threat to national security. <br>
But Sukhumbhand emphasised that the Burmese had not requested more
security measures despite numerous reports last month saying that Burmese
dissidents throughout the world were planning a series of protests
against the military government. <br>
The Nation</font>
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