Thai PM : ASEAN Highway to be completed in 4 years

BANGKOK, Nov 14 (TNA) - Relations between Thailand and its neighbour Myanmar are still warm while an ongoing construction of ASEAN Highway which will facilitate communications between the two countries further will be completed in the next four years, says Prime Minister Gen. Surayud Chulanont.

Gen. Surayud told Government House reporters on Monday in a first official meeting with the media since his government has come into power following a bloodless coup on Sept 19 that relations between the two countries have continued well as construction of a 60-kilometer long ASEAN Highway segment would be completed in the next four years.

So far, construction work has progressed 20 kilometres, or one-third of the total distance while the remainder is taking a longer time due to the rugged nature of the high elevation terrain, he said.

"I've said that Thailand and Myanmar's (political) stances are almost the same--except that Thailand has said that a draft of its new constitution (will be in place) and an election will be held within a year," Gen. Surayud indicated.

"Thailand wants to see Myanmar to follow a democratic path without confrontation," the prime minister said.

Gen. Surayud said he planned to meet his Myanmar counterpart Gen. Soe Win after attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders conference to be held in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi this weekend.

Source: TNA - 14 November 2006

Would anyone know from which town this highway is coming from and going to?

Would anyone know from which town this highway is coming from and going to?

http://www.aseansec.org/ahnp_a.htm maps linked

"I've said that Thailand and Myanmar's (political) stances are almost the same--except that Thailand has said that a draft of its new constitution (will be in place) and an election will be held within a year," Gen. Surayud indicated.

Surayud continues the policy of his precedessor." Burma is a country like any other. Let's make business with them, open roads etc."

To compare the writing of constitution in Burma (started... 10 years ago) with the same process in Thailand, is an insult (for Thailand I mean).

They have no decency. It's insane.

Just to be paranoid:

1)How much slave labour is being used for the Myanmar segment

2)Why would the Prime Minister want to boast about similarities with the Burmese regime?

3) All these highways across Asia are going to make it much easier for China to move tanks about!

4) Looks like most of the Asean transport network funding will be through Myanmar. Whose paying for it all I wonder??

Surayud continues the policy of his precedessor." Burma is a country like any other. Let's make business with them, open roads etc."

To compare the writing of constitution in Burma (started... 10 years ago) with the same process in Thailand, is an insult (for Thailand I mean).

They have no decency. It's insane.

Maybe Surayud recognises he is no position to preach democracy to Burmese at the moment.

Highway is not a business like a gas pipeline that benefits only its owners - it connects people on the ground. Free movements of people going about their business is politically risky for Burmese junta.

Judging from the very useful link provided it looks like they are talking about Highway 1 or 2.

If either is finished 4 years then I think there will be a very great danger from low flying pigs............