1 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.) 2 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 3 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-pm- ink-deal-on-sea-port.July 27,2013.Retrived on December 2014. 4 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 6Yingluck 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. 7Pravin 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. 5 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.