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Subject: [theburmanetnews] BurmaNet News: August 12, 2000
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______________ THE BURMANET NEWS ______________
An on-line newspaper covering Burma
__________August 12, 2000 Issue # 1594__________
INSIDE BURMA _______
AP: Senior Myanmar oppn leader jailed for 21 years
ARNO News: Riot between Rakhin, Burman settlers
ARNO News: Tree Tax Collection
ARNO News: Military exercise in Bay of Bengal
REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL _______
AP: Myanmar dissidents, shackled by Thailand, want to resettle outside
Bangkok Post: Inbrief - Immunity law [Ratchaburi massacre]
Puchatkan (Thailand): Plan to move Burmese refugees to border scrapped
Bangkok Post: Army Spies Steer Clear of Politics
Kyodo: Six Burmese soldiers freed in attempt to improve ties with
Thailand
HNEHTU newspaper (India): Jail condition in Mizoram State
ECONOMY/BUSINESS _______
Reuters: Myanmar kyat plumbs new lows despite govt warnings
MIC:Profit Sharing Agreement on Zinc Production Signed
REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL _______
AP: Myanmar dissidents, shackled by Thailand, want to resettle outside
Bangkok Post: Inbrief - Immunity law [Ratchaburi massacre]
_______
The BurmaNet News is viewable online at:
http://theburmanetnews.editthispage.com
__________________ INSIDE BURMA ____________________
AP: Senior Myanmar oppn leader jailed for 21 years
Friday, 11 August 2000
YANGON, Myanmar: The secretary of a 10-member proxy parliament set up
by
the Myanmar pro-democracy party of Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced
to 21 years in jail, said a party statement received on Thursday.
"Aye Tha Aung, Secretary of the Committee Representing the People's
Parliament and a delegate representing ethnic-based political parties
was arrested by the military dictators on 24 April. It was learnt that
he was given (a) 21 year prison sentence," the statement said.
He was sentenced on June 21 and had been denied the right to a defence
lawyer, said the statement issued by the committee, led by Suu Kyi's
National League for Democracy. It did not say what Aye Tha Aung had
been
charged with.
The committee denounced the jail term and noted that Aye Tha Aung's
family had only been allowed to see him once, on July 27. The Myanmar
government could not be reached immediately for comment.
The NLD, which won a landslide victory in 1990 general elections but
was
barred by the ruling military from taking power, set up the CRPP in
September of 1998 when the government ignored its demands to convene a
parliament.
Since the formation of the CRPP, which directly challenges the
regime's
legitimacy, authorities have stepped up pressure on the party. Several
elected representatives of the NLD have been detained and many have
resigned from the party.
Since it was set up in 1988, hundreds of NLD members have been
imprisoned, usually after summary sentencing. The Myanmar regime has
faced international censure and sanctions for its poor human rights
record. (AP)
____________________________________________________
ARNO News Monthly: Riot between Rakhine and Burman Buddhist settlers
News and Analysis of the Arakan Rohingya National
Organisation, Arakan (Burma)
July 2000 Issue
In the 2nd week of July 2000, there was a communal riot between
Rakhine and Burman Buddhist settlers in Khyingyi model village, a
place about 10 miles south of Maungdaw town, killing one Rakhine
settlers. The Burman settlers numbering about 100 were brought in
from Burma proper while the Rakhine settlers were invited from Arakan
interior. When the situation became tense the police tried to control
it but in vain. Later the Lun-Htin (para-militia troops) were
deployed who could control the situation, for a few hours only, by
shooting in the air. Then the army intervened but it was also turned
out unsuccessful due to uncompromising attitude of Burman settlers,
who are doing excess to their fellow Rakhine settlers under the
patronage of the military. Under the circumstance, the commander of
the Western Command Maj. Gen. Aung Htwe visited the trouble spot on
July 19, and advised the settlers to calm down and to co-exist
peacefully in the village. However, there is a feeling of unrest
among the settlers and locals.
During the altercation the Rakhines accused the Burmans of intruders
into Arakan whereas the Burmans accused the Rakhines of Bangladeshi
migrants.
____________________________________________________
ARNO News Monthly: Tree Tax Collection
July 2000
News and Analysis of the Arakan Rohingya National
Organisation, Arakan (Burma)
The SPDC armed forces have introduced various notorious and arbitrary
tax collections particularly in Arakan, which are unknown to the
human society. In the first week of July, 2000, the authorities
ordered all the Rohingya Muslim villagers in Maungdaw township to pay
yearly a new tree tax of Kyat 2500/- per betel-nut tree and Kyat
5000/- per coconut tree. In addition, the Rohingya villagers are
required to pay taxes for the construction and repair works of their
dwelling houses. Tin-roofed houses are heavily taxed. The Muslim
villagers are warned to be severely punished for the non-compliance
of the order.
