The United Kingdom supports Thailand's call for the Burmese junta to release all political prisoners from detention, British ambassador to Thailand Quinton Quayle said after a meeting with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Thursday.
Thailand, as chair of the Assocation of of Southeast Asean Nations, on Wednesday issued a statement calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, to enable them to participate in the general election due next year.
Mr Quayle said he and Mr Abhisit discussed the sentence the court at Rangoon's Insein Prison gave to Mrs Suu Kyi - three years in jail with hard labour for breaching the terms of her house arrest after an American, John Yettaw, swam uninvited to her lakeside home in May. The sentence was later commuted by Than Shwe, chairman of the ruling State Peace and Development Council, to 18 months under house arrest.
"I agree with the statement issued by Thailand, as the Asean chair, for all political prisoners to be released. The court sentence will not help ensure any political progress in Burma in the future," said the ambassador.
Mr Quayle said the European Union and the United Nations were considering imposing sanctions which would not be aimed at Burma but at the Burmese government, especially the military.
"We are considering what to do to spur international reaction against the Burmese court's ruling," he said.
The ambassador said there should be independent elections in Burma in which all were free to participate, especially Mrs Suu Kyi whose current sentence prevents her taking part.
Although the Burmese military government does not care about this, it should remember that Burma is a member of Asean and its members have issued a statement opposing its action, said Mr Quayle.
Mr Quayle recalled that after the Oct 14, 1973 and Oct 6, 1976 bloodshed in Thailand, when he was already a diplomat and Mr Abhisit still a student, the international community did not keep silent but made it clear that the incidents were not acceptable to them.
In the case of Suu Kyi, Burma must also be told that the decision is unacceptable to the international community, he said.
The British ambassador said he also discussed with Mr Abhisit cooperation between Thailand and the UK against the use of fake documents to acquire visas. Last Monday the Thai police were briefed about this, he said.
He said about 45,000 Thais apply for a visa to the UK annually and only about 5,000, or 10 per cent, were rejected. Those who use fake documents to apply for visas include criminals, who may be drug traders, and prostitutes.
The ambassador said climate change, which has become a more serious issue, was also raised during the talks.
The severe damage caused in China and Taiwan by storms was a clear example of the effects of climate change. The UK and Thailand were looking forward to cooperatiing more in the fields of energy saving and environmental protection.
Mr Quayle said he and Mr Abhisit also discussed the soccer match between West Bromwich Arabian, which is his favourite team, and New Castle United, Mr Abhisit's favourite, which resulted in a 1:1 draw. Both teams have been relegated from the Premier League.
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- Writer: BangkokPost.com
