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Thai’s Burma Relations in the Government of Thein Sein (2011-2013)
Oratai Soparat
Ph.D Student, Chulalongkorn University,
Thein Sein has come to power in Burma in 2011.He once was made acting Prime Minister
while the former Prime Minister Than Shwe took a treatment from sickness in May 2007. His role
is such “a reformer” to open the country more than any Prime Minister in the past have done; For
example he released more than ten -year political prisoners, particular Aung San Suu kyi, who
gains the noble prize award and has good reputation from her fighting for liberal democracy as a
big step for Burma to be recognized and accepted from international arena. Moreover the country
open for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI); however just for joint- venture type with local
entrepreneurs to encourage the progress of business in the country. Furthermore, military
government are the ownership of the majority of business such as (Myanmar oil and Gas
Enterprise: MOGE) Holding Limited, and Myanmar Economic Corporations1 etc.Moreover, the
press also has more freedom to report the news content without filtering by the government.
The reformation in Burma shows a number of positive outcomes; the cancellation of
sanctions by several countries, for instance United States and some countries in European Union.
The Burma export products concentrated on Paddy rice, natural gas, oil and ruby. Significantly,
natural gas at Dawei deep sea port and infrastructure project are attractive to Thai investors to
link the gas pipelines from Dawei heading Eastern across Thai border, and oil pipeline as well.
The exchange visits between two leaders show how US turn to Burma as a progress of democracy
path; Obama who is the first US president visited to Burma since 1962 and first visit of Burmese
leader to step in US. A number of trade are growing up magnificently and the number of GDP
growth is climbing up significantly from $16,312(2007),$ 22,666(2008) $26,275 (2009),
$31,680(2010) Moreover, the economic growth is fluctuated from 3.4(2007) 1.1(2008) 1.8(2009)
3.3(2010) and GDP Per Capita $2,643(2007)$2,707 (2008) $2,757(2009) $2,852 (2010).The
1
Muang Aung Myoe .Buidling the Tatmadow:Myanmar Armed Forces Since 1948.(Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian
Studies,2009.)
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economic-related number increases continuously, indicating the growing up of Burma
development2.
However the development in Burma, the junta government ignores to start from the core
of its structure; there are many parts remaining underdeveloped, specifically infra-structure, rural
sanitary, educations and poverty. There are more than 135 distinct ethnic groups in which they
were divided and ruled, once under the British colonial. In other words, when the British governed,
ethnic groups were separated primarily according to region. When it turns to independence,
consequently it turns them disunity and each ethnic group remains in former region without even
roads to connect them together. Furthermore, the development just occurred only in the urban
area where the industrial located and the suburban who are more than 70% leaving in the rural
area. This shows that the government concentrates to develop only capital zone, leaving the many
ethnic groups underdevelopment. Some may also migrate illegally to the nearby richer countries
such as Thailand,Malaysia and Singapore.
Furthermore, the crony and Booty Capitalism is the framework in explaining Burma and
Southeast Asia politics. As Carl H.Lande, the reviewer of the Booty Capitalism: The Politics of
Banking in the Philippines by Paul D.Hutchcroft, explained the meaning given by Hutchcroft that
Booty Capitalism is such patrimonial system; in which the main beneficiary is the government or
state bureaucracy and then allow the other political influential business elite to separate their
privileges.3
Then, Booty Capitalism means the relations between state and interest groups or
businessman. In other words, the state is well-connected with entrepreneur and businessman,
allowing them to engage in the state’s economic activities for their privilege such as rent-seeking.
It could be other forms of the distribution of legal permits and government grants including state
interventions etc.4 The example of implication of Booty capitalism is used to apply in the case of
2
Index and Investment manual in Myanmar Union. Investment Project in Cambodia, Laos Burma and Vietnam.The Board of
Investment of Thailand.Asia Studies Center.Chulalongkorn University.2011. [online] Available from:
http://www.boi.go.th/upload/Myanmar_manual_65917.pdf
3
Helen Hughes "Crony Capitalism and the East Asian Currency and Financial 'Crises'". Policy.(Spring 1999).
4
Carl H Lande..American Political Science Review. Volume 94 / Issue 01 / March 2000, pp 216-217
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Philippines. Ferdinand E. Marcos as oligarchic patrimonialism, used the governmental power to
take advantage for his own business. Starting with the US established Central bank,then the good
association between government and businessman take absolute power to manage the operation
of the central bank. Marcos expanded his business to cover other forms of state interest such as
forests and mines, indeed it should belong to national interests. Furthermore he shared the
stakeholder of his business to his close relatives as so called “Crony capitalism”. The most famous
news about his wife who possessed a number of shoes approximately 2,000 pairs of shoes. Finally
E Marcos was put into jailed because of his renowned corruption. The main important ingredient
is the oligarchy of political type, which means it focuses on the group of people not capitalists as
determined class.
