Thailand's Burma plan receives mixed response from analysts

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Achara Ashayagachat
Thailand's proposal for international talks to solve Burma's problems received a mixed reaction from global affairs analysts recently.
Former United Nations ambassador Asda Jayanama said the idea raised on Monday by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont in talks with UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari offered nothing new. It was already part of the UN approach to get regional players to the table. The proposal was just the government's attempt to muddle through the problem.
Under the proposal, Asean members including Burma, as well as China, India and the UN, would hold a meeting on the political crisis in Burma.
However, Chulalongkorn University security analyst Panitan Wattanayagorn sympathised with the premier, saying Thailand had to be cautious in its stance towards Burma amid suspicions about Thai intentions in both Rangoon and the international community.
''It is understandable that the government has to calibrate its position not to be too soft or too harsh on Burma.
''After all, Burma sees Thailand as the gateway for Western influence and does not trust Thailand. They stand ready to shut the border and retaliate against us on energy, labour and border trade matters,'' he said.
On the other hand, there is also suspicion in the international community that Thailand is too lenient with Burma and benefits from a military regime being in Rangoon, he said.
Burma expert Pornpimon Trichot said Thailand alone could not act against Burma and the country had to push for action within Asean.
Ms Pornpimon said she was disappointed with how the Foreign Ministry was dealing with matters that involved Burma. Both the ministry and Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram should be ''more attentive and responsive to a neighbouring country's issues'', she said.
''What's disappointing is that political parties, especially the Democrats, have yet to spell out how they will advocate for Burmese democracy when they become the next government,'' she said.
Meanwhile, unrest inside Burma has not resulted in a flood of Burmese fleeing across the border, as happened following the brutal military crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 1988.
A source with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said yesterday that only about 20 people had crossed the border into Thailand to seek asylum from the UN.
''Burmese troops are everywhere. They can have a good grip on people's mobility. It is not as easy to cross the border as it was in the old days,'' the source said.

— thebangkokpost.com