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BurmaNet News: September 27, 2001



______________ THE BURMANET NEWS ______________
        An on-line newspaper covering Burma 
         September 27, 2001   Issue # 1889
______________ www.burmanet.org _______________


INSIDE BURMA _______
*BBC: Burma faces Aids explosion
*Xinhua: Myanmar Hosts Regional Meeting on AIDS
*Burma Courier: Rangoon Regime Denies Connection to Osama Bin-laden
*Irrawaddy online: Press Leaks Point to Junta
*Irrawaddy online: Australia Quick to Award Junta

MONEY _______
*Burma Courier: Economic Impact of Terrorist Strike Still Uncertain
*The Star (Malaysia): M?sia and Myanmar agree to new trade arrangement

GUNS______
*Irrawaddy online: MIS to Receive a Facelift
*Narinjara News:  Transfer of Rakhine State Capital to Ann 
*AFP: Campaign against terrorism will use anti-drug war strategies: 
experts 

DRUGS______
*Reuters: Southeast Asia drug flow up as Afghan border closed

REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL _______
*Bernama: Syed Razak Hosts Dinner For Myanmar Leader Than Shwe
*AFP: Malaysia hails Myanmar's move to push ahead with democracy 
*Reuters: Myanmar leader highlights growth, avoids politics
*Xinhua: Myanmar to Enhance ICT Cooperation With Malaysia
*The Nation: AD unrepentant over lyrics

EDITORIALS/OPINION/PROPAGANDA________
*Bangkok Post: Foreign workers can toil legitimately


					
__________________ INSIDE BURMA ____________________





BBC: Burma faces Aids explosion

 
September 25, 2001

By BBC South East Asia regional analyst Larry Jagan 
Burma is facing an Aids epidemic that will soon eclipse the worst 
situation in Africa, according to medical experts in Thailand. 



It's the worst ever incidence of the disease in the region
 
Aids specialist Dr Chris Beyrer  
United Nations statistics are at least two years out of date and could 
be understating true infection rates by at least half. 

Aids specialist Dr Chris Beyrer, a US researcher at the John Hopkins 
University, says UN figures suggest 2% of adults in Burma have HIV, the 
virus that can lead to Aids. Dr Beyrer says the figure is nearer 4%. 

His research, using government's figures for pregnant women and young 
men about to enter the army, found there were 3.5% with HIV. 



Infections are at their highest in border areas
 
Adding vulnerable groups, such as drug users and itinerant workers, and 
the figure more than doubles - potentially more than 7% of the 
population is infected with HIV. 

The explosion of the disease in Shan state is even more frightening. Dr 
Beyrer estimates that more than 10% of the adult male population there 
is now suffering from HIV. 

"That's the worst ever incidence of the disease in the region," he says. 


"It's on the level of that which hit northern Thailand a decade ago. The 
difference then was the Thai Government recognised it and did something 
about it, whereas the military junta are allowing this one to rage out 
of control." 

Defensive 

But in recent weeks, both Burma's military intelligence chief, Lt 
General Khin Nyunt, and the head of state, General Than Shwe, have 
defended the military government's record on Aids. 



More people needed to understand the warning clearly, so I insisted that 
they put this on all posters: Aids kills, no cure, no hope."
 
Lt General Khin Nyunt  
And Burma's health minister, Major General Ket Sein, told a Word Health 
Organisation (WHO) meeting earlier this month: "Contrary to the gloomy 
picture presented in some reports in the western media, HIV/Aids is not 
rampant in Myanmar (Burma)." 

Diplomats and UN officials in Rangoon believe that, behind this rigorous 
denial, the Burmese generals have for more than a year begun to 
recognise that the country is facing a major Aids problem. 

At the beginning of this year Lt General Khin Nyunt told the Myanmar 
Times that HIV/Aids "is a national cause. If we ignore it, it will 
destroy entire races." 

He said culturally it was difficult for the government to adopt the WHO 
policy of encouraging the use of condoms, but instead had introduced a 
mass prevention campaign. 

There are signs that the campaign is working in some parts of the 
country, where people now recognise the terms HIV and Aids. But UN 
officials and Aids experts fear that, in general, knowledge of the 
disease and its prevention remain "abysmally low". 

Border epidemic 

They have major concerns about Burma's border areas where drug use and 
the movement of labour is high. Along the eastern border with Thailand 
and the northern border with China the incidence of HIV has already 
reached epidemic proportions. 


 
In some parts of Kachin state, particularly where the men have been 
working in gem mines, there has been a massive death toll. According to 
local Aids workers there are some villages where every family has lost 
someone to the disease. 

"It is not like other infectious diseases," said one official. 

"Once HIV gets out of control in the population and spreads, it cannot 
be cured and the genie can't be put back into the bottle." 

