[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

VOA-SKIRMISHES BETWEEN THAI AND BUR



Subject: VOA-SKIRMISHES BETWEEN THAI AND BURMESE FORCES

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)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
 .