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BurmaNet News: March 19, 2001



______________ THE BURMANET NEWS ______________
        An on-line newspaper covering Burma 
         March 19, 2001   Issue # 1759
______________ www.burmanet.org _______________

INSIDE BURMA _______
*Time: Should Tourists Stay away From Burma? 
*DVB: Burmese troops said to be launching offensive against Karen rebels 

*DVB: DVB radio to extend broadcasts
*Committee to Protect Journalists: Attacks on the Press 2000 (Burma 
excerpt)

REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL _______
*AFP: Thailand, Myanmar officials to meet over border conflict
*The Nation: Thailand Is a Bad Neighbour
*AP: Thailand calls cease-fire in verbal war with Myanmar drugs 
*Burma Courier: India's Defence Minister Quits over Arms Scandal
*Bangkok Post: Aides Well Cared for in Coming Reshuffle

ECONOMY/BUSINESS _______
*Xinhua: Myanmar Earns Less From Annual Gems Emporium

OPINION/EDITORIALS_______
*The New Light of Myanmar (SPDC): Don?t help if you don?t want to, but 
don?t disturb

OTHER______
*RFA: Looking for Internship Candidates	


__________________ INSIDE BURMA ____________________



Time: Should Tourists Stay away From Burma?  

Time Mar 19, 01



Travel used to be about fun, freedom, feeling good. The point was to get 
away, unwind. Bugs and sunburns were the main holiday worry. Now it's 
the footprints you leave behind. 

Case in point: Burma, or Myanmar, the indigenous name used by the 
generals who annulled democratic elections a decade ago. Repressive and 
corrupt, the junta has managed to avoid blanket sanctions by the West. 
But campaigners are demanding a travel boycott, taking their lead from 
Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi whose National League for Democracy won 
the 1990 vote. She maintains that tourist dollars prop up the regime. 
Another deterrent: International Labor Organization reports say forced 
labor was used on tourist projects. 

Opponents of the boycott, which include guide publisher Lonely Planet 
(now also a target of activists for its stance), argue that since state 
control of the industry loosened, visitors hand money directly to tens 
of thousands of ordinary Burmese who depend on it. Since when, they add, 
was isolation good for human rights? Think North Korea. And when did any 
leader, even such a beacon of resistance as Aung San Suu Kyi, speak for 
an entire party or people? The nld is split on the issue. The Burmese, 
who extend Southeast Asia's warmest welcome to tourists, are clearly 
happy to see them, not soldiers, on the streets. Some tourism supporters 
accuse boycott advocates of cynically trying to stir up unrest by 
depressing incomes.  Asian travel agents have long touted cheap tours to 
the country. And arrivals from Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong 
are increasing. In Europe, where boycott talk is fiercest, agents in 
Italy, France and Germany sell Burma on the sly. Only 160,000 foreigners 
make the trip annually. Operators are now going on the offensive, 
trumpeting tourism to a cradle of Southeast Asian culture as the best 
way to benefit the long-suffering Burmese. 
So what are they selling? Burma is the Land of the Golden Pagodas, where 
every man is expected to serve in a Buddhist monastery twice in his 
life, as novice and ordained monk. One of Asia's great temple cities, 
800-year-old Pagan (see Detour), lies alongside the great Irrawaddy 
River in the central west. Upriver is the cultural capital Mandalay, in 
the east stunning Inle Lake offers towns on stilts and floating island 
farms, and peerless beaches fringe the Bay of Bengal and countless 
Andaman Sea islands. 

