REUTERS_15.3.96: THAI PAPER CITES B

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Subject: REUTERS_15.3.96: THAI PAPER CITES BURMA BORDER A SECURITY ISSUE

	ASIA: THAILAND SAYS IT WANTS STRONGER MILITARY
THAILAND DEFENCE
   By Rajan Moses of Reuters
	   BANGKOK, March 15 Reuter - Thailand needs to strengthen its 
armed forces despite the end of the Cold War as the chance of new 
kinds of regional conflicts has grown, according to a new defence 
ministry White Paper.
	   The document, titled "The Defence of Thailand 1996", obtained by 
Reuters today, said the military must also boost its capability to 
match that of neighbouring countries.
	   Formation of economic blocs such as the European Union, North 
American Free Trade Area and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation 
forum meant economic disputes and threats would play a greater role 
in national security, the document said.
	   It also advocated that the defence budget not fall below two per 
cent of Thailand's gross domestic product (GDP) for the armed 
forces to be adequately developed to meet current regional security 
threats.
	   In 1995, the Thai defence budget of $US3.14 billion ($A4.07 
billion) was 2.48 per cent of GDP, the highest among the seven 
members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), to 
which Thailand belongs, the document said.
	   The Thai military, which has launched 17 successful or attempted 
coups since 1932, is a core institution in the country and 
maintains a strong influence over politics.
	   "The end of the Cold War between communism and the Free World 
does not mean the world will be free of conflicts," it said. "On 
the contrary, the country must prepare an even stronger Armed 
Forces, since the chance for conflicts in other fields have grown.
	   "The Royal Thai Armed Forces must improve its capabilities so 
that it is equal to neighbouring countries," it added.
	   Among key Asia-Pacific security flashpoints cited in the 
document were conflicting claims by China, Taiwan and several Asian 
nations over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea and tension 
on the Korean peninsula between the two Koreas.
	   The latest confrontation between China and Taiwan over Beijing's 
missile tests near the island was not mentioned in the document. 
Thailand recognises only China and said this week it supported the 
Chinese military exercises.
	   The document will be circulated at next week's Asian Pacific 
Security Dialogue, hosted by Thai defence and strategic studies 
bodies. Military and foreign affairs experts and academics from the 
Asia-Pacific region will attend the seminar.
	   Other main security threats for Thailand cited in the document 
were border problems with Cambodia and Burma. Thailand was being 
unfairly accused of aiding Cambodian rebel guerrillas the Khmer 
Rouge, although it maintained a policy of non-interference, it 
said.
	   Suppression of minorities by the Burmese government was another 
long-standing problem destabilising the border area, it added. 
Thousands of Burmese Karen refugees had fled into Thailand and many 
students opposed to Burma's military rulers had caused problems for 
Thai officials, it said.
	   Thailand's military has embarked on an ambitious plan to 
modernise and boost its military strength.
	   Recently the military acquired a $US360 million ($A466.45 
million) helicopter carrier from a Spanish shipbuilder and has 
opened bids for the purchase of two submarines worth $US400 million 
($A518.28 million).
	   The military also plans to open bidding for a $US1.04 billion 
($A1.35 billion) communications satellite system opposed by some 
Thai politicians concerned over its high cost and necessity.
	   The document also proposed the setting up of an Army Weapons 
Production Centre, a Rifle Production Plant and an Armed Forces 
Vehicle Rebuild Workshop.
	   REUTER ao
	 

	ASIA: AUNG SAN SUU KYI SAYS BURMA KEEPING HER FROM THE PEOPLE
BURMA SUUKYI
   RANGOON, March 16 AFP - Burma's leading pro-democracy activist, 
Aung San Suu Kyi, said today that authorities here had stopped her 
from travelling out of Rangoon in order to keep her from having 
direct contact with the people.
	   "If I am to express my opinion openly, this was done to prevent 
me from having direct contact with the people," Aung San Suu Kyi 
said.
	   The authorities had no reason to stop others from such close 
contact if they had confidence in themselves, she added, while 
responding to a question at one of the regular weekend public 
gatherings at her gate.
	   "They have the opportunity to have daily contacts with the 
people ... If they have confidence in themselves, why not give 
others equal opportunity," the Nobel laureate and leader of the 
National League for Democracy (NLD) said.
	   A member of the gathering had asked whether the military 
government's latest action meant that although she was free from 
house arrest, her movements would be restricted to Rangoon.
	   On Wednesday, Burmese authorities stopped Aung San Suu Kyi from 
leaving the city for Mandalay, where she was called as a defence 
witness at the trial of four of her supporters.
	   She had gone with seven other members of the NLD to Rangoon's 
central rail station on Wednesday to take the evening express to 
Mandalay.
	   The passenger coach on which she was booked allegedly developed 
"mechanical problems" and was disconnected. Subsequent attempts to 
get bookings on the next train were unsuccessful, forcing the group 
to give up, eyewitnesses said.
	   The leadership of the NLD, including vice-chairmen Tin Oo and 
Kyi Maung, had all been named as defence witnesses at the trial of 
four party members, an NLD spokesman said.
	   The four, two of whom were comedians, were arrested in January 
and charged under an emergency provisions act following a 
performance at her residence here marking the anniversary of 
Burma's independence.
	   Hundreds of her supporters were on hand to greet her today when 
Aung San Suu Kyi made her regular appearance.
	   AFP ao