1995 Appropriations Bill Report on

[reaproy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: 1995 Appropriations Bill Report on Burma and RTG

Dear Burma Watchers, 

The following is the unclassified summary of the report to Congress that the 
U.S. State Department was required to provide as a result of a provision in 
the Fiscal Year 1995 Foreign Aid Appropriations Law.  Essentially, the State 
Department was required to report the extent to which the Royal Thai 
Government (RTG) was impeding international support for Burmese democracy 
forces, exiles and refugees with the presumption that U.S. support for 
military officer training/exchanges with the Royal Thai Army could be 
jeopardized if the State Department found that the RTG was impeding that 
support.  

Essentially, in my opinion, while the intent of the Congressional authors 
was laudable, the State Department white-washed this issue from Day One.  
Secretary of State Christopher, during his visit to Bangkok at the end of 
1994, essentially stated to the Thais that they didn't have anything to 
worry about and that the IMET program money would go forward.  The summary 
speaks for itself: on one hand, they are saying the RTG doesn't impede 
humanitarian support in practice and then in the next sentence they say the 
RTG's practice towards the Burmese is not consistent.  State Department 
diplomatic mumbo-jumbo, gobbledy-gook language, a perfect example of 
sounding knowledgeable while saying not a whole lot.  The lesson here for 
Burmese activists is don't trust U.S. bureaucrats to come up with clear 
statements when, in fact, they have a institutional impetus to continue the 
program (i.e. IMET for the Thais) in the first place.  Anyway, here's what 
was said:


"The Thai Government Efforts to Impede Support for Burmese Democracy 
Advocates, Exiles and Refugees:

Royal Thai Goverment treatment of Burmese democracy advocates, exiles, and 
refugees is generally humane and in accord with international norms.  The 
RTG does not, as a matter of policy or practice, impede humanitarian support 
for non-combatant Burmese in Thailand.  As a result of competing domestic 
and international interests, however, Thai policy and practice toward the 
Burmese are not always clear or consistent.  While the Thai provide refuge 
and access to new Burmese, they also seek to limit the influx of new 
Burmese, occassionally compel their return to Burma, and restrict their 
political activities.  Senior U.S. officials have raised with their Thai 
counterparts concerns about the treatment of the Burmese.  While RTG 
officials stress the aid they provide, they make clear Thailand does not 
want a permanent refugee population.  The trends in Thai policy indicate an 
increasing unwillingness to permit the unfettered use of Thailand as a base 
of operations against the Government of Burma"


And that's it.  There is a longer, classified report which I don't have 
access to.  If you're unhappy about this report, I suggest you write to 

The Honorable Winn Lord
Assistant Secretary of State 
 for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Department of State
Washington, D.C.  20520 

and tell him how you feel!