A leading attraction is Rangoon (Yangon). Giant stupas sparkling in the 
sun have captivated newcomers for centuries. The mesmeric gilded domes 
of Sule and Shwedagon pagodas tower above the capital. Dawn and dusk 
walks, past hundreds of kneeling devotees as plumes of incense waft over 
their prayers, are unforgettable. 
Not much else has changed. Wide streets curve around British colonial 
mansions. Bogyoke Market (great handicrafts, particularly lacquerware) 
sits beside animposing Victorian rail station. Downtown is filled with 
Italianate architecture covered in tropical mold. Near Trader's Hotel, 
cinemas have been allowed to reopen, offering plush 1950s-style seating 
and the latest releases from Hollywood for the period price of 25 cents. 
 Food and lodging are cheap. Low tourist traffic means rooms at upmarket 
lodges like Trader's go for $50. True luxury such as at the Pansea 
outside town and the Strand (see Hot Spot) costs more. The Three Seasons 
($15) is legendary for owner Mie Mie's helpfulness and invigorating 
curry breakfasts, but backpackers can find cheaper. In a Burmese 
restaurant, expect to pay $1-5 for a spread that includes curry, pickled 
tea, fried vegetables and rice. Try the Green Elephant toward the 
airport. The 50th Street Bar and Grill, a wood and rattan showpiece, 
also has delicious fusion fare ($6-10). 

"This is Burma, and it will be quite unlike any land you know about," 
wrote Rudyard Kipling in 1898. More than a century on, Burma's lure 
endures: only the individual can decide whether or not to succumb.











___________________________________________________



DVB: Burmese troops said to be launching offensive against Karen rebels 

Text of report by Burmese opposition radio on 18 March

DVB [Democratic Voice of Burma] has learned that the SPDC [State Peace 
and Development Council] troops have begun preparations for a 
retaliatory offensive after the KNU [Karen National Union] guerrillas 
launched a surprised lightening attack on the Thanbyuzayat Central 
Training Camp in Mon State on 6 March.

SPDC battalions under the No.12 Tactical Command have begun entering en 
masse into Kya-in Seikkyi Township in Karen State. Both sides are 
expected to engage in fierce battles in the near future.

A KNU company launched a surprised attack on the SPDC Central Training 
Camp near Thanbyuzayat on 6 March. At the ensuing battle, four SPDC 
troops including Company Commander Capt Than Tun were killed while six 
were seriously wounded. Furthermore, many equipment, trucks, and motor 
vehicles were destroyed and hundreds of millions of kyats [Burmese 
currency unit] were lost.

The central training camp is responsible for the security of the 
(?Wegalaung) Dam construction project near Thanbyuzayat and have been 
forcing local residents to work at the project. The SPDC troops are 
continuing to make preparations to retaliate the KNU attack and many 
civilians in Thanbyuzayat and Ye townships in Mon State have been 
forcibly recruited as porters for the army. The SPDC troops are also 
recruiting porters in Yebyu and Thayetchaung Townships of Tavoy District 
in Tenasserim Division. Those who are caught travelling without travel 
passes at bus depots, boat and ferry jetties, were taken as porters.

DVB has learned that they will be used to carry food and rations for the 
military columns and for military offensive and clearing operations in 
Mon and Karen States.

Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1245 gmt 18 Mar 01 

________

___________________________________________________




___________________________________________________




DVB: DVB radio to extend broadcasts

Text of report by Burmese opposition radio on 16 March

DVB [Democratic Voice of Burma] plans to change its broadcasting times 
and some frequencies from Monday, 26 March. The change is being made to 
accommodate the expansion of DVB programmes. From Monday 26 March, the 
DVB broadcast at 0600-0625 Burma Standard Time [BST, 2330-2355 gmt the 
previous day] will be extended to 0700 BST [0030 gmt]. The night 
programme at 2100 BST [1430 gmt] will be extended to 2200 BST [1530 
gmt]. The main evening programme at 1915 BST [1245 gmt] will cease 
broadcasting from Sunday 25 March.

The morning 0600-0700 BST programme will be broadcast on 11590 kHz in 
the 25m band and on 9495 kHz in the 31m band. The 2100-2200 BST night 
programme will be broadcast on 15405 kHz in the 19m band and on 5945 kHz 
in the 49m band. The night programme can also be received on the old 16m 
band frequency of 17415 kHz, but it will close at 2125 BST [1455 gmt]. 
The normal ethnic language programmes will be broadcast twice daily at 
2145 and 0645 BST [1515 and 0015 gmt] respectively. These programmes 
will commence on Monday, 26 March.

