|
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BURMA RELATED NEWS
- December 05, 2002.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES
------------------------------------------------------------------------ AFP - Myanmar's former dictator Ne
Win dead at 92
AFP - Earthquake shakes Myanmar, no
casualties reported
Reuters - Ivanhoe spreads copper
seach to China
Reuters - Former Myanmar dictator Ne
Win dead
AP - Former Myanmar dictator's death
augurs little change: analysts
AP - Buddhist leaders
call for peace, condemn religious fanaticism
FEER - Burmese Woo Congressional
Aides
Xinhuanet - PLA chief meets Myanmar
guests
FCO - BARONESS CRAWLEY CONDEMNS HUMAN
RIGHTS SITUATION IN BURMA
Bkk Post - Close friends
forevermore
The Nation - New employment
rules on the way
Asian Tribune - Reclusive
Former Burmese Strongman Passes Away silently.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday December 5, 4:44 PM
Myanmar's former dictator Ne Win dead at 92 YANGON, Dec 5 (AFP) - Myanmar's former dictator Ne Win, whose quarter-century of iron rule left his nation bankrupt and reviled as an international pariah, died at the age of 92, family sources said. Ne Win, who had been in fragile health for many years, died in disgrace after being put under house arrest in March following the arrest of his son-in-law and three grandsons for plotting a coup against the ruling junta. He was cremated only hours after his death, in a simple ceremony attended by his wife Ny Ny Myint and daughter Sandar Win, reputedly the brains behind the family business empire who was placed under house arrest along with her father. The move against Ne Win's relatives, who were sentenced in September to death by hanging, stunned Myanmar observers who had thought he remained extremely influential in the military-ruled state long after stepping down in 1988. The government said the Ne Win clan had grown disgruntled at losing their economic and political privileges as their patriarch's power waned, and had used black magic and voodoo dolls as part of their plot to seize power. But most analysts doubt they were seriously attempting to mount a takeover, and believe the current regime installed 14 years ago, now known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), wanted to demonstrate it is firmly in charge. Observers of Myanmar's secretive government say Ne Win's death marks the passing of an era in Myanmar, but that it will have few ramifications as he was effectively finished as a political force. Although the cremation rites were kept low-key, with no leading generals in attendance, as a former head of state Ne Win is entitled to a state funeral and an official memorial service could be held at a later date. About 20 family members attended the ceremony at a Yangon cemetary, along with about 50 military officials who were mostly in civilian clothes. The family source did not specify where Ne Win died, but a Yangon-based diplomat said he was believed to have been secretly moved from his lakeside home and into hospital several weeks ago as his condition worsened. The scene at his heavily guarded family compound was quiet Thursday, with only a few journalists standing watch. The office of the official government spokesman said it could not immediately confirm Ne Win's death. As a young man, Ne Win was a key member of the "Thirty Comrades" which joined with Japan in World War Two to fight British colonialism under the charismatic leadership of independence hero Aung San. In 1962 when he seized power in his own military coup, Burma, as it was then known, was still considered one of Asia's potentially rich countries, blessed with vast natural resources. But by the time he stepped down in 1988, the nation he renamed Myanmar was one of the world's poorest countries. As much of Asia was caught up in an economic explosion in the second half of the 20th century, General Ne Win turned back the clock -- inflicting a rigid code of self sufficiency and shunning outsiders. Diplomats said Thursday that the former strongman would be remembered for burdening his country with a repressive government that stubbornly refuses to give way to Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy opposition. "His enduring legacy is, unfortunately, military government and a regime that believes it has some special contribution to make to the nation, holding it together and running it," said one. Ne Win deserves "most of the blame" for the parlous state of Myanmar's economy which has been on the edge of collapse for years, he added. After he retired to his sprawling Yangon home, Ne Win's reclusiveness spawned a rich folklore, from tales of his colourful love life -- he reputedly had four wives -- to his obsession with numerology. In a sign of the secrecy with which he cloaked himself, even his exact date of birth remains unknown. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thursday December 5,
3:46 PM
Earthquake
shakes Myanmar, no casualties reported
BANGKOK, Dec 5 (AFP) - Myanmar was jolted by a moderate earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, the nation's seismological observatory said Thursday, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The observatory said the quake struck around 186 miles (300 kilometres) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thursday December
5, 9:00 AM
Ivanhoe spreads copper seach to China SYDNEY, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Canada-based Ivanhoe Mines Ltd said on Thursday it will widen its search in Asia for gold and other metals to China's Yunnan Province in partnership with a local firm, Pacific Minerals. Ivanhoe Chairman Robert Friedland said in a statement here that the companies had formed two joint ventures to explore for copper and silver over more than 3,000 square km in the province, which has seen only limited exploration in modern times. In Asia, Ivanhoe already mines copper and gold in southern Mongolia and in Myanmar. Ivanhoe, whose main listing is on the Toronto bourse, shed five Canadian cents on Wednesday to close at C$3.05. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thursday December 5, 4:49 PM
