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The Nation (12-10-99)Asean praises

Subject: The Nation (12-10-99)Asean praises Bangkok for handling of  siege

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<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=5><b>Asean praises Bangkok for
handling of siege <br>
</font></b><font size=3>AMID growing border tension between Burma and
Thailand over the Burmese Embassy siege in Bangkok, Asean has
uncharacteristically broken its silence by praising Bangkok's handling of
the incident. <br>
Permanent Secretary Saroj Chavanaviraj said Asean members commended
Thailand's efforts in ending the crisis peacefully. <br>
Saroj said the response was made at a working dinner of Asean senior
officials on Sunday ahead a three-day meeting in Bangkok to prepare for
the upcoming Asean summit in Manila. <br>
He said Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad would send a letter to
thank Thailand for ending the siege -- in which no one was hurt --
because one of the hostages was a Malaysian national. <br>
Asean traditionally does not comment on bilateral problems or domestic
affairs of its members. <br>
The praise from Asean on the issue is seen as a break from tradition and
will bolster Thailand's position in negotiating a resolution to the
current border tension with Burma. <br>
Five heavily-armed Burmese dissidents stormed the embassy on Oct 1,
holding 38 hostages at gunpoint and preventing 51 others from leaving the
embassy compound. <br>
Interior Minister Sanan Kachornprasart had angered Rangoon when he
referred to the five hostage-takers as ''students fighting for
democracy''. The five were given their freedom in return for releasing
the hostages. <br>
Ten charges have since been filed against the five militants. <br>
The National Security Council has also sought cooperation from UN High
Commissioner for Refugees to find a third country to accept exiled
Burmese students who are living in Thailand. <br>
Burma has sealed all three land border checkpoints with Thailand, citing
security reasons. Shortly after the siege, Rangoon cancelled all fishing
licences with Thai vessels. It claimed it wanted to review the
licence-issuing system. <br>
Although Rangoon praised Thailand for a quick and peaceful settlement to
the crisis, it also used state-controlled media and unofficial statements
to attack Bangkok, sending confusing signals to the Thai government.
<br>
The Burmese junta also reportedly dispatched thousands of troops to the
border near where armed rebel groups are positioned. The threatened
offensive could send thousands of civilians flooding over the border into
Thailand. <br>
Nyunt Maung Shein, Burmese director general for Political Affairs
Department, said yesterday he told Asean colleagues at the dinner that
the Burmese government expressed its appreciation for the speedy end to
the embassy siege. <br>
However, Burma told the gathering that those involved were not students
but terrorists, Nyunt told The Nation. <br>
Nyunt said the two countries have mechanisms such as border and township
committees to discuss the current border situation. <br>
He did not say how long the border would be closed. <br>
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai held a meeting with Supreme
Commander Gen Mongkok Ampornphisit for an update on the situation along
the border. <br>
There is no indication whether Thailand will send a mission to Rangoon to
help ease tension. <br>
However, Chuan reportedly instructed Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan to
cancel a planned visit to Egypt and remain in Thailand to help monitor
the situation. <br>
According to Gen Mongkol, the border is currently not a big concern.
However, he said the Thai army has been on full alert to prevent possible
incursions following reports that Burmese troops had massed in the area
opposite Ratchaburi. <br>
Chuan would today send a letter to Rangoon reflecting Thailand's wish to
see the current situation return to normal as soon as possible, said
Foreign Ministry's spokesman Don Pramuwinai. <br>
The prime minister has criticised Burma for sending mixed signals over
the embassy siege as the junta leaders sent thank-you notes while
officials and media condemned the handling of the crisis. <br>
''The Foreign Minister must try to explain to Burma that what we did is
internationally understood and acceptable,'' Don said. <br>
Chuan raised no objections to a proposal from coalition partner, the
Chart Thai Party, for talks between Thailand and Burmese ministers of
agriculture to settle the Burmese suspension of Thai fishing licences.
<br>
The Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives, Pongpol Adireksarn, will
attend an Asean meeting of agricultural ministers later this month where
he could have opportunity to talk to his Burmese counterpart on the
fishing problems. <br>
Vitthaya Khunpraum, Pongpol's secretary said the minister would try to
contact Rangoon today to discuss the possibility for talks on the
resumption of Thai fishing licences. <br>
He said several attempts to get through to his Burmese counterpart
failed. <br>
Vichien Techapaiboon, president of Thai Chamber of Commerce, urged the
government to quickly solve licence problems. <br>
He said the revoking of fishing licences by Burma was a temporary but
harsh measure. <br>
Meanwhile, Don said Rangoon released five more Thai prisoners from its
prisons at the request of the Thai government in commemoration of the
72nd anniversary of His Majesty the King on December 5. <br>
The same request has also been made to other Asean countries. <br>
''Despite the present situation, Burma has agreed to release more Thai
prisoners in addition to the 67 it agreed to free earlier,'' Don said.
<br>
He said the release of the prisoners showed that Rangoon separated the
current border problems from overall bilateral relations. <br>
Don hinted Burma's closure of the border and scrapping of Thai fishing
licences may not have been initiated by Rangoon but local army officers.
<br>
He did not elaborate. <br>
''Rangoon understood the way Thailand handled the hostage crisis but some
Burmese army officers who oversee border did not,'' Don said. <br>
He expected the closing of the checkpoints and the cancellation of
fishing licences would not last long as it was not in the best interests
of either country. <br>
The Nation<br>
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