Burmese pro-democracy activists have welcomed the stated policyapproach by the new Thai government and its call for political changein Burma ahead of Burma's general elections, scheduled for 2010. The Thai Government is also lookingto other South East Asian nations to be more active in calling forreform in the military ruled country.
The new ThaiGovernment's policy stance on Burma was set out in a key address by theprime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, this week and his warnings about thepolitical situation in Burma have wider ramifications for the wholeregion.
Mr Abhisit, in an address to foreign correspondents thisweek, said the government would look to encourage reform in Burma, alsoknown as Myanmar, through a process of "flexible engagement".
Theflexible engagement policy, adopted by the then-foreign minister SurinPitsuwan, now secretary-general of the Association of South East AsianNations (ASEAN), called for more open dialogue on issues such as humanrights.
"ASEAN to be strong it has to have the credibility andrespect from the international community," he said. "So what'shappening in Myanmar clearly affects the rest of the region - and Iwould just point out that it's time for change. As far as we areconcerned we need to get ASEAN to become more proactive - it's not easybut I've seen changes and I've seen progress. "
Under the formerThai governments led by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, from 2001until 2006, priority was given to Thailand's economic and business tieswith Burma. Under a policy of "constructive engagement" Thailand andASEAN had adopted a more low key diplomatic approach in its dealingwith Burma.
Naing Aung, a former Burmese student leader and acivic group, the Network for Democracy and Development, welcomed thecurrent Thai government's new move to place greater emphasis on humanrights issues and political reform.
"Thailand's new governmentwill be standing on the human rights and then more on the democraticprincipal," he said. "But in terms of making pressure if they are goingthrough ASEAN it will still be difficult because ASEAN as a whole, theystill have a policy of non-interference."
Debbie Stothardt,spokeswoman for the Alternative ASEAN network on Burma, said the Thaigovernment policy also needed to be backed by calls for the release ofpolitical prisoners. Stothardt said Thailand, as the current chair ofASEAN, had a role to play to promote political reform. An ASEAN leaderssummit is due to take place in late February in Thailand.
"Whatwe need to see really from the other ASEAN governments - including thenew Thai government - is sufficient political will to deal with thisproblem once and for all," she said. "ASEAN needs to realize that thisregime has no respect for polite diplomacy - this regime will onlyrespect ASEAN when ASEAN shows that it is determined."
Burma'smilitary government has said its road map to democracy and generalelections in 2010 needs the political steps the government is taking.But many analysts expect the military to still retain considerableinfluence in the new parliament, backed by a constitution seen asfavoring the military.
Burma's military has been in power since1962, with the current government ruling the country since 1988. Itignored the last election result in 1990, won in a landslide by theparty spearheaded by pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who remainsunder house arrest.