It may be mentioned that there are at least a few such trees grown in
almost every house compound of the Rohingyas. The non-Muslim
communities are exempted from these taxes.
_________________________________________________
ARNO News Monthly: Military exercise in Bay of Bengal
News and Analysis of the Arakan Rohingya National
Organisation, Arakan (Burma
On 15 May 2000, Burma armed forces conducted a military exercise in
Arakan coast in the Bay of Bengal. It was participated by 500
combined forces of army, air force and navy. The Deyawaddi Naval Base
made all necessary arrangement for the manoeuvring supervised by two
Chinese military experts. It was a rare exercise in recent years
________________ REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL__________________
AP: Myanmar dissidents, shackled by Thailand, want to resettle outside
By BUSABA SIVASOMBOON
Associated Press Writer
MANEELOY, Thailand, Aug 10, 2000 (AP) -- Myanmar dissidents in exile,
whose fierce campaign for democracy in their homeland has been
subdued by a Thai crackdown, said Thursday they are now eager to be
resettled in other countries.
"We have no hope here anymore, a bright future is waiting for us in
third countries," said Aung Htun, a student leader, at the Maneeloy
refugee camp where 1,539 dissidents have been living as virtual
prisoners for the last 10 months.
Thai authorities clamped strict security on the camp, barring inmates
from going outside, after five radical Myanmar students briefly
seized their country's embassy in Bangkok in October.
Thailand was embarrassed again when another group of Myanmar students
seized a hospital in Ratchaburi, 90 kilometers (60 miles) west of
Bangkok, in January. At least some of those students involved in the
two incidents were believed to have once sheltered in the Maneeloy
camp.
Thai authorities allowed reporters into the camp Thursday for the
first time since October, and permitted interviews with inmates.
While thousands of Myanmar refugees live in camps across Thailand,
the Maneeloy camp is the only one holding dissidents - students,
politicians and former officials who were involved in the 1988
uprising against the military government of Myanmar, also known as
Burma.
Aung Htun said the inmates are more than happy to resettle in other
countries in view of the Thai crackdown.
But they will carry on their campaign after being resettled to
give "the world information about what is happening in Myanmar," said
Aung Htun, who applied to go to Denmark in March. He is the deputy
chief of the Burmese Students Association, the most powerful group in
the camp.
Since 1992, when the camp was set up, 2,567 inmates have been
resettled in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and
Scandinavian countries, said Preecha Chanreung, the deputy governor
of Ratchaburi province where the camp is located.
The Thai government, unwilling to antagonize Myanmar, a neighbor and
partner in a regional economic grouping, is pressuring third
countries to accept all the dissidents in the camp.
Preecha said he expected the camp to be closed by the end of next
year.
____________________________________________________
Bangkok Post: Inbrief - Immunity law [Ratchaburi massacre]
Aug 11, 2000.
The armed forces will push for a law that will give their anti-
terrorism personnel legal immunity.
The move was reportedly prompted by the Ratchaburi hospital takeover
in January by God's Army rebels. The crisis ended with a commando
raid which freed all hostages and left all 10 Karen terrorists dead.
However, those involved in the operation have been accused of over-
reaction and brutality by human rights activists who also called for
criminal action against them.
____________________________________________________
Puchatkan (Thailand): Plan to move Burmese refugees to border scrapped
Burma closes border post
Bangkok, in Thai 10 Aug 00 p 17
Burma closes the border at Mae Sot
Excerpts from report by Thai newspaper 'Puchatkan' on 10th August
Northern Region News Centre: The authority in charge of the Thai-
Burmese
border area has issued aninstruction prohibiting demonstrations
against the
relocation of political refugees from Bangkok to the refugee centre at
Ban Um Piam. The UNHCR [UN High Commissioner for Refugees] has halted
its
relocation plan, claiming fear of exploitation by third parties.
Rumour has
spread in the border areas of Tak Province about the National
Security Council's
[NSC] plan to relocate Hmong from Tham Krabok to the province. The
Burmese
government has closed the border between Myawaddi and Mae Sot to
discourage Burmese students who fled to Thailand from creating
disturbance
of peace in Burmese territory.
