BEHIND THE NEWS
THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL
It was no secret that US President George Bush wanted to meet Burmese dissidents during his stay in Bangkok. The process was secretly and carefully arranged, given the sensitivity of the issue, which could have affected Thailand's relations with Burma.
After delivering his speech at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre and visiting the Mercy Centre in nearby Klong Toey, Mr Bush rushed back to the residence of US ambassador to Thailand Eric John on Wireless road. The ambassador's house had been chosen as the venue for his meeting with 11 Burmese dissidents, where they discussed the political situation in their country and what role Washington should play in ending the Burmese military's rule.
The Burmese stayed overnight in Bangkok to prepare for their key meeting with the US leader, who made it clear in his speech that he is determined to restore democracy to Burma. The Burmese stayed at the Landmark Hotel before being moved to the ambassador's residence, a Burmese source said.
The meeting with Mr Bush was timely given it was held on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Aug 8, 1988 bloodshed when the Burmese military cracked down on pro-democracy activists.
All the Thai officials responsible for protocol were excluded from this arrangement. There was a reason for their exclusion. The US knew the Thai government did not want the talks to be held in a way that would give Rangoon the impression Bangkok was involved.
The Thai government did not allow the US to use any hotel as a venue for the talks, the same source said.
Using the US ambassador's residence or the US embassy in Bangkok was the perfect way out because those two venues are US territory. The government can say it had no involvement in the meeting because it was not held on Thai territory.
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