AP-Myanmar: Arrests Not Embassy-Rel

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Reply-To: "TIN KYI" <tinkyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: AP-Myanmar: Arrests Not Embassy-Related

Sunday October 24 7:52 AM ET
Myanmar: Arrests Not Embassy-Related

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Myanmar denied Sunday that the arrest of 24 Thai
gamblers inside its territory was related to the recent takeover of the
Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok, an incident that heightened tensions between the
neighboring countries.

The Thais, along with seven Myanmar nationals, were arrested last Friday at
a casino in the Myanmar township of Kawthaung, according to an official
Myanmar statement received in Bangkok.

``They were arrested for breaching the gambling act and appropriate legal
action shall be taken against all those involved irrespective of
nationality,'' the faxed statement said. ``It has nothing to do with the
embassy incident.''

It was not clear what gambling act the 31 arrested gamblers could have
violated since the casino has been given official permission to operate and
thousands of Thais have flocked there to try their luck.

Tensions between the two countries escalated following the takeover of the
embassy earlier this month by five militants opposed to Myanmar's military
regime. Myanmar officials, upset that the raiders were allowed to go free,
closed border checkpoints with Thailand and suspended fishing rights in
Myanmar waters for Thai vessels.

Thailand has taken steps to monitor the movements of some 3,000 Myanmar
student activists who have sought refuge in the country and to speed up
efforts to resettle them in third countries. But Thai Prime Minister Chuan
Leekpai said Saturday the student exiles would not be forced to leave
Thailand against their will.