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The Nation (18-10-99)THINK THAI: Do

Subject: The Nation (18-10-99)THINK THAI: Dos and don'ts in  Thai-Burmese links

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<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=5><b>Chavalit challenges Chuan
to TV debate<br>
</font></b><font size=3>OPPOSITION leader Chavalit Yongchaiyudh yesterday
challenged Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai to a one-on-one television debate
over their two parties' policy platforms. <br>
''I wonder if Prime Minister Chuan is brave enough,'' Chavalit said,
adding that new year would be a suitable time for the debate. <br>
Chavalit, leader of the New Aspiration Party (NAP), said the reason why
he called for a television debate was that he did not want verbal
exchanges between the NAP and Chuan's Democrat Party to go on. <br>
''We are all grown-ups,'' he said. <br>
The ex-premier was speaking after presiding over the opening of the
office of the Federation of Northeasterners in Bangkok on Chaeng Wattana
Road. <br>
Government spokesman Akrapol Sorasuchart, a Democrat MP, said yesterday
Chuan would not try to avoid a debate with Chavalit. <br>
But, when asked if Chuan would be ready to face up to Chavalit, Akrapol
said lightheartedly that the two had to meet each other during
parliamentary meetings ''but Chavalit hasn't attended meetings
regularly''. <br>
In Trang, Chuan's constituency, the NAP held a seminar yesterday on the
outlook of the Thai economy, with the focus on rubber, a key
revenue-earner of the South. <br>
NAP secretary-general Chaturon Chaisaeng, deputy leader Veera Musigapong
and deputy party spokesman Kamol Bandaipetch spoke as part of a
discussion panel. The seminar, held at a local hotel, was attended by
about 1,000 people. <br>
Chaturon said the government's policy of price intervention to help
rubber farmers had proved futile, adding that the subsidies benefitted
only a small group of people with connections to politicians. <br>
He also attacked other government policies for the region, such as
tourism and trade with neighbouring countries which he described as
''failures''. <br>
The Nation<br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times">====================================
<br>
</font><font size=5><b>THINK THAI: Dos and don'ts in Thai-Burmese
links<br>
</font></b><font size=3>DON'T send former army chief Gen Chetta Thanajaro
to Rangoon for talks with the military junta leaders, because he is so
close to them he might cut his own deal. <br>
Do inform the Burmese intelligence service during the next hostage-taking
so that its officials in Thailand can inform the parties concerned
promptly. <br>
Don't allow Deputy Foreign Minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra to be a
hostage, because the die-hard students were soft on him. Please ask
opposition leader Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh: the students can take
appropriate measures during a bumpy helicopter ride. <br>
Do send a young Thai ambassador who grew up during the Oct 14, 1973,
bloodshed to Rangoon in the future as he could promote people-to-people
dialogue so that he can perform his duty. <br>
Don't let Burma blackmail Thailand again: ask the junta leaders to send a
list of their demands early so that suitable interest groups and
businessmen can respond with cash. <br>
Do tell our Chinese friends as a matter of urgency that any Chinese-made
ammunition and guns and other show-off artillery pieces and
surface-to-air missiles on the Burmese side of the border may harm Thai
soldiers, something which Thailand does not want to see as our countries
are preparing for the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic
relations. <br>
Do persuade Asean members that as chairman of Asean this year Thailand
should be able to draw up provisions to suspend the membership if any
member behaves in a totalitarian manner and disregards the Asean spirit.
<br>
Don't get close to Burmese fishing trawlers in the Andaman Sea, because
of late these folks are not genuine: they bear an uncanny resemblance to
soldiers. <br>
Do make sure the Thai government sends baskets of durians to the doves
within the Burmese army as their positions are in jeopardy. <br>
Don't let Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sanan Kachornprasat
handle the next siege, because he has developed ''Stockholm Syndrome''
and could give potential troublemakers permanent residence. <br>
Do review Thailand's policy towards Burma, because there has been
increased coordination among concerned authorities, especially the
Foreign Ministry and the Thai army and local officials. <br>
Don't shut down the Thai border, because the five fleeing students might
not be able to make it to one of the Western embassies and ask for
asylum. <br>
Do send a message to the Karen National Union that the military junta
leaders are likely to take their frustration out on them during the
upcoming dry season. <br>
Don't evict the estimated 100,000 Burmese refugees along the Thai-Burmese
border, because the UN High Commissioner for Refugees cannot get
permission to cross the border or criticise the junta. <br>
Do pay the phone bill for the hot line between the Bangkok and Rangoon
foreign ministries as communications have not run smoothly of late. 
<br>
Don't use the Swat teams from the Royal Thai Police in any future embassy
siege: use Burmese sharpshooters instead as they can identify the
students better. <br>
Do applaud Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai for his consistency in refusing
to visit Burma because the junta refuses to allow him to see opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi. <br>
Don't allow any personel of Doctors Without Borders (Medicins Sans
Frontieres), the latest Nobel Peace prize winner, to go too close to the
Thai-Burmese border, because it is too dangerous. <br>
Do praise the interpreter of Burmese Ambassador U Hla Maung for his
ambivalent translation that attracted headlines in all Thai newspapers.
<br>
Don't build the proposed dam on the Salween River, because Thailand will
be too dependent on Burma for future energy use. <br>
Do promote Bangladesh-India-Myanmar-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic
Cooperation (Bimstec), because Burma has pledged to promote academic
exchanges even though all universities are shut down. <br>
Do increase the number of scholarships to Burmese students who have good
connections with the State Peace and Development Council so that they can
study in Thailand and be reunited with their old classmates. <br>
Don't register Thai trawlers with Burmese names. <br>
Do rename ''enhanced interaction'', the old name for the
flexible-engagement policy, ''enhanced fishing cooperation''. <br>
Don't fan growing Thai nationalism against Burma as Thailand does not
want to fight a 52nd war (44 of which occurred during Ayudhya and
Thonburi periods). <br>
Do let all the editors in Bangkok know that Burma has been holding the 46
million Burmese hostages since 1988 as they have failed to mention it in
their recent analyses. <br>
BY KAVI CHONGKITTAVORN <br>
The Nation<br>
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