Bush’s 22 hour Thai visit ends on a hopeful note

After months of clearouts in the Thai capital for the much awaited visit of the US president George W Bush, his arrival further led to water tight security in the entire province with about 200 US security officials posted in Mae Sot since early this week.

While Bush was all devoted to some serious political issues, the first lady, Laura Bush, toured Mae La Refugee Camp a refugee camp packed with tens of thousands of desperate families. This came as an extension to her vigorous campaign for human rights in Burma. She also singled out Myanmar’s senior general, Than Shwe, several times as responsible for the plight of the refugees

While traveling through the Mercy Centre slums of Bangkok and lunching with Burmese dissidents on Thursday, the American president was heard greatly praising Thailand as “the land of the free.” He also addressed a handful of people including Thai politicians, university students and dignitaries at a convention centre. Bush seemed to be on a consolidation mission, marking 175 years of wonderful relation ships with the Thaïs.

In his 22-hour visit to Thailand, Bush traveled past fetid canals, shanties and skyscrapers before reaching the compound of the U.S. ambassador’s residence, where he dined with Burmese activists and academics. Bush was briefed by U.S. officials on the cyclone that struck the country’s Irrawaddy Delta in May, leaving at least 130,000 people dead or missing. He also gave interviews to dissident Burmese radio journalists.