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Reuters-FOCUS-Thailand hopes for re



Reply-To: "TIN KYI" <tinkyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Reuters-FOCUS-Thailand hopes for release of 24 in Myanmar 

FOCUS-Thailand hopes for release of 24 in Myanmar
07:21 a.m. Oct 26, 1999 Eastern
BANGKOK, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Thailand said on Tuesday it was hoping for the
early release of 24 of its nationals detained in Myanmar last week for
illegal gambling after Yangon closed the border between the countries.

The arrest of the 24 Thais and seven Myanmar nationals opposite the Thai
province of Ranong on Friday came amid a period of strained relations caused
by Thailand's handling of a siege at Yangon's embassy in Bangkok early this
month.

Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Don Pramudwinai said a ministry official saw
an official of the Myanmar embassy on Tuesday to inquire about the incident.

``They said they would come back with a response. We also heard from our
sources that the matter is unfolding and that it is likely that in a day or
two they will all be released by the authorities of Myanmar.

``We are hopeful that the matter will be soon resolved. We asked them to
look into the matter so that the whole thing would be soon resolved. But we
did not specifically say that they had to be released at any given time,''
he told Reuters.

Myanmar's military government said on Sunday the Thais were detained for
breaching Myanmar's gaming act and the incident had nothing to do with the
October 1-2 embassy incident, in which five dissidents held 89 people
hostage for 25 hours.

Tuesday's Bangkok Post quoted a source on the border as saying the group was
expected to be released within two days after paying a 40,000 baht ($1,000)
fine each for illegal entry.

A spokesman for the Myanmar government told Reuters on Tuesday the incident
was being dealt with according to Myanmar law and accused the Thai media of
``politicising'' the incident, something that ``can only create
misunderstanding between the two countries.''

Myanmar closed its 2,400 km (1,464 miles) border with Thailand after the
embassy attack, angered that the Thai authorities allowed the dissidents
free passage to a safe border area when they released all the hostages
unharmed.

Yangon was particularly annoyed when Thai Interior Minister Sanan
Kachornprasart said the attackers were not terrorists but people fighting
for democracy.

Yangon says Thailand should arrest the attackers but Don said they were now
thought to be on the Myanmar side of the border.

He said the border closure had been damaging to traders and Thai fishermen
who were no longer able to fish in Myanmar waters.