Bilateral Relations To Be Strengthened Between Thailand And Myanmar

[Jai Dee]

Gen. Sonthi will strengthen bilateral relations between Thailand and Myanmar

The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, has travelled to Myanmar to discuss ways to strengthen the bilateral relations between both countries.

Prior to the visit to Myanmar this morning, Gen. Sonthi said he will meet with Senior General Than Shwe, the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council. They will discuss on ways to solve problems along the border areas of both countries and ways to support other constructive developments. Gen. Sonthi insisted that he will not allow the anti-government group in Myanmar to set its military and political base in Thailand.

This is Gen. Sonthi’s first official visit to Myanmar, following his appointment to the post.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 11 September 2006

[Ricardo]

Wonder whether they will also discuss Burma's recent shooting-down of a Thai helicopter, over Thai territory in the NW, for which they first promised compensation, but then reneged on the offer ?

Can there be any country, which the Thai government would find it repugnant, to do business with ?

What hope can there be, of support for a Thai UN Secretary-General bid, when Thailand flouts world opinion so blatantly as to deal with Burma ?

On the other hand, at least they tried to assasinate DL, on his last visit, according to his version.

[Jai Dee]

Myanmar top leader meets Thai army chief

Chairman of the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) Senior-General Than Shwe met with visiting Thai Army Commander-in-Chief General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin in Nay Pyi Taw, the new capital of Myanmar, Monday, the state-run Radio Myanmar reported in a night broadcast.

Than Shwe, who is also Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Service, received the Thai military leader shortly after the latter's arrival earlier on the day at the invitation of Vice Senior-General Maung Aye, SPDC Vice-Chairman and Deputy Commander- in-Chief of the Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Army.

Both sides did not disclose the details about their meeting.

Aimed at enhancing military ties and cooperation between the two neighbors, Sonthi is paying a three-day official visit to Myanmar for the first time since he took up his post.

Before his departure, Sonthi said in Bangkok that he would discuss with Myanmar military leaders on issues of mutual interest including bilateral cooperation in the military sector and addressing of narcotic problems along the two common border as well as seeking the possibility of conducting a joint patrol along the border.

Sonthi's Myanmar trip came more than a month after Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces General Ruengroj MahasarYangond, and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Police General Chidchai Vanasatidya visited the country in the same month of August successively.

Source: Xinhua - 12 September 2006

[joe beets]

Having seen this, maybe I'll give TNA a break on their tortured Enguish.

Take it away, Xinhua:

Than Shwe, who is also Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Service, received the Thai military leader shortly after the latter's arrival earlier on the day at the invitation of Vice Senior-General Maung Aye, SPDC Vice-Chairman and Deputy Commander- in-Chief of the Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Army.

That title just rolls off the the tongue, doesn't it?

Both sides did not disclose the details about their meeting.

Before his departure, Sonthi said in Bangkok that he would discuss with Myanmar military leaders on issues of mutual interest including bilateral cooperation in the military sector and addressing of narcotic problems along the two common border as well as seeking the possibility of conducting a joint patrol along the border.

(Deep breath..)

Sonthi's Myanmar trip came more than a month after Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces General Ruengroj MahasarYangond, and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Police General Chidchai Vanasatidya visited the country in the same month of August successively.

Source: Xinhua - 12 September 2006

Do these titles sound any less overblown in Thai? Chinese?? Burmese???

Regerding Ricardo's question:

Wonder whether they will also discuss Burma's recent shooting-down of a Thai helicopter, over Thai territory in the NW, for which they first promised compensation, but then reneged on the offer ?

Ah, the exotic east, where a deal is almost a deal.

I'm sure in some circles the account book reads, "Paid in full."

Probably in invisible ink.

I just read about a young Thai soldier who was recently killed in or near Pai during an attempted interdiction of alleged drug runners.

You don't suppose over the course of three days some mention might be made of this, do ya?

More business as usual?

jb

[Choscura]

this is both amusing and disgusting. maybe than shwe is a nice guy. maybe he likes building model airplanes and taking long walks on the beaches. maybe he's great with kids. the problem is that for every nice 'maybe' theres a very bad 'definitely'. he's definitely a dinosaur in regards to human rights. he's definitely addicted to power to the point of being willing to kill anybody who would try to take it from him and give it to it's rightful owner.

he's also definitely at the top of very many hit lists with people I would not want angry at me- but also people who are held in check by governments and organizations who are profiting from him.

[Johpa]

Can there be any country, which the Thai government would find it repugnant, to do business with ?

I am not sure about specific countries, but at one point the Thai government would not allow an official visit by the Dalai Lama. No point in having the most southern Montorn offending the true Emperors up in Beijing.

Chaiyo!