[Democratic Voice of Burma broadcasts from studios in Oslo, Norway via 
hired shortwave transmitters in Norway, Germany, Madagascar and the 
CIS.] 
Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1245 gmt 16 Mar 01 





___________________________________________________




Committee to Protect Journalists: Attacks on the Press 2000 (Burma 
excerpt)


March 19, 2001


 ...Press conditions in Burma remain among the worst in the world. The 
ruling junta not only keeps domestic media on a tight leash, but also 
arrests its citizens for "crimes" that include listening to foreign 
short-wave radio broadcasts and using a fax machine. The isolationist 
junta has succeeded in blocking most information coming into or going 
out of the country, making it difficult to document press freedom 
violations. While CPJ has recorded the cases of eight journalists 
imprisoned in Burma, the actual number of those jailed for their 
journalistic work is thought to be much higher.  In September, Cheng 
Poh, a 77-year-old lawyer, was sentenced to 14 years in prison (having 
been jailed in July) for allegedly circulating photocopies of foreign 
news articles. Though he was released a few weeks after being sentenced, 
along with a group of elderly political prisoners, his case illustrates 
the vulnerability of anyone who tries to disseminate independent news in 
Burma. 


BURMA

Conditions for journalists in Burma are among the worst in the world and 
showed no sign of improvement in 2000. All media outlets are either 
owned or controlled by the ruling State Peace and Development Council, 
the military junta that has governed the country since 1988. The handful 
of private journals allowed to publish face strict licensing 
requirements, and all published material must be submitted to the 
official Press Scrutiny Board for approval. Most foreign journalists are 
barred from the country.  In February, the junta allowed the publication 
of a privately owned newspaper for the first time. The Myanmar Times, a 
joint venture between a local firm and an Australian businessman, showed 
no evidence of independence, however, merely presenting government 
propaganda more professionally than the clumsy official press. 
Late in the year, as international censure mounted over the house arrest 
of Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and leaders of her party, the 
National League for Democracy (NLD), military intelligence chief Lt. 
Gen. Khin Nyunt was quoted in government newspapers saying that the 
international media were "dominated and manipulated by some Western 
nations" who sought to undermine Burma. 

CPJ has documented eight cases of journalists imprisoned for their work 
in Burma, though the actual number is thought to be much higher. In 
October 2000, there were reports that Soe Thein, a prominent journalist 
jailed in 1996, was near death and in dire need of medical treatment. 
Nine contributors to the monthly NLD exile magazine Mojo, which is 
banned in Burma, were also said to be in prison at year's end. 

In August, Tin Maung Than, editor and publisher of the influential 
private journal Thintbawa, was detained and questioned for five days 
after he circulated photocopies of a speech by a government official 
that was critical of the junta's economic policies. In late November, 
Tin Maung Than took his family to Thailand, where they sought political 
asylum in the United States. 

The only independent news available in Burmese comes via short-wave 
broadcasts from Radio Free Asia, Voice of America (VOA), the BBC, and 
the Democratic Voice of Burma, an opposition station based in Norway. It 
is illegal to tune in these broadcasts. In January, the NLD reported 
that a 70-year-old man was sentenced to two years in prison after being 
caught listening to a VOA broadcast in a public coffee shop.
 
In January, the government banned the Internet publication of anything 
that was "directly or indirectly detrimental to the current policies and 
secret security affairs of the government," according to a report on 
Burmese state television. The restrictions made little difference to 
most Burmese, since the ownership of computers, modems, and even fax 
machines is strictly regulated, and only a handful of people have been 
granted Internet access.  Censorship can sometimes reach absurd levels. 
When a Burmese soccer team suffered defeat during the regional Tiger Cup 
tournament in Thailand, the Bangkok Post reported that the official 
censorship board told Burmese sportswriters covering the match that the 
results "must be written in constructive ways." Faced with this 
Orwellian directive, most sportswriters decided not to write about the 
tournament at all.



___________________ REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL___________________
				


AFP: Thailand, Myanmar officials to meet over border conflict 


BANGKOK, March 19 (AFP) - Thailand and Myanmar have agreed to convene a 
top-level border committee for the first time in two years to try to 
resolve a brewing row over conflicts along their shared border, 
officials said Monday. 
 "Myanmar has agreed to the regional border meeting, which is a good 
sign because we can clear up all the misunderstandings and thus our 
relations will be cordial," said Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh. 


