The Nation-Burma to consider detain

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The Nation
August 14, 1998
Burma to consider detained pro-democracy activists as group

FOREIGN Minister Surin Pitsuwan on Thursday defended Thailand's move in
helping its citizens being held in Burma, saying it had done its best at
the very beginning but did not wish to interfere in the neighbouring
country's internal affairs. 

Surin said he had spoken to his Burmese counterpart, U Ong Gyaw, seeking a
possibility that the three Thai citizens be separated from other foreign
activists so that their cases can be solved at the earliest. 

''I have requested Burma to separate the Thais from the group because some
activists have refused to cooperate prolonging the questioning process,''
he said. 

However, he quoted Ong Gyaw as saying that Burma wanted to determine the
case of the activists as a group. The three Thai citizens were among 18
foreign activists arrested on Sunday in Rangoon for handing out leaflets
calling on the Burmese to remember the uprising on Aug 8, 1988. 

Surin said Thailand did not interfere in the affairs of other countries,
adding that the three may have violated Burmese laws. ''Our assessment of
the situation is that [the three Thais] may have broken Burmese law on
possession and distribution of documents without permission,'' the minister
said. 

''Our policy is crystal clear. We oppose interference in the affairs of
other countries, but as a democratic country we also praise and support
anyone who acts in favour of democracy and fights against human rights
abuse,'' he added. 

Surin reiterated that Thailand would await Burma's consideration before
launching any action. 

Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kobsak Chutikul said Burma's junta
had on Thursday reunited the 18 activists and had allowed diplomats more
visits. 

Kobsak said Kusuma Pundermwong, mother of a detainee, Chanakarn, on
Thursday gave the Foreign Ministry thyroid drugs and letters from her and
Chanakarn's friends for her daughter. 

Dutch Ambassador to Bangkok Christina Noppen, scheduled to travel to
Rangoon for a meeting on Thursday, agreed to pass on the drugs to Thai
Ambassador Pensak Chalarak who had requested permission to visit the three
Thais on Friday, Kobsak said. 

Meanwhile, relatives of the Thai detainees on Thursday applied for a visa
to Burma with the hope that they may have an opportunity to meet their kin.


The group included Kusuma and a doctor to medically treat the detainees. 

Hoping to accompany them are a group of academics and journalists. Kobsak
told the reporters that Burma had asked those who wanted to visit the
detainees to clearly identify their relationship. 

Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development and a coalition of 15
non-governmental organisations on Thursday submitted letters to Chuan,
House Speaker Wan Mohammad Noor Matha, opposition leader Gen Chavalit
Yongchaiyudh, chairman of the House committee on Foreign affairs Dr Arthit
Urairat and Surin. 

The letter asked the government to help secure the activists' freedom in
accordance with the UN Convention on Human Rights. They also urged
Thailand, other Asean countries and the international community to pressure
Burma to unconditionally and immediately release the group. 

Apart from the three Thai nationals, six Americans, three Malaysians, three
Indonesians, two Filipinos and an Australian have also been detained. Forum
Asia on Thursday announced that relatives of the Malaysians, Filipinos,
Indonesians, Americans and Australian would travel to Bangkok to join the
protest against the detention of their relatives. 

The Nation