Bangkok Post: THAI-BURMESE BO

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June 5, 1998


                                     



                         THAI-BURMESE BORDER

              Senate panel
              studies disputes

              Bid to settle rows between two nations

              Supamart Kasem 
              Tak

              The Senate Foreign Affairs Committee is searching for
              information about border law violations to find ways to settle
              disputes between Thailand and Burma.

              More than 10 panel members led by committee chairman Gen
              Charan Kullavanijaya visited Mae Sot district on Wednesday to
              seek information about border problems from Tak Governor
              Huekharn Tomornsuek, deputy Third Army commander
              Maj-Gen Itthipol Sirimonthon and others.

              Gen Charan said the move was part of the committee's plan to
              study all border law violation cases in Tak, Mae Hong Son,
              Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai and work out a plan to settle border
              disputes between Thailand and Burma for submission to
              Parliament.

              According to him, all border problems must be cleared through
              negotiations between Thai and Burmese officials at every level,
              and good relations between local authorities can lead to
              cooperation of Bangkok and Rangoon in solving the problems
              and seeking border demarcation.

              Asked if Burma's "misunderstanding" that Thailand has
              supported the Karen National Union is an obstacle to the border
              dispute settlement, Gen Charan said Burma should not claim
              problems of ethnic minority people, its internal affair, as
              conditions in any talks with Thailand, as Thailand has a clear
              policy to better its relations with Burma and not to support
              anti-Rangoon movements.

              According to an informed source, violations of Thai-Burmese
              border regulations include encroachment on some border areas,
              illegal entry of Burmese people into Thailand and the smuggling
              of drugs, war weapons and goods across the border.

              "Burma's landfill and construction of a 500-metre concrete
              embankment in Myawaddy, opposite Ban Rim Moei in Tambon
              Tha Sai Luad, have encroached on the Moei River. And Burma
              is believed to try to claim many islets in the river near the
              Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge as its land," the source said.

              "This is a violation of the 1868 Convention and an agreement
              made at the 9th Regional Thai-Burmese Border Committee
              meeting in 1994. Burma has ignored Thailand's protests against
              this. Until now, construction has continued," the source said. 




                                     




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Last Modified: Fri, Jun 5, 1998