 The Regional Border Committee will gather from April 2-4 in the Myanmar 
town of Kengtung, about 60 kilometres (37 miles) from the Thai border. 

 Two sessions of the lower-level Township Border Commission have failed 
to ease strains sparked by clashes between the two neighbours' armies at 
the important Mae Sai-Tachilek crossing. 

 The checkpoint has been closed since Myanmar troops pursuing ethnic 
rebels strayed into Thailand on February 11, prompting retaliation by 
the Thai army and a tense month-long standoff between the two sides. 

 Thailand tried to re-open its side of the Mae Sai-Tachilek crossing 
earlier this month but Myanmar officials said they had had not been 
consulted over the move and refused to follow suit. 

 The clashes also set off a war of wards between the two countries over 
the production of methamphetamines on Myanmar soil by Yangon-allied 
ethnic armies responsible for sparking off the skirmish. 

 Myanmar Sunday condemned Thailand as a bad neighbour and accused it of 
covering up its failure to address its own drugs crisis by shifting the 
blame onto Myanmar. 

 Thai army commander Lieutenant General Wattanachai Chaimeunwong will 
head Bangkok's delegation in the April talks. 

 Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Monday rejected press speculation 
that Wattanachai, head of the Third Army which patrols the region, was 
to be transferred as punishment for his tough stance after the clashes. 
 "No foreign country can tell us what to do. It's our internal affairs 
to transfer or not transfer any positions," he said. 


 
 


___________________________________________________



The Nation: Thailand Is a Bad Neighbour

Monday, March 19, 2001

: RANGOON

AFP

RANGOON- The Burmese government yesterday condemned Thailand as a bad 
neighbour for covering up its failure to address the nation's drugs 
crisis by shifting the blame onto Burma.

"The Thai government officials have never made efforts to effectively 
control the problem," the military regime said in an official 
information sheet.

"It is comprehensible to all that Thai government officials, instead of 
finding ways and means to solve their own problem by themselves, issue 
news reports deliberately putting the blame on Myanmar[Burma]." 
The official statement ticked off Bangkok for discussing the drugs issue 
via the media rather than through proper channels set up to solve 
bilateral problem.

"Thus their act should be regarded as an act which is violating the 
principles of good neighbourliness."

The comments were the latest salvo in a brewing row between the two 
countries over the production of methamphetamines on Burmese soil by 
Rangoon _allied ethnic armies.

In what the Thai military has described as the nation's top security 
threat, some 700 million methamphetamines pills are estimated to make 
their way into the Kingdom each year, causing a massive addiction 
problem. 
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra fired the opening shot in the war of 
words earlier this month by declaring a "war in drugs " and ordering 
officials to find ways to stamp out the narcotics trade.

The Premier said he would demand an explanation from Burma's generals 
over the deadly flow of methamphetamines from jungle refineries, which 
also churn out vast quantities of heroin.

The Burmese junta lashed out at the though new approach, saying Thailand 
should put its own house in order before trying to use its neighbour as 
a "scapegoat" for its drugs problem.

As the sparring continued, the Thai Foreign Minister issued a strongly 
worded statement that criticised the junta for its tetchy response and 
invited the regime to show the international community that it was 
serious about fighting drugs.

International drug-enforcement authorities blame Burma for turning a 
blind eye to drugs production within its borders, in return for 
cease-fire with the ethnic armies that control the trade.


___________________________________________________




AP: Thailand calls cease-fire in verbal war with Myanmar drugs 

BANKGOK, Thailand (AP) _ Thailand on Monday called a cease-fire with 
Myanmar in their war of words over drugs trafficking, and said the two 
governments would hold talks to resolve their differences. 

 Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said he would meet with his 
Myanmar counterpart, Win Aung, on the sidelines of an East Asia-Latin 
America forum in Chile on March 29 and discuss the issue. 

 ``Thailand will seek to explain to the public and international 
community rather than retaliate,'' Surakiart told reporters, ``Trading 
accusations with each other will not resolve the problem.'' 

 Myanmar's military regime has responded angrily to accusations from 
Thailand that it is turning a blind eye to production of 
methamphetamines by ethnic armies inside Myanmar who smuggle their wares 
to Thailand. 