Former Myanmar dictator Ne Win dead By Aung Hla Tun YANGON (Reuters) - Former Myanmar military dictator Ne Win, who ruled the reclusive Southeast Asian state for more than 25 years during its slide into poverty and economic ruin, died on Thursday under house arrest, family members and witnesses said. Ne Win, 91, relinquished formal power in 1988, and was believed to hold considerable sway over the current military junta until he fell from grace this year after several close relatives were sentenced to death for an alleged coup plot. He died at 7.30 a.m. (0100 GMT) at his lakeside home in Yangon, where he had been confined with one of his daughters since March, and his body was cremated within hours. A white minivan carrying the body emerged from the compound at around midday followed by nine other vehicles and headed to Ye Way cemetery about 15 miles north of Yangon. Several dozen people including family members gathered at the cemetery as monks carried out Buddhist rites. No senior members of the military government were present. "If he had died before the coup plot was exposed, he would have been buried somewhere much more illustrious and with more ceremony," one former government official told Reuters. Ne Win would have been entitled to a full state funeral, he said. The government has refused comment on Ne Win's death and diplomats said the ruling generals were eager to keep his passing as low key as possible. Ne Win suffered the sudden and savage fall from grace after a court in September sentenced his son-in-law and three grandsons to death for plotting to overthrow the government with the aid of renegade officers and black magic. Although Ne Win was not implicated in the plot, he was held in de facto house arrest, forbidden from leaving his home and shunned by the junta he created. MYSTICISM OBSESSED Many observers say it is unlikely a coup was being planned but that the junta had grown concerned by the business empire Ne Win's family had been building and was keen to strengthen its grip on power. A spokesman for the pro-democracy opposition led by Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi said Ne Win's death was unlikely to affect the country's politics. "He was very old. He retired from politics many years ago," said National League for Democracy (NLD) spokesman U Lwin. Ne Win's admirers say he held the country together when political instability and ethnic strife threatened to tear it apart following independence from Britain. His critics say he was a mysticism-obsessed despot who presided over Burma's decline from one of the richest countries in Asia to one of the poorest and led it into isolation. Under his system of a "Burmese way to Socialism" the country became increasingly isolated from the rest of the world. "The dictator has died, but the legacy he left still haunts the people of Myanmar," one Yangon-based Asian diplomat said. During the second world war he became one of the legendary "Thirty Comrades", a group of Burmese trained by the Japanese to fight British rule. They were led by General Aung San, a hero in Myanmar for his fight against colonial rule. Aung San, father of Suu Kyi who was released from house arrest in Yangon by the regime in May, was assassinated in 1947 when the country was on the brink of independence. Ne Win stepped down in July 1988, shortly before a nationwide uprising demanding democracy and political reform. Pro-democracy demonstrations were brutally suppressed. A new military regime took power in the aftermath of the upheaval, and although Suu Kyi's NLD won elections in 1990 by a landslide, it was never allowed to govern. The country remains impoverished and many Western countries including the United States and the European Union have slapped political and economic sanctions on the junta. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Former Myanmar dictator's
death augurs little change: analysts
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) _ The death of former dictator Gen. Ne Win on Thursday is unlikely to have much effect on politics in Myanmar where the military remains firmly in control, analysts said. Ne Win, who drove Myanmar to economic ruin during his 1962-1988 iron-fisted rule, died under house arrest at the age of 91 in the capital, Yangon, after spending the last decade of his life as a political recluse. ``The death of Ne Win might not cause any dramatic change,'' said Chayachoke Chualsiriwongs, a professor at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. ``For the past 10 or 15 years, he didn't do very much. He would just call on the generals to listen to his talks and statements, but he did not have much power.'' He stepped down in July 1988, just before a popular uprising for democracy that propelled to prominence the current opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. The uprising was crushed by the military, and a new crop of generals who had been groomed by Ne Win took power. Two years later they refused to hand over power when Suu Kyi's democracy party won a general election by a landslide. This regime retains a tight grip on power although it claims to be a transitional government. Whatever power Ne Win had wielded behind-the-scenes waned during the last few years. In March, he was disowned and put under house arrest by the junta after his grandsons and son-in-law were arrested for allegedly plotting a coup. The government claimed the family was upset at losing privileges as Ne Win's influence declined. ``It was shocking for everyone. It showed his power had been removed,'' said Aung Zaw, a prominent Myanmar dissident and editor of a pro-democracy magazine in Thailand. He said Ne Win's death will not make ``much difference'' to the power structure. ``If he died earlier, in the wake of the 1988 uprising, that might have meant a lot of changes. He still had clout then.'' Still, the death of such a towering figure in Myanmar's political history could have ramifications in the regime's upper ranks. ``If one of your most respected leaders is waiting to die, he still holds respect in your household. Once you know they are dead, the conflicts emerge,'' Aung Zaw added. He said Ne Win's political influence in Myanmar during his time in power far outstripped that of the current leaders. The former dictator's connections to important episodes in the country's history _ including the independence movement _ added to his political stature. But Ne Win is unlikely to be mourned by the people of Myanmar, who are desperately poor and isolated from the outside world due to international condemnation of the government over various human rights abuses. When Ne Win took power in 1962, Myanmar was well on the way to recovering from the ravages of the World War II, exporting 2 million tons of rice per year. But by 1987, Myanmar was reduced to the status of a least developed nation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Buddhist leaders call for
