[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

The BurmaNet News: December 24, 199



Subject: The BurmaNet News: December 24, 1998

------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
 "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------

The BurmaNet News: December 24, 1998
Issue #1165

HEADLINES:
==========
THE NATION: ACID TEST FOR NEW POLICY ON BURMA 
XINHUA: CHINESE COMPANY TO RENOVATE PAPER MILL 
SCMP: FORMER KHUN SA FIGHTER DECLARES WAR ON DRUGS 
XINHUA: REFUGEES REPATRIATION STALLED IN BANGLADESH 
BKK POST: MINISTRY TO PROPOSE JOINT NAVAL PATROLS 
XINHUA: NINE MORE ENTRY POINTS FOR TOURISTS 
ASIAWEEK: HEADLINERS, COMMENTS 1998 
****************************************************************

THE NATION: ACID TEST FOR NEW POLICY ON BURMA
23 December, 1998 by Kavi Chongkittavorn 

THE much anticipated dry offensive by the Burmese troops against ethnic
minorities along the border and Bangkok's reaction in the coming weeks will
demonstrate the usefulness of a new approach adopted by the Chuan
government towards Burma.

On Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kobsak Chutikul urged the Burmese to
prevent fighting from spilling onto Thai territory and violating our
sovereignty. He added that the annual offensive is Burma's internal affair
and warned all Burmese factions to avoid using Thai territory.

In previous years, such warnings were of little substance due to
insufficient solidarity and coordination between the Foreign Ministry and
concerned authorities, especially those within the armed forces. Each year,
without fail, the Burmese attacks on the ethnic groups and its
ramifications on the refugees and our border security have turned into a
huge embarrassment for the Thai government.

International condemnation of Thailand's treatment of the Burmese refugees
since 1988 has been a major headache for the Thai government of the day.
The same problem occurs each year and this is followed by criticism.

However, this year the government is determined to break the vicious cycle.
To avoid the same mistake, the Foreign Ministry has taken a number of
steps. It has already expressed concern over the forthcoming border
suppression to the Burmese authorities. This was done after discussions
between the ministry and Army Chief Gen Surayuth Julanont: Thailand will
not tolerate any encroachment into Thai territory, even when in hot pursuit
of ethnic insurgents.

The Thai troops along the Thai-Burmese border have been instructed to repel
any foreign elements on Thai soil during the offensive. With the new army
chief and a different policy-orientation, coupled with growing transparency
among the security forces along the border, this year's offensive by Burma
could result in a different outcome at least for the Thai side.

Since he took over from the outgoing Gen Chetta Tanajaro, Gen Surayuth has
provided refreshing leadership in the Thai army, especially in making the
defence forces more professional and accountable to the general public --
not just individual groups.

Unlike the previous year, the role of the National Security Council will
also play a different role. It will now serve as a coordinator and policy
planner, not as an executor as in the past, complementing the government's
overall strategy in the sensitive border areas. The NSC has long been
politicised by the choice of its leader over the past five years. Whenever
the government was considered weak, the NSC would inadvertently expand its
authority over security issues.

The lack of leadership and vision at NSC has recently demoralised the
organisation and its staff, so much so that the current search for a new
leader to head one of the country's oldest security body has been
unsuccessful. Apparently, the Chuan government would like a civilian to
head the NSC.

In addition, the Foreign Ministry urged the Office of the UN High
Commissioner For Refugees (UNHCR) on Monday to be prepared for a possible
influx of refugees and to provide them with humanitarian aid. This is a far
cry from the past when Thailand was very reluctant to let the UNHCR to have
access to the border area, especially to Karenni camps, during the offensive.

The easier access given to UNHCR as well as international and local
non-governmental organisations this time will prevent the international
outrage which has long been associated with Thailand's refoulement policy.
The Thai government must allow the UNHCR to have a presence on the
Thai-Burma border to ensure that the border is not closed to new unarmed
civilians fleeing from the fighting. If the army is transparent as it
claims, such a presence will help the country's foreign policy and clean up
its tainted image of the past.

Thailand, which has not ratified the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the
Status of Refugees and its 1967 protocol has always feared that the Burmese
refugees along the border would become a permanent problem for Thailand.
Indeed, judging from the past five decades, the problem has remained a
fixture on the Thai-Burmese border.

