Bkk post -Close ties are a safe bet

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Bangkok Post - Dec 6, 1999.
PROFILE / VIKROM AISIRI


Close ties are a safe bet
The casino owner who doesn't gamble says Thailand should be more patient =
with Burma and not side with the West when it attacks Rangoon as part of =
efforts to divide Asia. His allegiance to Burma is understandable-he has =
made his billions there-and is appreciated by Rangoon and Bangkok alike =
whenever they need to talk.


Nauvarat Suksamran


When Foreign Affairs Minister Surin Pitsuwan returned from Rangoon two =
weeks ago with news that Burma would re-open its border with Thailand, =
little was known about the intense behind-the-scenes diplomacy that had =
defused the month-long gridlock. Hugely responsible was Vikrom Aisiri, =
until then a billionaire of mystery.

It is not overstating the case to say Mr Vikrom was crucial to the =
success of Mr Surin's visit to Burma and ensured the minister did not =
return home empty handed.

But instead of jumping into the limelight, Mr Vikrom has retreated back =
to the privacy of his vast business empire.

As a man of connection, particularly with Burma's ruling generals, Mr =
Vikrom said he felt obliged to help convince Rangoon to normalise ties =
after the junta slammed shut the border in response to the occupation of =
the Burmese embassy in Bangkok on Oct 1-2 by refugee students.

Mr Vikrom is the owner of the luxury Andaman Club Hotel in Burmese =
waters off Ranong. The hotel is set on a wide expanse on Thahtay Kyun =
island with a casino catering to mainly Thai and other foreign gamblers.

People started asking questions about Mr Vikrom after there were reports =
that the border crossing serving his hotel was the only one which =
remained open at the height of the diplomatic breakdown.

A man of few words, the 52-year-old businessman decided to break his =
silence to answer queries regarding his role in settling various =
state-level disputes-especially after he was offended by being branded a =
"gambling den master" with unrestricted access to the junta in Rangoon. =
"I'm not a 'den master' so don't look at me as one," he said. "I don't =
even know how to gamble. I'm a hotelier dealing in the business of =
tourism.

"The casino isn't Andaman Club's selling point. It's merely part of the =
attraction," he said, claiming that the hotel imposed strict =
requirements on entry to the casino.

"We sell what nature has to offer more than anything else."Mr Vikrom =
took part in negotiating the release of 30 Thais caught entering Burma =
illegally at Victoria Point, opposite his hotel, and also has been =
commended for his efforts in persuading Burma to reverse its decision to =
withdraw the fishing concessions granted to Thai trawlers, also in =
response to the embassy occupation.

He said the 30 Thais were not arrested at his hotel casino as had been =
reported; they were rounded up 50km away. The report was attributed to =
speculation that his casino had the green light from Burma to stay open =
while the border closure was in effect and so it was the only place open =
to gambling.

Mr Vikrom has won the trust of the government by liaising with Burma. =
Observers said he has acted so competently that some people are saying =
he has the makings of a future foreign minister. He met regularly with =
the Burmese leaders and exchanged ideas on the border situation in an =
attempt to avoid any worsening of relations.

It was reported that he organised the talks prior to Mr Surin's visit =
that resulted in Rangoon lifting the border closure.

He said he was approached by businessmen to help arrange meetings with =
the junta, but he had never boasted of his top-level connections in =
order to further his own interests.

Mr Vikrom said his vision was to turn Ranong into the tourism powerhouse =
of the Andaman Sea, rivalling Phuket.

And he has the cash and the will to realise his ambition.

Much of his wealth has come from many years involved in Burma's main =
industries of logging, gem-mining, pearling and prawn farming, as well =
as an eco-tourism operation at St-Lukes island south of Victoria Point. =
He also was awarded the multi-billion-baht project to build the =
Marid-Rangoon highway.

His combined net worth is put at more than 10 billion baht. Because he =
is trusted by the Burmese government to undertake major undertakings, it =
comes as no surprise that he is sought after in time of diplomatic =
difficulty.

An insider said Mr Vikrom always came in handy as he was only a phone =
call away from the State Peace and Development Council's leadership.

"Khun Vikrom is the go-between who brings two people together," said one =
close aide to the businessman.

The aide said Rangoon had cut off its nose to spite its face and had =
suffered greatly by the border closure but was too proud to correct its =
mistake.

Mr Vikrom insists he alone does not deserve credit for normalising =
relations; Mr Surin, the Foreign Ministry and the government as a whole =
also were instrumental.

He also said business relations with Burma, as with foreign policy, must =
be conducted on a firm basis of trust, honesty and neighbourliness.

