The anticipated entry into mainstream Myanmar politics of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is expected to hasten a Thai rethink of its policies regarding its neighbour to the west.
MYANMAR RISING: From far left to right, a labourer at a deep sea port project in Mayingyi, part of the Dawei Special Economic Zone development. Cashiers with piles of kyat banknotes at a private bank in Yangon. Children from Myanmar’s Mon state ride on a vehicle to a school on Thailand’s side of the border in Kanchanaburi’s Sangkhla Buri district
The impact on Thailand of Myanmar's push towards democracy and development is substantial. The contribution to the Thai economy of migrant workers _ both legal and illegal _ from Myanmar and the massive refugee camps on the border between the two countries are just two of the major issues that have to be addressed.
Surachart Bamrungsuk, an associate professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University, believes Thailand needs a new mindset to deal with Myanmar, which must take into account the geopolitical strategies of the major powers.
''How we analyse the situation in Myanmar, how we see our future with this immediate neighbour _ which will involve major powers such as the US, China and India _ will certainly affect us and Asean as a whole, not to mention the greater impact of economic and business transactions between Myanmar and the rest of the world. These are issues that the Thai government has yet to smartly respond to,'' said Mr Surachart.
While an economic boom in Myanmar would benefit both regional economies and the Thai economy, there could be negative side effects such as a mass return of migrant workers to a newly prosperous Myanmar. Millions of migrant workers are helping drive the Thai economy, and the majority are from Myanmar.
This would result in a labour shortage and create challenges for Thai industry, said Mr Surachat, echoing a concern already raised by Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan.
In the longer term, when democracy has firmly taken hold in Myanmar, another issue will be cooperation between the two countries on border demarcation and the eventual closure of border refugee camps, added Mr Surachart.
Less than 100km of the 2,401km Thai-Myanmar border have been demarcated, and hundreds of thousands of refugees are living in nine camps along the porous boundary.
Former foreign minister Kasit Piromya said sooner or later later Thailand and Myanmar would have to begin constructive talks on border demarcation.
''The Yingluck administration has yet to determine what and how it will address the changing [political] landscape of our neighbour,'' said Mr Kasit, now an adviser to the House committee on border affairs.
As a first step, Mr Kasit said Thailand should voice its support for the move to democracy in Myanmar and offer tangible help in the form of technical cooperation, collaboration on development projects and the provision of soft loans.
Mr Kasit said he was confident there would not be a repetition of previous corruption scandals that involved politicians from both countries.
He said the onus was now on politicians, bureaucrats from various ministries and Thai diplomatic staff in Myanmar to come up with creative ways to invigorate bilateral exchanges.
''There should be deeper and wider contacts between all levels of civil servants, as well members of the public such as writers, the media, photographers, artists and monks,'' he said.
''A set of bilateral talks with Myanmar, with the involvement of the UN Refugee Agency and the International Organisation of Migration, should also be scheduled to oversee the gradual and peaceful ending of the refugee saga,'' said Mr Kasit.
Wirat Niyomtam, associate professor of humanities at Naresuan University, said the Thai public should be better educated on the lives of people in Myanmar.
In addition to policy-makers, many Thais share the same outdated stereotypes of their neighbours as ''sarong-wearing, dogmatic Buddhists, and poor farmers living under a rigid dictatorial regime'', said Mr Wirat.
''There are many unknown facets to our neighbours and things are changing from the old days. Without a proper and accurate understanding of our neighbour, Thailand will be irrelevant to the emerging Myanmar,'' said the expert on Myanmar language and culture.
He encouraged government agencies to adopt a new way of thinking and promote Thai engagement in Myanmar in a ''respectful, non-exploitative way''.
Gen Akanit Muansawasdi, who heads the Supreme Command's Border Affairs Department, said the armies of both countries had good relations and more exchanges would be taking place.
Gen Akanit accompanied the director-general of the Royal Thai Army Medical Department to a meeting with their Myanmar counterparts in Nay Pi Taw on Friday.
The First Region Army Commander also recently held talks with his Myanmar counterpart, following exchange visits.
Gen Akanit said the Regional Border Committee (RBC) would meet in Thaungyi in May. Thailand has proposed to Myanmar the setting up of a high-level committee to deal with border issues. However, Myanmar still believed the RBC was the most effective channel to resolve border disputes.
Permanent secretary for foreign affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow rejects the suggestion that Thailand has been slow in responding to the changes in Myanmar.
''Our priorities must be fine-tuned with their priorities in mind, not simply focusing on economic links or business transactions. What is needed is support for their national reconciliation agenda and that is what Thailand is doing at the moment,'' said Mr Sihasak.
Thailand, along with other Asean countries, has been helping Myanmar in international arenas such as the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly to ensure resolutions about Myanmar reflect the reality of what is taking place in the country, he said.
''We have made it clear that Thailand's policy towards our neighbours will be pro-stability, pro-development and pro-people. Hence we have been supporting Myanmar in its preparations for Asean chairmanship as well as in helping the country secure sustainable democracy by having a workable and functional bureaucracy, through trilateral [training] collaboration,'' said the senior official.
Talks were progressing between Thailand, Japan, Germany and the EU to increase cooperation with Myanmar, especially in the areas of agriculture, education and health, said Mr Sihasak.
In May, the Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency will meet with its Myanmar counterparts to discuss ways to expand bilateral schemes in future.
Thailand has also continued its commitment to financing infrastructure, in particular the upgrading of the East-West Economic Corridor road that should help link Myanmar's deep-sea port with Thailand's eastern seaboard, said Mr Sihasak.
On the Dawei project, Mr Sihasak said the Thai government should help the private sector find more investors and boost the confidence of local and senior government officials in the project.