Acting on HIV is also not so much a matter of money as changing 
attitudes and taboos. Burma's generals maybe beginning to grapple with 
this - but if they don't make a more concerted effort it will be too 
late




___________________________________________________






Xinhua: Myanmar Hosts Regional Meeting on AIDS


YANGON, September 27 (Xinhua) -- The Ninth Meeting of Task Force of the 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on AIDS is being held 
here to enhance combat activities against the disease in the region. The 
three-day meeting of the task force on AIDS, which began on Wednesday 
and is hosted by Myanmar for the first time, is attended by the Chairman 
of the ASEAN Task Force, officials of the ASEAN Secretariat and 
delegates of the ten ASEAN countries as well as representatives of U.N. 
agencies. The meeting will discuss information exchange on AIDS among 
the member states and cooperation in the sector and will work out a 
second plan on HIV/AIDS to be adopted in the future as a follow up of 
the First ASEAN Regional Program on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control 
(1995-2000). At the national level, Myanmar has instituted proactive 
measures against HIV/AIDS since a decade ago, forming a multi- sectoral 
National AIDS Committee in 1989. A master strategic plan for the 
upgraded and expanded response to HIV/AIDS infection was then also 
developed with the objectives of expanding the existing programs 
activities reaching all areas and population groups of the country. 
Myanmar has called on the ASEAN member states to strengthen ASEAN spirit 
and to work unitedly in fight against HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS, a national 
concern in Myanmar, is recognized by the Myanmar Ministry of Health as 
one of the three priority communicable diseases -- malaria, HIV/AIDS and 
tuberculosis (TB). 

Meanwhile, The UNAIDS has identified Myanmar along with Thailand and 
Cambodia as the priority country in Southeast Asia region where urgent 
action is called for to prevent the spread of the epidemic. According to 
the latest report of the World Health Organization, 3,817 AIDS cases 
were reported and 510,000 HIV infections estimated in Myanmar as of 
December 2000 with 760 cases per 100, 000 population. The combined 
budget of the Myanmar government, the U.N. system, local and 
international non-governmental organizations was also estimated to 
amount to about 3 million U.S. dollars annually.




___________________________________________________




Burma Courier: Rangoon Regime Denies Connection to Osama Bin-laden

Courier News Service:  Updated to Sept 20, 2001

RANGOON - Burma's military junta has denied any connection between its 
troops and the forces of the Osama bin-Laden, widely believed to be the 
instigator of the recent terrorist attacks in the United States. 

On Thursday, a bulletin issued by the regime's "Information Committee" 
said that it was false that Burma army troops would join with the forces 
of Osama bin-Ladin to oppose any U.S.-led retaliation.  The bulletin 
blamed the spread of the rumour on "dissident" groups in Europe seeking 
to discredit the military government and to prevent tourists from 
visiting Burma.  But Burmese democracy groups contacted by DVB radio 
said the only information they had about the rumour had come through the 
statement issued by the Information Committee. 
In another bizarre twist, a junta embassy spokesperson in Washington 
fired off a letter to the New York Times, claiming to be "flabbergasted" 
by a map published in the Times indicating that Al-Qaeda, the terrorist 
organization of Osama bin Laden, was represented by cells in Myanmar.  
"I would like to point out that Myanmar is totally against terrorism in 
any form and would never allow terrorists to exist on its soil. There is 
no way that Qaeda cells could operate from within the country." 

The list of 34 countries where Al-Qaeda cells are said to be operative 
was originally published in an issue of Jane's Intelligence Review in 
July. Nearly all of the countries listed have a Muslim majority 
population or a large minority bloc of Muslim believers.  Subject to 
constant harassment and frequently to open persecution, there can be 
little doubt that Myanmar's substantial Muslim community could be deemed 
a fertile breeding ground for Al-Qaeda's zealous operatives.   They 
would hardly be likely to reveal this to the embassy in Washington or to 
any of the pervasive network of military intelligence informers 
throughout the country. 

The immediate and most visible sign of reaction in Rangoon to the deadly 
terrorist attacks in the United States last week was the tightening of 
security at the American embassy on Merchant Road in the heart of the 
city. Barricades on the footpath outside the embassy building were moved 
onto the road and at least two police vans were deployed at the site 
around the clock almost immediately after the news of the attack was 
made public.  Apart from essential personnel, all local staff were sent 
home until further notice. Security was also tightened at Washington 
Park, the official residence for American diplomats on Pyay Road. 

Belatedly, the military regime made public a message of sympathy sent by 
General Than Shwe to U.S. President George Bush on the day following the 
attack:  "I was deeply shocked by the news of the dreadful violence 
perpetrated in the cities of Washington D.C, New York and Pittsburgh on 
11 September 2001.  At this tragic hour, the people and Government of 
the Union of Myanmar join me in offering our heartfelt condolences to 
the Government and people of the United States of America." 
The official sympathy did not last long.  This week the regime's 
webmaster posted a commentary to emaill subscribers accusing the Bush 
administration of "war mongering" in its response to the attack.  And 
the Myanmar Times, worried that "Americans . already inclined to view 
the world as hostile and unpredictable . may lurch towards a siege 
mentality". 

