BurmaNet News: October 4, 2001

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______________ THE BURMANET NEWS ______________
        An on-line newspaper covering Burma 
          October 4, 2001   Issue # 1892
______________ www.burmanet.org _______________


NOTED IN PASSING:  "As far as we know he has not died yet, and he is in 
a coma...He's not likely to live long."  

A source quoted by the Associated Press on Ne Win's condition.  See AFP: 
Ne Win in serious condition at Singapore hospital Myanmar's strongman Ne 
Win in serious condition at Singapore hospital 


INSIDE BURMA _______
*Reuters: U.N. rights envoy to visit Myanmar October 9-20
*Xinhua: Political Prisoner Released in Myanmar
*Arakan News Agency: International Labour Organisation (ILO) delegation 
talked to Muslims in occupied Arakan
*Narinjara News: A Top Businessman arrested


MONEY _______
*Xinhua: Myanmar Crude Oil Output Decreases in First Half of 2001
*Xinhua: Myanmar Generates Slightly More Electricity in First Half of 
2001
*Xinhua: Myanmar's Rubber Export Declines in First Half of 2001

GUNS______
*Narinjara News: Seven Nasaka men fled away

DRUGS______
*AP: Myanmar police seize drugs and weapons in raid 

REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL _______
*AFP: Ne Win in serious condition at Singapore hospital Myanmar's 
strongman Ne Win in serious condition at Singapore hospital 
*AP: Thai newspaper editor faces jail term in libel case 

EDITORIALS/OPINION/PROPAGANDA________
*

					
__________________ INSIDE BURMA ____________________





Reuters: U.N. rights envoy to visit Myanmar October 9-20

YANGON, Oct 4 (Reuters) - The U.N.'s human rights envoy to Myanmar will 
pay his second visit to the country this month, amid hopes that a 
dialogue between the military government and opposition leader Aung San 
Suu Kyi will produce a breakthrough. 

 Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the U.N.'s special rapporteur for human rights 
in Myanmar, will visit from October 9 to 20 and hold talks with 
government officials, opposition leaders and diplomats, U.N. sources 
told Reuters. 

 Pinheiro, a Brazilian, first visited Myanmar in April after being 
appointed special rapporteur in February. 

 A report written by Pinheiro and released by the U.N. this week 
welcomed efforts by Myanmar's ruling military to improve human rights in 
the country, but repeated calls for the release of all political 
prisoners. 

 Suu Kyi's opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) won elections 
in 1990 by a landslide but was never allowed to govern. Suu Kyi has been 
in de facto house arrest for more than a year. 

 The start of dialogue last year between Suu Kyi and the government was 
welcomed by the international community. The talks have not yielded any 
concrete agreement but since they began, the government has released 
more than 150 political prisoners. 

 Pinheiro's report this week said more prisoners should be released. 

 ``With a sizeable number of political prisoners still in 
detention...the special rapporteur stresses again that only the full 
release of such individuals will pave the way to national 
reconciliation,'' the U.N. said. 

 Amnesty International says there are more than 1,500 political 
detainees in Myanmar. 

 Pinheiro's predecessor, Rajsoomer Lallah, was never allowed to visit 
Myanmar, and in his final report last October he accused the military of 
torturing, raping and executing civilians. 








___________________________________________________





Xinhua: Political Prisoner Released in Myanmar

YANGON, October 3 (Xinhua)-- One more political prisoner, who is serving 
his prison terms, was released from jail by the Myanmar government 
Tuesday, according to an official Information Sheet reaching here 
Wednesday. The official statement said the one set freed is a member of 
the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD). The release of U Hla 
Soe has brought the total number of political prisoners freed in the 
country to 66 since June 15. The move came after U.N. Special Envoy 
Razali Ismail ended his fifth visit to Myanmar in late August in his 
renewed efforts to bring about speedy compromise between the government 
and the opposition to settle the country's decade-long domestic 
political crisis. Meanwhile, secret talks between government leaders and 
NLD General Secretary Aung San Suu Kyi, who is still under house arrest, 
have been underway since October last year.





___________________________________________________



Arakan News Agency: International Labour Organisation (ILO) delegation 
talked to Muslims in occupied Arakan 

October 4, 2001

By Our Special Correspondent


Maungdaw, September 2: A delegation of International Labour Organisation 
(ILO), currently on a visit to Burma to ascertain Burma?s compliance 
with ILO conventions on practice of forced labour, visited Na Sa Ka 
(Border Security Force) area 4 ? Kyin   Chaung, Na Sa Ka area 5 ? 
Ngakura and Na Sa Ka area 8 ? Myin Hlut in occupied north Arakan on 
September 25 and talked to local Muslims about forced labour and other 
prevailing conditions. 

