Face-off on Burmese refugees : THAI-UK RELATIONS
Thailand's foreign minister, in London on an official two-day visit, is likely to hear some harsh words from his hosts on Thailand's attitude towards Burmese refugees.
The Bangkokpost
LARRY JAGAN
Foreign Minister Surakiat Sathirathai will later today meet his British counterpart, Jack Straw, and Burma is expected to feature prominently in talks, which will also focus on the international fight against terrorism, the battle against drugs and the problems of the world economy.
The United Kingdom wants to discuss several concerns about Thai policy towards Burma with the Thai foreign minister, according to government officials.The main issue of contention at the moment is Thailand's treatment of potential asylum seekers.
In November, the Thai authorities forcibly repatriated 63 ethnic Karen asylum seekers, which was done against the advice of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
``The refugees are now in hiding across the border in Burma, along with another 600 Karen villagers and fear for their lives,'' say aid workers along the Thai-Burma border.
The UK, along with the rest of the European Union, the United States and Canada, have officially protested twice to the Thai government over the forced repatriation, urged them to allow the villagers to cross the border into temporary safety while their refugee status is determined by the UNHCR.
The Thai government has continually rejected the European concerns and insist that the villagers are not in danger. Aid workers who work in the refugee camps say the Karen are in fact in an area where there has been intermittent fierce fighting for more than two months, largely between two breakaway Mon rebel groups.The government is backing the assessment of the local military commanders and refuses to reconsider the case. The army insists the area is safe.
``They're in the safest possible area,'' said Kachadpai Burusapatana, secretary-general of the National Security Council.Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra reiterated the government's stand on the refugees when he briefed heads of diplomatic missions recently.
At least one European ambassador believes the EU must continue to vigorously press the Thai government on this case.There is even talk of the European Council adopting a motion criticising Thailand's policy.
``The Thai government must realise that the EU is not criticising Thailand's humanitarian record,'' said one diplomat.``They have been very generous with refugees from Cambodia and Laos, as well as Burma. But they must ensure that international standards of treatment are maintained in every case.''
In the meantime, the British foreign minister will be raising the issue directly with Mr Surakiat.According to government officials, Ben Bradshaw, the junior foreign office minister, was briefed thoroughly on the issue when he visited Thailand last month, and believes the UK must take a firm stand on it.
London also wants to ensure that Thailand understands the European position on how the political process in Burma can be best encouraged as well as the situation of Burmese refugees and illegal migrants in Thailand.
The dialogue process, as the talks between the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese generals is known, is entering a critical stage. The UN special rapporteur for human rights, Paulo Sergio Pinherio, will visit Burma in a fortnight's time, followed by the UN secretary-general's envoy, Razali Ismail. Then, in mid-March, the EU troika will also visit Rangoon.The issue which preoccupies everyone is how to speed up this process, and support the work of the UN envoy in particular.
Rangoon is desperate to get more aid and the opposition leader has agreed in principle to the resumption of ``limited humanitarian aid''.
However, the EU believes this should only be forthcoming once there is significant political progress in Rangoon. The fear is that some countries Japan and Thailand have been too eager with their offers of financial support.
``The UK will be trying to impress on Mr Surakiat that the international community must keep in step on Burma,'' said a government official.``What must be avoided at all costs is a situation where Rangoon is given a chance to play one country off against another.''
The author is Southeast Asia analyst for the BBC, and is currently based in Bangkok.