Mr Vikrom said his business activities in Burma are far from shady as =
they followed the proper legal procedures with the backing of Burma's =
board of investment.

His first commercial contact with Burma was in 1990 in the gem and =
logging trades, which he took over from a friend. This was a big leap =
and a departure from his family's building business, he said.

Mr Vikrom said he exports timber from Burma to India, not Thailand. He =
also mines, processes and markets gems.

His interest in hotel operations began when he invested in the Dusit =
Island Resort Hotel in Chiang Rai. He later went on to lease Thahtay =
Kyun island for 45 years and built the Andaman Club Hotel, which was =
completed in 1995. Its opening was presided over by Lt-Gen Kyaw Ba, =
Burma's hotel and tourism minister.

Mr Vikrom rejects the idea that he is a "godfather", and said he was =
content to live away from the media glare. He leads a simple life and =
has no intention of chasing the media so he can rebut every negative =
claim made against him.

The father of four is a graduate of Chulalongkorn University's commerce =
and accountancy faculty, where he was a classmate of Don Paramatvinai, =
the foreign ministry spokesman, and Palakorn Suwannarat, director of the =
Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre.

The no-frills Mr Vikrom said he has a clean record and is willing to go =
to any lengths to prove it. Had he been involved in any illegal =
dealings, he would have been blacklisted by Rangoon and Bangkok, he =
claimed.

The billionaire is keen to push ahead with an aggressive plan to develop =
Ranong's tourism potential. The province has good road and air links, =
has plenty of sun and sand to woo visitors, and his West Group of =
companies is more than ready to establish a foothold, he said.

On the drawing board are plans for a floating hotel, the newest addition =
to his chain of hotels and a world-class golf course on the Burma side =
of the border.

Mr Vikrom's family ran a building company. As the eldest son, his father =
made sure he had a deep knowledge and expertise in engineering.

He describes himself as determined and a go-getter. Although he pays =
meticulous attention to detail, he rarely hesitates when it comes to =
investment.

Some time ago, he placed orders worth millions of baht for leisure boats =
from Norway.

What he wants most is to see a canal dug across the Kra isthmus to make =
Thailand the region's leading shipping nation.

"If I set out to do something, I must succeed despite the risks," he =
said, shrugging off warnings about investing in Burma due to the =
political uncertainty.

Mr Vikrom says he is very familiar with the ups and downs of business, =
and has always managed to survive. He recalls having land he bought in a =
joint investment in Phnom Penh seized by the Cambodian government. But =
it is different in Burma. Although investment is not always smooth and =
rosy, he said he has never been cheated.

Disputes over fishing rights, which at one stage developed into a =
confrontation between Thai trawlers and the Burmese authorities, should =
not be politicised or portrayed as a threat to bilateral relations, he =
said.

Thailand should be patient when dealing with the fishing issue because =
Burma does not have all the resources necessary to safeguard its =
maritime interests.

We should also steer clear of Burma's internal affairs, he said, going =
on to condemn the West's claims about Burma's human rights record as =
nothing more than propaganda in its attempt to divide Asia for its own =
economic gain.

Thailand should act as a guardian and help its neighbours, he said.

"We of the same colour and race should unite instead of being misled =
into believing that Burma is cruel and inhospitable."There have been =
reports that Mr Vikrom might run in the country's first senate election =
early next year, and he admits that he has been approached by political =
parties to run on their behalf in both the lower and the upper house =
elections.

Reports say preparations are under way to muster support among Ranong's =
business sector.

But Mr Vikrom said he has not made up his mind yet as politics was not =
his career goal. But he added that life generally is full of uncertainty =
and it is his nature to always take chances regardless of the cost.