Regarding developments in the opposition by the local people in Tak
to the
policy, to be implemented by the NSC and funded by the UNHCR, to
relocate 85 Burmese political refugees from Bangkok and other
surrounding
provinces to the shelter centre at Ban Um Piam, Phopphra District, Tak
Province, on 4th August the Phopphra District administration issued a
statement for dissemination by village and subdistrict chiefs.
The statement said: Referring to the NSC policy to relocate 85
Burmese persons of concern to the shelter centre at Ban Um Piam
on 3rd August, which received resistance from the people in Phopphra
District and nearby districts, the Phopphra District administration
has
been informed that the UNHCR has discontinued the relocation of the
85 Burmese to the shelter centre. For this reason, it is improper
for any individuals or groups to persuade you or your family members
to carry out a demonstration against the Burmese persons of concern,
and their action may have hidden selfish motives. Moreover, third
parties
could exploit the demonstration by the masses for other purposes other
than to oppose the Burmese students, to the detriment of the country
and the demonstration participants themselves.
In any event, despite the confirmation by the local administration and
the UNHCR that the relocation of the 85 Burmese political refugees
has been abolished, the opposition by the local people to the
relocation has not completely subsided. This is because the NSC
still
has the policy of sending some400 political refugees, who earlier fled
the Um Piam centre to find employment in Bangkok and the
surrounding provinces, back to the centre. On 12th August, NSC
Secretary-General Khachatphai Burutphat is scheduled to brief the
local
communities in Tak about the plan...
Moreover, rumour has spread in Mae Sot that in addition to the
[abolished]
planned relocation of Burmese political refugees to the shelter
centre along
the border, the NSC has a policy of relocating Hmong in Tham Krabok,
Saraburi Province, to Tak Province. However, so far there is no
confirmation
of such policy.
According to a most recent report, on 9th August the Burmese
government
ordered closure of the border at the Thailand-Burma Friendship Bridge
which links Mae Sot and Myawaddi and at other temporary crossing
points
on the Moei River. Foot as well as vehicle traffic were banned out of
fear by
the Burmese side of possible activities by Burmese students along the
border. August the eighth is the 12th anniversary of the demand for
democracy in Burma. Burmese intelligence units had information that
anti-Burmese group which called itself the 8888 (which is derived from
8th August of 1988) might carry out disruption of peace.
From 8th August, Burmese students who had taken shelter in the
Tak-Mae Hong Son border areas organized gatherings and events
to pay respect to the fallen heroes. The federation of Burmese
students
in Tak issued a statement to express determination to continue the
struggle against the Burmese government.
____________________________________________________
Bangkok Post: Army Spies Steer Clear of Politics
T H U R S D A Y, A U G U S T 1 0, 2 0 0 0
Ordered to focus on border protection
Wassana Nanuam
The army's intelligence units have 1 been told to stop gathering
material
on domestic developments and start concentrating on national security
along
the border.
Highly-placed sources said Gen surayud Chulanont, the army chief,
ordered
the three intelligence units to stop sying on politicians and labour
leaders, and gathering information on politics.
The order was in line with Gen Surayud's policy to keep the army
away
from politics and leave domestic intelligence to agencies such as
the
National Intelligence Agency, the National Security Council, the
Special
Branch Police and the Security Centre of the Supreme Command.
Sources said this was the first time army intelligence units had
been
given a direct orde to focus on border security. "Gen Surayud
has a
strong wish to see the units perform more professionally and not
serve
political interests, ' a senior army officer said.
In the past, senior intelligence officers were used by the brass to
lobby
support from politicians. Other officers were deployed to spy on
politicians or labour leaders considered security risks.
Intelligence officers from the army special forces would be recruited
to
boost the efficiency of existing intelligence units operating along
the
border, especially the Burmese border, where drug smuggling is rife.
The army has three intelligence units monitoring security on the
Burmese,
Lao and Cambodian borders. Lt-Gen Thanes Maison heads the army's unit
311along the Burmese border, Lt-Gen Thaweesak Noonpakdi heads unit
315
along the Cambodian border while Lt-Gen Somsak Saengchanlert heads
unit 309
along the border with Laos.
Officers frorn the Army Military Intelligence previously kept a close
watch
on political activities to keep top army leaders abreast of domestic
politics.
Kyodo: Six Burmese soldiers freed in attempt to improve ties with
Thailand
August 12, 2000
Kyodo
THAILAND yesterday released six Burmese soldiers that been held in
the border
province of Mae Hong Son since February, apparently in a bid to
improve military
relations between Thailand and Burma.
Major Chatri Thaenthong, head of the Thai-Burma coordination office
in Tak Province,
delivered the soldiers to his Burmese counterpart at about 11 am.
