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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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