Doubtless, Thailand has cooperated with UNHCR and adheres to the spirit of
the law in assisting refugees from all neighbouring countries. In fact, the
Thai government argues that it has recognised the principles in the 1951
convention without inking the pact.

As Thailand is reviewing its commitment to human-rights related instruments
including the intention to ratify the International Covenant of Economic
and Social Rights very soon, it is imperative that the government ratifies
the 1951 convention once and for all. Only then, Thailand could be held
accountable for its actions at the border and be under the scrutiny of the
international community. Otherwise, Thailand will continue to be held
hostage by the dry-season offensive by the Burmese forces and the eventual
influx of refugees.

In the past year, Thailand has spoken in defence of Burma, arguing that
sanctions would not help promote democracy and it would hurt delicate
Thai-Burmese relations. The Foreign Ministry also supports the latest UN
effort to bring about a peaceful dialogue between the Burmese junta and the
opposition headed by Aung San Suu Kyi with huge development aid.

Whether the policy rapprochement with Burma will bring a positive response
from Rangoon remains to be seen. When Thailand launched a demarche during
the last offensive when the refugee camps were attacked by the Burmese
troops, it was too late. The new army chief has tried to put an end to past
collusions on the ground between the Burmese juntas and dubious elements on
the Thai side.

If similar actions take place this year and without a proper response, it
would be extremely hard for the Chuan government and the army to convince
the Thai people and the world community that this government is
compassionate -- Chuan's favourite choice of word -- and that it respects
human rights. It would also diminish the respectability of the Foreign
Ministry. 

****************************************************************

XINHUA: CHINESE COMPANY TO RENOVATE PAPER MILL
22 December, 1998 

YANGON (Dec. 22) XINHUA - A Chinese company reached a contract here Tuesday
with the Myanmar Ministry of Industry No.1 to renovate the country's
Sittoung Paper Mill No.1 in Mon state. 

The contract on the renovation of the mill's caustic soda and chlorine
plant was reached between China's Kunming Electro-Chemical Plant (KECP) in
Yunnan province and the Myanmar Paper and Chemical Industry (MPCI) under
the Ministry of Industry No.1. 

Under the contract, the Chinese side is to bear the cost of the renovation
of 1.2 million U.S. dollars which cover the supply of machinery equipment
and transfer of technical know-how, while the Myanmar side is to repay with
the products of caustic soda. 

Daily production of caustic soda will be increased to 15 tons after the
renovation from the previous 9 tons. Annual output will be 5,000 tons. 

The Sittoung Paper Mill No.1 was established in 1992 and production began
in 1994.  

****************************************************************

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST: FORMER KHUN SA FIGHTER DECLARES WAR ON DRUGS
23 December, 1998 by William Barnes 

One of former drug warlord Khun Sa's top fighters has declared war on the
Golden Triangle narcotics trade - a slap in the face for the military junta
which lucratively cohabits with traffickers.

Colonel Yord Suk's faction of the Shan State Army, fighting a bitter
guerilla war with Rangoon, may prove a problem for the state's drug merchants.

"There are 40 heroin factories in the Shan state near the border with
Thailand, opposite Mae Hongson and Chiang Mai provinces," he said at his
hideout at the weekend.

Rangoon officials say they cannot at present crush smugglers and
manufacturers responsible for more than half the world's heroin output.

Critics argue this is at least partly because drug profits help prop up a
shattered economy.  

****************************************************************

XINHUA: MYANMAR REFUGEES REPATRIATION STALLED IN BANGLADESH
22 December, 1998 

DHAKA (Dec. 22) XINHUA - The repatriation of Myanmar refugees staying in
Bangladesh has been stalled again less than one month after it was resumed
late November. 

The Myanmar authorities recently conveyed to Bangladesh that it could not
take back the Rohingya refugees during the Ramadan, the holy month of
fasting for Muslims across the world. 

Bangladesh, on the other hand, insisted that it would continue the
repatriation process in accordance with the agreement reached earlier
between the two sides, The Bangladesh Observer newspaper reported Tuesday. 

Bangladesh has decided to send a special delegation to Myanmar late this
month to discuss the issue with the Myanmar government, after a meeting
here last Saturday between Foreign Minister Abudus Samad Azad and Myanmar's
Deputy Foreign Minister U Khin Maung Win. 

The Myanmar minister was here to attend a ministerial meeting last Saturday
of the Bangladesh-India-Myanmar-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation
forum, a newly-established regional grouping. 