On Friday, the junta's vice-chaiman, Gen Maung Aye, met with the 
military attache of the Pakistani embassy in Rangoon.  Pakistan is 
expected to have a key role in facilitating any military strikes against 
Osama bin-Laden. 





___________________________________________________




Irrawaddy online: Press Leaks Point to Junta

By Zarny Win

September 26, 2001--A confidential report that was supposedly sent to 
Than Shwe, Burma?s top general, by other high-ranking generals was 
leaked to the public recently. The uncharacteristic leak has many 
wondering if this is just another PR move by the ruling military regime. 
 

Burmese observers have been questioning the authenticity of the report, 
with some even wondering if the opposition created it. However, some 
exiled Burmese politicians feel the alleged report was concocted by the 
Military Intelligence Service (MIS) to sound out the opposition?s 
thinking on the talks.  

Aung Naing Oo, a Burmese political analyst in exile, said that some of 
the report?s details regarding the secret talks between the opposition 
and the junta clearly indicate that the report is the work of the 
Burmese government. "But some of the information has clearly been 
created and is just not reliable," he adds. 

The report mentions different details regarding the ongoing secret talks 
between opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the junta. The report 
states that Suu Kyi agrees with both Sec-1 Lt Gen Khin Nyunt and Maj Gen 
Kyaw Win on many of the topics being discussed during the talks.  

"The junta is implementing a well-planned psychological warfare campaign 
against the opposition and the media," said a student activist in 
Rangoon. "They want to hold power for as long as they can and by 
tricking people into believing the opposite they will be able to prolong 
their grip on power," he added.  

The report quotes one prominent Burmese politician, Bo Hmu Aung, as 
saying that Suu Kyi and the junta have agreed to give military 
representatives one-quarter of all seats in any future parliament. Suu 
Kyi also said that Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore are concerned about 
the future progress of Burma and any political changes that might be 
taking place, according to the report. 

Two months ago, a private speech given by Home Affairs Minister Col Tin 
Hlaing was also leaked out. Genuine news leaks are extremely rare in 
Burma, where the military government maintains almost total control over 
the flow of information.  

The opposition National League for Democracy has said that the talks 
have not reached a dialogue yet, but that the two parties are still 
going through confidence-building measures. 
Secret talks have been under way between the ruling junta and opposition 
leader Aung San Suu Kyi since October of last year. However, the details 
of those talks have not been released. 



___________________________________________________




Irrawaddy online: Australia Quick to Award Junta


By Kyaw Zwa Moe

September 25, 2001--Despite the International Labor Organization?s (ILO) 
ongoing investigation of the alleged continued use of forced labor in 
Burma, the Australian government has sent a team of aid workers to Burma 
in recognition of recent efforts by the junta to improve its political 
landscape. 

The aim of the team is to eradicate mal-nutrition among children in the 
country, said Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer. The team 
will spend three weeks training workers at Burma?s Department of Health. 
 

Mr Downer said he was encouraged by the release last month from house 
arrest of National League for Democracy (NLD) Chairman Aung Shwe and 
Vice-Chairman Tin Oo. 

"However, we remain deeply concerned that many Burmese citizens remain 
imprisoned for their political beliefs and we will continue to impress 
the importance of further prisoner releases," he said in a statement. 

While some Burmese residents welcome the humanitarian aid put forth by 
the Australia government others feel it is a bit too early to 
congratulate the junta.  

"Any aid to Burma now is premature," a university student in Rangoon 
says. "We have yet to see if the ongoing talks between the NLD and the 
SPDC will bear any positive results," he adds.  

In 1999 Burmese opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi asked the 
Australian Government to halt its engagement policy with the junta. In a 
video smuggled out of Burma in 1999, she said, "Sometimes we are a 
little concerned that the policies of the Australian Government may not 
be such that would hasten the process of democratization in Burma."  

Last year, despite Suu Kyi?s request and international criticism of 
Australia?s soft approach to Burma?s ruling military regime, the 
Australian government began dispatching a human rights training team to 
educate civil servants, including both police and prison officials, 
about human rights.  

Secret talks have been underway in Burma since October of last year 
between Burma?s military government and opposition leader Aung San Suu 
Kyi. Details of the talks have not been disclosed.  




______________________MONEY________________________




Burma Courier: Economic Impact of Terrorist Strike Still Uncertain


Based on news from the Myanmar Times and other soures:  Updated to Sept 
20, 2001 
RANGOON -- The impact of the global economic downturn, heightened by the 
terrorist attacks in the U.S. and probable retaliatory measures against 
Afghanistan, has been downplayed by a key player in the business scene 
in Rangoon. 

