BURMA/THAILAND

[jhtinzaw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=1/20/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244401
TITLE=THAILAND-BURMA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A RECENT CLASH BETWEEN THAI AND BURMESE NAVY SHIPS HAS 
GIVEN FRESH IMPETUS TO PROPOSALS FOR NEW CONFIDENCE-BUILDING 
ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN THE TWO NEIGHBORS.  AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT 
GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM BANGKOK, SKIRMISHES BETWEEN THAI AND 
BURMESE FORCES HAVE BECOME MORE COMMONPLACE. 

TEXT:  THAILAND HAS REITERATED ITS CALL FOR JOINT NAVAL PATROLS 
AND HAS PROPOSED SETTING UP A DIRECT COMMUNICATION LINK, SUCH AS 
A HOT LINE, BETWEEN THAI AND BURMESE OFFICIALS.  THAI SPOKESMEN 
SAY THE PROPOSALS WERE CONVEYED TUESDAY IN A MEETING BETWEEN THAI
OFFICIALS AND BURMA'S AMBASSADOR TO THAILAND.

THE RESPONSE OF THE BURMESE SIDE IS  NOT  KNOWN.  HOWEVER, A THAI
STATEMENT SAYS THAILAND HAS SUGGESTED THE PROPOSALS BE DISCUSSED 
IN DEPTH AT THE NEXT MEETING IN MARCH OF THE JOINT BORDER FISHERY
COORDINATION CENTER.

THE PROPOSALS GOT NEW LIFE FOLLOWING SEVERAL SKIRMISHES AT SEA 
BETWEEN THAI AND BURMESE NAVAL VESSELS.  THE INCIDENTS HAVE 
USUALLY ARISEN OUT OF THE PRESENCE OF FISHING TRAWLERS IN 
DISPUTED WATERS OF THE ANDAMAN SEA.

IN THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT ON JANUARY 12TH, THAI AND BURMESE 
FISHING BOATS BEGAN FIRING ON EACH OTHER, AND PATROL BOATS JOINED
IN.  BURMA SAYS FOUR OF ITS NAVAL OFFICERS WERE KILLED, BUT THAT 
HAS NOT BEEN INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRMED.  BOTH THAILAND AND BURMA 
EACH SAY THEIR BOATS WERE WITHIN THEIR NATIONS' OWN TERRITORIAL 
WATERS.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, TWO THAI NAVAL OFFICERS WERE KILLED IN A 
SIMILAR SKIRMISH AT SEA.

                         // REST OPT //

SUCH FLARE-UPS BETWEEN THAILAND AND BURMA HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH
INCREASING FREQUENCY ON LAND AS WELL AS AT SEA.

THOUSANDS OF PRIMARILY ETHNIC MINORITY BURMESE HAVE TAKEN REFUGE 
IN THAILAND TO ESCAPE FIGHTING BETWEEN BURMESE TROOPS AND ETHNIC 
INSURGENTS.  MOST LIVE IN CAMPS ON OR NEAR THE BORDER IN NORTHERN
THAILAND.  THAILAND HAS PROTESTED TO BURMA OVER INCURSIONS ONTO 
THAI SOIL BY BURMESE TROOPS PURSUING THE REBELS.  ARMED MILITIA 
GROUPS ALLIED WITH BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAVE ALSO CROSSED 
THE BORDER TO BURN REFUGEE CAMPS AND INTIMIDATE THE REFUGEES INTO
RETURNING TO BURMA.

A REPORT IN THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE BANGKOK POST NEWSPAPER WEDNESDAY
SAYS A BURMESE SOLDIER ARRESTED SUNDAY HAS CONFESSED TO 
ESPIONAGE.  ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THE SOLDIER WAS SENT TO 
THAILAND TO GATHER INTELLIGENCE ON THAI-BASED ETHNIC BURMESE 
RESISTANCE GROUPS AND ACTIVITY IN THE REFUGEE CAMPS.  (SIGNED)

NEB/GPT/FC/JO

20-Jan-99 5:11 AM EST (1011 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
 .