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

Burmese hail Thai handling of crisi

Subject: Burmese hail Thai handling of crisis

<html>
<font size=4>Burmese hail Thai handling of crisis <br>
</font><font size=3>BURMESE Foreign Minister U Win Aung yesterday praised
Thailand for bringing the 25-hour hostage crisis at the Burmese embassy
in Bangkok to a peaceful conclusion, but requested more and tighter
security for his embassy to prevent reoccurrences. <br>
Win Aung met Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan after touring the embassy on
Sathorn Road, which is still under tight police guard. The Burmese
minister was en route to Rangoon from the UN General Assembly in New
York. <br>
Accompanying him to the embassy and the meeting with Surin was Burma's
Ambassador in Bangkok, U Hla Maung, who was not in the embassy when the
five gunmen stormed the compound on Friday. <br>
Win Aung told reporters he was happy the saga ended without casualties,
but said such an incident should not happen in Bangkok, the City of
Angels. <br>
He also regretted the intimidation of women and children who were among
the hostages. <br>
The Burmese minister stressed that the five dissidents who took over the
embassy did not have peaceful intentions. ''You know, they came to kill
our ambassador, U Hla Maung,'' he said. <br>
He also said the group came from a camp inside Thailand. <br>
It is up to the Thai government to decide what to do next, Win Aung said.
<br>
The minister also referred to the closing of a Thai-Burma checkpoint
linking Mae Sot district of Tak province with Burma's Myawaddy border
town shortly after the embassy was occupied. <br>
He stressed that the closure was a natural reaction and not meant as
retaliation. It will remain closed while Burma assesses the situation.
<br>
Meanwhile, Surin said that during the meeting, the countries reaffirmed
their excellent relationship. <br>
''Both sides agree that the siege is a good lesson for them and will help
them if other incidents happen,'' the minister said. <br>
Foreign Ministry spokesman Don Pramudwinai said Win Aung paid a courtesy
call on Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai and deputy premier Bhichai Rattakul.
<br>
Don said after the hostages were released on Saturday, Burma's director
general for political affairs, U Nyunt Maung Shein, told Thai Ambassador
to Rangoon Pensak Chalarak of his appreciation for Thailand's handling of
the situation and its peaceful end. <br>
Rangoon also assigned more security for the Thai embassy in Rangoon out
of concern that it could be a target of attack. <br>
Don said although the five students had committed terrorist acts, they
were not terrorists. <br>
''The siege was a terrorist act, but they were Burmese students fighting
for democracy. Considering all the circumstances, we would not call them
terrorists,'' Don said. <br>
He added that although the siege ended peacefully with hostages and
captors being released, nothing can guarantee that Thailand would handle
similar situations this way every time.</font>
<BR>
</html>