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NOTICE !! - Thailand wants Myanmar



Subject: NOTICE !! - Thailand wants Myanmar students out of country after hostage crisis

DVB - October 6, 1999

Thailand wants Myanmar students out of country after hostage crisis

    BANGKOK, Oct 6 (AFP) - Thailand said Wednesday it planned to round
up
exiled Myanmar students and send them to a third country, after five
student gunmen took almost 40 people hostage at Yangon's embassy here. 
In
the wake of the 25-hour hostage crisis, which ended with the gunmen
fleeing
Bangkok by helicopter Saturday, Thai authorities met to discuss ways to
prevent more international terrorism on Thai soil. The National Security
Council (NSC) said it would round up exiled students inside Thailand,
check
their status, and prosecute those found to have entered the country
illegally. All students would then be transferred to the Maneeloy
holding
centre near the Thai-Myanmar Border, and the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) would be asked to quickly transfer
them
to a third country.

    "We will consult with the UNHCR to send an estimated 2,800 Myanmar
students to another country," Khachadpai Burusapatana, NSC
secretary-general told reporters after the meeting top security
agencies.

    The UNHCR said it had not been informed of the move yet but would
continue to apply long-standing policies on resettlement.
    "In accordance with established practice we will continue to promote
resettlement of those refugees who qualify for third country
resettlement,"
a UNHCR spokesman said.

    Interior ministry spokesman Veerachai Naewboonian said students who
were not accepted by a third country would be repatriated to
Myanmar.  Veerachai said Thailand had already moved to ensure students
were
confined to the Maneeloy holding centre in Ratchburi province.

    "Authorities will step up rules and regulations at the Maneeloy
holding
centre," Veerachai said.
    Despite the crackdown on exiled students, Bangkok denied claims by
Yangon that refugee camps inside Thailand were being used as terrorist
bases.
    "On this issue Thailand has a clear cut policy that we will not
allow
any groups of terrorists to operate against neigbouring countries from
inside our country," Khachadpai said.

    He said Thailand's policy of sheltering 100,000 refugees along the
Thai-Myanmar border would remain unchanged, but all illegal Myanmar
workers
would be repatriated.

    "We have extended permission for 80,000 to 90,000 Myanmar workers,
but
those who are not granted an extension will be prosecuted for violating
immigration laws," he said. In addition, Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai
has
instructed police to tighten security at 65 embassies and 10 consulates
in
Bangkok. Thai Special Branch Police deputy commissioner Major General
Yothin Matthayanun said his agency would focus on improving security for
diplomatic missions of neighbouring countries and nations embroiled in
political disputes, such as Indonesia.