Myanmar accuses neighbor Thailand of backing 'terrorism'

Myanmar accuses neighbor Thailand of backing 'terrorism'

Aung Hla Tun and Andrew Marshall, Reuters, Yangon/Bangkok

Myanmar's military government accused Thailand on Friday of supporting ethnic minority rebel groups, in a statement likely to inflame simmering tensions between the two countries.

In an official statement, the junta rejected as "ridiculous" Thailand's assertion it does not give support to ethnic Shan and Karen guerrillas active in remote border regions.

"It is very appalling to hear the Thai authorities claiming that they are taking a neutral stand and not taking sides with either the Myanmar government or the terrorist groups," the Myanmar government statement said.

"Are we to understand that breeding, training and supporting these terrorist groups to be able to attack and threaten the security of a neighboring country (can be) taken as not siding with them...?"

Myanmar has repeatedly accused Thailand of backing the Shan State Army and Karen National Union, the two main ethnic minority rebel groups still fighting the junta's rule. Thailand denies the charge and says it does not meddle in Myanmar's internal affairs.

Tempers flared between the two countries last month after Thailand massed thousands of troops at the border.

They were ostensibly there for a training exercise, but military sources said they were preparing for a strike against the United Wa State Army, an ethnic army allied to the Yangon junta, which Thailand accuses of producing most of the heroin and methamphetamine pills in the notorious Golden Triangle region.

After protests from Myanmar, the troops were withdrawn. But the Shan rebel group took advantage of the confusion to seize some bases from Myanmar troops.

Myanmar said Thai soldiers helped the Shan, and closed key border crossings in protest. State-run media in Myanmar have repeatedly denounced Thailand.

Thai newspapers say the Thai government and military are at odds on how to deal with Myanmar. The government is keen to play down tensions while the military favors a more belligerent approach, particularly against the Wa force, newspapers say.

The Thai government has been pushing for talks but has so far been rebuffed. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Friday that Myanmar wanted to recapture its lost bases from the Shan before sitting down to talks with Thailand.

"Let them resolve their internal problems first," Thaksin told reporters. "We must give them time and should not rush them. We should not interfere with their internal affairs."

The Thai army rejects claims it helped the Shan, but says it returned fire when stray shells landed on Thai soil.

Thaksin told reporters Thailand had been assured by Myanmar that its forces fighting the Shan would not intrude into Thailand. Thousands of Thai villagers have been evacuated from the border region because of the danger of stray shells.