peace, condemn religious fanaticism
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) _ With the threat of terrorism and war in Iraq looming over the world, Buddhist leaders on Thursday called for tolerance and compassion as a means to promote world peace. The Buddhist leaders, speaking at the opening of the three-day World Buddhist Conference, also condemned religious fanaticism, blaming it for causing fear and destruction across the globe. The conference has attracted some 2,000 participants from more than a dozen countries. ``The world faces constant threat and violence unknown to the humankind,'' said Ven. Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, head lama of the Himalayan region of Ladakh in India. ``It is the responsibility of every one of us irrespective of our religious belief to make efforts to ... save this world from further destruction'' through the teaching of tolerance and compassion, he said in a speech. Speakers said that the Middle East and South Asia, where religious tensions are largely blamed for much of the conflicts, were major areas of concerns. ``The more the crisis drags on, the more the hatred is increased,'' said Ven. Ashin Nyannissara, president of Sitagu International Buddhist Academy in Myanmar. Organizers had said earlier that the conference would send a message to world leaders, including U.S. President George W. Bush, to remind them about the role of Buddhist teaching in solving global problems. Ven. Tep Vong, a Cambodian supreme patriarch of Mahanikaya Order of Buddhism, said ``extremist and fundamentalist religious groups are roaming around us ... with the purpose to proselytize the poverty-stricken people.'' The former Taliban rule in Afghanistan was singled out as an example of religious fanaticism and inhuman intolerance. Tep Vong described the Taliban's destruction in 2001 of the World Heritage-listed Bamian Buddha statues in Afghanistan as an act of ``insatiable and rapacious religious extremism.'' The conference, the third since 1998, is one of the religion's most important events, unique for bringing together leaders from different backgrounds and sects. The conference was opened by Cambodia's King Norodom Sihanouk in the Royal Palace's Throne Hall where he usually holds official functions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Far Eastern Economic
Review
Issue cover-dated December 12, 2002 Burmese Woo Congressional Aides Burma apparently wants to improve its image and gain some influence among Washington's policymakers. The Burmese embassy, largely given the cold shoulder by legislators in Washington because of the military junta's repressive actions at home, has invited members of the Congressional Legislative Staff Association to a reception on December 10, according to a mailing from the organization. The embassy hopes to host 40-50 congressional aides at the event, a member of the association says, adding that these meetings "give embassies a way to explain to congressional staff how they view their country's relations with Congress." They are also a way for diplomats to make vital congressional contacts. Burma watchers speculate that the invitation may have been engineered by DCI Associates, the high-flying lobbying firm with close ties to U.S. President George W. Bush. It was hired in May by Rangoon to press for improved relations between the U.S. and Burma. DCI did not respond to phone messages, but the company has said in the past that it has no comment to make about the Burma contract. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PLA chief meets Myanmar
guests
BEIJING, Dec. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Liang Guanglie, chief of the general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), met here Thursday with Thura Shwe Mann, chief of the staff of the Myanmar army. Liang, also a member of the Central Military Commission, said China and Myanmar were good neighbors with a long and profound fraternal friendship. Since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1950, their friendly bilateral ties had remained unchanged in spite of dramatic changes in the world, he said. China appreciated the Myanmar government's firm adherence to the one-China policy, he added. Liang said China would maintain and promote the existing friendship and cooperative relations between the two countries and two armies. He also briefed the guests on China's national and military development. Thura Shwe Mann said the two countries had a profound friendship, sharing identical or similar views on terrorism and many other international and regional issues. The Myanmar government would continue to implement the one- China policy, he said. He hoped that his trip would further cement the friendly bilateral and military ties between the two sides. Prior to the meeting, Wu Quanxu, deputy chief of the general staff of the PLA, held talks with the guests. The two sides exchanged views on international and regional situations and briefed each other on their national and military development. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Foreign and Commonwealth
Office Thu Dec 5 02:45:00
BARONESS CRAWLEY CONDEMNS HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN BURMA (04/12/02) An FCO spokesperson today drew attention to Baroness Crawley's speech on behalf of the government during a debate on Burma in the House of Lords on 3 December, in which she condemned the Burmese regime's record on human rights. Baroness Crawley said that the Burmese regime's response to credible reports of human rights abuses had been to 'dismiss many of the reports as the work of insurgents and political opponents. We strongly disagree and have expressed our concerns repeatedly'. 'Senior General Than Shwe has it within his power to take substantive steps now to move towards a more prosperous, peaceful future for all the people of Burma. We call, as a government, upon Senior General Than Shwe to exercise the necessary political will and leadership to break through the present stalemate.' Baroness Crawley added that the UK would maintain pressure 'until Burma is irreversibly committed to substantive lasting change'. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bangkok Post -
