Any attempt to understand Burma-Thai relations today must begin by recognizing the existence of misunderstandings on both sides, open criticism of each other, friction and conflict. Why is this so?...Today, Burma and Thailand face a continuing stream of new issues and crises in their relations. With no rule of law that they both accept, no courts to which they can turn to adjudicate their disputes, and no real will on either side to bury the long past and create a new foundation for their relations based on trust, openness and honesty, the present state of their relations will continue into the future."