 At the weekend, Myanmar state media reported Col. Tin Hlaing, the 
interior minister, as saying that Thailand had failed to deal with its 
drug problem that had run out of control, and was blaming Myanmar 
instead. 

 Surakiart said the Thai Foreign Ministry would check the details of 
Myanmar's latest remarks but would not step up the verbal war. 

 He made the comments after a meeting Monday with Defense Minister 
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh on security and relations with neighboring 
countries. 

 Chavalit, who is also deputy prime minister, said an upcoming meeting 
of a Thai-Myanmar regional border committee would help ease tensions and 
foster understanding. 

 Myanmar had confirmed it would host the meeting in Keng Tung in 
northeastern Myanmar between April 1-3, he said. 

 Thailand and Myanmar have been exchanging hot words during the last 
month after their troops clashed at the border when fighting between 
Shan rebels and Myanmar forces spilled into Thailand. Border checkpoints 
in that part of the frontier have been closed. 

 Earlier this month, new Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra held a high 
profile meeting on combatting drugs, where officials displayed pictures 
of what they said was proof of drug production activity in Myanmar. 




___________________________________________________



Burma Courier: India's Defence Minister Quits over Arms Scandal

Based on several news agency reports:  Updated to March 16, 2001 
NEW DELHI -- Defense Minister George Fernandes resigned late Thursday, 
denying allegations of bribery in a weapons-deal scandal involving his 
assistant and party colleagues.

Undercover reporters posing as military contractors used a hidden camera 
to film a money-handover inside Fernandes' residence.  Fernandes is the 
latest victim of a scandal that has rocked the ruling coalition 
government, after Internet portal Tehelka.com triggered the resignation 
of Bangaru Laxman, party chief of Bharatiya Janata Party, who was filmed 
accepting 100,000 rupees (US$ 2,150) from undercover reporters.

The film also showed an aide to Jaya Jaitly, president of Fernandes' 
Samata Party, accepting money from a journalist.  Jaya Jaitly resigned 
earlier on Thursday.  The small Samata Party has pulled out of the 
ruling coalition, the National Democratic Alliance.

Earlier in the day, the governing alliance cracked, but did not fall, 
when another Cabinet minister resigned over the corruption scandal.   
Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee announced her resignation and the 
withdrawal of her Trinamool Congress party from the ruling coalition 
which has only a slim majority in the in the 545-member Parliament. 
However, Banerjee said her party's withdrawal would be reconsidered, if 
Fernandes resigned and an impartial probe were opened.

Fernandes, one of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's closest allies, 
is a popular figure among the military rank and file.  He has also been 
a high-profile supporter of the Burma pro-democracy movement, displaying 
a wall-size picture of Aung San Suu Kyi in his official bungalow, where 
Burmese underground leaders are frequent visitors.  Several members of 
the exiled All Burma Students League reportedly live in the 70-year old 
Samata leader's residence.


___________________________________________________





Bangkok Post: Aides Well Cared for in Coming Reshuffle


 Monday, March 19, 2001




Mid-year list goes to Chavalit today

Wassana Nanuam 

The mid-year military reshuffle list is expected to be handed to Defence 
Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh today, with several key positions being 
given to close aides of the minister and Prime Minister Thaksin 
Shinawatra. 
Maj-Gen Prapal Nilawong, a deputy commander of the Armed Forces Security 
Centre, is given the top post at the centre to replace Lt-Gen Jirasak 
Wattanawong, who will become special adviser attached to the Supreme 
Command, sources said.

Maj-Gen Prapal is said to have close ties with Gen Chavalit. 
The defence minister has been upset over the lack of progress in the 
intelligence unit's 
investigation of the Thai Airways International plane bombing. 
Maj-Gen Somchai Wisanuwong, a deputy AFSC chief and first in line for 
the top job, is instead being moved to the position of adviser attached 
to the Supreme Command, to make way for Maj-Gen Prapal, the sources 
said. 
There are also changes in the 11th Army Circle, which has been tasked 
with controlling the military mafia. Its commander Maj-Gen Preecha 
Premasawat will become deputy commander of the First Army. He will be 
replaced by Maj-Gen Jirasit Kesakomol, currently commander of the 
Phetchaburi provincial army.


