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Subject: [theburmanetnews] BurmaNet News: May 9, 2000
______________ THE BURMANET NEWS ______________
An on-line newspaper covering Burma
______________ www.burmanet.org _______________
May 9, 2000
Issue # 1527
This edition of The BurmaNet News is viewable online at:
http://theburmanetnews.editthispage.com/stories/storyReader$386
NOTED IN PASSING:
(1) "No comment."
An Asia Development Bank official in response to The Nation's enquiry
about the
presence of the two Burmese drug suspects as "guests" of the ADB at
its Chiang Mai meeting. (See NATION: DRUG SUSPECTS IN BURMA TEAM
ANGER OFFICIALS)
(2) "It is not possible to wait for Burma anymore. As in an old Thai
saying: one rotten fish makes the whole basket stink. The smell has
been around for too long."
Kavi Chongkittavorn, Editor of The Nation (See THE NATION: BURMA
STILL AN OBSTACLE TO ASEAN-EU TIES)
*Inside Burma
NY REVIEW OF BOOKS: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST IN BURMA
SHAN: SPDC BEEFING UP ITS STRENGTH TO WIPE OUT SSA
AVA: NEW BORDER TRADE POST OPENED ON SINO-BURMA BORDER
RSO: ARAKAN ROHINGYA NATIONAL ORGANIZATION (ARNO) AMBUSHED ROHINGYA
SOLIDARITY (RSO)
*International
NATION: DRUG SUSPECTS IN BURMA TEAM ANGER OFFICIALS
MIZZIMA: BURMA PARLIAMENTARIAN FLED TO INDIA
MIZZIMA: MANIPUR TO IMPORT RICE FROM BURMA
*Opinion/Editorials
THE NATION: BURMA STILL AN OBSTACLE TO ASEAN-EU TIES
COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS: ON WHY THAN SHWE DID NOT MAKE THIS
YEAR'S TEN WORST ENEMIES OF THE PRESS LIST
*Other
KHRG: NEW KAREN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP WEB SITE ADDRESS
__________________ INSIDE BURMA ____________________
NY REVIEW OF BOOKS: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST IN BURMA
[Excerpt]
May 2000
by Timothy Garton Ash
I have rarely seen a more beautiful country, or a more ugly regime.
The connection between this beauty and that beast is complicated.
It's tempting to say simply that the country is beautiful in spite
of its politics. But that is too easy. For these gentle allures of
an older world are also a result of the isolation and economic
regression enforced by forty years of bad politics. This is the
beauty of backwardness.
For the full text, go to:
http://nybooks.com/nyrev/WWWfeatdisplay.cgi?20000525021F
____________________________________________________
SHAN: SPDC BEEFING UP ITS STRENGTH TO WIPE OUT SSA
May 6, 2000
SPDC beefing up its strength to wipe out SSA
Wa relocation in progress
According to the inside sources from Shan State, the State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC) has been building up its strength along
the Thai-Shan border, reported SSA News.
On the 26th April 2000, three 120 mm motars were sent to reinforce
their troops at Mong Sart, while 2 trucks load of 81 mm motars and
munitions were sent to Mong Taw on 27th April . All the SPDC troops
from BP-1 to Mong La, Mong Yong areas had also beefed up their
manpower and materials.
Meanwhile, United Wa State Army's (UWSA) forced migration scheme,
with the blessing and agreement of the SPDC, is in progress according
to the plan. Families that were moved and resettled along the highway
between BP-1 and Mae Ken were given 50,000 kyats by the UWSA. Most of
the settlers are from the Wa state of Pang Sang and are being
resettled in the areas of Mong Yon, Mong Karn, Mong Ton, Poong Pa
Khem and Mae Ken. The majority have no desire to leave their
ancestral homeland but were forced to move down south to the Thai
border to make way for the "Wa" immigrants from Yunnan, China.
The SSA News said that this might be the plans of the SPDC and China
to create problems along the Thai border and could become a thorn in
the flesh for the Thais.
According to SSA News, reliable sources indicated that SPDC might be
planning "to wipe" SSA troops out along the Thai border and have been
preparing to use 10 battlions for this campaign. At the same time,
SPDC is using its strength of 20 Battalions to fight against SSA
troops in the Central Shan State. These areas include Mong Nong,
Kesi, Laikha, Keng Tong and Mong Nai. As a result of this campaign in
the central Shan State, many villagers had fled their "homes" and
are now living in hidings in deep jungles. At least 50 families have
managed to reach Thailand and some have taken up low paying jobs in
farms for their survival. But most, who are unable to travel further
are now facing starvation in deep jungles. Many of the old age and
weaklings had already died, due to undernourishment or lack of
medical treatment.
