THE NATION - October 18, 1999 (r)

[bina@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Thanks for posting this funny and insightful commentary:

At 10:47 PM 10/17/99 +0200, S.Wansai wrote:
>THE NATION - October 18, 1999
>
>Editorial & Opinion
>
>THINK THAI: Dos and don'ts in Thai-Burmese links
>
>DON'T send former army chief Gen Chetta Thanajaro to Rangoon for talks with
>the military junta leaders, because he is so close to them he might cut his
>own deal.
>
>Do inform the Burmese intelligence service during the next hostage-taking so
>that its officials in Thailand can inform the parties concerned promptly.
>
>Don't allow Deputy Foreign Minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra to be a hostage,
>because the die-hard students were soft on him. Please ask opposition leader
>Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh: the students can take appropriate measures during
>a bumpy helicopter ride.
>
>Do send a young Thai ambassador who grew up during the Oct 14, 1973,
>bloodshed to Rangoon in the future as he could promote people-to-people
>dialogue so that he can perform his duty.
>
>Don't let Burma blackmail Thailand again: ask the junta leaders to send a
>list of their demands early so that suitable interest groups and businessmen
>can respond with cash.
>
>Do tell our Chinese friends as a matter of urgency that any Chinese-made
>ammunition and guns and other show-off artillery pieces and surface-to-air
>missiles on the Burmese side of the border may harm Thai soldiers, something
>which Thailand does not want to see as our countries are preparing for the
>25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
>
>Do persuade Asean members that as chairman of Asean this year Thailand
>should be able to draw up provisions to suspend the membership if any member
>behaves in a totalitarian manner and disregards the Asean spirit.
>
>Don't get close to Burmese fishing trawlers in the Andaman Sea, because of
>late these folks are not genuine: they bear an uncanny resemblance to
>soldiers.
>
>Do make sure the Thai government sends baskets of durians to the doves
>within the Burmese army as their positions are in jeopardy.
>
>Don't let Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sanan Kachornprasat
>handle the next siege, because he has developed ''Stockholm Syndrome'' and
>could give potential troublemakers permanent residence.
>
>Do review Thailand's policy towards Burma, because there has been increased
>coordination among concerned authorities, especially the Foreign Ministry
>and the Thai army and local officials.
>
>Don't shut down the Thai border, because the five fleeing students might not
>be able to make it to one of the Western embassies and ask for asylum.
>
>Do send a message to the Karen National Union that the military junta
>leaders are likely to take their frustration out on them during the upcoming
>dry season.
>
>Don't evict the estimated 100,000 Burmese refugees along the Thai-Burmese
>border, because the UN High Commissioner for Refugees cannot get permission
>to cross the border or criticise the junta.
>
>Do pay the phone bill for the hot line between the Bangkok and Rangoon
>foreign ministries as communications have not run smoothly of late.
>
>Don't use the Swat teams from the Royal Thai Police in any future embassy
>siege: use Burmese sharpshooters instead as they can identify the students
>better.
>
>Do applaud Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai for his consistency in refusing to
>visit Burma because the junta refuses to allow him to see opposition leader
>Aung San Suu Kyi.
>
>Don't allow any personel of Doctors Without Borders (Medicins Sans
>Frontieres), the latest Nobel Peace prize winner, to go too close to the
>Thai-Burmese border, because it is too dangerous.
>
>Do praise the interpreter of Burmese Ambassador U Hla Maung for his
>ambivalent translation that attracted headlines in all Thai newspapers.
>
>Don't build the proposed dam on the Salween River, because Thailand will be
>too dependent on Burma for future energy use.
>
>Do promote Bangladesh-India-Myanmar-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation
>(Bimstec), because Burma has pledged to promote academic exchanges even
>though all universities are shut down.
>
>Do increase the number of scholarships to Burmese students who have good
>connections with the State Peace and Development Council so that they can
>study in Thailand and be reunited with their old classmates.
>
>Don't register Thai trawlers with Burmese names.
>
>Do rename ''enhanced interaction'', the old name for the flexible-engagement
>policy, ''enhanced fishing cooperation''.
>
>Don't fan growing Thai nationalism against Burma as Thailand does not want
>to fight a 52nd war (44 of which occurred during Ayudhya and Thonburi
>periods).
>
>Do let all the editors in Bangkok know that Burma has been holding the 46
>million Burmese hostages since 1988 as they have failed to mention it in
>their recent analyses.
>
>BY KAVI CHONGKITTAVORN
>
>---------------