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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DARIAL,HELVETICA>Bangkok Post - Dec 6,=20
1999.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><STRONG><FONT color=3D#900000 =
face=3DARIAL,HELVETICA>PROFILE /=20
VIKROM AISIRI</FONT></STRONG></DIV><BR><!-- HEADLINE -->
<H1 align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D4>Close ties are a safe bet</FONT></H1>
<H1><!--KICKER--><FONT size=3D3><I><FONT size=3D4>The </FONT>casino =
owner who=20
doesn't gamble says Thailand should be more patient with Burma and not =
side with=20
the West when it attacks Rangoon as part of efforts to divide Asia. His=20
allegiance to Burma is understandable-he has made his billions there-and =
is=20
appreciated by Rangoon and Bangkok alike whenever they need to=20
talk.</I><BR><BR></H1></FONT>
<P><FONT color=3D#000000><!--BYLINE--><B><FONT size=3D3>Nauvarat=20
Suksamran</FONT></B><BR>
<P><FONT size=3D+2><B>W</B></FONT>hen Foreign Affairs Minister Surin =
Pitsuwan=20
returned from Rangoon two weeks ago with news that Burma would re-open =
its=20
border with Thailand, little was known about the intense =
behind-the-scenes=20
diplomacy that had defused the month-long gridlock. Hugely responsible =
was=20
Vikrom Aisiri, until then a billionaire of mystery.</P>
<P>It is not overstating the case to say Mr Vikrom was crucial to the =
success of=20
Mr Surin's visit to Burma and ensured the minister did not return home =
empty=20
handed.</P>
<P>But instead of jumping into the limelight, Mr Vikrom has retreated =
back to=20
the privacy of his vast business empire.</P>
<P>As a man of connection, particularly with Burma's ruling generals, Mr =
Vikrom=20
said he felt obliged to help convince Rangoon to normalise ties after =
the junta=20
slammed shut the border in response to the occupation of the Burmese =
embassy in=20
Bangkok on Oct 1-2 by refugee students.</P>
<P>Mr Vikrom is the owner of the luxury Andaman Club Hotel in Burmese =
waters off=20
Ranong. The hotel is set on a wide expanse on Thahtay Kyun island with a =
casino=20
catering to mainly Thai and other foreign gamblers.</P>
<P>People started asking questions about Mr Vikrom after there were =
reports that=20
the border crossing serving his hotel was the only one which remained =
open at=20
the height of the diplomatic breakdown.</P>
<P>A man of few words, the 52-year-old businessman decided to break his =
silence=20
to answer queries regarding his role in settling various state-level=20
disputes-especially after he was offended by being branded a "gambling =
den=20
master" with unrestricted access to the junta in Rangoon. "I'm not a =
'den=20
master' so don't look at me as one," he said. "I don't even know how to =
gamble.=20
I'm a hotelier dealing in the business of tourism.</P>
<P>"The casino isn't Andaman Club's selling point. It's merely part of =
the=20
attraction," he said, claiming that the hotel imposed strict =
requirements on=20
entry to the casino.</P>
<P>"We sell what nature has to offer more than anything else."Mr Vikrom =
took=20
part in negotiating the release of 30 Thais caught entering Burma =
illegally at=20
Victoria Point, opposite his hotel, and also has been commended for his =
efforts=20
in persuading Burma to reverse its decision to withdraw the fishing =
concessions=20
granted to Thai trawlers, also in response to the embassy =
occupation.</P>
<P>He said the 30 Thais were not arrested at his hotel casino as had =
been=20
reported; they were rounded up 50km away. The report was attributed to=20
speculation that his casino had the green light from Burma to stay open =
while=20
the border closure was in effect and so it was the only place open to=20
gambling.</P>
<P>Mr Vikrom has won the trust of the government by liaising with Burma. =

