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Activists Concerned Over Burma Issue After New Thai Gov |
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by Nay Thwin
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Tuesday, 22 January 2008 00:00 |
Chiang Mai – Thailand-based Burmese activists are concerned over their campaign for Burma after the newly elected Thai government comes to power.
The military led caretaker government ended its rule after the general elections were held on December 23, 2006 . In the election, the People's Power Party (PPP) became the single largest party and formed a coalition government with five other smaller parties. Thai based Burmese activists are concerned over the future policy of the new Thai government on Burma.
"I think this winning Thai Rat Thai-turned-PPP party will pursue the policy of former PM Thaksin, who was from the Thai Rat Thai," Dr. San Aung, Minister of the Burmese government in exile NCGUB in Bangkok said.
Dr. San Aung was of the opinion that this new government would pursue the policy of engagement and economic cooperation with Burma, which former Prime Minister Thaksin did. They will build friendly relations with the Burmese junta and are not be likely to talk about the restoration of democracy and human rights in Burma.
However, U Myint Thein, Joint Secretary of the 'National Council of the Union of Burma' (NCUB) said, "The political change in Thailand was done by democratic means so, I think they will follow and respect democratic values and practices. I also think the situation will not take a turn for the worse as we ourselves are striving for democracy."
Meanwhile, Thai based Burmese Opposition leaders have welcomed the new government, since they did not like the economy-oriented policy of Thaksin while dealing with Burma.
Moreover, they foresee that the new government will not focus on the Burma issue as they have other important domestic issues like long term consolidation of their coalition and preventing future military coups.
At the same time, they would like to urge the new Thai government to tackle the ongoing regional issue of influx of migrant workers into Thailand, and the refugee and drug issue in cooperation with UN and the international community.
The ruling PPP and its five party coalition won 315 seats out of total 480 seats in the Thailand legislature. Mr. Samak Sundaravej (72) will become the 25th PM of Thailand at the swearing in ceremony to be held on Friday.
Since the ruling PPP party has many top leaders of the former Thai Rat Thai party and also its top leader will-be the PM Mr. Samak Sundaravej. He has close ties with former PM Mr. Thaksin and many speculate that the former PM could pull strings of the new government from behind the scenes.
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