In addition, the SPDC is arming the ethnic Ko Kang at Naa Kong Mu and
Mosso militias with 60 assorted small arms.
The SSA News further speculated that this forming and arming of the
militias would only increase the already deteriorating problems along
the Thai-Shan border.
____________________________________________________
AVA: NEW BORDER TRADE POST OPENED ON SINO-BURMA BORDER
May 4, 2000
On May 1, 2000, a new border trade post was opened near the village
of Laiza on the Sino-Burma border in Northern Burma. The opening
ceremony was held in Laiza area within the Kachin Independence
Organization (KIO) controlled
area. KIO has had a cease-fire agreement with the military regime
since 1994. Earlier this year, KIO and SPDC had disagreement over
the location of the post.
Regional Control Command Commander Colonel Kyaw Oo Lwin and Director
General for Border Trade Colonel Ne Win attended the opening
ceremony. KIO Chairman U Zau Mai and Yin Jian District Governor Mr.
Jin Teh Chan from Yunnan
Province of China were also present. The newly opened border trade
post is located about 6 kilometers from Laiza village. The border
trade between China and Burma is the most important among border
trades of Burma. The most
commonly used route was the Ruili-Muse-Mandalay. The new route
through Laiza will intercept the Banmo-Myitkyina road, part of the
old Lido Road connecting India and China by crossing through Kachin
State of Burma. Due to this new route, there will be a direct trade
route between India and China.
The opening of the Border Trade Post is a significant one as it is
the first time that SPDC is officially operating its offices within
KIO controlled area. The new border post will serve as office to
several SPDC agencies such as Internal Revenue, Police, Army,
Customs, Ministry of Forestry and Military Intelligence.
Ava News Group May 4, 2000
for further information please contact at +66 1 950 9533
____________________________________________________
RSO: ARAKAN ROHINGYA NATIONAL ORGANIZATION (ARNO) AMBUSHED ROHINGYA
SOLIDARITY (RSO)
Rohingya Solidarity Organization
sorgya@xxxxxxxxxxxx
May 2000
On 6th April a contingent of RSO Mujahedeen led by (Moulana Deen
Mohammad) went deep inside the Burmese territory from their front
outpost at the zero line of Walidoung, Burma-Bangladesh border. The
RSO patrol party closely encountered the Burmese (Na Sa Ka) border
forces, and there was a brief exchange of fire. The forces of ARNO
led by (Mr Nur Islam and Dr Mohammad Yunus) which has also a front
line outpost near our above mentioned camp laid a siege behind the
RSO Mujahedeen fighting the Burmese forces. The ARNO forces then,
opened fire at our Mujahedeen. Sensing that the RSO fighters were
caught in a trap, they quickly withdrew from an escape route safely.
It clearly indicates that the ARNO forces joined the Burmese to crush
the RSO Mujahedeen. Even while on retreat the Nurul Islam's forces
pursued and opened several rounds of fire at the RSO group. By the
grace of Allah Almighty none was hurt. Having failed to give a
crushing blow, Nurul Islam's forces took another plan.
On 10th April, they laid in ambush at Siansuri area, which is about
30Km away from the place where the first incident took place. It is a
place where RSO Mujahedeen frequent. On the fateful day, a patrol
party of RSO Jawans suddenly came under fire from the Nurul Islam's
forces in ambush resulting in 3 from RSO seriously injured. The brute
and the devilish forces came for a closer look at the injured and
thought that 2 were alive. At this they again made brush fire at the
2 mercilessly killing them instantly and took away the 2 AKs and a
few thousand money in their pockets. Another one from RSO remained
motionless and was not attacked. He was later hospitalized with
multiple bullet wound.
Again Nurul Islam's forces went to a farmland belongs to the RSO and
took away 4 local farmers working there.The RSO leadership from the
very beginning of the first incident instructed its forces to remain
calm and exercise restraint for the sake of the oppressed people. RSO
also believes that the salvation of our ethnic community are above
all and the people and the sympathetic quarters would loathe the
Rohingya Organisations on account of inter party clashes. Mention may
be made that Mr. Nurul Islam is reported to have given a visit to its
camp at Walidoung 3 or 4 days earlier of the first incident and there
is strong speculation that he ordered his forces to carry out armed
action against the RSO.
__________________ INTERNATIONAL ___________________
NATION: DRUG SUSPECTS IN BURMA TEAM ANGER OFFICIALS
May 9, 2000
SENIOR government officials and several foreign delegates to the
annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Chiang Mai
said yesterday they were "shocked" to learn that at least two major
Burmese delegation to the iternational gathering.
