THAILAND TRAVEL NEWS: A war of words has erupted between Thailand and it’s northern neighbor Burma, over the ongoing trial of Nobel laureate and pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

On May 18, Thailand, as the current rotating chair of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), issued a chairman’s statement expressing “grave concern” over Daw Suu Kyi’s situation.

The statement also said, “the honor and the credibility of the (Burmese government) are at stake.”

Burma quickly fired back, attacking Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and accusing its neighbor of meddling in it’s internal affairs.

Yesterday (May 26) Thailand responded, saying the original statement was made with the “best of intentions towards (Burma) Myanmar and reflects the desire for the process of national reconciliation in (Burma) Myanmar to move forward on the basis of inclusiveness, with the participation of all sectors of society.”

The verbal slanging match resulted in a rush of support for Prime Minister Abhisit for breaking with the traditional Asean non- interventionist approach, and siding with other world leaders in criticizing the Burmese junta.

In a move that will no-doubt add fuel to the fire, Thai Foreign Minister, Kasit Piromya, said, jailing Daw Suu Kyi could risk regional security.

Burma could not protest that Daw Suu Kyi’s case would not affect regional security. As long as there was instability there, it could affect the whole region, he is reported to have told journalists on the sidelines of an Asia Europe Meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam.

He said the foreign ministers of Asean would discuss the situation in Burma and Daw Suu Kyi’s trial again when they meet in Phnom Penh from May 27 to 28.

Daw Suu Kyi has spent 13 of the last 19 years detained and was due to finish her latest six-year period of house arrest today, May 26.

Last week, however, she was taken Rangoon’s notorious Insein prison charged with breaching state-appointed house arrest rules after an American, identified as John Yettaw, swam to her lakeside home uninvited. If convicted she faces up to five years in jail.

Daw Suu Kyi has entered a plea of not guilty, with world-leaders condemning the charges and trial, and human rights groups around the world protesting her continued detention.

By John Le Fevre

Thailand Travel News: May 27, 2009.