BANGKOK, April 28 (TNA) — Thailand is supporting Myanmar on its long-standing attempt to build democracy in the country and will not interfere in that country’s internal politics, Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said on Monday.
Speaking on the eve of a three-day official visit beginning Tuesday by Myanmar Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein, his first visit here since taking up his post in October, Mr. Noppadon said Thailand will watch political developments in Myanmar after that country holds its national constitutional referendum on May 10.
Mr. Noppadon said Myanmar does not want Thailand to interfere in its internal politics, but what Thailand can do is to give moral support to that country in order to achieve democracy.
Any interference could backfire to Thailand’s detriment, the minister said.
According to earlier press reports, Myanmar’s proposed constitution reserves 25 per cent of the parliamentary seats for the military and bars pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, now under house arrest in Yangon, from seeking office.
Major issues which are expected to be discussed by Gen. Thein Sein and Thai prime minister Samak Sundaravej on Wednesday are transportation links, drug suppression along the border, energy cooperation by building hydro dams cooperation in identifying persons holding dual nationality and the joint cooperation on solving border problems.
At present, there are an estimated 2.2 million Myanmar people in Thailand illegally, two million workers and the remainder having fled to this country as refugees or displaced persons, Mr. Noppadon said.
Thailand will not push back these displaced persons to their country, but will provide assistance on a humanitarian basis, he said.
Thai government spokesman Pol. Lt-Gen. Vichianchote Sukchote-rat said on Monday that Gen. Thein Sein will arrive in Bangkok Tuesday at 1.30pm and that Mr. Samak will host dinner for him at his residence.
On Wednesday, the two leaders will discuss bilateral cooperation before senior officials of the two countries meet, according to the spokesman.
Gen. Thein Sein will have an audience with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Bangkok’s Chitrlada Palace at 5pm Wednesday and the Thai government will host a dinner for him at Government House later that evening.
On Thursday, Gen. Thein Sein and his delegation will inspect crop substitution programmes being demonstrated atop Doi Tung in Thailand’s northernmost province of Chiang Rai and a Thai handicraft centre before departing for home from there. (TNA)-E111