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Thailand on right side



            STAY ON RIGHT SIDE BY NOT GIVING UP

Foreign Minister Surin and his Deputy, Sukhumbhand, must be congratulated
for their correct and courageous stand on Burma. Although Asean has not
endorsed their policy of "flexible engagement", we trust that Thailand will
not be discouraged.
 Their policy is very wise and timely. Burma's Slorc/SPDC
is about to be thrown into dustbin of history.
 The position Thailand and the Philippines have taken is on the right side
of the history. Don't give up this enlightened policy simply because other
members of the Asean are following a bankrupt, outdated and unenlightened,
old policy line.
 Thailand has a loyalty not just to Asean but to the United Nations.
Thailand's policy of"flexible engagement" is fully consistent with the UN
General Assembly's Resolution 52/137 on the situation of human rights in
Burma.
 Both as a concerned neighbour and as a member state of the United Nations,
democratic Thailand is fully justified in calling for serious political
dialogue between Slorc/SPDC and the democratic forces represented 
by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
 Slorc/SPDc has no political legitimacy whatsoever.It is in power through
brute force alone. Daw Suu Kyi on the other hand, represents a political
force that represents the sovereign will of the Burmese people expressed in
free and fair election.   
 There is no moral or political equivalence between Slorc/SPDC and the
NLD/Suu Kyi. It,therefore,is wrong to 
equate the two when calling for restraint by both parties.
 It is Slorc/SPDC that ought to exercise maximum restraint and honour the
will of the people of Burma.The
NLD/Suu Kyi have already proven to be very restrained and
conciliatory.Don't ask more from them.
 Compel Slorc/SPDC to come to its senses and cede power 
without violence. Keep up the pressure, and remain on the right side of
history.
   A concerned friend of Thailand.
 Postbag ( Bangkok Post 7/29/98).