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BKK Post (12-10-99)Chuan asks junta

Subject: BKK Post (12-10-99)Chuan asks junta to normalise ties

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<font size=5><b>Chuan asks junta to normalise ties<br>
</font><font size=4><i>Thanks Than Shwe for co-operation<br>
<br>
</font></i><font size=3>Post Reporters<br>
</font><font size=5>P</font></b><font size=3>rime Minister Chuan Leekpai
yesterday wrote to his Burmese counterpart expressing hope the two
countries would resume normal activities soon and develop closer
ties.<br>
Mr Chuan also supported a planned trip to Rangoon by Agriculture and
Co-operatives Minister Pongpol Adireksarn to request Burma to reopen its
waters to Thai fishermen.<br>
In his letter to Gen Than Shwe, the prime minister thanked Rangoon for
helping to bring a successful end to the siege at the Burmese embassy
here, and pointed to the constant contact between Thai and Burmese
authorities then as evidence of close co-operation between the two
countries.<br>
Mr Chuan expressed hope that Thai-Burmese relations would
&quot;progress&quot; according to the path he discussed with Gen Than
Shwe in Chiang Rai in March, according to Don Pramudwinai, the Foreign
Ministry spokesman.<br>
At that meeting, the two prime ministers endorsed plans for joint patrols
in the Andaman Sea as well as co-operation against drug 
trafficking.<br>
Burma banned Thai fishermen from its waters and closed checkpoints along
the land border with Thailand after five Burmese dissident students
seized the Burmese embassy on Oct 1.<br>
Speaking to reporters, Mr Chuan said he hoped talks between Mr Pongpol
and his Burmese counterpart would restore mutual understanding.<br>
The prime minister noted that Burma also stood to gain from Thai fishing
operations in Burmese waters and that a ban on this activity meant a loss
of benefits for both sides.<br>
Moreover, an extended ban would force Thai fishermen to turn to Indian or
Indonesian waters as they could not stay idle for a long time, said the
premier.<br>
However, Thai fishermen should not defy the ban as this would make
matters worse, Mr Chuan added.<br>
Fishermen comprised most of the 63 Thai prisoners Burma released last
month. Burma yesterday announced plans to release five more Thai
prisoners, including four fishermen, and a traveller without proper
documents.<br>
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan has contacted his Burmese
counterpart to try to reach an understanding with the Burmese
government.<br>
However, Mr Chuan said he had yet to be informed of the outcome.<br>
The premier noted there has been no critical change to the general
policies between both countries and that it was normal for the two sides
to face some problems sometimes.<br>
He also said Thailand would not take any retaliatory action against the
Burmese statement in Washington criticising Thailand for the embassy
siege, or the Burmese military reinforcement opposite Ratchaburi
province.</font>
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