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The Nation (14-10-99)US pledges aid



Subject: The Nation (14-10-99)US pledges aid for asylum-seekers

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<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=5><b>US pledges aid for
asylum-seekers <br>
</font></b><font size=3>US Assistant Secretary of State Julia V Taft
yesterday reassured Thailand of Washington's continued assistance for
Burmese asylum-seekers living in the Kingdom and vowed to help increase
Burmese students' resettlement opportunities, according to a US Embassy
statement. <br>
Taft, who heads the State Department Bureau for Population, Refugees and
Migration, met with a number of high-ranking officials in Bangkok
yesterday to discuss the matter. <br>
During her meetings, she praised Bangkok for its humanitarian asylum
policy extending back over 25 years, according to the statement. <br>
She also reaffirmed that Washington would continue its support for the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and
non-governmental organisations to assist Burmese asylum-seekers in
Thailand. <br>
The pledge came against the backdrop of the Burmese Embassy
hostage-taking by five heavily armed Burmese students calling themselves
the ''Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors.'' <br>
Thai authorities vowed to impose more stringent controls on the Burmese
asylum seekers living in the country and urged the international
community to help in finding a third country for them. <br>
However, a US Embassy official here said the offer was not linked to the
seizure of the Burmese Embassy on Oct 1. <br>
''We have flexible numbers so if the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees refers us more cases we will consider more cases, but it wasn't
in response to what happened here,'' the official said. <br>
The United States is a vocal critic of the Burmese junta's human rights
and democracy record, but has condemned the hostage-takers for their use
of force. <br>
The embassy siege severely strained bilateral ties between Thailand and
Burma and added fire to long-simmering historical suspicions. <br>
Rangoon used official press mouthpieces to pound Bangkok with diatribes
alleging the latter of harbouring ''terrorists''. <br>
Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan said he plans to talk with the UNHCR in
Geneva later this month about resettling the students as quickly as
possible. <br>
The Nation, Agence France-Presse<br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times">---------------------------------------&nbsp;
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<br>
</font><font size=5><b>Soldiers tell reporters to clear border<br>
</font></b><font size=3>SOLDIERS from the 1st Army Region yesterday
ordered all reporters out of the Thai-Burmese border checkpoint area in
Ratchaburi's Suan Phung district, saying that an expected upcoming
offensive against rebel armies by Burmese troops could spill over on to
Thai soil. <br>
Meanwhile, a war of words erupted yesterday between troops from the 29th
Infantry Regiment and media representatives when a group of army officers
patrolling the area jumped out out of their vehicle and shouted at
journalists who had positioned themselves in Tambon Fah Pok in Suan Phung
district. <br>
Reporters and their cameramen were there to document Thai troops being
mobilised in the area to prevent expected fighting between rebel armies
and Burmese government troops from spilling over onto Thai soil. <br>
A senior Karen National Union officer said the Thai army may have
overreacted as an all-out offensive by Burmese government troops against
rebel armies is very unlikely because of the rainy season. <br>
The muddy terrain has prevented both sides from engaging in all-out
combat. The next round of any offensive will not be for another month
when the wet season ends, said the officer. <br>
He said there had been some exchanges of fire between government troops
and soldiers from the God's Army in Mawtha, Karen State -- but no
casualties were reported. <br>
The God's Army, made up of ethnic Karen Christians, is headquartered out
of Kamaplaw in Karen State. It functions separately from the Karen
National Union. <br>
In Mae Hong Son, Pol Lt Gen Kowin Wattana dismissed fears that fighting
between the Burmese army and rebel troops could spill in Thailand. <br>
Border police and army security forces along the border in the northern
region from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son remained on a state of alert.
<br>
In a separate development, an unconfirmed report claimed that the Burmese
army was planning to attack refugee camps in Ta Song Yang district in Tak
province. <br>
The Burmese have in the past used splinter groups to attack and burn
refugee camps on the Thai side of the border. More than 100,000 Burmese
refugees, most of them loyal to rebel forces, are living in camps along
the border. <br>
The Nation<br>
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<br>
</font><font size=5><b>Asean seeks greater East Asian unity<br>
</font></b><font size=3>ASEAN and three economic powerhouses of Asia --
China, Japan and South Korea -- are moving to consolidate economic
cooperation, agreeing to issue their first joint statement outlining
their commitment towards East Asian cooperation when their leaders meet
in Manila next month. <br>
Lauro Baja, the Philippines under secretary of state, said the proposed
document, the first since their leaders began to meet annually in 1997,
was officially discussed yesterday at a one-day meeting of senior
officials from Asean and the three countries in Bangkok to prepare for
the Asean summit. <br>
The proposed statement will serve as a guideline for their cooperation in
the new millennium and will emphasise joint efforts to revitalise Asian
economies, enhance financial cooperation, increase regional
competitiveness and human resource development. <br>
Asean leaders are scheduled to hold a one-day informal meeting on Nov 28
in Manila. The Asean leaders will on the same day meet with leaders of
Japan, South Korea and China. <br>
At last year's summit in Hanoi, Asean stressed its own business, issuing
only the Hanoi Plan of Action and no statements with the three
non-members. <br>
According to the source, China agreed that the East Asian countries must
consolidate to get Asian growth back on track and ensure regional
stability, but is still reluctant about writing a specific statement.
<br>
Wang Yi, assistant to the Chinese foreign minister, told The Nation East
Asia should seek future cooperation to consolidate themselves, having
suffered a bout of economic difficulties triggered by the financial
crisis in 1997. <br>
BY SA-NGUAN KHUMRUNGROJ and <br>
RITA PATIYASEVI <br>
The Nation<br>
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