U Zaw Min Win, secretary-general of the Federation of Chambers of 
Commerce and Industry, told the Myanmar Times that the impact on the 
business community would be minimal because of the small amount of trade 
with the US. Apparently, he had forgotten for the moment, the US$ 400 
million garment trade and the loud squawks of protest raised by garment 
factory owners last July at the possibility of a U.S. trade ban
 . 
The attacks have been followed by a sharp increase in the worldwide 
price of gold.  Prices of the precious metal jumped 3,000 kyat to 97,000 
kyat a tical (0.5 oz) in the Rangoon market in the days following the 
attacks. The increase was a direct effect of the strikes in the US, 
according to a spokesperson at the Shwe-bon-tha jewellery shop. 

In line with most other southeast Asian currencies, the kyat recovered 
somewhat this week in relation to the U.S. dollar, climbing back up to 
the 650 level from lows of 680 where it had been mired for several 
months. FECs continued to exchange on the street for about 640 kyat. 

A gauge of the uncertainties caused by the attack could be the 
attendance level at the upcoming gems emporium in Rangoon scheduled for 
mid-October. The semi-annual event normally attracts hundreds of gem 
merchants from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and other foreign countries. 

One of the unanticipated effects of any prolonged U.S. led attack on 
Afghanistan, headquarters of bin Laden's terrorist organization, could 
well be a sharp swing either way in the price of Burmese no. 1 grade 
heroin. Last year, Afghanistan, for several years the world's top 
producer of opium and heroin cuts its production of opium by 90% 
sparking a dramatic increase in international prices. 

Afghanistan's decline left Myanmar as the world's largest producer.  The 
UNDCP estimates that last year Myanmar made 1,087 tons of illicit opium, 
roughly a third of Afghanistan's production, but valued at prices of $US 
232 a kilogram against only $US 28 a kilogram for Afghan opium. 

With a war on its hands, the Taliban could be forced to again permit 
poppy cultivation in order to finance its military operations, as it did 
in its successful campaign against  Russian occupation of Afghanistan.  
With a quarter of a billion dollars at stake, the impact on the Myanmar 
economy may be more than Zaw Min Win has factored into his thinking. 




___________________________________________________




The Star (Malaysia): M?sia and Myanmar agree to new trade arrangement

Sep 26, 2001.


PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and Myanmar have agreed to minimise the use of 
foreign exchange in trade between the two countries.  

The decision was reached in discussions between Prime Minister Datuk 
Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his counterpart from Myanmar Senior General 
Than Shwe here yesterday.  

Briefing newsmen about the meeting later, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri 
Syed Hamid Albar said under the new arrangement, trade between the two 
countries would be ?set off? against each other, leaving only the 
balance to be paid in foreign exchange.  

The arrangement is expected to result in increased trade between the two 
Asean countries, he said.  
?It will also lessen the burden of either country which does not have 
sufficient foreign exchange,?? he added.  

Syed Hamid said the two leaders also witnessed the signing of two 
memorandums of understanding on tourism co-operation and exchange of 
information.  

He said Dr Mahathir and Gen Than Shwe discussed investment in areas like 
oil and gas, joint-venture in timber industry, paper and pulp, and 
fishing.  

The Myanmar Prime Minister wanted more Malaysians to invest in his 
country, besides wanting more trade.  

?The emphasis is on Asean countries to look at its market while 
exploring other markets.  
?(They are) not to be dependent on one market as most Asean countries 
will be affected by the tragedy in the US,? he said.  

Asked if Dr Mahathir and Gen Than Shwe talked about democracy in 
Myanmar, Syed Hamid said the Prime Minister congratulated his 
counterpart on various steps taken to move the country ?back into the 
mainstream.?  

?But at the same time, it is important that they do it at their own 
pace. We as a member of Asean would like Myanmar moving to the 
mainstream, and not subjected to problems regarding the political 
scenario in the country,?? he added.  

Gen Than Shwe is scheduled to visit the Multimedia Development 
Corporation at Cyberjaya and the Petronas Twin Towers, before attending 
a lunch hosted by the National Chambers of Commerce and Industry of 
Malaysia today.  

He will then depart for Langkawi to attend a dinner hosted by the Kedah 
Government. 





_______________________GUNS________________________






Irrawaddy online: MIS to Receive a Facelift

By Maung Maung Oo

September 26, 2001?Burma?s military government is set to initiate a 
large-scale reform of its notorious Military Intelligence Service (MIS) 
in October of this year, according to a source close to the army. The 
source said the government is involved in a plan to increase security 
throughout the country.  

