12 Feb 88
FE/0073 A3/2
(2) he Indochinese countries want to test the capabilities of Thailand, especially the efficiency of Thailand's air warning system, and to see how Thailand co-ordinates its electronic warfare system with its ground and air forces, which means testing Thailand's war potential.
(3) "The Lao government has decided to wage a proxy war by itself in exchange for economic or other assistance."
Thai-Lao relations have soured ever since Laos fell under the influence of a third country. "The said third country has set up a puppet government by selecting Lao people who favour a superpower that is already its patron. Instead of doing anything to defend the national interests of Laos, these puppets have tried to do everything commanded by their patron country in exchange for their own gains and those of their associates. The natural resources of Laos have been shifted to help its patron instead of being used for the benefit of the Lao people. The third country has also incited the Lao people to hate their fraternal country, Thailand, and taught the Lao people to be blindly loyal to its patron country. A large number of Lao people have been misled and have unprecedentedly done something aggressive against Thailand."
OTHER REPORTS ON THAI-LAO BORDER
DISPUTE
Laos reports 255 Thai sorties “into Lao airspace” in early February (Text) According to a report from Boten district, from 0600 to 1600 hours yesterday [10th February], the Thai ultra-rightist reactionary troops fired nearly 300 rounds of various types of artillery shells at positions of our armed forces in Na Bonoi canton of Boten district, Sayaboury Province. At the same time, their F-5 aircraft flew several sorties over the area. From 28th January to 7th February, the Thai ultra- rightist reactionaries sent different kinds of aircraft, including F-5s and spy planes to fly 255 sorties into Lao airspace over Na Bonoi canton. (Vientiane home service 0000 gmt 11 Feb 88)
(Text)
Vientiane display of Thai aircraft wreckage An electronic, unmanned Thai reconnaissance aircraft shot down by Lao forces in Boten district, Sayaboury Province, is being exhibited here [Vientiane] and drew a large crowd of Vientiane population. Vientiane people showed keen interest as they inspected samples of weaponry and personal effects of Thai soldiers killed in Boten district. Also on display are the correct maps demarcating the Lao-Thai border, as spelled out in the Franco-Siamese protocol and treaty signed in 1907. The forged version of Thai maps are also on display for the public to compare. (KPL in English 0920 gmt 9 Feb 88)
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Lao paper "disproves" Thai Foreign Minister's points on border dispute (FE/0071 A3/1 Excerpt) Through its commentary today [10th February], 'Pasason' disproves the points made on the evening of 8th February by Thai Foreign Minister Sitthi Sawetsila, saying that they were nothing more than deceitful lies aiming at convincing not only Thai but world public. 'Pasason' comments that starting from the premise that the western part of Boten district, Lao Sayaboury Province, belongs to Thailand, the head of Thai diplomats concocted five points which had no single truth in any of them.
SWB
In the statement made through Thai media, Sitthi Sawetsila groundlessly and with no qualms pointed the finger at the Lao, saying that the Lao side is the culprit wanting to illegally annex the disputed area rightfully belonging to the Thai people... (KPL in English 0859 gmt 10 Feb 88)
Cambodian organisations condemn Thai "provocative acts” against Laos (Excerpts) A 250-strong meeting was organised in Phnom Penh [on] Monday afternoon [8th February] jointly by the National Council of the KUFNCD and the Kampuchea-Laos Friendship Association, to condemn the Thai authorities' provocative acts against the LPDR. Addressing the meeting, Mat Ly, Political Bureau member of the KPRP Central Committee ... said: The Kampuchean people have followed with keen interest the grave situation caused by the Thai ultra-rightist ruling circles who are hatching the ambition of pan-Thaism against the earnest desire of peoples of Laos and Thailand for peace and good- neighborliness. . .
The meeting adopted a resolution urging the Thai ultra- rightist ruling circles to put an immediate end to their aggression against Laos, pull out all their forces from Lao territory, and positively respond to the LPDR's good-will proposal for peacefully settling the disputes on the principles of equality and without preconditions... (SPK in English 1125 gmt 9 Feb 88)
Thai report of Lao attacks on townships in Loei Province (Excerpts) Laotian troops fired over 60 mortar and artillery shells in and around the main township of Na Haeo district in Loei Province yesterday [10th February], forcing the evacuation of a hospital and breaking up a demonstration of about 1,000 villagers protesting the Laotian intrusion into Thai territory... The attack drew condemnation from Thai military officers because the township, although located about 2 km from the border, is some 40 km from the main combat zone near Ban Romklao in Chat Trakan district of Phitsanulok Province... Apart from Na Haeo township, field sources said Laotian troops also shelled Ban Na Charoen and Ban Muang Phrae townships of the same district with 105- mm and 82-mm mortar fire, forcing schools there to close...
Third army commander Lt-Gen Siri Thiwaphan said Laos seemed to be expanding the battle front. In Phitsanulok province yesterday, Uttaradit Governor Thawatchai Somsaman said Thai and Laotian troops clashed briefly in his province for the first time since the Ban Romklao counter-offensive operations began. He said Thai soldiers patrolling Ban Huai Pong in Nam Pat district exchanged fire with a Laotian patrol for about 15 minutes. The Thai patrol suffered no casualties. . . ('Bangkok Post' in English 11 Feb 88)
Thailand considering ending electricity imports from Laos (Excerpt) Electricity imports from Laos may be halted if Vientiane persists in its claims to Ban Romklao, a source said yesterday [10th February]. Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanon has asked the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand [EGAT] to assess the impact on Laos of a suspension of the contract in which Thailand buys power from Laos, he said. [The] Prime Minister's Secretary-General Prasong Sunsiri
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