Thursday 05 December 2002
Close friends forevermore If anyone ever needed any proof that Rangoon has the Thai administration in a complete tizz, take the recent panicked response from the Defence Ministry after the junta complained that the Thai army was trying to stir up trouble by predicting that as many as a billion speed pills could cross our western border from Burma next year. Maj-Gen Palangkul Klaharn, the ministry spokesman, rushed out an immediate reply claiming that the army had no official estimates of the drug inflow and the statement reported by the media was just the personal opinion of Maj-Gen Naris Srinet, commander of the Third Army, the man in immediate charge of the army's drug suppression effort along the border in recent years. Maj-Gen Palangkul's announcement at a press conference at Army HQ last Wednesday further convinced many officers that this government will do anything to keep the peace with Rangoon, especially as it came at a time when Rangoon's State Peace and Development Council headed by Gen Than Shwe awarded contracts for four major projects worth several billion baht, including the construction of a hydroelectricity dam on the Salween river, to Thai firms. "This was aimed purely at appeasing them [Rangoon]," said one army general. "How could the spokesman come out to deny this story? This has clearly shown a sharp division among our men." The general said Maj-Gen Naris's estimate was not off the top of his head but mirrored the prediction of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, which is in charge of the government's drug suppression effort nationwide. The ONCB and military together came up with a figure of 800 million methamphetamine pills being smuggled from Burma this year. Maj-Gen Palangkul's press conference, which was approved by Defence Minister Gen Thammarak Issarangkura na Ayudhya, confirmed the present close cooperation between Rangoon and Bangkok. Deputy Prime Minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has said he believes this close understanding now in place will last forever. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra last month praised the generals in Rangoon for their help in tackling the drug problems along the border. The prime minister also said he did not think Rangoon should be held responsible for the millions of pills flowing into Thailand each week from the area controlled by the United Wa State Army, even though this ethnic minority believed to be the leading producers of both methamphetamines and heroin in the Golden Triangle are known to have strong ties with the Rangoon generals. Rangoon's mouthpiece, the New Light of Myanmar, has stopped its criticism of Thailand and the army following Mr Thaksin's decision to move Gen Surayud Chulanont two months ago to the largely ceremonial position of supreme commander from army commander. US Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly last week praised Rangoon for its efforts to reduce the opium output, saying production from the area under cultivation had dropped in the past year from 1,097 tonnes to 828 tonnes, a drop of about 26%. There is no clear indication however that the junta will get tough with the UWSA. "Surely the trafficking in amphetamines is much worse this year since the UWSA drug factories are still there," Maj-Gen Naris said. "There is still no sign that the UWSA will cease its trafficking of drugs, which is its main source of income." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The
Nation
MIGRANT WORKERS: New employment rules on the way Piyanart Srivalo Published on Dec 5, 2002 The government is planning to map out new measures for the employment of alien workers after finding the existing foreign manpower policies ineffective, Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said yesterday. "We have to admit that we need a new system to deal with alien workers because the existing one is inefficient," he said. Chavalit was speaking to reporters before attending a National Security Council meeting. New measures are being drafted to ensure that accurate records of migrant workers from neighbouring countries, especially Burma, are kept. Other draft provisions include strict controls on employment quotas and tracking the whereabouts of alien workers. The deputy prime minister warned that a lapse in the enforcement of alien labour laws could lead to the "ruin of Thai society". He said the government might emulate the Malaysian model in handling alien workers. "The government needs to toughen its stance and find a lasting solution to problems relating to the employment of foreign workers," he said. "The government will no longer allow the matter to linger unresolved." Labour Minister Suwat Liptapanlop expressed concern that alien workers from neighbouring countries would increasingly displace Thais because of the failure to stem their influx into the country. Suwat said the relevant authorities had agreed to crack down on the employment and harbouring of illegal alien workers. Border checks will be toughened in order to keep out migrant workers from neighbouring countries and detention facilities built for illegal alien workers awaiting repatriation, he said. About 1 million migrant workers from Laos, Cambodia and Burma are estimated to be illegally employed in Thailand and will be sent back to their homeland upon discovery, the minister said. Speaking after attending the NSC meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Korn Dabaransri said he was in charge of suppressing illegal alien workers. In his capacity as chairman of the Committee for Illegal Alien Workers Management, Korn said new toughened measures on alien workers would be in place by next year. The number of foreign workers allowed in Thailand will be
capped at the 300,000 registered with the Labour Ministry as of this year.
The Foreign Ministry has been assigned to speed up negotiations with Burma regarding the orderly repatriation of Burmese migrant workers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Asian Tribune
Date : 2002-12-05 Reclusive Former Burmese Strongman Passes Away silently. By K.T.Rajasingham Bangkok, Dec. 05:For years, rumors abound as the ``Old Man'' had died. This type of rumor circulated periodically in Yangon. At last he is already dead. His passing away is being treated with mute silence by the present Burmese Army Generals. No details are still available regarding the former strongman?s cremation. Earlier, Ne Win had suffered a heart attack in September 2001 and had a pacemaker attached. He was last seen in public in good health on 21 March 2001, when he offered lunch to 99 Buddhist monks and more than 500 friends, most of them his socialist cronies. According A Thai military-intelligence source the former strongman had slipped into a coma long ago and ever since, he did not recover. The family members said he died at 7.30 a.m. on 04 December, in his lakeside villa where he had been kept confined along with his daughter since March 7, following the arrest of his three grandsons and son-in-law on charges of attempting to overthrow the present Military government. The family members spoke on condition of anonymity. Once a powerful figure, his enormous behind-the-scene clout began to wane a few years ago and he stood totally discredited earlier this year with the arrest of his relatives. His son-in-law Aye Zaw Win - 54, the husband of Ne Win's daughter Sandar Win, and the couple's three sons Aye Ne Win - 25, Kyaw Ne Win - 23, and Zwe Ne Win - 21, were sentenced to death Sept. 26, after being convicted of treason on the coup charges. They have since appealed the verdict. There was no sign of unusual activity at the house. Funeral arrangements were not immediately known, and the government did not make any announcement. The barbed wire fence that had blocked the road to his house since his arrest was opened slightly Thursday, making enough place for cars to go through. Three soldiers stood near the barricade. Once a military strong man Ne Win was born in 1911, and his name was Shu Maung. Earlier he started his career as a soldier in the Burmese Army. In 1941, he abandoned his original name, Shu Maung, when he joined a Japanese-supported nationalist military group. In 1943, he became commander of the Burmese Independence Army, and he later turned against the Japanese. As a young man, he was a key member of the 'Thirty Comrades', who joined Japan in World War II to fight British colonialism under the charismatic leadership of independence hero Aung San, who was assassinated in 1947. In 1948, after Burma's independence from Great Britain, he became Home and Defence minister. In 1958, he deposed prime minister U Nu. U Nu returned from 1960 to 1962, but Ne Win removed him again in a coup. He seized power in a 1962 coup and ruled till 1988, clashing with Aung San's daughter, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, after she emerged at the head of a pro-democracy movement. By 1971, Ne Win had transformed Burma (now Myanmar) into a one-party police state led by the Myanmar Socialist Programme Party. From 1974 to 1981, he was president under a constitution adopted in 1974. He remained party head until 1988, when he resigned, admitting to economic mismanagement. By the time he stepped down in 1988, Myanmar - considered in 1962 to be one of Asia's potentially wealthiest countries - was one of the world's poorest nations. Analysts say he has continued to wield political influence behind the scenes despite having officially withdrawn from power, and that significant political change in Myanmar was unlikely to occur while he remained alive. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |