From: ssg9328@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Samart Srijumnong)
Subject: Govt may review logging policy (fwd Dec 12 Bkk Post)
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 17:48:54 GMT
Keywords: Thailand


From kamol@ipied.tu.ac.th Fri Dec 11 21:02:02 1992
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Date: Fri, 11 Dec 92 23:04:52+0700
From: Kamol Hengkietisak <kamol@ipied.tu.ac.th>
Message-Id: <9212111604.AA04217@ipied.tu.ac.th>
To: post-thai@ipied.tu.ac.th
Subject: Bangkok Post Dec 12: Govt may review logging policy
Status: R

 
FOR the sake of the environment, the Government must review its 
policy on logging in neighbouring countries, Foreign Minister 
Prasong Soonsiri said yesterday.
 
Thailand must cooperate with Burma, Laos and Cambodia in the 
management of natural resources, Sqn Ldr Prasong said.
 
"We do not want Thai concerns to destroy natural resources (of 
neighboring countries) without regard to the consequences, which 
would make us look like robbers. We want to cooperate on the basis 
of mutual interest and mutual responsibility," he said.
 
Firms engaged in logging have been criticized for destroying the 
natural resources of neighboring countries "because Thailand has 
no more forests for them to destroy," he said.
 
Thailand must try to be a leader of the Indochina region. 
Neighboring countries will cooperate where the environment is 
concerned, he said.
 
At one time his work placed him on opposite sides to the 
Indochinese states, but the situation has changed, he said. Sqn 
Ldr Prasong is a former Secretary-General of the National Security 
Council.
 
"People say a person who has carried out one duty is not able to 
do any other," he said. 
 
"Given such an attitude, nobody could go for a change of position 
at all. At the national level, one must stick to policy. Let's 
wait and see."
 
Sqn Ldr Prasong said Thailand's policy towards Burma will not 
change. It is to continue the relationship "on the basis of 
creative cooperation, mutual understanding and opportunities."
 
Thailand will not support any sanctions or interference in Burma's 
internal affairs.
 
"Thailand is Burma's neighbour and cannot adopt the policy of the 
West on this."
 
On Cambodia, Sqn Ldr Prasong reaffirmed that Thailand will comply 
strictly with UN sanctions against the Khmer Rouge.
 
He said the Government has a duty to protect the interest of 
Thais, but if there is a conflict will place the national interest 
before that of certain groups of businessmen.
 
The national interest is more important as it involves the 
national image and the long-term interests of the majority of the 
people, he said.
 
"Thailand is not an obstacle to the UN resolution. On the 
contrary, we were among the first to support peace in Cambodia and 
we are still doing this, although many nations try to forget the 
part played by Thailand."
 
He said he will discuss with Lt-Gen John Sanderson, the military 
head of the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia, the enforcement 
of UN sanctions.
 
"As long as no clear-cut enforcement plans are laid down, Thailand 
is entitled to alleviate the hardships of Thai businessmen doing 
business in the Khmer Rouge-controlled area," he said.
 
He said Thailand awaits a reply from Cambodia's Supreme National 
Council to its request to allow Thai merchants to take timber 
already felled out of Cambodia.
 
He said the world community has brought into question Thai 
sincerity in its stance on the Khmer Rouge, although Thailand has 
never supported the guerrillas or defied the UN resolution.
 
"Many countries believe that without the revenue that comes from 
trading with Thai merchants, the Khmer Rouge would stop being 
stubborn. But we do not trade only with the Khmer Rouge. We trade 
with all Khmer factions. There is no rule forbidding us from doing 
so," he said.
 
On Bill Clinton's choice of Secretary of State, Sqn Ldr Prasong 
said it will make no difference if the Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs Of Staff, Gen Colin Powell, is appointed. Mr Clinton and 
his Cabinet take office on January 20.
 
Policies will overpower personalities and Gen Powell's becoming 
Secretary of State will not affect Thailand, he said.
 
The American Democrats are likely to concentrate on domestic 
issues, such as debt and economic recovery, and will tend to fight 
trading rivals such as those in the European Community rather than 
a relatively small country like Thailand, he said.