MIS will soon be composed of twelve battalions as part of a larger 
Military Intelligence Force. Each battalion will have four companies 
with each company having three platoons. The units are to be divided 
into a front line and a support line. Each battalion will serve as an 
intelligence net for its companies and platoons. The companies will be 
responsible for district-level intelligence and the platoons will be in 
charge of intelligence on the township level. 

Under the new reform, Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt will become Commander-in-Chief 
(CIC) of Military Intelligence. Burma now only has CICs for its army, 
navy and air force. Currently, Khin Nyunt is serving as the Director of 
Defense Services Intelligence (DDSI). He will be in command of twelve 
military intelligence commanders and twelve lieutenant commanders. It is 
unclear what is going to happen to the DDSI. 

MIS officers are viewed by Burmese citizens as the most powerful and 
dangerous body in the entire military. Since the military coup of 1988, 
MIS officers have penetrated almost every corner of Burma in an attempt 
to stamp out any cells of subversion, including pro-democracy groups. 




___________________________________________________




Narinjara News:  Transfer of Rakhine State Capital to Ann 


26/9/2001


Cox's Bazaar, 26Sep.01: Since the transfer of the Western Command of the 
Burmese Tatmadaw (Army) from Sittwe to Ann in April this year, there 
have been construction of new buildings in Ann town under Kyaukpyu 
district of Rakhine State, the western state of Myanmar.  Aung Htay, the 
Commander of the Western Command has started to sit in his new office at 
Ann since then.   
In a like manner, the shift of the Naval Base built by the Chinese 
experts to Kyaukpyu has also recently started.  Our correspondent from 
inside Rakhine State adds that, in a like manner only the Air Force Base 
will be left to operate from Sittwe in addition to an air base newly 
built by the Burmese junta at Ann. 

All the State Headquarters of Government Institutions will also be moved 
to Ann from Sittwe in phases beginning this year as the new government 
office buildings are scheduled to be completed by the end of this year. 

The Rakhine people are deeply worried about the shift of the state 
administration to a remote place like Ann, which has been done without 
any consensus of the people of Rakhine State.  Besides, the junta have 
brought about six hundred Burmese families and resettled them at Ann in 
expectation of the shift of the State Capital of Rakhine.



___________________________________________________




AFP: Campaign against terrorism will use anti-drug war strategies: 
experts 


Wednesday September 26, 5:45 AM


WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (AFP) - The US-led war on terrorism will look a lot 
like the battle against drugs, with experts predicting a protracted 
campaign that strikes at criminal networks at home and abroad, targets 
money laundering, and relies heavily on intelligence-gathering. 

The battle will be fought simultaneously on various fronts, and military 
action could be overshadowed by financial, diplomatic and intelligence 
missions, according to several analysts. 

President George W. Bush himself has said Americans should brace for a 
lengthy, unprecedented campaign against the perpetrators of the 
September 11 airborne suicide assaults on the World Trade Center and the 
Pentagon, which left almost 7,000 people feared dead. 

On Tuesday, he said the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) should be 
authorized to tap suspected terrorists' phones. 

"Now, this is what we do for drug dealers and members of organized 
crime, and it seems ... that now that we're at war, we ought to give the 
FBI the tools necessary to track down terrorists," Bush said. 

Just like it does in its war on drugs, the US administration will use 
"intelligence, surveillance, interception, foiling the delivery or the 
attack, interception of phone calls, e-mail messages, surveillance of 
airports," said Emilio Viano, a strategic studies expert at Washington's 
American University. 

Drug and terrorist organizations share the "same same element of 
secrecy, of avoiding authority, of forming cells, of establishing 
networks at all levels," said Viano. 

The cell structure poses a major difficulty in tracking down those in 
charge of operations, says Vince Cannistraro, a former head of the 
Central Intelligence Agency's counter-terrorism unit. 

Smashing a few cells may amount to only limited success, he said. "The 
commands in control remain intact despite the fact the tentacles get 
dried out," he said. 

"You can't get instant victories," he said.

The US administration, which already has an anti-drug czar last week 
created a similar position to coordinate efforts to root out terrorism, 
and gave the job to former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge. 

While there are similarities in the way they operate, there are also 
some significant differences in what motivates terrorists and drug 
traffickers, said Anthony Cordesman of the Center Strategic 
International Studies. 

The narcotics trade is motivated by gain, and sometimes includes 
political components, while "international terrorism, the one we are 
most concerned with is religion-oriented terrorism, said Cordesman. 

"They basically attempt to hide under the cover of being freedom 
fighters or religious organizations, their ties to states are very 
different from narcotics dealers, and obviously their goals and their 
willingness to use force are different," he said. 

But the need for funding often links extremist organizations to the 
illegal drug trade, as is the case in Colombia where leftist insurgents 
and rightist paramilitary forces depend on cocaine for much of their 
revenues. 

The International Drug Control Organisation says Afghanistan and Myanmar 
are the world's leading producers of heroin, used by a number of 
extremist organizations to finance weapons purchases. 

While Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia last year officially 
suspended cultivation of poppy -- used to make opium and heroin -- a UN 
report indicated significant quantities of drugs were being stashed away 
in a bid to boost prices. 

Bush accused the Taliban of sheltering Osama bin Laden, a Saudi-born 
multimillionaire named as the chief suspect in the terrorist onslaught 
on US cities. 



___________________________________________________






________________________DRUGS______________________




Reuters: Southeast Asia drug flow up as Afghan border closed


Wednesday September 26, 6:55 PM


PHNOM PENH, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Southeast Asia must brace for a boom in 
drug trafficking, as the closure of Afghanistan's borders will spur 
demand for drugs, United Nations officials said on Wednesday.  

The notorious "Golden Triangle", where the borders of Myanmar, Thailand 
and Laos converge, now monopolises the Asian drugs trade as supply from 
Afghanistan -- the world's leading supplier of opium -- has effectively 
stopped.  

"The borders are completely closed in Afghanistan so you can't do any 
business, legal or illegal," Sandro Calvani, regional representative for 
the U.N. Drug Control and Crime Prevention (UNDCP) office, said in Phnom 
Penh on Wednesday.  

"The Golden Triangle...is now moving all the drugs of Asia because 
Afghanistan is out of business for illcit drugs. (They) now have a 
monoply because they no longer have to compete with the 'Golden 
Crescent'."
  
Calvani said that Afghanistan had accounted for around 85 percent of the 
world's opium supply.  

The Taliban government banned the cultivation of the poppy plant last 
year, but opium stocks inside Afghanistan have only now been stemmed by 
the recent closure of borders, he said.  

Calvani, who was in Cambodia to meet Prime Minister Hun Sen and other 
top government officials, warned also that drug traffickers have been 
"market testing" new smuggling routes through Cambodia.  

Until last year Cambodia was estimated by the U.N. to be one of the 
largest producers of marijuana for the world market, a business thought 
to be worth almost $1 billion annually.  
Cambodia's northern border with Laos is seeing increased inflows of 
drugs and the Mekong River is becoming the main artery of distribution 
in the country and the transit route to third countries, he said.  

"It is really a threat to the security of the country," Calvani said.  

Cambodia's porous borders and struggling law enforcement institutions 
have earned it the title of the "weak link" in regional efforts to fight 
drug trafficking. 





___________________ REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL___________________
				


Bernama: Syed Razak Hosts Dinner For Myanmar Leader Than Shwe

  
   LANGKAWI, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Syed 
Razak Syed Zain hosted dinner for Myanmar leader Senior Gen Than Shwe at 
the Andaman Hotel in Teluk Datai here Wednesday night. 

The dinner was held in conjunction with the two-day visit by Than Shwe, 
Myanmar's State Peace and Development Council Chairman, to the legendary 
island. 

He was accompanied by his wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing and other members of 
his delegation from Yangon. 

Also present was Deputy Transport Minister Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib, who 
is the minister-in-attendance. 

Tomorrow, Than Shwe will be briefed on Langkawi's development at the 
Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) complex in Kuah. 

He is scheduled to visit Galeria Perdana, a complex where souvenirs 
received by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad during his 
overseas trips are displayed. 





___________________________________________________




AFP: Malaysia hails Myanmar's move to push ahead with democracy 

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (AFP) - The head of Myanmar's junta, Senior 
General Than Shwe, has promised to push ahead with democratic reforms 
which Malaysia said will enable isolated Yangon to move into mainstream 
politics. 

 "The Myanmar leader stressed the fact that they would like to go 
forward with the democratic process and they are discussing with 
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi," Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed 
Hamid Albar told a press conference. 

 Earlier, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and Than Shwe met heldan 
hour-long meeting. 

 Syed Hamid said Malaysia, which is considered Myanmar's closes ally in 
the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), would like 
to stress that there should not be any pressure on Yangon to speed up 
the talks. 

 "It is important that they will do it at their own pace," he said. 

 Syed Hamid said Mahathir congratulated Than Shwe for the recent 
domestic political developments -- referring to the various initiatives 
between Myanmar's junta and Aung San Suu Kyi. 

 "I think every ASEAN member would like to see Myanmar move to 
mainstream and not subjected to problems related to the political 
scenario in the country," he said. 

 Syed Hamid said Malaysia was watching Myanmar closely and was 
encouraged by the steps taken to free opposition figures and to hold a 
dialogue with them. 
 Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for a 
year, but has embarked on landmark talks with the military. 

 The political atmosphere in Yangon has thawed since the talks began, 
leading to the release of nearly 200 opposition figures including senior 
members of her National League for Democracy (NLD). 

 The Malaysian official said UN envoy Razali Ismail was expected to make 
more frequent visits to Myanmar to "build up the momentum" to pave the 
way for democratic reforms. 