Thai officials from at least three government agencies said they
had not been aware of the entry into Thailand of U Aik Htun, vice
chairman of the Asia Wealth Bank, and U Kyaw Win, chairman of the
Myanmar May Flower Bank.
But Thai assistants at the official registration desk at the Westin
Riverside Hotel, the ADB meeting venue, confirmed that the two had
arrived and collected their name badges.
Both Aik Htun, an ethnic Shan, and Kyaw Win, an ethnic Chinese, are
on a watchlist of the US Drug Enforcement Administration, a well-
informed Western source said.
Asia Wealth Bank belongs to the Asia World Company, a conglomerate
set up in 1992 by Lo Hsing-han, a well-known opium kingpin in the
early 1970s and the predecessor of Khun Sa.
According to a 1998 report in the monthly Jane's Intelligence
Review, Kyaw Win's business success is linked to his association
with a powerful Thai logging tycoon whose timber business
has "attracted the attention of Western narcotics-intelligence
officials".
In 1989 Kyaw Win and the Thai businessman cooperated in a logging
venture in a border area controlled by Khun Sa's Mong Tai Army. The
success of the timber venture necessitated an understanding between
Khun Sa, Kyaw Win and the Thai tycoon, the report added.
The three men were also said to be well connected to the then
Burmese Eastern Region Commander Lt-General Maung Aye, who is now
the army chief and a leading Burmese junta leader.
When contacted yesterday by The Nation to comment on the presence
of the two Burmese drug suspects as "guests" of the ADB at the
Chiang Mai meeting, an official of the ADB said "No comment."
Some ADB participants said they were "very shocked" to learn of the
presence of the two drug suspects at their meeting. The ADB usually
extends invitations to private bankers form its 58 member countries
to attend the annual gathering.
The three-day ADB meeting, which ended yesterday, was attended by
some 3,000 government finance ministers, senior officials, bankers
and representatives from international financial institutions,
including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
It is not yet known whom the two Burmese met during their stay in
Chiang Mai. Thai officials said they were not aware of the
background of the two and that the Thai government had not been
involved in arranging the guest lists.
"It [the invitation] was the ADB's matter. But we [Thailand] will
now make sure that they will not be let into the country again,"
said one senior official.
The participation of Aik Htun and Kyaw Win at the ADB meeting
provoked outrage from several political activists on Burma
affairs. "It is outrageous that the ADB would see fit to invite
persons so closely associated with drug trafficking in Burma," said
one activist.
"One wonders how the ADB will benefit from being associated with
traffickers. One hopes it is not connected with the ADB's capital-
replenishment plan," he added.
One Western official with a United Nations agency said it was not
only a matter of Aik Htun and Kyaw Win being drug suspects,
but "their banks are part of the entrepreneurs involved in drug
activities and money laundering".
____________________________________________________
MIZZIMA: BURMA PARLIAMENTARIAN FLED TO INDIA
New Delhi, May 9, 2000
Mizzima News Group
Due to political stalemate in the country, various restrictions and
harassments by the military junta in power, U Mya Win, an elected
Member of Parliament from Burma had left the country and taken
shelter in India. After a week-long journey from his home in Rangoon,
the 50-year old parliamentarian crossed the Indo-Burma border
yesterday by foot. In an interview with Mizzima's reporter, U Mya Win
said that he vows to continue to work for the restoration of
democracy in Burma.
U Mya Win was elected from Ingapu Township (No. 1) of Irrawaddy
Division in 1990 General Elections as a member of Parliament from
National League for Democracy Party (NLD) which is led by Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi. He won the election by securing more than 67% of the
votes. He was jailed in December 1990 by the Burmese military
government in connection with the formation of the exiled government
and charged with high treason. He wasreleased in January last year.
He is also a NLD party organizer for the Irrawaddy Division.
____________________________________________________
MIZZIMA: MANIPUR TO IMPORT RICE FROM BURMA
Imphal, May 9, 2000
Mizzima News Group
Officials from the Union Home Ministry conveyed the decision of
Central Government to allow Manipur State to purchase 1,000 quintals
of rice from Burma at a meeting with representatives of the state
government in New Delhi on May 6.
This was mentioned in Imphal free Press a daily newspaper published
on May 7 further said the state government brought up the matter in
the meeting since it was apprehended that there might be a rice
shortage in Manipur with the coming of the monsoon.
The Finance Minister said that after meeting the state's
requirements, the surplus imported rice would be exported to other
states. He also added that Manipur would continue to get its normal
quota of rice from the Central Government. In this regard, a
government office would be set up at Moreh border town to monitor the
import of the rice, and a weighing machine would be installed.
