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Bangkok Post -Junta paper takes a s



Subject: Bangkok Post -Junta paper takes a swipe at Thailand

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Bangkok post - Dec 15, 1999.
THAI-BURMESE RELATIONS

Junta paper takes a swipe at Thailand
Commentary blasts repatriation policy



Thailand has come under fierce attack for its handling of the =
repatriation of illegal workers in a commentary in an official Burmese =
newspaper.

Without identifying its neighbour and fellow Asean member, Kyemon said: =
"If they respected the sovereignty of their own country and their =
neighbour, there would not be any problem concerning illegal =
workers."The article, attributed to an advocate, appeared as senior =
immigration officials from Asean gathered in Rangoon for an annual =
conference.

It referred only to the "other country" but was clearly directed at =
Thailand, whose relations with Burma have been strained since armed =
dissidents took over Rangoon's embassy in Bangkok on Oct 1-2.

"These problems will remain as a never-ending story as long as the other =
country does not mend its ways," it warned.

Thailand restarted a policy of repatriating 600,000 illegal Burmese =
workers after its neighbour shut its border to trade in protest at the =
embassy attack. Rangoon re-opened the border on Nov 24 after an =
eight-week closure, but relations remain edgy.

The commentary said the workers had left Burma illegally and were =
working in Thailand illegally. "It shows complete lack of due =
consideration to ask Myanmar [Burma] to legally accept Myanmar [Burmese] =
citizens after having had them work secretly and illegally."The =
commentary also complained Thailand had allowed armed opponents of the =
government to remain in a border buffer zone since Burma's independence =
in 1948 and let refugees stay who were not real asylum-seekers but =
insurgents who had escaped with their families.


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<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT color=3D#900000 =
face=3DARIAL,HELVETICA><B>Bangkok post - Dec=20
15, 1999.</B></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT color=3D#900000 =
face=3DARIAL,HELVETICA><B>THAI-BURMESE=20
RELATIONS</B></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Junta paper takes a swipe at Thailand</FONT></DIV>
<H1><!--KICKER--><FONT size=3D3><I>Commentary blasts repatriation=20
policy</I><BR><BR></FONT></H1>
<P><FONT color=3D#000000>
<P><FONT size=3D+2><B>T</B></FONT>hailand has come under fierce attack =
for its=20
handling of the repatriation of illegal workers in a commentary in an =
official=20
Burmese newspaper.</P>
<P>Without identifying its neighbour and fellow Asean member, Kyemon =
said: "If=20
they respected the sovereignty of their own country and their neighbour, =
there=20
would not be any problem concerning illegal workers."The article, =
attributed to=20
an advocate, appeared as senior immigration officials from Asean =
gathered in=20
Rangoon for an annual conference.</P>
<P>It referred only to the "other country" but was clearly directed at =
Thailand,=20
whose relations with Burma have been strained since armed dissidents =
took over=20
Rangoon's embassy in Bangkok on Oct 1-2.</P>
<P>"These problems will remain as a never-ending story as long as the =
other=20
country does not mend its ways," it warned.</P>
<P>Thailand restarted a policy of repatriating 600,000 illegal Burmese =
workers=20
after its neighbour shut its border to trade in protest at the embassy =
attack.=20
Rangoon re-opened the border on Nov 24 after an eight-week closure, but=20
relations remain edgy.</P>
<P>The commentary said the workers had left Burma illegally and were =
working in=20
Thailand illegally. "It shows complete lack of due consideration to ask =
Myanmar=20
[Burma] to legally accept Myanmar [Burmese] citizens after having had =
them work=20
secretly and illegally."The commentary also complained Thailand had =
allowed=20
armed opponents of the government to remain in a border buffer zone =
since=20
Burma's independence in 1948 and let refugees stay who were not real=20
asylum-seekers but insurgents who had escaped with their=20
families.</P></FONT></FONT></BODY></HTML>

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