Myanmar accuses neighbor Thailand of backing 'terrorism'<\/p>\n
Aung Hla Tun and Andrew Marshall, Reuters, Yangon\/Bangkok<\/p>\n
Myanmar's military government accused Thailand on Friday of
\nsupporting ethnic minority rebel groups, in a statement likely to
\ninflame simmering tensions between the two countries.<\/p>\n
In an official statement, the junta rejected as \"ridiculous\"
\nThailand's assertion it does not give support to ethnic Shan and
\nKaren guerrillas active in remote border regions.<\/p>\n
\"It is very appalling to hear the Thai authorities claiming
\nthat they are taking a neutral stand and not taking sides with
\neither the Myanmar government or the terrorist groups,\" the
\nMyanmar government statement said.<\/p>\n
\"Are we to understand that breeding, training and supporting
\nthese terrorist groups to be able to attack and threaten the
\nsecurity of a neighboring country (can be) taken as not siding
\nwith them...?\"<\/p>\n
Myanmar has repeatedly accused Thailand of backing the Shan
\nState Army and Karen National Union, the two main ethnic minority
\nrebel groups still fighting the junta's rule. Thailand denies the
\ncharge and says it does not meddle in Myanmar's internal affairs.<\/p>\n
Tempers flared between the two countries last month after
\nThailand massed thousands of troops at the border.<\/p>\n
They were ostensibly there for a training exercise, but
\nmilitary sources said they were preparing for a strike against
\nthe United Wa State Army, an ethnic army allied to the Yangon
\njunta, which Thailand accuses of producing most of the heroin and
\nmethamphetamine pills in the notorious Golden Triangle region.<\/p>\n
After protests from Myanmar, the troops were withdrawn. But
\nthe Shan rebel group took advantage of the confusion to seize
\nsome bases from Myanmar troops.<\/p>\n
Myanmar said Thai soldiers helped the Shan, and closed key
\nborder crossings in protest. State-run media in Myanmar have
\nrepeatedly denounced Thailand.<\/p>\n
Thai newspapers say the Thai government and military are at
\nodds on how to deal with Myanmar. The government is keen to play
\ndown tensions while the military favors a more belligerent
\napproach, particularly against the Wa force, newspapers say.<\/p>\n
The Thai government has been pushing for talks but has so far
\nbeen rebuffed. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Friday
\nthat Myanmar wanted to recapture its lost bases from the Shan
\nbefore sitting down to talks with Thailand.<\/p>\n
\"Let them resolve their internal problems first,\" Thaksin told
\nreporters. \"We must give them time and should not rush them. We
\nshould not interfere with their internal affairs.\"<\/p>\n
The Thai army rejects claims it helped the Shan, but says it
\nreturned fire when stray shells landed on Thai soil.<\/p>\n
Thaksin told reporters Thailand had been assured by Myanmar
\nthat its forces fighting the Shan would not intrude into
\nThailand. Thousands of Thai villagers have been evacuated from
\nthe border region because of the danger of stray shells.<\/p>",
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