____________________________________________________
LIBERATION: TOTAL : VÉDRINE ESQUIVE LA QUESTION BIRMANE
Libération : mercredi 26 avril 2000
[Translation by Info Birmanie]
It was a purely diplomatic answer that the foreign affairs minister
gave yesterday in front of the National assembly to the green MP
Marie-Hélène Aubert, who worried about the presence of TotalFina Elf
oil company in Burma, where the military junta is accused of terrible
record on human rights. The government considers that TotalFina Elf
can maintain their investments, but the government asks them to work
in the way to improve the daily time of Burmese people, have
indicated in substance Hubert Védrine. « We are sensitive that
western companies could bring a concrete improvement to the way of
life of the burmese », he declared. « Still few days before, I wrote
to the CEO of Total, Thierry Desmarest, asking him to take care, to
move around the insertion condition of his entreprise in this
country », have precised the minister. In other terms, we can make
first business, we see after how to restore it in an acceptable
operation.
Therefore France hasn't got the Blair government's mood which, on
April 11th, requested Premier Oil to withdraw from this country. The
british state secretary of Foreign affairs didn't hesitate to qualify
the burmese junta as an « unworthy regim », « one of the worst about
human rights ». Some purposes which not much impressed the first
british investor in Burma. This one has politely sent the Foreign
Office packing, about their business, saying that the company worked
with humanitarian organisations and that Premier Oil had built aid
programs to the population. Hubert Védrine has, it seems, remembered
the lesson.
_________________OPINION/EDITORIALS_________________
THE NATION: BURMA STILL AN OBSTACLE TO ASEAN-EU TIES
May 8, 2000
By Kavi Chongkittavorn
Burmese Foreign Minister U Maung Win had the audacity to declare
last week that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations would not
hold meetings with the European Union without his country's
participation. He made the announcement following the end of an
economic retreat by Asean economic ministers. Burma's growing
confidence as an Asean member is creating headaches for the
grouping, which wants to end the current deadlock and quickly restore
its once excellent relations with the EU -- its largest aid donor
since 1977. Even though Burma has failed to shore up the grouping's
reputation, it has effectively used Asean as a shield to protect
its regime from outside pressure. Naturally, the stakes are high
as Asean and the rest of East Asia are responding to the fast-
changing regional environment. Closer cooperation between Asean and
China, and Japan and South Korea has raised the profile of East Asia
both in terms of economics and geopolitics.
If the stalemate continues, Asean members together with China,
Japan and South Korea, feel that it may hurt the broader framework
of cooperation between Asia and Europe. East Asia is trying to take
advantage of a paradigm shift within the region for closer
collaboration
The upcoming third Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem), to be hosted by
South Korea in October, has to wrangle with the issue of new
membership. Burma is not a member and it will not be one for the
foreseeable future. Now, questions are being raised: How long will
Asean continue to defend Burma even though the junta leaders remain
uncooperative? Is Rangoon the tail that wags the dog? Is there a
way for Asean -- the organisation that has prided itself on
consensus-based decisions -- to overcome the current dilemma? For
the past three years, Asean has stood firm behind Burma to quell
Western criticism over the decision to admit it. The argument was
simple. Asean must not give in to outside pressure, which seeks to
interfere with the grouping's internal affairs. In the beginning,
it was very well taken. Asean needed to prove that it was strong
and could stand up to what they described as Western prejudice.
Asean has done just that since Burma's admission, but at a very high
price. Indeed, the toll has been so steep that Asean is urgently
seeking to find a way out, especially at the moment when Asean's
strongest supporters of Burma -- Malaysia and Indonesia -- are
having second thoughts.
As an emerging democracy, Indonesia is adopting new positions that
reflect new realities that are radically differed from the Suharto
days. Following his trip to Rangoon early this year, President
Abdulrahman Wahid has privately confided to Thais that the Burmese
military could face the same fate as the Indonesian armed forces.
The recent appointment of Mahathir's close advisor, Razali Ismail,
as the United Nations special envoy for Burma, has put additional
pressure on both Kuala Lumpur and Rangoon to end the current
political impasse. Ismail's main task is to seek the implementation
of the UN resolution on Burma adopted by the UN General Assembly.
Lest one forgot, Burma's induction into Asean was made possible by
the extraordinary personal support of the Malaysian and Indonesian
leaders, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and former president
Suharto. At the beginning of the economic turbulence, Asean
members zeroed in on their own problems and let Burma in. Over the
past three years, Asean has exposed its incoherence and
shortcomings.
