Kriengsak Chareonwongsak Thailand’s own internal, tumultuous agenda

Thailand’s own internal, tumultuous agenda

 Despite the fact that Thailand’s foreign policy aims to preserve cordial relations with Burma, in practice, it has been at times ignored. Chartichai Choonhavan’s government emphasized congenial relations with other Indo-Chinese countries but not Burma. Later on, Banharn Silpa-Acha’s government encouraged investment in Burma. However, this policy was short lived when the Silpa-Acha government was overthrown in a vote of non-confidence.
The relationship between the two countries was strained even further during the second Chuan Leekpai’s administration when the government took a particularly tough stance against drug smuggling and border infringements. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned human rights violations in Burma and enforced the repatriation of illegal workers from Burma in both the ASEAN and global arenas – stances that both irked Burma. As a result, during the Chuan Leekpai’s administration, the number of confrontations with Burma increased.

The continued failure to implement a congenial relations policy has fostered a sense of mutual mistrust between the two countries and has therefore  hindered the process of nurturing positive reciprocal relations.
If the tumultuous agendas in either Burma or Thailand are not obliterated, the conventional approach that Thailand has been taking over the past 30 years will fail to create a congenial relationship. Consequently, a radically new approach must be taken.

A sustainable solution: View Burma as a strategic economic partner 
By placing economic issues at the forefront, Thailand could re-vitalize its relationship with Burma. The starting point would be to identify Burma as a “strategic economic partner”. Thailand’s concern over its relationship with Burma should take high precedence, perhaps even over relations with many other nations, because of the shared borders of the two nations.
At present, Burma has begun the process of liberalizing its economy. The Burmese government is also endeavoring to elevate the national image to attract foreign investors. Thus, now could be Thailand’s golden opportunity to forge economic links with Burma.
If Burma responds to Thailand’s economic overtures, it could help to heal the diplomatic gaps between the two nations. Healthy economic relations could help pave the way for negotiations on other issues. For example, tension over illegal drugs could diminish as better economic conditions provide better education and employment opportunities for the people. The furor over illegal Burmese workers in Thailand could abate as more Burmese find jobs in their own country.

At the same time, Thais will benefit from increased sources of industrial raw materials and new investment opportunities in industries with cheap labor.

In the long term, all will benefit. Thailand, Burma and the world community will benefit from increased democracy in Burma. As economic conditions improve, the growth of a middle class and increasing awareness of global issues would automatically enhance democratic values within the society. Thus, by fostering economic relations with Burma, Thailand could be inadvertently helping to gradually nurture democracy within Burmese society.
Promoting economic relations with Burma is a win-win scenario. However, seeing the fruit of this policy may require some patience. The results of such a policy will not only be sustained economic benefit to Thailand, it will help to enhance democracy with one of our valued neighbors.

Professor Dr Kriengsak Chareonwongsak
Executive Director, Institute of Future Studies for Development (IFD)
 kriengsak@kriengsak.com, http://www.ifd.or.th

Kriengsak Chareonwongsak Coping with the Thai-Burmese conflict

Coping with the Thai-Burmese conflict
Thai-Burmese conflicts have been in the news for the past few years and many Thai government agencies dealing with issues such as foreign affairs and national security, have endeavored to resolve the conflicts, but often to no avail. While this lack of progress is often blamed on the Burmese government, but at the same time, Thailand is some times equally culpable.

Myanmar’s internal, tumultuous agenda
It is difficult to ignore Burma’s sizeable domestic troubles. About 16 minority groups, most of who live along the Thai-Burmese border, have declared their independence from Burma. Thailand is often caught in the middle between these groups and the Burmese government itself. In the past, Burma has accused Thailand of fostering anti-government sentiments within these groups, while Thailand has accused Burma of using the groups to smuggle illegal drugs into Thailand. On several occasions, these tit-for-tat altercations resulted in Burma postponing Township Border Committee meetings.
Most Thais believe that one of these 16 groups, the Wa, is primarily responsible for illegal drug smuggling operations in Thailand. This issue was addressed in a 1996 United Nations agreement between the Rangoon government and the Wa army. At that time, development projects were proposed to encourage the cultivation of alternate crops. However, these proposals were never fully implemented. One UN report stated that 75% of this ethnic group cannot harvest enough rice because of drought. At the same time, 96% of Wa stated they were willing to grow opium as a means of earning income, while no less than 95% claimed they would stop growing opium if better alternatives would be provided. These figures represent the changing and conflicting sentiments of this group.
Many of Burma’s current problems stem from its lack of democratic practice. This prevents minority peoples from participating in resolution of their nation’s problems. In addition, democracy will enhance national respects for international meeting protocol - such as attendance at Township Border Committee meetings without last minute cancellations.

Professor Dr Kriengsak Chareonwongsak
Executive Director, Institute of Future Studies for Development (IFD)
 kriengsak@kriengsak.com, http://www.ifd.or.th

Kriengsak Chareonwongsak the fishing industry

Other industries have likewise been affected also. For example, the fishing industry has been severely affected by the withdrawal, for an indeterminable period of time, of international fishing concessions given to Thai fishing boats. Instead, the Burmese government welcomes Taiwanese, South Korean and Chinese fishing boats into its territorial waters. Consumer product industries are also affected and closure of border crossings cuts off Burma’s access to goods available in Thailand. As a result, Burma is looking increasingly to China, Singapore, India, and Japan for the consumer goods they used to buy from Thailand. This is despite the fact that when relations between the nations were normal, Thailand was a favored trading partner because trade with Thailand put the least amount of strain on Burma’s deficient transportation infrastructure.
Thailand will suffer long-term disadvantage from a continuing poor relationship with Burma. In the past, Burma supplied cheap raw materials and labor supplies to Thailand. If Burma’s internal transportation infrastructures were improved Thailand could use Burma as an industry base for exporting goods to China, India and other parts of the South Asian region. However, while Thailand pays scant attention to Burma, other nations such as Japan, Australia, and Singapore have increased their investments in the country.
Although the Thai government has tried to improve relations with Burma, conflicts have only seemed to increase a fact that could result in long-term drawbacks for both sides.

Professor Dr Kriengsak Chareonwongsak
Executive Director, Institute of Future Studies for Development (IFD)
 kriengsak@kriengsak.com, http://www.ifd.or.th