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History repeats itself...(Palestini
- Subject: History repeats itself...(Palestini
- From: galon99@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 02 Oct 1999 16:23:00
Subject: History repeats itself...(Palestinians and Burmese)
BURMESE EMBASSY SIEGE
History repeats itself
Hostage crisis echoes Israeli embassy raidThe Burmese embassy crisis
is a flashback to the 1972 hostage drama at the Israeli embassy engineered
by the Black September Ali Taha terrorist group.Four Palestinian guerrillas
stormed the embassy in Soi Lang Suan, off Ploenchit road, on Dec 28 and held
six Israelis hostage including the then-Israeli ambassador to Cambodia.The
terrorists threatened to shoot the hostages and blow up the embassy if their
demand for the release of 36 Palestinians held in Israeli jails went
unheeded. Police and army soldiers cordoned off the embassy while senior
government officials led by Brig-Gen Chatichai Choonhavan, then deputy
foreign minister, and ACM Dawee Chullasapaya, then chief-of-staff of the
Supreme Command, tried to negotiate with the terrorists.
Witnesses saw the four terrorists step out of a taxi and walk about
in front of the embassy for a while before dashing to the front door of the
building and smashing a glass panel to gain access to the compound at
11.30am.Brig-Gen Chatichai managed to establish dialogue with the terrorists
but was held back from entering the embassy building for fear he might end
up another hostage.Police set up their operation command centre in the
deserted Mater Dei Convent across from the embassy. They were later joined
by a unit of paratroopers and riot police.The Mater Dei centre soon became a
meeting point of top officials. The then Israeli ambassador, Rehavem Amir,
travelled back and forth between his residence and the command centre where
he was frequently seen conferring with the Egyptian ambassador and top Thai
cabinet members.After lengthy talks with the terrorists, ACM Dawee announced
that they were ready to free the hostages provided their safe passage from
Thailand was guaranteed.
A breakthrough came when the terrorists agreed to exchange the
hostages with 10 Thai officials to guarantee their safe getaway.The
terrorists chose to go to Cairo. A number of airlines were approached and
Thai Airways International was eventually assigned to fly them to the
Egyptian capital.
The 18-hour drama ended with all the hostages being released
unharmed. The terrorists were flown to Cairo along with the officials who
volunteered to be their new hostages including Brig-Gen Chatichai, ACM Dawee
and Egyptian Ambassador Moustafa el-Assawy.ACM Dawee later said in Cairo his
appeals to the terrorists on behalf of His Majesty the King had saved the
Israeli hostages from almost certain death.The embassy seizure coincided
with one of Thailand's most auspicious days when HRH Prince Vajiralongkorn
was bestowed his title crown. The terrorists later said their willingness to
compromise with Thai authorities stemmed purely from the fact they had
chosen the wrong day to strike.The terrorists added they hoped their release
of the hostages would demonstrate their goodwill towards Thai people.After
the crisis was over, Thailand was showered with words of praise, especially
from the then-Israeli ambassador who lauded Thai authorities for "remaining
so cool and well-organised during those difficult hours".Golda Meir, then
Israeli prime minister, said the Thai government's action in securing the
release of the hostages should serve as a model for other governments faced
with similar circumstances.
© Copyright The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 1999Last Modified: Sat, Oct
2, 1999For comments and letters to the editor see : notesComments to:
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