Army risks Asean status by picking

[ausgeo@xxxxxxx]

Subject: Army risks Asean status by picking border fights 

May 29  1997

Army risks Asean status by picking border fights 

BURMA by William Barnes in Bangkok 
A military standoff over a mud bar in a river on the Thailand-Burma border 
underlines the Burmese junta's split personality in relation to the 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

Thai army commander General Chettha Thanajaro was forced to tell his troops to 
keep cool on Monday, when faced with Burmese soldiers standing provocatively 
only a few metres away on disputed territory.

The toe-to-toe confrontation over an islet in the Moei River near Mae Sot, 
comes days before a possible announcement about when Burma may gain full 
membership of Asean.

"In a normal world it would be incredibly bizarre of Burma to confront 
Thailand now - whoever is in the right over these few metres of mud," a 
diplomat in Rangoon said.

"We have seen, again and again, military moves clashing with diplomatic 
efforts."

The regime, which emerged from three decades of self-imposed isolation 
relatively recently, rates international opinion low on its list of 
priorities.

But harder to explain is why military offensives and border sabre-rattling 
have taken place when the regime needs Thailand's support to gain Asean 
membership. Burmese Foreign Minister Ohn Kyaw is one who clearly covets the 
status.

Asean foreign ministers could make a formal announcement about the entry of 
Burma, Cambodia and Laos in Kuala Lumpur at the end of the week.

The group of seven appears ready, in its 30th anniversary year, to risk being 
tainted by including Burma.

Yet, in recent months the State Law and Order Restoration Council has allowed 
raids on Thai refugee camps, engaged in myriad border-demarcation disputes and 
generally lived up to its image in the West as an intolerant and unbending 
regime.

"Clearly, some powerful army men don't give a damn about Asean," one diplomat 
said.

The Army's regional commanders and army chief General Maung Aye are unlikely 
to see much merit in ties with an organisation which demands greater 
transparency in the armed forces.

"They think that with China's help and Asian investment they can carry on as 
they like," a military analyst in Bangkok said.


South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd.