[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

Asiaweek : Behind the drama at Myan

Subject: Asiaweek : Behind the drama at Myanmar's embassy(Vol-25,  No-41) 

--=====================_9801973==_.ALT
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed


Behind the drama at Myanmar's embassy

By ROGER MITTON Bangkok

Thailand is home to thousands of Myanmar exiles who have fled the military 
regime back home. Among diplomats at the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok are 
several with a military background, including ambassador Hla Maung. 
Security at the mission is notoriously lax and the Myanmar side has long 
complained to the Thais in vain. The single - often dozing - Thai policeman 
inside the unlocked main gate would wave visitors through without even a 
cursory check, despite the embassy being a high-risk one and the fact that 
most disaffected Myanmar exiles live in border camps where weapons are 
easily available. Putting these factors together, it is surprising that the 
armed takeover of the embassy on Oct. 1 did not occur earlier.

When it did happen, it was with evident ease. Five masked youths 
brandishing automatic rifles and grenades stormed a side-entrance and 
occupied the compound within minutes, taking diplomats and visa applicants 
as hostages. What followed was a wild and wacky 24-hour siege that 
fortuitously ended without bloodshed. As both terrorists and hostages made 
and received phone calls from outside, the Thai authorities belatedly 
scrambled into action. An adjacent office building was taken over as a 
command center and the street outside was shut to normal traffic - though 
journalists and curious onlookers, including tourists, had no difficulty 
getting close to the scene.

Conflicting reports filtered out about the number of terrorists and their 
demands. No one seemed sure what was going on. But the Thais continued with 
their haphazard and laidback negotiation. Surprisingly, it worked. A day 
later, the terrorists exchanged their hostages for Thai Deputy Foreign 
Minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra and another official and then were flown by 
helicopter to the Thai-Myanmar border where they were released to melt into 
the jungle - presumably to celebrate a successful mission. But there was 
plenty of criticism. Says political scientist Chayachoke Chulasiriwongs of 
Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University: "The government has been letting these 
people run around. How could you let somebody take machine guns and 
grenades into the center of Bangkok? Really incredible. Ridiculous."

Myanmar's junta agrees. Says Brig.-Gen. Zaw Tun, deputy national planning 
minister in Yangon: "They got away so easily. If that had happened in 
Myanmar, they would have been punished." Still, it was evident the gunmen 
were exasperated rebel students rather than clinical killers. That said, 
there were reports - since denied by Thai officials quoted locally - that 
the group's leader was involved in hijacking a Myanmar civilian aircraft 10 
years ago. Says Soe Aung of the Bangkok-based All Burma Students' 
Democratic Front: "These actions are the indications of the people's 
desperation; they can't be tolerant any more."

Officially, all sides publicly condemned the assault, including Western 
governments, mainstream Myanmar exile groups and even the National League 
for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi. Sukhumbhand, a former academic 
who has been having a torrid time as a first-term MP, emerged an unlikely 
hero. Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai and Interior Minister Sanan 
Kachornprasart were also praised for their hands-on role in bringing a 
peaceful end to the incident, though Sanan blotted his copybook by saying: 
"We don't consider them to be terrorists. They are student activists who 
fight for democracy."

A group of six or seven hostages felt the same way. Rather than praise the 
Thais who had faciliated their release, they burst into wildly 
demonstrative scenes of support for their former captors. They cheered, 
donned revolutionary headbands and waved NLD and pro-democracy flags. This 
performance and filmed scenes of some of them hugging their abductors lent 
credence to allegations made by Yangon that collusion had occurred. But 
Arthur Shwe of the National Council of the Union of Burma dismisses this. 
Says he: "The hostages had nothing to do with it."

Yes or no, security at the embassy - and at other foreign missions in 
Bangkok - is likely to be upgraded. And PM Chuan said the situation 
regarding Myanmar exiles living in Thailand may need to be reviewed. Says 
Chayachoke: "By us treating the students very leniently, it looks to the 
Myanmar government that we are giving them support." But few expect 
draconian action. As for relations between Bangkok and Yangon, bilateral 
ties had been improving after the regime's leaders visited Bangkok in March 
and then Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan went to Yangon and Mandalay 
where he praised his counterpart Win Aung for teaching him "a lot about 
history." He notably did not call on Suu Kyi. Now there could be a chill. 
Says Zaw Tun: "We are a little bit angry."

Sanan's comment will not help. Even the exiles do not share this view. Says 
Shwe: "It is natural they be branded terrorists. Their motive was good but 
[not] their action." There is a fear of repeat acts and even a sense that 
perhaps the five gunmen have shown the democracy activists the way of the 
future. The NLD's non-violent credo has got it nowhere, and it may be hard 
for the movement to convince young hotheads not to heed a call to arms.
October 15, 1999 (Vol-25, No-41)
  ============================================
MYANMAR

Yangoon Alvaro de Soto, a U.N. assistant secretary-general, will again 
travel to meet with junta leaders this month, his fifth visit. He is trying 
to persuade the government to negotiate with the opposition National League 
for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi. In exchange, the U.N. has held out 
the promise of financial aid.

--=====================_9801973==_.ALT
Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii"

<html>
<font face="arial" size=2><b><div align="center">
Behind the drama at Myanmar's embassy<br>
<br>
By ROGER MITTON Bangkok<br>
<br>
</b></div>
Thailand is home to thousands of Myanmar exiles who have fled the
military regime back home. Among diplomats at the Myanmar embassy in
Bangkok are several with a military background, including ambassador Hla
Maung. Security at the mission is notoriously lax and the Myanmar side
has long complained to the Thais in vain. The single - often dozing -
Thai policeman inside the unlocked main gate would wave visitors through
without even a cursory check, despite the embassy being a high-risk one
and the fact that most disaffected Myanmar exiles live in border camps
where weapons are easily available. Putting these factors together, it is
surprising that the armed takeover of the embassy on Oct. 1 did not occur
earlier. <br>
<br>
When it did happen, it was with evident ease. Five masked youths
brandishing automatic rifles and grenades stormed a side-entrance and
occupied the compound within minutes, taking diplomats and visa
applicants as hostages. What followed was a wild and wacky 24-hour siege
that fortuitously ended without bloodshed. As both terrorists and
hostages made and received phone calls from outside, the Thai authorities
belatedly scrambled into action. An adjacent office building was taken
over as a command center and the street outside was shut to normal
traffic - though journalists and curious onlookers, including tourists,
had no difficulty getting close to the scene. <br>
<br>
Conflicting reports filtered out about the number of terrorists and their
demands. No one seemed sure what was going on. But the Thais continued
with their haphazard and laidback negotiation. Surprisingly, it worked. A
day later, the terrorists exchanged their hostages for Thai Deputy
Foreign Minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra and another official and then were
flown by helicopter to the Thai-Myanmar border where they were released
to melt into the jungle - presumably to celebrate a successful mission.
But there was plenty of criticism. Says political scientist Chayachoke
Chulasiriwongs of Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University: &quot;The
government has been letting these people run around. How could you let
somebody take machine guns and grenades into the center of Bangkok?
Really incredible. Ridiculous.&quot; <br>
<br>
Myanmar's junta agrees. Says Brig.-Gen. Zaw Tun, deputy national planning
minister in Yangon: &quot;They got away so easily. If that had happened
in Myanmar, they would have been punished.&quot; Still, it was evident
the gunmen were exasperated rebel students rather than clinical killers.
That said, there were reports - since denied by Thai officials quoted
locally - that the group's leader was involved in hijacking a Myanmar
civilian aircraft 10 years ago. Says Soe Aung of the Bangkok-based All
Burma Students' Democratic Front: &quot;These actions are the indications
of the people's desperation; they can't be tolerant any more.&quot; 
<br>
<br>
Officially, all sides publicly condemned the assault, including Western
governments, mainstream Myanmar exile groups and even the National League
for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi. Sukhumbhand, a former
academic who has been having a torrid time as a first-term MP, emerged an
unlikely hero. Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai and Interior Minister Sanan
Kachornprasart were also praised for their hands-on role in bringing a
peaceful end to the incident, though Sanan blotted his copybook by
saying: &quot;We don't consider them to be terrorists. They are student
activists who fight for democracy.&quot; <br>
<br>
A group of six or seven hostages felt the same way. Rather than praise
the Thais who had faciliated their release, they burst into wildly
demonstrative scenes of support for their former captors. They cheered,
donned revolutionary headbands and waved NLD and pro-democracy flags.
This performance and filmed scenes of some of them hugging their
abductors lent credence to allegations made by Yangon that collusion had
occurred. But Arthur Shwe of the National Council of the Union of Burma
dismisses this. Says he: &quot;The hostages had nothing to do with
it.&quot; <br>
<br>
Yes or no, security at the embassy - and at other foreign missions in
Bangkok - is likely to be upgraded. And PM Chuan said the situation
regarding Myanmar exiles living in Thailand may need to be reviewed. Says
Chayachoke: &quot;By us treating the students very leniently, it looks to
the Myanmar government that we are giving them support.&quot; But few
expect draconian action. As for relations between Bangkok and Yangon,
bilateral ties had been improving after the regime's leaders visited
Bangkok in March and then Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan went to
Yangon and Mandalay where he praised his counterpart Win Aung for
teaching him &quot;a lot about history.&quot; He notably did not call on
Suu Kyi. Now there could be a chill. Says Zaw Tun: &quot;We are a little
bit angry.&quot; <br>
<br>
Sanan's comment will not help. Even the exiles do not share this view.
Says Shwe: &quot;It is natural they be branded terrorists. Their motive
was good but [not] their action.&quot; There is a fear of repeat acts and
even a sense that perhaps the five gunmen have shown the democracy
activists the way of the future. The NLD's non-violent credo has got it
nowhere, and it may be hard for the movement to convince young hotheads
not to heed a call to arms. <br>
<b>October 15, 1999 (Vol-25, No-41)<br>
&nbsp;============================================<br>
MYANMAR<br>
<br>
</b>Yangoon Alvaro de Soto, a U.N. assistant secretary-general, will
again travel to meet with junta leaders this month, his fifth visit. He
is trying to persuade the government to negotiate with the opposition
National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi. In exchange, the
U.N. has held out the promise of financial aid.<br>
</font></html>

--=====================_9801973==_.ALT--