As Thailand is preparing to host the upcoming Asean Ministerial
Meeting, it is confronting the harsh prospect of trying to maintain
Asean unity and its own bilateral relations with Burma. In the past
twelve months, Thai-Burmese relations have undergone a domestic
transformation with visible signs of growing frustration among the
security apparatus, especially the army. It is possible that Asean
needs to consider the so-called minus x principle, which has so far
been applied to economic cooperation. As it stands now, some of the
members would like to apply it to the grouping's political and
security cooperation. This principle, which is also known as the
coalition of the willing, will allow the members that are willing
to take part in a common project to go ahead instead of getting
struck because one member is not ready or opposed to the idea.
When the United Nations deployed peacekeeping forces in East Timor
last October, only Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia
dispatched their peacekeepers to take part. Efforts to mobilise a
so-called Asean peacekeeping force failed because of strong
objections from new members. Although there exists an informal
understanding among the three countries that their decisions were
their own, it is necessary to institutionalise such a mechanism so
the grouping can respond to a political crisis or conflict
situations that might occur in the future in or outside its
members' countries. More specifically, it will also serve as a way
out for Asean and its relations with dialogue countries.
Obviously, the EU's policy toward Burma, despite recent softening
and subtle adjustments, will remain an impediment to overall Asean-
EU relations for years to come. Laos and Cambodia will be included
in the Asean-EU economic framework agreement at the Asean meeting
in Bangkok in July -- leaving Burma further isolated.
As long as Burma continues to dig in without amending its attitude
and loosening political oppression, Asean members' support for
adopting the coalition of the willing principle will grow. It is
not possible to wait for Burma anymore. As in an old Thai saying:
one rotten fish makes the whole basket stink. The smell has been
around for too long.
____________________________________________________
COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS: ON WHY THAN SHWE DID NOT MAKE THIS
YEAR'S TEN WORST ENEMIES OF THE PRESS LIST
May 5, 2000
[This letter from the Committee to Protect Journalists is in response
to a request for comment from BurmaNet regarding this year's list of
the "Ten Worst Enemies of the Press." General Than Shwe appeared in
the two previous years but did not appear this year. Here are CPJ's
comments in full.?BurmaNet]
***
The fact that General Than Shwe was not among our list of the Ten
Worst Enemies of the Press this year in no way reflects a belief that
conditions in Burma are any better than when we included him on our
list in 1997 and
1998.
Each year, we face the difficult choice of determining who, exactly,
to include on the list. Our regional program coordinators,
unfortunately, have far too many villains to nominate.
There are a number of countries that could probably have been put on
the list this year -- or every year -- including not just Burma, but
Belarus, Zimbabwe, and Colombia. In some cases, such as in Colombia,
it's hard to point a finger at one individual most responsible for
the abysmal conditions journalists face. In other countries, we
really have to ask how effective naming the leader will be; we try to
target those who might be most responsive to our spotlight.
Any such list is, by nature, a subjective judgement, reached after
thorough debate by our staff. There are many, including Gen. Shwe,
who ought to be on the list. Let me repeat that the fact that his
name is not listed this year by no means reflects any belief on our
part that his record of press abuses has improved; it only means that
we have to make room for other press enemies who have surfaced and
whose deeds we need to call attention to.
You can be sure that CPJ will continue to observe carefully the
record of abuses against the press in Burma and that we will continue
to protest vigorously any abuses we are made aware of.
Sincerely,
Judy Blank
[Committee to Protect Journalists]
_____________________ OTHER ______________________
KHRG: NEW KAREN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP WEB SITE ADDRESS
Effective immediately, the Karen Human Rights Group web site has a
new address: www.khrg.org
For those who have already accessed, bookmarked or linked to our web
site, please note that the old address WILL still work, so you don't
need to make any changes.
____________________________________________________
_______________
Acronyms and abbreviations regularly used by BurmaNet.
AVA: Ava Newsgroup. A small, independent newsgroup covering Kachin
State and northern Burma.
KHRG: Karen Human Rights Group. A non-governmental organization
that conducts interviews and collects information primarily in
Burma's Karen State but also covering other border areas.
KNU: Karen National Union. Ethnic Karen organization that has been
fighting Burma's central government since 1948.
NLM: New Light of Myanmar, Burma's state newspaper. The New Light of
Myanmar is also published in Burmese as Myanmar Alin.
SCMP: South China Morning Post. A Hong Kong newspaper.
SHAN: Shan Herald Agency for News. An independent news service
covering Burma's Shan State.
SHRF: Shan Human Rights Foundation
SPDC: State Peace and Development Council. The current name the
military junta has given itself. Previously, it called itself the
State Law and Order Restoration Council.
________________
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