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BKK Post, March 19, 1998. Editorial



March 19, 1998. Editorial

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Trouble with the neighbours

If the State Peace and Development Council, which postures as the 
legitimate government of Burma, is grateful at being admitted to the 
regional family, it has a strange way of showing it. If, by its actions 
on our north-western border, the successor to the State Law and Order 
Restoration Council is demonstrating what sort of contribution it can 
make to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, then we have 
problems. 

The latest exchanges between Asean's newest recruit and its immediate 
neighbour to the east have involved munitions rather than legal commerce 
or expressions of amity and co-operation. No diplomatic or cultural 
niceties here. Instead, intrusions and cross-border mortar attacks by 
Burmese government forces along with their Democratic Karen Buddhist 
Army allies that have provoked Thai security forces to shell their 
jungle bases. 

The fruits of the policy of constructive engagement championed with such 
vigour by members of Asean have so far been bitter from the Thai 
perspective. Before the despotic xenophobes in Rangoon were admitted to 
the club, their supporters pushed the line that it was better to have 
them in the club than out of it. The junta that has and continues to 
force itself on a cowed and impoverished people would moderate its 
behaviour in such august company, or so they thought.

Events have shown such optimism to be misplaced, as Karen refugees from 
Rangoon's excesses have been finding to their cost. In recent attacks, 
four Karen refugees have been killed and 9,000 made destitute when their 
homes were put to the torch by Rangoon troops and their Karen proxies in 
raids deep into Thai territory. Retaliatory shelling by Thai forces 
defending Thai territory has upped the stakes and left the refugees even 
more fearful. 

Rangoon is given to insisting that it has no control over the Karen 
renegades: they just happen to be able to operate with impunity and 
impressive weaponry against the likes of the Karen Nation Union, which 
just happens to be a foe of the dictators. Over the years, the junta and 
its forces have taken control over much of the border with Thailand, 
enough to give them a good idea of who is doing what, and any claims to 
the contrary are unconvincing.

The retaliatory shelling is likely to be counter-productive and will see 
the return of the renegade Karen and their allies to harass the refugees 
that Rangoon says it wants to welcome home. Indeed, the refugees have 
started digging bunkers and making what preparations they can to protect 
themselves when Rangoon assigns its renegade proxies to deliver the next 
invitation to come home. If the invitation is delivered in the form of 
mortar rounds, bullets, blows and fire, a reluctance on the part of the 
Karen to return is more than understandable. 

Attacks on civilian refugees are beyond the pale in any civilised 
society, as are military operations beyond national borders. Hostilities 
along Thailand's border with Burma cannot be allowed to continue, and it 
is in this respect that the regional grouping, which has embraced 
Rangoon, should use its good offices to bring to an end family discord.

Any such effort, however, may take the argument back to square one 
because the problem is that what Rangoon wants, Rangoon must get or 
there will be hell to pay. More specifically, Asean could face the task 
of seeking to impose its will on a regime that is a law unto itself and 
tramples on the aspirations and will of its own people. 

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