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<b>Junta paper takes a swipe at Thailand<br>
<i>Commentary blasts repatriation polic<font size=2>y<br>
</i>T</font></b><font size=3>hailand has come under fierce attack for its
handling of the repatriation of illegal workers in a commentary in an
official Burmese newspaper.<br>
Without identifying its neighbour and fellow Asean member, Kyemon said:
"If they respected the sovereignty of their own country and their
neighbour, there would not be any problem concerning illegal
workers."The article, attributed to an advocate, appeared as senior
immigration officials from Asean gathered in Rangoon for an annual
conference.<br>
It referred only to the "other country" but was clearly
directed at Thailand, whose relations with Burma have been strained since
armed dissidents took over Rangoon's embassy in Bangkok on Oct 1-2.<br>
"These problems will remain as a never-ending story as long as the
other country does not mend its ways," it warned.<br>
Thailand restarted a policy of repatriating 600,000 illegal Burmese
workers after its neighbour shut its border to trade in protest at the
embassy attack. Rangoon re-opened the border on Nov 24 after an
eight-week closure, but relations remain edgy.<br>
The commentary said the workers had left Burma illegally and were working
in Thailand illegally. "It shows complete lack of due consideration
to ask Myanmar [Burma] to legally accept Myanmar [Burmese] citizens after
having had them work secretly and illegally."The commentary also
complained Thailand had allowed armed opponents of the government to
remain in a border buffer zone since Burma's independence in 1948 and let
refugees stay who were not real asylum-seekers but insurgents who had
escaped with their families.<br>
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