Under the government of Yingluck. Thai and Burma become intimate as 65th anniversary
of Thai-Burma diplomatic relations and the successful agreement of Dawei mega structure
cooperation, according to Dawei port project now being built by Italian-Thai Development Plc.
The President Thein Sein and Prime Ministers Yingluck eventually signed the Memorandam Of
Understanding after 90 minutes talk in several issues of cooperation; comprehensive
development of the Dawei Economic Zone and deep-sea port, Myanmar’s human resources
development, capacity- building for Myanmar ‘s ASEAN chairmanship in 2014 and also covering
to develop infrastructure inside the country and further cooperation relating to energy forum
establishing, including opening a number of checkpoints along borders such as Chiang Mai, Mae
Hong Son, Kanchanaburi, and Ratchaburi 5 . Significantly the priority between Thailand and
Burma is the joint-development between Dewei Seaport and Leam Chabang project which
develop similarly as industrial zone.
Dewei Seaports and Leam Chabang link will help to reduce the logistics costs and travel
time by using railways instead of road from India’s Chennai to Thai’s Leam Chabang, saving from
5
Thein Sein, PM ink deal on sea port.[online] Available from:http://www.bangkokpost.com/lite/topstories/303931/thein-sein-pmink-deal-on-sea-port.July 27,2013.Retrived on December 2014.
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6 days to only 3 days. This is not only for preserving the quality of goods in transportations, but it
also encourages Burma as the heart of Southeast Asia and facilitate to China.
As ethnic and border conflicts, Both had peaceful talks during ASEAN summit in Brunei
in April 2013.The topics aimed to discuss about Rohinya and displaced people illegal immigrants
from Burma to Thailand6.Rohinya is Muslim Burmese who just had confronted with Buddhism
Rakhine Burmese, consequently Rohinya turned to homeless people and migrants from Burma,
some fled off by boats to any countries nearby, including southwest of Thailand. In Abhisit’s
government period, Rohinya seems not to be treated well and repatriate them to Burma. While
Yingluck ‘s government period, among monitoring by UN Refugee Agency, those Rohinya might
be sold to human trafficking, as a result, US state department urge that Thai should have more
transparent investigations. While Major General of Thai Police, Chatchawal,revealed that Rohinya,
who were deported, are willingness to do so; however the selling of Rohinya migrants could be
the matter that US ‘decision to downgrade Thailand into Tier3., which may lead to US sanction
eventually, unless Thai will have full intentions to improve the situation in contending with human
trafficking obviously. The ethnic problem still be a significant effect to Thai and Burma relations,
turning sours unexpectedly, including US and UNHCR.
General Prayut Chan-o-Cha,after the coup d’etat emerged in May 2014,become Prime
Minister and head of the National Council for Peace and Order. Therefore Thailand turns to military
government, ruled by junta. The vicious cycle of Thai politics retains like usual, which actually
move along the cycle (election – coup - military). He made an official visit to Burma in October
2014.The relations between Thai-Burma forge stronger because Thai ruled by junta military as
Burma does. Min Aung Hlaing,a candidate to be the next President and famous in
tatmadaw,praised Prayut in doing the right thing. This is also backed up by china that it does not
only make connection of transportation, roads, from China to Burma, but also provider of good
support,if Burma or Thailand will be sanctioned as international pressure.7 This could also affect
6
Yingluck Discuss Bilateral Relations and Refugees with Thein Sein.[online]Available from: http://thailandnewsworth.
wordpress.com/2013/04/25/yingluck-discuss-bilateral-relations-and-refugees-with-thein-sein/.Retrived on December 2014.
7
Pravin Chachavalpongpun.The New Thailand-Myanmar Axis.The Diplomat.July 20,2014.[online]Available from:
http://thediplomat.com/2014/07/the-new-thailand-myanmar-axis/Retrived on December 2014.
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to Thai and US relations, concerning that Southeast Asia may pave the way to military
authoritarian. They may not be able to restore democracy back: moreover, China will also
influence to the region more than the past, for example in the forms of trade and logistic
cooperation and as partners of ASEAN and dialogue ASEAN plus three.
However there is a criminal crime in which occurs in Thailand as Two Myanmar National
murdered two British tourists on Koh Tao.Thein Sien called for Prayuth to set up a fair investigation,
including to respect the rights of migrant workers .Prayuth is quite determined then he stated that
“if they are guilty, action should be taken according to the law. However, the investigation need
to be clean and fair” reflecting that he priorities to abide by the law and pay respect to the
transparency, according to the democracy means; thought it seems look opposite what he did in
Thailand.