Observers said he has acted so competently that some people are saying =
he has=20
the makings of a future foreign minister. He met regularly with the =
Burmese=20
leaders and exchanged ideas on the border situation in an attempt to =
avoid any=20
worsening of relations.</P>
<P>It was reported that he organised the talks prior to Mr Surin's visit =
that=20
resulted in Rangoon lifting the border closure.</P>
<P>He said he was approached by businessmen to help arrange meetings =
with the=20
junta, but he had never boasted of his top-level connections in order to =
further=20
his own interests.</P>
<P>Mr Vikrom said his vision was to turn Ranong into the tourism =
powerhouse of=20
the Andaman Sea, rivalling Phuket.</P>
<P>And he has the cash and the will to realise his ambition.</P>
<P>Much of his wealth has come from many years involved in Burma's main=20
industries of logging, gem-mining, pearling and prawn farming, as well =
as an=20
eco-tourism operation at St-Lukes island south of Victoria Point. He =
also was=20
awarded the multi-billion-baht project to build the Marid-Rangoon =
highway.</P>
<P>His combined net worth is put at more than 10 billion baht. Because =
he is=20
trusted by the Burmese government to undertake major undertakings, it =
comes as=20
no surprise that he is sought after in time of diplomatic =
difficulty.</P>
<P>An insider said Mr Vikrom always came in handy as he was only a phone =
call=20
away from the State Peace and Development Council's leadership.</P>
<P>"Khun Vikrom is the go-between who brings two people together," said =
one=20
close aide to the businessman.</P>
<P>The aide said Rangoon had cut off its nose to spite its face and had =
suffered=20
greatly by the border closure but was too proud to correct its =
mistake.</P>
<P>Mr Vikrom insists he alone does not deserve credit for normalising =
relations;=20
Mr Surin, the Foreign Ministry and the government as a whole also were=20
instrumental.</P>
<P>He also said business relations with Burma, as with foreign policy, =
must be=20
conducted on a firm basis of trust, honesty and neighbourliness.</P>
<P>Mr Vikrom said his business activities in Burma are far from shady as =
they=20
followed the proper legal procedures with the backing of Burma's board =
of=20
investment.</P>
<P>His first commercial contact with Burma was in 1990 in the gem and =
logging=20
trades, which he took over from a friend. This was a big leap and a =
departure=20
from his family's building business, he said.</P>
<P>Mr Vikrom said he exports timber from Burma to India, not Thailand. =
He also=20
mines, processes and markets gems.</P>
<P>His interest in hotel operations began when he invested in the Dusit =
Island=20
Resort Hotel in Chiang Rai. He later went on to lease Thahtay Kyun =
island for 45=20
years and built the Andaman Club Hotel, which was completed in 1995. Its =
opening=20
was presided over by Lt-Gen Kyaw Ba, Burma's hotel and tourism =
minister.</P>
<P>Mr Vikrom rejects the idea that he is a "godfather", and said he was =
content=20
to live away from the media glare. He leads a simple life and has no =
intention=20
of chasing the media so he can rebut every negative claim made against =
him.</P>
<P>The father of four is a graduate of Chulalongkorn University's =
commerce and=20
accountancy faculty, where he was a classmate of Don Paramatvinai, the =
foreign=20
ministry spokesman, and Palakorn Suwannarat, director of the Southern =
Border=20
Provinces Administration Centre.</P>
<P>The no-frills Mr Vikrom said he has a clean record and is willing to =
go to=20
any lengths to prove it. Had he been involved in any illegal dealings, =
he would=20
have been blacklisted by Rangoon and Bangkok, he claimed.</P>
<P>The billionaire is keen to push ahead with an aggressive plan to =
develop=20
Ranong's tourism potential. The province has good road and air links, =
has plenty=20
of sun and sand to woo visitors, and his West Group of companies is more =
than=20
ready to establish a foothold, he said.</P>
<P>On the drawing board are plans for a floating hotel, the newest =
addition to=20
his chain of hotels and a world-class golf course on the Burma side of =
the=20
border.</P>
<P>Mr Vikrom's family ran a building company. As the eldest son, his =
father made=20
sure he had a deep knowledge and expertise in engineering.</P>
<P>He describes himself as determined and a go-getter. Although he pays=20
meticulous attention to detail, he rarely hesitates when it comes to=20
investment.</P>
<P>Some time ago, he placed orders worth millions of baht for leisure =
boats from=20
Norway.</P>
<P>What he wants most is to see a canal dug across the Kra isthmus to =
make=20
Thailand the region's leading shipping nation.</P>
<P>"If I set out to do something, I must succeed despite the risks," he =
said,=20
shrugging off warnings about investing in Burma due to the political=20
uncertainty.</P>
<P>Mr Vikrom says he is very familiar with the ups and downs of =
business, and=20
has always managed to survive. He recalls having land he bought in a =
joint=20
investment in Phnom Penh seized by the Cambodian government. But it is =
different=20
in Burma. Although investment is not always smooth and rosy, he said he =
has=20
never been cheated.</P>
<P>Disputes over fishing rights, which at one stage developed into a=20
confrontation between Thai trawlers and the Burmese authorities, should =
not be=20
politicised or portrayed as a threat to bilateral relations, he =
said.</P>
<P>Thailand should be patient when dealing with the fishing issue =
because Burma=20
does not have all the resources necessary to safeguard its maritime=20
interests.</P>
<P>We should also steer clear of Burma's internal affairs, he said, =
going on to=20
condemn the West's claims about Burma's human rights record as nothing =
more than=20
propaganda in its attempt to divide Asia for its own economic gain.</P>
<P>Thailand should act as a guardian and help its neighbours, he =
said.</P>
<P>"We of the same colour and race should unite instead of being misled =
into=20
believing that Burma is cruel and inhospitable."There have been reports =
that Mr=20
Vikrom might run in the country's first senate election early next year, =
and he=20
admits that he has been approached by political parties to run on their =
behalf=20
in both the lower and the upper house elections.</P>
<P>Reports say preparations are under way to muster support among =
Ranong's=20
business sector.</P>
<P>But Mr Vikrom said he has not made up his mind yet as politics was =
not his=20
career goal. But he added that life generally is full of uncertainty and =
it is=20
his nature to always take chances regardless of the=20
cost.</P></FONT></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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