News about Burma

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Thai-Burma talks deadlocked 


June 11, 1997

Third round of talks on river's course fail 

Supamart Kasem 
Mae Sot 

There was still no progress yesterday after the third round of talks 
between Thai and Burmese authorities to settle a border dispute over 
Burma's dredging of the Moei River opposite Mae Sot district. 

Both sides refused to give ground over a change in the river's course 
near Wat Prathat Khok Chang Phuek in Tambon Tha Sai Luad. 

Representing Thailand in the talks was Treaties and Legal Affairs 
Department Director-General Somboon Sa-ngiambutr. The Burmese team was 
headed by U Aye Lwin. 

The two sides rejected each other's proposals for breaking the deadlock. 
Burma insisted that their dredging plan was correctly based on an aerial 
map and photographs taken in 1989. 

Mr Somboon said the Burmese delegates came up with nothing new and just 
proposed their dredging plan to the Thai negotiators in the third round 
yesterday afternoon. Earlier, Burma had informed that its dredging plan 
would be based on an aerial map taken in 1994, but it later changed its 
mind. 

Thai authorities could not accept Burma's latest proposal as the 
disputed area would expand from 150 rai to 300 rai. 

"The expansion of the disputed area would create more trouble in the 
future. Hence, the Joint Border Committee of the two countries will hold 
another round of talks in Rangoon to settle the problem by the end of 
this month," said Mr Somboon. 

Sources said the blame for the border dispute near Wat Prathat Khok 
Chang Phuek should fall squarely on a Thai investor wanting to build a 
10-million-dollar hotel and casino in the area. 

The investor and his three Chinese business partners had met Burma's 
Hotel and Tourist Minister Lt Gen Kyaw Ba in Rangoon on May 11 this year 
to discuss the plan, added the source.


"THERE WILL BE NO REAL DEMOCRACY IF WE CAN'T GURANTEE THE RIGHTS OF THE 
MINORITY ETHNIC PEOPLE.  ONLY UNDERSTANDING THEIR SUFFERING AND HELPING 
THEM TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS WILL ASSIST PREVENTING FROM THE 
DISINTEGRATION AND THE SESESSION."  "WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THEIR 
STRENGTH, WE CAN'T TOPPLE THE SLORC AND BURMA WILL NEVER BE IN PEACE."



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