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.