Sources said Maj-Gen Jirasit is a former classmate of Mr Thaksin, from 
class 10 of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School, and also a 
relative of former supreme commander Gen Mongkol Ampornpisit. 
It was reported a group of officers wanted Maj-Gen Trairong Intharathat 
to replace Maj-Gen Preecha at the 11th Army Circle. However, he has an 
image problem.

The top job in the Phetchaburi provincial army goes to Col Pallop 
Rekharuji, the deputy commander. Col Pallop attended Armed Forces 
Academies Preparatory School class 9 with  Interior Minister Purachai 
Piemsomboon.

The reshuffle also sees the promotion of Maj-Gen Chamlong Bunprapreu, 
deputy chief of Territorial Defence to the top post. He replaces Lt-Gen 
Krieng-krai Charoensiri, who becomes adviser at the National Defence 
Studies Institute.

Maj-Gen Chamlong is a former classmate of army chief Gen Surayud 
Chulanont. 
A source at the army said Gen Surayud and Supreme Commander Gen Sampao 
Chusri plan to promote their former classmate Lt-Gen Wattanachai 
Chaimuenwong, the Third Army chief, to the rank of general and the 
position of special army adviser.

This is seen as preparing Lt-Gen Wattanachai for the army
commander-in-chief's job if Gen Surayud is moved in the reshuffle. 
If Gen Surayud is not transferred by the defence minister, Lt-Gen 
Wattanachai could be appointed army chief-of-staff instead.  Sources 
said Lt-Gen Wattanachai wanted to carry on as Third Army commander 
because he wanted to settle the security and drug problems along the 
Thai-Burmese border.

Gen Chavalit reportedly felt that transferring Lt-Gen Wattanachai and 
putting a new face in charge of the Third Army would facilitate talks on 
the border dispute.

Rangoon's leaders were reportedly upset by Lt-Gen Wattanachai's critical 
public remarks about Burma.

The reshuffle will also see the transfer of Maj-Gen Prathompong 
Kesornsuk, deputy commander of the Third Army and husband of Khunying 
Supatra Masdit, a leading Democrat MP.

Maj-Gen Prathompong, earlier thought to be in line for Third Army 
command, is being made an adviser at the army instead, sources said. 











_______________ ECONOMY AND BUSINESS _______________
 



Xinhua: Myanmar Earns Less From Annual Gems Emporium


YANGON, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar fetched a total of 10.12 million 
U.S. dollars through sale of locally-produced gems, jade, pearl and 
jewelry at the country's 38th annual gems emporium which ended here 
Sunday evening, 58.1 percent less than that earned from the year-ago 
annual event. The eight-day state-sponsored gems emporium, which began 
on March 11, attracted a total of 674 merchants from 15 countries and 
regions, and local companies. The foreign gems traders were mostly from 
China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Thailand and China's 
mainland. At the 37th annual Myanma gems emporium, a total of 24.17 
million dollars were earned, breaking the highest record of 1990's 27th 
emporium which fetched 14.839 million. Myanmar, a well-known producer of 
jade, ruby and sapphire in the world, has been holding gems emporiums 
annually since 1964 with additional mid-year ones being introduced in 
1992. The country has earned over 330 million dollars from its 38 annual 
and nine mid-year gems emporiums, according to official statistics. 


_______________OPINION/EDITORIALS_________________



The New Light of Myanmar (SPDC): Don?t help if you don?t want to, but 
don?t disturb

Friday, 16  March, 2001)

I have read a news report under the heading, which was a kind of a 
leading question implying that "Thai Premier Thaksin possible to deal 
harshly with Myanmar on narcotic drugs" featured in The Bangkok Post 
daily issued on 11 March 2001.  
The news also stated that Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra might 
demand Myanmar wipe out all drug-related problems in order to keep 
Thailand free from narcotics. 

Instead of rendering assistance in the respective sectors as a good 
neighbour to collectively solve the narcotic drug problem, this 
statement totally put the blame on Myanmar. It is like putting all the 
blame on a neighbour for the problem one cannot solve and demanding the 
neighbour solve it. 

