Thaksin knows what he has to say to the Burmese
source : The Nation
Why is our Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in such a rush to pay a visit to the Burmese military in Rangoon with the aim of fencing-mending efforts between two countries?
I would like to prod the prime minister into being sensible about what he is attempting to do. The crisis between Burma and Thailand cannot be solved unilaterally. He should be convinced by now that the Burmese military has no intention of tackling the problems between the two countries.
Burmese military officials say they are willing to solve the problems with Thailand but have never ever admitted or apologised to the Thai government for their wrongdoings.
Recently, a battle broke out between the Thai Army and the Burmese army at the border. Without any reason the Burmese started to bombard Mae Sai township and killed Thai civilians. Not very long after that they started to encroach on Thai soil and became ensconced in the area of Mae Fa Lung in Chiang Rai province and at Hua Lone, Fang district, Chiang Mai, and inevitably, our Army had to use force to repel the Burmese invaders.
Consistently, the Burmese military never stops attacking the Thai government and the Thai people through criticism and issuing ultimatums for the Thai Army to withdraw from the border.
Surprisingly, one senior Burmese official, Colonel Kyaw Win, had declared to the media that the Burmese army will have to join with the Wa Army to fight the Thai Army if it does not stop attacking the Wa in their territory, especially in Mong Yawn, the most productive drug area in Burma.
In retrospect, we can easily see who is wrong and who is right. Prime Minister Thaksin should be convinced by now about what the Burmese government wants from Thailand. What they want is not friendship nor reconciliation, but war.
This is the right time for the prime minister to take action by showing the Burmese government that the Thai government and its people are not afraid of them because we are standing on the side of truth. He should also know that there is a brave warrior who is ready to defend the country and sacrifice himself for the people. I would like to give my cheers to our Thai Army Third Region commander Lt-General Wattanachai Chaimuenwong. The Thai people are behind you and please keep doing your job and protect your people and land. We will never forget you.
Kwaithong Boonlert