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News From Thai Newspapers



June 30th, 1997.
Bangkok Post
Judge's dismissal imminent

The Judicial Commission is likely to dismiss former deputy Criminal 
Court chief justice Somchai Udomwong because there is sufficient 
evidence to prove him guilty of improperly granting bail to heroin 
suspect Li Yun Chung.

A commission source said a disciplinary investigation has concluded that 
Li paid a go-between, identified only as Puek, to secure his release. 
Puek is believed to have close links with Mr Somchai and several other 
judges.

Most commission members agreed that although the investigation panel 
found no record of payment, there is strong circumstantial evidence of 
ulterior motives in the granting of bail to Li last February, 
immediately after which he fled to Burma.

Rangoon captured the suspect and handed him back to Thailand during 
Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh's visit to Burma last month. Li was 
subsequently extradited to the United States to face trial on drug 
smuggling charges there.

The source said after the commission gives its ruling, police would 
proceed with further investigation to determine whether criminal charges 
should be brought those involved in the bribery scam.

In the meantime, the commission is expected to recommend to the justice 
permanent secretary to investigate two judges believed to have received 
a share of the bribe money.

If found guilty, the justice minister can order their dismissal.

The source said by law the judges cannot resign to dodge the probe, and 
must wait until the investigation has been completed.

Boundary talks test Rangoon's regional resolve

Any territorial loss could prove costly for Chavalit governmet

Nussara Sawatsawang and Supamart Kasem 


Senior Thai and Burmese officials today begin discussions in Rangoon 
that will test how much prospective membership of Asean affects Burma's 
willingness to cooperate with a neighbour and founding member of the 
club.

The three-day meeting will centre on a disputed border area caused by 
heavy flooding in 1994 which changed the course of the Moei River, and 
Burma's new plan to reclaim land it lost by dredging an adjacent area.

Thai officials have also prepared to discuss the maintenance of boundary 
stakes fixed in the Sai and Ruak rivers further north.

The disputed area near Wat Khok Chang Puek is part of a 2,400-kilometre, 
largely undemarcated border that the two countries share. It is the 
fifth disputed area along the border, in addition to what Thailand 
claims to be in Doi Lang in Chiang Mai, Three Pagodas Pass in 
Kanchanaburi, the Pak Chan River in Ranong and Hill 491 in Chumporn.

Legal affairs specialists will lead the talks, the first negotiation of 
a boundary problem between the two countries since the May 31 decision 
by foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to 
admit Burma, Cambodia and Laos into the fold next month. Brunei, 
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam 
are current Asean members.

Somboon Sa-Ngiambutr, director general of the Thai foreign ministry's 
treaties and legal affairs department, and his Burmese counterpart Aye 
Lwin, will co-chair the first meeting of the Thai-Burmese Joint Boundary 
Committee since 1995. The results will be submitted to a ministerial 
conference to be held at a later date.

The meeting of senior officials "will test Burma's foreign policy which 
so far has given priority to security concerns", said a Thai foreign 
ministry official, who asked not to be named.

Burma's stance will show how much Rangoon has been affected by its 
failure to settle the dispute by force in late May, sources noted.

Thai and Burmese troops almost clashed on the border after local 
villagers protested Burmese dredging of the river. The disputed area 
measures about 150 rai. The row stems from siltation since the floods in 
1994 which has connected the plot to Thai soil.

Thailand is hoping that the meeting will come up with a solution that 
will help it deal with potential problems stemming from eight other 
islets created by the river's sudden change of course two years ago.

These islets range from 50 to 300 rai in area, including Mae Mon Kane, 
40 kilometres from Mae Sot, and measuring 300 rai, for which Thailand 
submitted an aide memoire to Rangoon to claim its right to ownership.

Mapping is a major obstacle, with Burma insisting on use of the 1989 
map, and Thailand insisting on a later document.

Burma claims that Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh gave his consent 
to use 1989 map when Burmese leaders raised the matter during his 
mid-May visit to Rangoon.

In early March, the Burmese used the map to dredge under the 
Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge. To meet Rangoon's demand, Bangkok had to 
dismantle shophouses built on the reclaimed area.

Thailand wants to use the map that is "most appropriate" to conditions 
pertaining in the area before the floods in 1994, Mr Somboon said. The 
1989 map is too old, because the river's course changes every year, he 
said.

Burma's new dredging plan threatens to enlarge the disputed area "by 
several times" and Bangkok will not allow any dredging of Thai 
territory, he emphasised.

Territorial loss to the country, through dredging by Burma, and to 
individuals who have been issued land ownership documents to some parts 
of Khok Chang Phuek threaten to be politically explosive issues for the 
Chavalit government.

Pointing out that any loss of territory, however small, would be 
unacceptable, former deputy foreign minister Prapas Limpaphan last week 
urged the two countries to opt for joint development of the disputed 
area.

But Rangoon has insisted on reclaiming the area, for economic and 
political reasons, sources noted. The Burmese government has already 
been paid 25 million baht in concession fees by a group of Thai and 
Burmese investors planning to build a resort and casino there, one 
source said.

