Chavalit has his way
Source : Bangkok Post (June 14)
The power behind the prime minister has again had his way and so the premier is to drop everything so he can pay his best respects to the political masters across our western border. Also disposing of the usual rules of procedure and protocol is one of the premier's party-men, who is determined to go after perceived enemies. More cautious is the more seasoned Newin as he awaits his inevitable chance.
Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has been more than fulsome in his praise for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra since he decided not to wait for a visit from Burmese Foreign Minister Win Aung before he rushes off to Rangoon.
The defence minister had been pushing extraordinarily hard for the prime minister to waste no time in getting across to Rangoon to meet the general's good friends in the military dictatorship.
He apparently was worried his friends could not be put off until after a visit here by their foreign minister. Win Aung is expected here before the end of this month as a courtesy call after Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai presented his credentials to Rangoon last month.
Gen Chavalit said the prime minister had shown his true worth in going to Burma on June 19-20 despite protocol suggesting that he wait until after Win Aung has paid his call.
"I really admire the premier for taking such a bold move by disregarding protocol," he said. "The premier is fully aware that the most important thing for mankind is amity, and he will certainly do anything to achieve this goal. This has much impressed me."Gen Chavalit said he was sorry that the prime minister had to work under such time constraints and he would do what he could to ease the pressure.
The defence minister had planned to go to Burma himself on Monday, a day before the premier, but he put off the trip due to the obvious displeasure this had caused the Foreign Ministry.
He had planned to go early to smooth the way for the prime minister with his old buddy Gen Than Shwe, the prime minister and chairman of the ruling State Peace and Development Council.
One of Gen Chavalit's men at Defence said the boss was well aware of the problems at the core of the recent uneasiness damaging relations between Bangkok and Rangoon.
"Among these are Rangoon's suspicions that we support the Shan rebel fighters," said the defence man, a trusted lieutenant. "The defence minister has suggested confidence-building measures which will eventually help dispel mistrust and restore mutual understanding."He said the measures envisioned by the defence minister included opening up the areas along the border where there have been troubles to joint inspections and possibly patrols. Rangoon has not responded publicly to this suggestion.
Gen Chavalit blames the strength of the Shan State Army on financial support from influential international organisations. He said the rebel army had grown from a rag-tag force of 200 ill-equipped fighters a few years ago to around 6,000 armed troops.
The lieutenant said Gen Chavalit was convinced there were attempts to cause a rift between Bangkok and Rangoon by a third party which did not want to see friendly ties.
He said Gen Chavalit was was hoping that Bangkok and Rangoon could improve their ties and this and a stronger Asean could help bring peace and stability to the region.