The soldiers were sent back via the border checkpoint a t Mae Sot in
Tak to avokd any
confrontation with angry Burmese troops near Mae Hong Son, according
to a military
officer.
The six soldiers, from an army battalion based near Mae Hong Son,
were captured by the Thai military on February 3.
They claimed to have crossed accidentally into Thailand while
searching for food.
They were detained for the next six months without any legal charges.
Relations between the Thai and Burmese armies in the northern border
areas have been
sour since last year, when the Thai army closed border passes to
block narcotics
traffickers.
The bitter relations deteriorated further when Thai military
commanders accused Burma of supporting drug production along the
border.
____________________________________________________
HNEHTU newspaper (India): Jail condition in Mizoram State
Aizawl,
dated 3 August 2000
There are 1,326 prisoners in all Mizoram jails. Central Jail is very
congested now with the Burmese being arrested in the state. Only 400
to 500 prisoners are used to put in the Central Jail but from 3rd
August the jail has become congested and total 846 prisoners were
there in the central jail.
In Champhai jail, there are now 56, jail of Saiha in southern Mizoram
68 and Kollasib jail is with 79 prisoners. There are total 200
prisoners in Lunglei jail. The reason why jails in Mizoram became
crowded is the arrest of Burmese from different parts by the police
in the state.
A news report from MIZO ARSI (star) newspaper, Aizawl,
Dated 7th August, 2000
Overdosed person died in lock-up
On 7th August 2000, a Chin, namely Lalrinchhana, who says himself
from being Tuikual C of Aizawl, died in lock-up due to overdose. His
body was taken away by his maternal Uncle T.C Vungana who lives in
Chhiga Veng of Aizawl.
_______________ ECONOMY AND BUSINESS _______________
Reuters: Myanmar kyat plumbs new lows despite govt warnings
YANGON, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Myanmar"s beleaguered kyat currency hit a
record low against the dollar on the black market on Friday despite
warnings by the military government that it would clamp down on
speculators. Dealers said the kyat was trading at 395 per dollar on
the black market, down from 385 at the start of the week. Before this
month"s slide, the previous record low was 384 to the dollar in
August 1998. The official rate is six kyat to the dollar. The kyat
was quoted at 375 per dollar-denominated Foreign Exchange Certificate
(FEC), the currency issued to tourists. A commentary in the Myanmar-
language Kyemon newspaper last week warned against "unscrupulous
speculation" and said the authorities would take action to bring
prices under control. Newspapers in Myanmar are regarded as official
mouthpieces of the regime. Dealers said the currency had been
undermined by panic buying of commodities by people trying to protect
themselves against surging inflation, as well as the weakness of
Thailand"s baht. The Myanmar government increased the salaries of
civil servants by five to eight times in April to bring them more
into line with spiralling prices, but the move helped fuel inflation,
estimated at around 30 percent a year.
Prices of common consumer goods have not risen too steeply, residents
say, due to measures taken by the authorities, including the opening
of five tax-free markets in Yangon. But prices of gold, cars and
other imported items have risen sharply. Analysts say there was
strong demand for these items as a way of guarding against inflation
and the weakening kyat. Demand increased after the bank interest rate
on savings was cut in April to 10 percent from 12 percent. Prices of
low-market reconditioned vans and cars have more than doubled in the
last three months. Myanmar authorities imposed strict regulations on
cars in late 1997, virtually stopping the flow of passenger cars into
the country. Gold dealers said the price of 24-carat gold bars had
shot up to 60,000 kyat per tickle (0.525 troy ounce) from 51,500 kyat
in March. Prices have risen despite a warning to gold dealers not to
exceed a price of 54,000 kyat per tickle. Myanmar"s economy remains
tightly controlled, despite the introduction of some market reforms
in 1988 after 26 years of central planning. The economy is commodity-
based and relies heavily on the export of rice, pulses and prawns.
____________________________________________________
Myanmar Information Committee: Profit Sharing Agreement on Zinc
Production Signed
Yangon
N0. B-1478 (I) 13th August, 2000
The No 1 Mining Enterprise of Ministry of Mines and Myanmar
Mayflower Mining Enterprise Ltd signed an agreement on zinc
production in Maw Khee (Wale) region, Myawady Township, Kayin State,
at the ministry on 11 August.
Managing Director of No.1 Mining Enterprise and Managing Director of
Myanmar Mayflower Mining Enterprise Ltd expressed thanks, signed and
exchanged the
agreement.
____________________________________________________
________________
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