Burmese junta accuses Thailand of 'meddling'

Thailand as the rotating chair of the 10-member Asean last week issued a statement expressing "grave concern'' over the trial, saying "the honour and the credibility of the (Burmese government) are at stake.''

The ruling junta rejected the statement and issued its statement on Monday through the New Light of Myanmar, state television and radio, accusing Thailand of interfering in the country's internal affairs.

"This statement issued by the alternate Asean chairman -- which is not in conformity with Asean practice, incorrect in facts, interfering in the internal affairs of Myanmar (Burma) -- is strongly rejected by Myanmar," it said.

"It is sadly noted that the alternate Asean chairman failed to preserve the dignity of Asean,  the dignity of Myanmar and the dignity of Thailand," said the statement.

Suu Kyi, who has been in detention without trial for more than 13 years, is being tried on charges of violating the terms of her house arrest after an American, John W. Yettaw, swam to her home on May 4 and stayed for two days.

The Nobel Peace laureate pleaded not guilty last Friday. If found guilty, the 63-year-old Suu Kyi faces up to five years in prison.

Meanwhile the European Union praised Thailand's "remarkable" statement of concern last week on Burma's new trial of Suu Kyi.

"I found it a remarkable statement at the moment when we all want to see Aung San Suu Kyi relased and hope that she isn't imprisoned again," European Union external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said.

 The commissioner told Abhisit Monday morning that the EU welcomed his statement from last week, as current chair of Asean, in which he expressed the region's concern about the ongoing trial of Suu Kyi which could end in her being sentenced to five years in jail. 

   Ferrero-Waldner, who was in Bangkok en route to the Asia-European foreign ministers' meeting held in Vietnam Monday and Tuesday, said she expected to meet with the Burma's foreign minister in Hanoi to discuss Suu Kyi's trial.

 "We, most probably, in the form of a troika, will see the foreign minister of Myanmar in Hanoi, so we can pass on very clearly our views of the necessity of freeing all political prisoners, including Aun San Suu Kyi," the EU commissioner told a press conference in Bangkok.

 The troika is made up Ferrero-Waldner and the Czech and Swedish foreign ministers who represent the current and the future EU presidency. 

   Ferrero-Waldner called on Asean and Burma's other neighbours, China and India, to engage with the junta to bring about change in the country, which has been under military rule since 1962.

   The government statement said Asean's statements must be made with the consensus of its members. Thai Foreign Ministry sources, however, claim the chair has the right to make statements for the grouping, which is somewhat notorious for its past ineffectiveness in     influencing the poor conduct of some of its member states.

Burma became a member of Asean in 1997, amid staunch objections from the EU and US. Asean now includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. 

Burma's military regime ranks among the world's pariah states. It has kept Aung San Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, under house arrest for 13 of the past 19 years.

 Her current detention term is set to expire on Wednesday.