By Stephen Collinson in Washington

The Mercury
06 August 2003

POLITICAL heavyweights in the US Senate are turning up the heat on Thailand, accusing it of deserting and suppressing democrats from military-ruled Burma, and warning they expect more from a long-time US ally.

Rising opposition in Congress to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's stance towards Thailand's neighbor, viewed in Washington as a pariah state, has prompted some senators to threaten US financial aid to Thailand next year.

And criticism is expected to mount as President George W. Bush prepares to travel to Bangkok for the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum in October, congressional sources said.

Arizona Senator John McCain is leading the charge, after firing off a letter to Thaksin, dated August 1.

"As a friend of Thailand, I write to express my deep concern over recent actions by Thai authorities along your border with Burma," McCain wrote in the letter, obtained by AFP.

He cited "credible, first-hand reports" that the Thai Government had taken steps to curtail activities of Burma democracy activists in border areas.

The reports also suggested the Thais were hampering assistance to refugees from Burma, and intimidating members of ethnic groups opposed to the military regime in Rangoon, McCain wrote.

He also alleged that Thailand had taken steps to silence Burma democracy
activists on its territory, and imposed pressure on ethnic Karen, Karenni, and Shan groups to sign peace agreements with the Rangoon junta.

McCain said several humanitarian organisations had reported that Thai authorities had tried to restrict food and medicine supplies to ethnic refugees fleeing oppression within Burma.

"Thailand has been an ally of the United States for decades," McCain wrote. "We are fellow democracies, and our co-operation in many areas remains strong.

"But the actions of Thai authorities against Burmese refugees, political exiles and ethnic groups raises serious questions about your government's commitment to the values that serve as the underpinning of any democracy."

Burma exile groups claim that Thailand has in recent weeks closed offices of dissident groups, arrested activists and prepared a plan to repatriate Burma refugees into the hands of the Burma military.

The criticism comes two months after Thaksin visited Bush at the White House - for talks both men used to express concern over Rangoon's treatment of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, arrested on May 30.

But McCain's Republican colleague Mitch McConnell warned last month in a Senate floor speech that Thailand appeared to be wavering in support of the Nobel laureate.

"The Thai Prime Minister should have departed the United States with a firm understanding that protection of freedom in Burma was a top priority for both Congress and the administration," he said.

"Unfortunately, I don't think he got the message," said McConnell, who has tried to pile pressure on both Burma, and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in recent months.

In the same debate, McCain, who has maintained an interest in South-East Asia since serving in the Vietnam War, warned "we expect more in particular from our ally Thailand".

Their comments were endorsed by fellow Republican Sam Brownback, another
key voice on Asia issues.

Thailand has in recent weeks pushed its "road map" for democracy in Burma, a fellow member of the Association of South-East Asian Nations.

The plan contains steps intended to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and movement towards political reform.

But Thaksin's opponents here have blasted the road map as a ruse to ease fierce international pressure on the junta over the issue.

So far, however, the US Government, which recently stiffened sanctions against Burma, has been accepting the initiative, though hardly vocal in support.

"We welcome all efforts by the Thai Government to secure the prompt release of Aung San Suu Kyi and support democractic change in Burma," a State Department official said.

That is not enough for Thailand's critics in Congress, who have inserted a threat to Thailand's assistance from the United States in 2004 draft spending Bills.

The stipulation, if passed into law, would require the US Secretary of State to certify that Thailand supports democracy in Burma, is "taking action to sanction" the regime in Rangoon, is not hampering the delivery of humanitarian assistance to people in Thailand who have fled Burma, nor is it forcibly repatriating refugees.
US assistance to Thailand requested in fiscal year 2003 spending Bills, though low-level, still numbered $US10.75 million, mainly contained in anti-drugs aid, military training programs and development aid.