 During a four-day visit to Yangon in August, the envoy met twice with 
Aung San Suu Kyi to discuss the progress of the talks. 

 Syed Hamid also said the two leaders touched on the terrorist attacks 
on the United States. 

 "Everybody appreciates terrorism is a problem. Both leaders see a need 
to ensure peace and stability," he said. 

 In the economic field, Syed Hamid said Myanmar has opened its doors to 
Malaysian investors in the oil and gas, timber, paper and pulp and 
fishing industry. 
 The two leaders agreed that ASEAN members would have to boost 
intra-regional trade to counter the negative impact of the US economy 
amid the September 11 tragedy. 

 After the bilateral talks, Malaysia and Myanmar signed memorandums of 
understanding on tourism and information exchange. 

 The first day of Than Shwe's visit will conclude with a dinner hosted 
by Mahathir. On Wednesday, he is due to tour the Multimedia Development 
Corporation and the world's tallest buildings -- the Petronas Twin 
Towers. 

 On Thursday the general is scheduled to visit the island resort of 
Langkawi before leaving for home later in the day. 

 Malaysia is ranked fourth among foreign investors in Myanmar with 
investment totalling 587 million dollars, mostly in timber, hotel 
construction, tourism and trading. 

 This is Than Shwe's third visit to Malaysia and comes after an 
invitation from Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad who visited Yangon in 
January. Shwe is being accompanied by six senior ministers and the chief 
of military intelligence, Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt. 





___________________________________________________





Reuters: Myanmar leader highlights growth, avoids politics


By Barani Krishnan 

 KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Myanmar's military junta invited 
Malaysian investors on Wednesday to help jump start its economy but 
brushed aside questions on political reform and when his country might 
embrace democracy. 

 ``Myanmar today is politically peaceful and stable, economically 
vibrant and dynamic. It is on the threshold of rapid economic growth,'' 
Senior-General Than Shwe told a lunch hosted by Kuala Lumpur's business 
community. 
 Tan Shwe, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday for a three-day visit 
to the country, said Malaysians were already the third largest investors 
in Myanmar, committing some $600 million in manufacturing, oil and gas, 
hotels, tourism and real estate. 

 Bilateral trade was worth $200 million with a surplus in Malaysia's 
favour, he said. 

 Tan Shwe invited local entrepreneurs to come more often to Yangon, and 
highlighted potential in pulp and iron industries he said offered huge 
and largely untapped resources. 

 ``With the participation and assistance from our friends like Malaysia, 
we will surely be able to accomplish more in a shorter period of time,'' 
he said. 
 But the military leader declined to take questions from the audience, 
leaving the task to Brigadier-General David Abel, a minister in his 
office. 
 Abel refused to discuss domestic politics, particularly questions on 
how Tan Shwe's State Peace and Development Council was faring in talks 
with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, seen by many Western nations as 
Myanmar's rightful leader. 

 He also declined to say if Nobel laureate Suu Kyi would soon be freed 
from the house arrest imposed by Tan Shwe's government. 

 ``I think we are gathered here to answer economic issues,'' he said to 
a question on whether there was any chance of an immiment agreement 
between Suu Kyi and his government. 

 Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won Myanmar's 1990 
elections by a landslide but has never been allowed to govern. Instead, 
her supporters have been detained and harassed. 

 The 56-year-old Nobel laureate herself has spent the last year locked 
inside her Yangon house, cut off from contact with the outside world 
except for a handful of foreign diplomats the government has allowed her 
to see. 

 The military, which has led Myanmar since 1962 and crushed all attempts 
to promote democracy, began reconciliation talks with the NLD last year. 
Veteran Malaysian diplomat Razali Ismail is acting as a special U.N. 
envoy and mediator to the talks. 

 Two weeks ago, the junta released six NLD members in a gesture of 
goodwill. 
 Malaysia, which regards Myanmar as an important regional ally, said on 
Tuesday Tan Shwe's administration had made ``very positive'' progress in 
its talks with the opposition. But it said Yangon should be left to 
negotiate at its own pace. 
 Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said earlier this year that 
future elections in Myanmar should not ``undermine authority'' and 
suggested Yangon adopt Southeast Asian political models rather than 
Western-style democracies. 
 Tan Shwe, who held talks with Mahathir and visited landmarks in the 
capital, left on Wednesday for a tour of the northern Langkawi island 
before a scheduled departure on Thursday. 


