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BKK Post, March 19, 1998. Editorial
- Subject: BKK Post, March 19, 1998. Editorial
- From: burma@xxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 03:04:00
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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