Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Wed, 22 Jul 1992 04:35:03 PDT
From:         "Indonesia Publications/Task Force" <apakabar@IGC.APC.ORG>
Subject:      TH: All Border Rebels Disallowed?
X-To:         seasia-l@msu.edu

/* Written 12:05 am  Jul 22, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
/* ---------- "THAILAND: TRYING TO SHED ITS 'BORDE" ---------- */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: THAILAND: TRYING TO SHED ITS 'BORDER BIG BROTHER' IMAGE


an inter press service feature

by yuli ismartono

bangkok, jul 20 (ips) -- for more than a d
zijjpujlthailand tolerated
the activities along its borders of resistance groups fighting the
ruling governments of its neighbouring countries.

but its 10 percent average annual economic growth rate made it
one of south-east asia's 'tigers' in recent years and thailand's
'big brother' image began to look less than benevolent to outsiders.

stung by criticisms of having ulterior political motives in
supporting cambodian, burmese and laotian guerrilla groups, thailand
is now taking pains dispeling its 'happy-to-help' reputation among
the region's rebel groups.

''it is in our interest to promote peace and prosperity,'' said
thai foreign minister arsa sarasin recently, citing bangkok's
backing of laos and vietnam's membership application to the
association of south-east asian nations (asean). ''thailand does not
seek domination over neighbouring countries.''

with the end of the cold war further changing the political order
in the region, bangkok has been trying to mend fences with former
foes laos and cambodia, while maintaining an open door policy with
the closed and secretive government of burma.

but the resistance groups' continued border bustle is causing
thailand diplomatic embarrassment. remnants of laotian insurgent
groups periodically launch attacks against vientiane forces from the
north-eastern areas of thailand.

the khmer rouge, the strongest and most fearsome of three
factions fighting the phnom penh, go in and out of cambodia across
the southern frontier with ease.

on the western side, rebel groups across the burmese border
escape into thai territory each time rangoon troops launch their
military campaigns to flush them out.

as fighting goes on around it, thailand plays reluctant host to
more than half a million refugees who have fled the battlefields
their countries have become, making the set-up more than a political
burden.

concerned over the 1975 communist victories in indochina and
their influence over its own insurgent communist party, thailand did
not object to the rebels setting up jungle bases along its borders
years ago -- sometimes even with the support of its military.

''for national security reasons,'' said a bangkok-based political
analyst, ''the government turned a blind eye on the guerrillas'
operations along its border areas.''  (more/ips)



thailand: trying (2)

the thai military gave considerable support to the anti-phnom
penh resistance -- particularly the khmer rouge -- until the recent
ceasefire in cambodia. ''they justified their actions by pointing
out cambodia was a buffer against possible vietnamese threats,'' the
analyst said.

citing similar reasons, thailand also allowed the minority hmongs
in laos to fight their guerrilla war against vientiane from its
north-eastern borders. but when thailand tried to establish itself
as the financial and commercial gateway to indochina three years
ago, bangkok relations with vientiane improved.

these days, bangkok is not only pushing for thai investments in
laos but is extending aid to fund a number of social and economic
development projects in that country.

thailand is also speeding up the repatriation of thousands of
laotian refugees along the thai-lao border, believed to be
supporters of anti-vientiane groups.

bangkok's most difficult border problems, however, are with
rangoon. it maintains friendly relations with the burmese military
junta but thais support the opposition headed by detained national
league for democracy leader aung san suu kyi.

and seeking refuge in thailand are hundreds of burmese students
who fled the 1988 brutal crackdown by the military and have since
joined forces with rebel groups at the border to form a parallel
government.

bangkok must also face the criticism of western countries, which
accuse rangoon of gross human rights violations and currently
impose an economic embargo on burma.

meanwhile, thailand now says it is plagued by security problems
caused by the presence of guerrilla groups in the border areas.
bandits from cambodia raid thai villages, kidnapping local people
for ransom. gem smugglers from burma and cambodia avoid government
checkpoints with the insurgents' help.

these add to the thais' nagging concern over burmese and laotians
engaged in the heroin and opium traffic from the infamous golden
triangle straddling the borders of laos, burma and thailand.

thailand has also attracted illegal gun runners as a result of
constant warfare across the border. there have been reports
insurgent groups like the sikh separatists in india, the tamil
tigers in sri lanka and the rohingyas of burma get their arms supply
from thailand's border areas. (end/ips/yi/cb/92)
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