Failure to settle the Moei River dispute will further delay settlement 
of other boundary problems.

According to a military source, troops are still poised at the 
18-square-kilometre disputed area between Doi Lang and Burma's adjacent 
Shan State despite the agreement in May, between Prime Minister Chavalit 
and his Burmese counterpart Gen Than Shwe, for their withdrawal.

And Burma, which links one issue with another, may well reject 
Thailand's proposal to open the Friendship Bridge in August, officials 
noted.

Postbag

------------------------------------------------------------------------


Printing any letter is not enough...

Referring to an earlier letter, Charlie Brown writes (June 18) that we 
should relegate history to the books and focus only on the present, 
specifically in relation to the current villains of Asia: Burma and 
China. He writes: "Britain, America... lived and acted in situations 
deemed appropriate to them at the time, but are no longer appropriate. 
So let us leave history in the past and concentrate on today..."

That George Easton's informative and perceptive letter (June 17) on the 
hypocrisies of Western states in Asia should be followed by such a 
hastily written letter is truly a disgrace to your newspaper. Britain 
and America did not thrive in some ethically-warped world that has 
suddenly changed to fit the times. Let us not make sterile excuses for 
centuries of illicit occupation. Western imperialism was economic and 
political exploitation at its apex. This was never considered 
appropriate nor ethical by Western governments. It was, however, 
considered economically productive and politically beneficial - a case 
of the powerful overcoming the weak.

But regardless of whether I agree or disagree with Charlie Brown's 
argument, the point is that his letter says absolutely nothing because 
he makes no attempt to even consider the implications of his argument. 
For someone to state "as we all know, history is history", and be able 
to get such a sophomoric phrase printed in a national newspaper is 
distressing. This reflects poor journalism when a newspaper simply 
prints any letter that purports to argue an issue without really saying 
anything. It is a failure of intellectual vision not to use Postbag as a 
forum for intelligent debate, instead of vapid commentary that because 
of intellectual hollowness simply irritates and, at times, infuriates.

Erik Kuhonta

The Nation
Asean foreign ministers to gather in HK 



The Nation 

THE seven foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian 
Nations (Asean) will meet tomorrow to discuss and finalise preparations 
for the admission of Burma, Cambodia and Laos to the grouping in July. 

The luncheon meeting, to be hosted by Malaysian Foreign Minister 
Abdullah Badawi, will take place in Hong Kong, where the foreign 
ministers have gathered for tonight's ceremony to return the British 
colony to China. 

Despite strong opposition from the West and Burmese democratic activists 
to Burma's membership, Asean's foreign ministers agreed in late May to 
admit the three countries during their annual ministerial meeting in 
July. 

They also agreed to hold a final meeting in Hong Kong to evaluate the 
progress made by the three countries towards Asean membership, and to 
discuss the last stages of preparation before actual admission. 

The Asean foreign ministers will hold an official ceremony to welcome 
the three countries on July 23, one day ahead of the annual meeting. As 
full members, foreign ministers of Burma, Cambodia and Laos will attend 
the two-day meeting on July 24 and 25 and the Asean Regional Forum on 
July 27. 

The 10 Asean ministers will subsequently meet their 10 dialogue partners 
on July 28 and 29 in a gathering known as the Post Ministerial 
Conference. Asean dialogue partners include Western countries such as 
the United States and the European Union, which have been the strongest 
critics of the Burmese junta's widespread human rights abuses and 
suppression of the democratic movement. 

Both the United States and the European Union have said that their 
relations with Asean countries could sour as a result of the admission 
of Burma while it is under the current military regime. 

Apart from bilateral dialogue with existing members, foreign ministers 
of the three new members will have talks with representatives of the UN 
Development Programme to discuss fresh assistance for their smooth and 
quick integration into the grouping, particularly their implementation 
of the Asean Free Trade Area requirements. 

Foreign Minister Prachuab Chaiyasan will attend a series of meetings in 
Hong Kong today, including talks with Nepalese Foreign Minister Kamal 
Thapa at 3 pm. 

Prachuab will accompany HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who will 
represent Thailand at the handover ceremony. In addition to a farewell 
party for British Governor Chris Patten this evening, the princess will 
attend a grand reception at the new Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition 
Centre which will include a 22-minute firework display over Victoria 
Harbour. 

Later the British government will host a banquet for 4,000 local, 
Chinese and foreign invited dignitaries and state guests, before the 
handover ceremony starts at 11.30 pm (10.30 pm Bangkok time). 

Prince Charles will deliver a farewell speech at 11.50 pm and the 
lowering of the British flag will take place shortly afterwards. The 
Chinese flag will then be hoisted and Chinese President Jiang Zemin will 
deliver a speech on the return of Hong Kong to China. 

The British delegation will leave the Hong Kong Convention and 
Exhibition Centre and Prince Charles and Patten will board the Royal 
Yacht Britannia which will then depart Hong Kong. 

A swearing-in ceremony for the new Hong Kong administration will take 
place at 1.30 am.


"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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