Thailand's newly elected government on Thursday said democracy and human rights are domestic issues of Burma and that it will maintain a policy of noninterference on the military-ruled country.

In his first press briefing Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said while Thailand will work within the framework of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, it will not interfere in domestic issues and will respect Burma's sovereignty, a stand ASEAN has maintained.

"If working through an Asean framework can help Burma's democracy flourish, we will do it," Noppadon was quoted as saying by the AP. "We are not a headmaster who can tell Burma to do this or that."

Detained Burmese democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's party – the NLD – however, said being neighbours, Thailand cannot escape the problems emanating from Burma due to lack of democracy and human rights.

"I am sure Thailand's statement is in consistent with ASEAN's stand. But that is not self-serving," Nyan Win, NLD's spokesperson said.

Unless Burma has a stable government that guarantees democracy and human rights, the region particularly neighbouring countries cannot be in peace, Nyan Win said.

The NLD spokesperson added that ASEAN as a regional bloc, which has courted Burma as a member in 1997, could play a vital role in pushing the Burmese generals to implement political reforms.

He added that the failure to install democracy in Burma, and the mismanagement of the ruling generals has led to the deterioration of the economy of Burma that has forced millions of Burmese to seek exodus to find greener pastures.

As a neighbouring country that shares a porous border, Thailand has been forced to host millions of Burmese refugees and migrant workers, who are mostly employed illegally in various work fields including factories, fisheries, hotels and the sex industry.

The decades-long civil war, particularly in eastern Burma, has produced hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people as well as refugees who seek refuge in Thailand.

According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), there are at least 140,000 Burmese refugees lodged in nine refugee camps along the Thai-Burmese border.

Win Min, a Chiang Mai based Burmese analyst, said under military rule Burma has seen severe economic deterioration, and it is predictable that more Burmese would come to Thailand if the ruling junta does not implement reforms – politically as well as economically.

Burma, which was regarded as the 'rice bowl' of Southeast Asia during independence, erupted in yet another protest, when the government suddenly hiked fuel prices. Analysts and experts said, the September protests, which was brutally suppressed, was the result of severe economic failure that has hit the common people hard.

"Thailand cannot stand aloof and watch the problems brought in by more refugees and migrant workers from Burma," Win Min added.

Beside refugees and migrants, Win Min said, the Thai-Burma border is used as a gateway and a safe haven for both human and drug traffickers.

Noppadon in his briefing said Thailand's new government will focus on issues that directly affect Thailand, such as drug trafficking, bilateral trade and illegal immigrants.

But Win Min said, with out political reforms in Burma it is unlikely that there could be any effective control over trafficking as more people see dealing with drugs as a quick solution to economic difficulties.

Myint Thein, Joint Secretary (1) of the National Council of Union of Burma in exile, an umbrella conglomerate of Burmese opposition groups including armed rebels, said Thailand needs to reconsider its policy towards Burma as it is obvious that the military junta is not a good a neighbor in the long run.

While Thailand might enjoy temporary economic gains such as the right to extract oil and natural resources and invest in other businesses, with Burma's failing economy Thailand will have nothing but end up providing more shelter to millions more Burmese people, Myint Thein said.

"It is important for Thailand to reconsider its policy towards Burma, as without a stable government in Burma, Thailand will not benefit in the long run," Myint Thein added.