Thailand offers to mediate to end war

Thailand offers to mediate to end war

BANGKOK (Reuter): Thailand has offered to act as mediator between the Myanmarese military government and minority rebel groups to try and end fighting in its neighbor, the Bangkok Post reported yesterday.

Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai said it was always Thailand's intention to see the warring parties hold talks to restore peace, the Post reported. He made his offer at a political rally in southern Thailand late on Saturday.

The Post also said Deputy Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan gave Thailand's full support to Karen refugees fleeing the fighting on humanitarian grounds. He said the refugees would return home when the situation had returned to normal and they had decided to go of their own free will.

A Myanmarese army offensive against the rebel Karen National Union (KNU) has sent up to 10,000 ethnic Karen to Thailand as refugees since December. They joined some 60,000 Karen already in Thai camps along the Thai-Myanmar border.