Bangkok, Yangon take first step to better ties

Bangkok, Yangon take first step to better ties

BANGKOK (Reuter): Thailand and Myanmar hailed a new chapter in
their rocky relations following a visit to Yangon by the Thai
prime minister but analysts said yesterday more time and effort
was needed to dispel years of mutual mistrust.

Thai premier Banharn Silpa-archa was given a warm welcome when
he arrived in the Myanmarese capital on Sunday, becoming the
first Thai premier to visit Yangon in 16 years.

Relations between the two have been chilly for some time,
largely because of Myanmarese suspicion of lingering Thai support
for rebel armies battling the Yangon military government.

A perception in Myanmar that Thai business is driven solely by
the desire for fast profit has also soured ties, diplomats in
Yangon and Bangkok said.

Last year, an angry Myanmar shut its border crossing points
with Thailand, cutting off virtually all trade between the
neighbors.

Analysts said Banharn's visit followed a long campaign by
Thailand to get relations back on an even keel and ensure that
Thailand does not miss out on investment opportunities as Myanmar
opens up to business after decades of isolation.

While Banharn returned home late on Monday with little in the
way of concrete agreements, Myanmar responded positively to the
visit, which the diplomats said was at least a first step to
better ties.

"He got his piece of paper," said one diplomat in Yangon,
referring to the only agreement signed during the visit, which
sets out guidelines for border trade.

"Relations have been rocky, that's an understatement, and this
visit hopefully marks a fresh start, but it seems the Burmese
(Myanmarese) want to rebase it on their terms," he said.

"The Burmese have been slow to respond to Thai attempts to
settle grievances," said another diplomat in Yangon. "A positive
start has been made but there's a way to go yet."

On the eve of Banharn's trip, Myanmar reopened two crossing
points on the border with Thailand, one in Myanmar's northeast
and the other in its deep south.

But the main trade crossing point, between the Myanmarese town
of Myawadi and the northwestern Thai town of Mae Sot remained
sealed because of a border dispute in the area.

As well as the border trade agreement, Myanmar promised to
release 100 Thai prisoners, most of them fishermen jailed for
intruding into Myanmarese waters, a Thai official said.

"So much hype for so very little," was how one diplomat in
Bangkok summed up the results of the visit.

The Bangkok-based diplomat said it would take time for
relations to improve significantly and both sides had to reassess
priorities and learn how to deal with each other.

"In the past, for Thailand the relationship was security
driven so the military was in charge," the envoy said. "Now, it's
a trade relationship and the Thais need to sort out when the
foreign ministry is going to be put in charge.

"Thailand does not have a good image in Myanmar in commercial
terms. The Thais are seen going for the quick buck rather than
for long-term investment and that's why they're losing out to
people like Singapore."

The diplomats said there was always the possibility of
territorial disputes along the two countries' long border flaring
up and setting back any improvement in ties despite agreements to
keep any disagreement contained.

"There's so much scope for border disputes and I don't know if
they can keep them localized," one of the diplomats said.