About 250,000 Rohingyas from Myanmar crossed into Bangladesh in early 1991,
and took shelter in Cox's Bazar and Bandarban, two districts in
southeastern Bangladesh. 

During the past seven years, 230,000 refugees have returned voluntarily,
and the remaining 21,000 in two refugees camps are awaiting repatriation.
The repatriation of the refugees to Myanmar came to a halt in July 1997
reportedly as a result of the refugees' refusal to return. 

After several rounds of discussions between Dhaka and Rangoon, the Myanmar
government agreed to take back 7,000 of the refugees, and according to the
latest arrangement between the two countries, 50 refugees in a batch would
be repatriated every Wednesday beginning November 25 this year. 

Only 100 refugees have been repatriated so far because the non-availability
of permission from the Myanmar government and the unwillingness of some
refugees to return, the report said.

****************************************************************

THE BANGKOK POST: MINISTRY TO PROPOSE JOINT NAVAL PATROLS
23 December, 1998 

TO PREVENT A REPEAT OF SATURDAY'S INCIDENT

The Foreign Ministry is thinking of proposing joint naval patrols with
Burma in order to prevent a recurrence of an incident on Saturday in which
two Thai navy officials were killed.

According to Foreign Ministry spokesman Kobsak Chutikul, Thailand would
propose joint patrols in disputed waters as well as joint surveys, as is
the case with Vietnam. In addition, Thailand would suggest the setting up
of a hotline.

The proposals will be raised during the Thai-Burmese Joint Commission
meeting due to take place in Rangoon in January. A subsequent meeting in
Thailand in March of the Regional Border Committee is expected to continue
the discussion.

In Saturday's incident, the two Thai naval officials were killed while
helping a Thai fishing vessel under attack in Thai waters from a boat
without a flag. The boat sped back into Burmese waters after firing into
the Thai navy boat.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry is drafting terms of reference for the
border demarcation team and principles of  demarcation in preparation for
boundary discussions expected to take place during the first half of next
year under the Joint Border Committee.

The two sides last year agreed to divide the 2,401-kilometre common border
into ten sectors and to begin demarcation work in disputed areas, starting
with Doi Lang in Chiang Mai's Mae Ai district.

****************************************************************

XINHUA: NINE MORE ENTRY POINTS FOR TOURISTS
22 December, 1998 

YANGON (Dec. 23) XINHUA - Myanmar is planning to add nine more entry points
along the border in five states and divisions for world tourists and will
allow them to visit inland far up to the capital and leave from any point.

According to a latest issue of the local "Advertisement and Procurement
Directory" journal, the entry points to be added are Lwaigyai, Muse,
Chinshwehaw, Mongla, Tachilek, Myawaddy, Phaya Thonzu, Kalein Aung and
Kawthaung in Kachin, Shan, Kayin, Mon and Tanintharyi states and divisions
respectively.

According to official statistics, the number of foreign tourists visiting
Myanmar reached 567,458 in the 1997-98 fiscal year which ended in March, of
which, 302,336 entered through border points.

****************************************************************

ASIAWEEK: HEADLINERS, COMMENTS 1998
25 December, 1998 - 1 January, 1999

HEADLINERS 1998:

Aung San Suu Kyi: They were drives to nowhere. Yet for all that, Aung San
Suu Kyi achieved what she set out to do: keeping the cause of Myanmar
democracy alive. First in a car, then in a van, she set out to visit
leaders of her National League for Democracy (NLD) outside Yangon. Forced
to a standstill, she lived in the vehicles for days, daring soldiers to
move her. Her July standoff, shrewdly timed just as ASEAN ministers met in
Manila, turned the heat on the junta which denied the NLD's sweeping
electoral victory in 1990. Keeping up the pressure, she set the military a
new deadline to convene a parliament based on that mandate. A subsequent
official media campaign to discredit the Nobel laureate as a "menace to the
nation" only undermined Yangon's claims to political dialogue. Another year
of curtailed freedom has not dimmed the profile of Myanmar's most
recognized figure.

COMMENTS 1998:

"Ordinary people love and trust her. They have no idea whether her tactics
are right or wrong. The disillusioned people are those who have worked with
her."  - By a veteran National League for Democracy organizer, talking
about Myanmar dissident leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

****************************************************************