AFP-Thailand seeks to sooth Myanmar

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Subject: AFP-Thailand seeks to sooth Myanmar over gunmen's arrest

Thailand seeks to sooth Myanmar over gunmen's arrest
BANGKOK, Oct 14 (AFP) - Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai reassured Myanmar
Thursday it would arrest pro-democracy gunmen who stormed its Bangkok
embassy if they were found on Thai soil.
The assurance follows an ultimatum delivered by Myanmar's ambassador
Wednesday saying Yangon would not reopen its common border with Thailand
until authorities detain the five gunmen who raided the embassy on October 1
and held almost 40 people hostage for 25-hours.

"The government plan to to do this anyway, there was not any pressure, it's
our own matter and we have to do it," he said.

Arrest warrants were issued on Friday for two of the gunmen, while the
identity of the others remains uncertain, according to officials who say it
also remains unclear if the gunmen are in Thailand.

A diplomatic row has been brewing with Yangon over Bangkok's handling of the
crisis, with Myanmar critical of Thailand's decision to bow to the demands
of hostage-takers for an escape helicopter to the border.

Myanmar has also been scathing of statements by senior Thai officials
calling the gunmen democracy fighters rather than terrorists.

Myanmar closed checkpoints along the border on October 2, and later
cancelled concessions for Thai fishermen in Myanmar waters, resulting in
losses of 150 million baht (3.75 million dollars) a day for the industry
based in southern Ranong province.

Chaun on Thursday also denied reports in the local press that he had
cancelled a mission to Myanmar by former Thai army commander General Chetta
Thanajaro to try to smooth ties.

"I did not stop him, but I'm not sending him because the foreign ministry is
working on this issue," he said.

He said Thailand had done nothing to wrong Myanmar and stressed that Bangkok
had received international praise for its peaceful handling of the hostage
drama.

"It's not strange that Myanmar feels unhappy as they (the gunmen) have
caused damage to the Myanmar government," he said.

Thailand's Deputy Foreign Minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra rejected statements
to the press by Myanmar ambassador Hla Maung on Wednesday to the effect he
had delivered an ultimatum to Thailand in a meeting with the foreign
minister.

"(Foreign) Minister Surin (Pitsuwan) said that they did not dicuss any
ultimatum, and it's undiplomatic to give an ultimatum here, it should be
done in Yangon," he said.