Thai Foreign policy of Thailand in the past has no exact direction so it is hard to predict
which Thai Foreign Policy toward others would be; however it may be forecasted by realizing that
Thai foreign policy shaped by the “blend with the wind” diplomatic practice; consideration and
take side with great powers and ASEAN cooperation. The good neighboring policy might be used
to apply for adjusting the situation with neighboring countries as priority and the best way to solve
conflicts is to negotiate between two opponents with a sense of compromise. Moreover, Thailand
may have self-perceptions as a leading role in Southeast Asia and support Burma become a
member of ASEAN in 1997 and a chairmanship in 2014.Thai and Burma are quite bound, however
they turn intimate when Thai ruled by military Junta under Praayuth as Prime Minister such as
Burma. While under the leader Yingluck’s period, Thailand has progressed in developed with
Burma in economic side by side by; no matter trade at borders or trade under the ASEAN
member’s circumstances, including the investment directly by Thai investors, particularly from
Thakin Shinawatra, former Prime Minister who has his business under Shin Corporations, dealing
with communications and satellite business by using Governmental power as supporting his
business under the framework of Crony capitalism and this also transfer policy to his sister,
Yingluck as well.
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Let move back in the past, Burma and Thai confronted several times; particularly ethnic
nationalist armies, God army separated branch of Karen National Union. There were not only
hospital hijack incidents; but also the assassination of Burmese Junta leader or capture the
hostage at the Embassy of Burma. In the other words, Thai is made used as victim that ethnic
armies aimed to demanding junta to have a political negotiate with NLD as following more
democratic path. In other word, they fight for democracy. This may affect to frontier trade as
subsequent closing several Thai-Burma border to shut down temporal relations. However, it could
not take a long time, the border trade resumed in a short period .It could be said that the relations
between Thai and Burma could be pragmatic under joint-economic cooperation, logging, fishing
and other energy investment opportunities.8
No matter how many Thai sent Burmese refugee back, some also remained in refugee
camps as Thai government was put under pressure for “Human rights matter” as sending them
back it seems like sending them to be killed. Tatmadaw perceived that refugee camps in Thailand
such a hiding place and strongholds where the KNU and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army
(DKBA) conceal to counter with the government9. The existence of the camp could be an evidence
that ethnic groups seek for safer place to attack and the situations become more complicated
and hard to seek for solution with the help of Thai government.
In the reign of Thein Sein, He has focused on the assistance of Japan such a key in
developing my Myanmar, particularly Dawei Deep seaport and an overland link form Andaman to
Bangkok and Gulf of Thailand, including small business and reforming infrastructure; distributions
of electricity and Yangoon’s Transportation. In the other word, it is not only china where Myanmar
has engaged with the linked transportation; but also Japan also as good assistance in contribute
to develop the infrastructure. This could reflect that Burma has strategic relation with East –Asia
region.
8
Christina Fink.The Internationalization of Burma’s Politics.Living Silence:Burma under Military Rule.(London:Zed Books.)p.234238.
9
Briefly,Myanmar’s God Army’s Twins Reunite. New York Times.Associated Press.November 2,2013.
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Furthermore, Thein Sein is looking forward to bridging the relations with Thai government;
no matter military or civilian government, under several joint-economic cooperation. Thein Sein
visited to Thailand for Dewai Special Economic Zone (SEZ) cooperation located in Burma’s
Tenasserim Division in July 2012 and also attended 5th Grater Mekong Sub-Region summit in
December 2014 and Prayuth Chan O Cha also visited Myanmar for the ASEAN summit conference
in November 2014.The good evidence of the great cooperation between Thailand and Burma is
the Italian-Thai PCL projects in Myanmar under the support of Japan. When Prayuth met with
Mr.Minoru Kiuchi ,Japan Vice’s Foreign Minister has shown interest to involve, after Thai has
increased to the involvement. Moreover, Yongyuth, the Thai government spokesman, revealed
that Thailand would sign the agreement for forging the intimate relation with Burma as determining
border area as sister provinces.10
In Conclusion, the relation between Thailand and Burma becomes closer after Thai
government turns to Junta as same as Burmese military government. Furthermore the key purpose
of relation is the economic cooperation, Dawei Deep Sea project as particular. Thailand have got
involved in dealing to develop Burma infrastructure under the private business,Italian-Thai
Plc.Furthermore, Japan is also the key investor to increase several projects in developing Burma.
This is to say that, the Thai- Burma border conflicts in the past seem to be ignore, although a
number of refugee from Burma flee to Thailand causing more budgets on the refugee camps,
including unexpected crimes related to ethnic Burmese. Recently, owing to the crimes related to
two Britons in Koh Tao in Thailand, Thai government perceives that the crime has to be prosecuted
decently to preserve Thai-Burma relations.
10
The Irrawady.Thai Prime Minister to Meet President Thein Sein in Naypyidaw.[online]Available from: http://www.irrawaddy.org/
burma/thai-prime-minister-meet-president-thein-sein-naypyidaw.html.October 9,2014.Retrived on October 25,2012.