The news report also said that at a conference on narcotic drugs held in 
Chiang Rai for two days under the leadership of the Thai Prime Minister, 
an accusation was made, saying that the narcotic drugs which were being 
sold in Thailand were mainly produced by Wa national people of Myanmar. 
It then said that Mongyun in Wa region was built into a large modern 
town at a cost of millions of bahts realized through the drug business. 

All the delegates to the conference including the Prime Minister were 
amazed to learn that the town had a first-class hotel, a large hospital 
and a dam to generate hydro-electric power, it added. 

Although the report accused the Wa people of producing narcotic drugs, 
it did not present any evidence supporting the accusation. 

The accusation which said that millions of bahts were earned from drug 
business is just a random remark. It is baseless. In legal terms, the 
accuser has to present strong evidence proving that the accused is 
guilty. The one who is launching slanderous accusations without 
producing firm evidence is like a hostile shrew. 

As Myanmar has organized a separate ministry to pay special attention to 
the border areas development task, it is implementing the task with 
greater momentum; and thus, one after another the major towns at border 
areas will be transformed into modern towns possessing characteristics 
of regional cities, modern enterprises, hotels, hospitals and 
dispensaries and dams to generate hydro-electric power within a short 
period. 
Instead of seeing with sincerity and pleasure the fruits of the positive 
endeavours, it was said with negative attitude that they were astonished 
to see the fruits of success; we find it very hard to accept that the 
statement represented the true feeling of the farsighted Premier and the 
delegates. It has become questionable whether it was an exaggerated news 
report to mislead the readers. 

In reality these fruits of success are the results of endeavours of the 
State and the national brethren derived from zeal, perseverance and 
endurance and the peace. They are not strange as they are the outcome of 
the actual efforts. As the success has been achieved in launching 
all-out efforts to wipe out the narcotic drugs, it can be said a 
successful result of the distinctive progress which is worthy of praise 
of the world nations and of the ones which have sympathy for Myanmar. 

Myanmar in her efforts in systematically laying down and implementing 
plans to root out narcotic drugs, which is threatening the entire 
mankind, has already resolved to dutifully combat drugs till the goal is 
reached whether or not it receives foreign assistance. 

One can stay idle if it has no desire to help Myanmar which is exerting 
efforts with goodwill and sincerity, but one should not disturb her. 
Some of the Thai officials while ignoring MyanmarÆs efforts to root out 
narcotic drugs have made slanderous statements thereby breaching codes 
of conduct of good-neighbourliness to give the international community 
bad impression of Myanmar; they have also made blind accusation that 
there are no less than 37 drug-producing labs in Mongyun region in 
Myanmar. 

Myanmar has reliable facts to refute such accusations. In reality it is 
not necessary for the drugs to be produced at the industries or 
buildings large enough to be spied from the satellite or in the jungles 
at remote areas in difficulty like refining heroin. The drugs can be 
manufactured at any place, in a ward, or in a narrow apartment or on a 
truck, where electricity is available. It can be assumed that the 
accusers are disregarding this fact in spite of their knowledge. 

If there really exist drug-producing labs in Mongyun as stated in the 
accusation, they should give information on the location of the labs and 
drug producers to Myanmar as ways have been paved for all the bodies of 
the drug control agencies of the two nations, from the central to the 
basic level, to exchange information and to launch anti-drug campaigns 
in cooperation. 

It is obvious that they have made attempts to get the global community 
to have bad impression of Myanmar by issuing baseless reports. They did 
so even though this matter can be raised at the biannual meetings on 
crushing cross-border drug trafficking between the two nations to take 
action against the drug producers. 

These reports if based on true and firm facts can be presented at the 
bilateral meetings; but they have never presented at these meetings; 
thus, it is clear that the reports are just rumours. 

Moreover, the news report quoted the Thai General Surayud as saying that 
relocation of some Wa nationals to Mongyun was to provide assistance in 
manufacturing drugs. The General was reported to have said that the 
money spent in building Mongyun was from Thai pockets. 

With great farsightedness, the Wa leaders relocated their people to be 
more united and stable as access to their native mountainous place is 
difficult, the soil there is not fertile and water supply is difficult; 
thus, their native land has very little opportunity to gain success in 
conducting regional development undertakings. The relocation of the 
residents was launched to totally wipe out poppy cultivation in the area 
by the year 2005. 