___________________________________________________




Xinhua: Myanmar to Enhance ICT Cooperation With Malaysia


KUALA LUMPUR, September 26 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Myanmar leader said 
Wednesday his country was keen to further enhance cooperation with 
Malaysia in developing information and communications technology (ICT) 
projects. Myanmar' State Peace and Development Council Chairman Than 
Shwe made the remarks while visiting the Multimedia Super Corridor in 
Cyber Jaya, south of the capital. The Corridor, covering an area of 750 
square km stretching from the Kuala Lumpur City Center to the KL 
International Airport in Sepang, has been designated as a hub for the 
development of multimedia products and services. Than Swe said he was 
impressed with the Corridor and hoped that a similar model could be 
developed in Myanmar. Under the existing cooperation between the two 
countries, representatives of the Multimedia Development Corporation, 
which runs the Corridor, have been sent to Myanmar to explore 
opportunities for cooperation in ICT development. Than arrived here 
Tuesday for a three-day visit, the second trip to Malaysia since 1996. 




___________________________________________________




The Nation: AD unrepentant over lyrics

 Sep 25, 2001


Singer and composer Yuenyong Ophakul again denied yesterday his new 
album would harm the relationship between Thailand and Burma. 

Yuenyong, popularly known as AD, claimed some people in government were 
unhappy with his lyrics, which, they say, are obviously anti-Burmese. 

But the singer said 10 of his songs about the Shan people, or Tai Yai 
(elder Thai), reflect his personal views and have nothing to do with the 
Thai government. 

"I feel slighted. I'm just an ordinary songwriter and I don't think my 
songs will have any negative impact or cause any problems," he said, 
adding that he had no intention of rewriting the lyrics just to please 
someone. 

Yuenyong said he was not surprised that people with opposing views would 
have different opinions about his songs. While the Shan people would 
love his songs, which support their cause, it was no surprise that the 
Burmese junta would dislike them. 

The singer-songwriter also dismissed as groundless a suggestion that his 
comments about any possible ban were part of a wider publicity stunt to 
promote his album, tentatively titled "May Tong Rong Hai" (Don't Cry). 









___________EDITORIALS/OPINION/PROPAGANDA__________



Bangkok Post: Foreign workers can toil legitimately


- Sep 26, 2001.

EDITORIAL -

The registration of illegal migrant workers from Burma, Laos and 
Cambodia got off to a shaky start on Monday. Malfunctioning computers 
and digital cameras and a shortage of staff, among other things, caused 
unnecessary delays in the issuance of identity cards at registration 
centres right across the country. Several employers who accompanied 
their staff to the centres became agitated at the delays. 

Although the problems were largely minor, those responsible at the 
Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare must see to them quickly otherwise 
they might need to go to the cabinet for an extension of the 
registration period beyond the Oct 13 deadline. As many as 700,000 
illegal workers need to be registered before the period elapses. 

The regulation of the illegal Burmese, Lao and Cambodian workers is a 
realistic approach to the presence here of more than a million illegal 
immigrants from a good many countries. The move will help the 
authorities ascertain just how many foreign workers there is in the 
country. This provides a range of benefits. Communicable diseases such 
as elephantiasis had been eradicated from Thailand several decades ago, 
but recently there has been a resurgence, possibly carried by illegal 
immigrants. Such diseases can be better monitored now the workers will 
have access to medical care.  

Those who fail to register with the state will be treated as illegals 
and dealt with strictly by the law. But those who do register will 
receive a number of benefits. For a start, they no longer will be forced 
to play hide and seek with the authorities. They will be able to work 
openly and walk the streets without fear of arrest or harassment. They 
will be able to take advantage of medical services at state hospitals-a 
basic necessity which they were denied while working illegally. The 
healthcare is made possible by a 1,200 baht fee paid by each worker or 
his/her employer at the time of registration. 

More importantly, registration automatically places foreign workers 
under the protection of Thai labour law. This means they will be 
entitled to at least the minimum wage and the same fringe benefits, 
holidays and working conditions as Thai nationals. 

On paper, the future looks much brighter for foreign workers. But the 
reality may be something different. 

Many of the employers who now pay their illegal staff below the 
mandatory minimum wage in order to maintain a competitive edge are 
unlikely to change their ways. They believe they have the upper hand in 
any negotiations with the workers. How empowered will the employees feel 
themselves to be even if they are fully aware of their rights? Most will 
probably just continue to accept whatever the bosses are willing to 
offer. The alternative, if it can be called that, is to return home to a 
bleak future of probable unemployment, no medical care and possible 
starvation. 

The registration process in a way represents a first, big step on the 
road to resolving the illegal immigration problem which has been with us 
for so many years. It's a first step that should have been taken some 
time back. Now the authorities must make sure the business 
establishments which hire workers from these three countries meet all 
the requirements of the labour laws. Exploitation of those desperately 
in need, whether they be our own nationals or foreigners, is as 
deplorable to a civilised society as the use of child labour. 

Making sure the laws apply is the next step, but then there is still 
that very disturbing question of what we do with these hundreds of 
thousands of "guest" workers once we decide we have no further use for 
their labour. But that surely will be put off as a bridge to be crossed 
when we come to it. 








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