Shockwaves in Chiang Mai

Bangkok News Wednesday April 30, 2008

The recent discoveries of an ammunition cache and a bomb in Chiang Mai have sent shockwaves throughout the northern capital, as the city is not used to such findings in its backyard.

The discoveries, however, are unlikely to have anything to do with local political conflicts as some have speculated. It is more likely the ammunition was meant for those fighting for independence beyond the northern border.

The cache, containing about 800 bullets for M1 Garand semi-automatic rifles, was possibly destined for the minority rebels fighting the Burmese military government.

The junta said in February that it was organising a constitutional referendum in May to be followed by a general election in 2010.

Opponents have derided the new charter as an alleged ploy by the military government to extend its dominance in politics even further, bar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from public office, and institute legal immunity for members of the junta if and when they are out of power.

The rebels have sworn not to concede an inch of territory under their control near the northern Thai border to the Burmese junta.

Since the new constitution in Burma is only seen as adding more teeth to the junta's already iron-fisted rule, the rebels should brace for a protracted armed battle with the military government.

However, some of the leaders of the Burmese ethnic groups like the Karen National Union (KNU), the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), and the Shan State Army (SSA) say they are not connected in any way to the discovered ammunition.

Last Thursday , about 800 bullets for M1 Garand semi-automatic rifles were found in fertiliser bags near the Saphan Lek bridge crossing on the Ping river.

Military experts said bullets of this type were formerly used by the Thai army. These days only the armed ethnic minorities are known to be using them along the Thai-Burmese border, they said.

The following day, an explosive made from a spray can, with a remote control circuit, was found in a car park in the compound of Wat Saen Fang on Tha Pae road, only about four kilometres from the site of the earlier discovery.

Some observers felt the discovery was a "convenient coincidence" as it came on the eve of a three-day official visit by Burmese Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein to Thailand yesterday.

The arms discovery was apparently aimed at bringing to the fore the dissenting voices of those opposing the May 10 Burmese referendum on a draft constitution proposed by the military junta.

The opponents say they simply do not buy the junta's propaganda that the constitution will serve as a "road map to democracy."

As it happens, pro-democracy activists could not move around freely in Burma, so they use three to four provinces bordering Burma such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son and Tak as bases for their public relations exercises.

Some Burmese migrant workers in Thailand are known to have taken part in the anti-junta campaign.

Army intelligence staff do not believe the arms caches were linked to local political activities involving provincial council or municipality elections.

It is very unlikely that competition at the local political level would ever become so fierce as to justify acquisition of so many rounds of ammunition, note security authorities.

The use of brutal force to get rid of rivals was unthinkable and it would only backfire on them.

National politics, especially that related to the contentious charter amendment, has also not reached boiling point as yet, an army source added.


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