The State as, it has rendered assistance to all border area development 
tasks in other regions, has also provided all necessary assistance 
including monetary aid to uplift the spirit of Wa national people. In 
reality the Wa people are investing the profits from the successful 
businesses such as Hongpan Agriculture and Farming Enterprise, Gems 
enterprises, timber trading and garment enterprises in development 
undertakings. Let it be if the Thai General without knowing the 
situation said that the money was from his country. It is surprising 
that the Thai dailies which have broader network of links and which are 
believed to be well-informed were quoting the words of a person who had 
no knowledge on this matter. 

It was said that out of nearly 700 million amphetamine pills smuggled 
into Thailand from Mongyun during the previous year, only 100 million 
tablets could be seized. If so, the real culprits of the seized 100 
million pills should be exposed and the information received should be 
shared at the biannual meetings of the bilateral drug eradication 
committees of both nations. Such efforts will lead to ensuring more 
effectiveness in taking drug control measures. Opportunities are 
favourable to solve such problems at central level and subordinate 
levels at the six-MoU-nation meetings and three-MoU-nation meetings. 
Instead of using the good opportunities such as the meetings held with 
the participation of UNDCP, they are saying rubbish to cause problems. 
They should understand that the onus is on those who are giving 
slanderous talks. 

The Thai media are making accusations that the Wa national people are 
producing narcotic drugs. It could be that the media are echoing the 
voice of America in launching such accusations to serve their in own 
terests. The drug production business will persist longer only when 
there arise problems at the border. Only then can the fellows with 
common aim and interests enjoy a lucrative business. There is much food 
for thought. Are they clearing the bush as they have already seen the 
hare inside? 
Though the Thai media are speaking ill of the Wa people repatedly, the 
Japanese citizens who are working closely with the Wa people and 
rendering assistance to the projects in Wa region are giving firm 
remarks totally opposite to those of the Thai media. Here, I would like 
to extract some of their remarks. 

At the Trans-Atlantic Drug Conference of the fourth law making body 
which was held in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, on 21 February, Japanese 
representative Mr Yasuguki said in his address that Japan was providing 
assistance to Wa region project in Myanmar. Concerning the root cause of 
the poverty problem of the drug producing countries, he noted that 
giving assistance to poppy growers would enable them to earn their 
living without depending on illegal poppy cultivation. He continued that 
creating of markets for the opium substitute crops in order to fulfil 
their basic needs would lead them to discard poppy cultivation; that the 
living standards of the regional people increased at the time of the 
present government as regional development programmes were able to lay 
down and substitute crops could be cultivated due to winning back of 
national consolidation and peace with the national race groups which had 
launched opposition against the government; and that Japan was pleased 
and satisfi! ed to take part in and render assistance to the Wa region 
project. 

Like the east and the west, the remarks of the persons who have 
witnessed the objective conditions and the news reports of the Thai 
dailies which are based on random conclusions are diametrically 
opposite. 

The news report presented the attitude of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin 
Shinawatra in the conclusion part, saying, the Prime Minister stated 
that the good relations between the two countries meant flourishing of 
mutual trust and sincere cordial relations. We have understood that 
unlike the one-sided reports of the Thai media, the Prime Minister said 
his words with for-sightedness in the long-term interest. 

Author : Maung Pe Nwe




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RFA: Looking for Internship Candidates

[BurmaNet adds: This announcement was previously posted without contact 
email addresses.]

Radio Free Asia is looking for interested candidates to apply for an 
internship that will be conducted in Washington DC. RFA is applying 
under  the OSI

internship program for funding to provide training and work experience 
to a qualified candidate. Qualifications include: proficiency in the 
English language, an interest in and/or background in radio broadcasting 
and a commitment to come back to the border area to work on related 
issues. Please send a letter of interest and resume to:  Radio Free 
Asia, Maxim House, Suite 402, 112 Witthayu Road, Pathumwan Bangkok 
10330;  or by fax: 02 650 9177; or e-mail: thinns@xxxxxxx and 
swet@xxxxxxx

All applications must be received by March 31, 2001.






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