Apprehensive of the exposure of its practice of forced labour and other 
injustices prevalent there, junta?s top brasses sent detailed 
instructions to the local officials to make all possible preparations so 
that the visiting delegation would be convinced of the contention of the 
junta that there is no more practice of so-called voluntary labour, a 
term used for forced labour in Burma. 

The instructions, among others, include to install pro-junta Muslims in 
key places who would be in a position to answer any question in favour 
of and reflecting junta?s point of view; to place security people in 
public dress in the crowd and to collect information secretly and report 
about the questions made by the delegation and answers given by the 
members of the public. Earlier members of the public have been warned of 
dire consequences through their agents if anything is uttered against 
the regime. 

In view of the earlier warnings, presence of intelligence agents in the 
crowd and junta?s past records people were afraid to talk about the 
truth. Thus the people denied practice of forced labour, imposition of 
restriction on movement, and the need to pay tax etc. although everyone 
knows very well that the reverse is true. The delegation was also told 
that no mosque was destroyed in their area too although several mosques 
have been demolished a few months ago. However, it is learnt that the 
delegation could make correct assessment by posing several 
cross-questions. 
 

Abdur Rashid
Chief Reporter
Arakan News Agency



___________________________________________________



Narinjara News: A Top Businessman arrested



3/10/2001

Condition of a Top Rakhine Businessman arrested illegally deteriorates 

Cox's Bazaar, 2001-10-03:

 The physical condition of a top Rakhine businessman from Sittwe, 
Rakhine State in western Myanmar, arrested illegally and detained 
without trial in Sittwe State Prison, has seriously deteriorated after 
repeated physical torture in the prison cell, according to a political 
detainee in the same prison who recently crossed the border to 
Bangladesh. The businessman, Aung Saw Tha [48], of Mouleek Quarter of 
Sittwe, was illegally arrested by the Military Intelligence in February 
this year, just after the race riots between the Buddhists and the 
Muslims, and has been detained without trial ever since.  According to 
the sources, Aung Saw Tha ran a video show and video rental service in 
the town.  On the day of the arrest, there was a live broadcast of a 
Football Game that was shown in his video showroom.  According to our 
source, there was a bet of hundreds of thousands of kyat between the 
businessman and a personal assistant of Aung Htay, the Commander of the 
Western Command.  When the PA lost in his bet, he had a bitter quarrel 
with Aung Saw Tha and his men.  The PA instantly left the scene.  
Shortly afterwards he returned quickly with six members of MI, the 
notorious military intelligence agents.  They charged him with the crime 
of showing foreign videocassettes, which is illegal in Sittwe, and 
arrested him with six other men from the spot. The MI agents confiscated 
all his personal property worth hundreds of thousands of kyat including 
the gold ornaments of his wife, it is learnt. 



__________________________________________________





______________________MONEY________________________



Xinhua: Myanmar Crude Oil Output Decreases in First Half of 2001

YANGON, October 3 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar produced a total of 1.639 million 
barrels of crude oil in the first half of this year, 10.38 percent less 
than the same period of 2000, according to the latest data issued by the 
country's Central Statistical Organization. During the six-month period, 
the country yielded 684 million cubic-meters of natural gas, also 
falling by 10.8 percent from the corresponding period of 2000. In 2000, 
the country produced 3.538 million barrels of crude oil and 1.538 
billion cubic-meters of natural gas. Since Myanmar opened to foreign 
investment in late 1988, such investment in the oil and gas sector 
coming from oil companies of Australia, Britain, France, Indonesia, 
Japan, Thailand and the United States has reached 2.355 billion dollars 
in 51 projects, taking up 31.8 percent of the country's total contracted 
foreign investment by sector. So far, Myanmar's petroleum and its 
products are insufficient to meet the demand and the country still has 
to import over 2 million barrels of crude oil along with a lot of petrol 
and diesel oil annually. Enditem
2001-10-03 Wed 00:13 







___________________________________________________



Xinhua: Myanmar Generates Slightly More Electricity in First Half of 
2001


YANGON, October 4 (Xinhua) -- Electric power generated by the state-run 
Myanmar Electric Power Enterprise (MEPE), the main electricity supplier 
of the country, totaled 2.418 billion kilowatt-hours (kwh) in the first 
half of this year, 0.68 percent more than the same period of 2000, said 
the latest issue of the government Economic Indicators. However, the 
installed generating capacity of the MEPE remained at 1,172 mega watts 
(mw) at the end of June this year, the same as previous year ago. 
Official statistics show that in 2000, electric power generated by the 
MEPE went to 5.028 billion kwh, 17 percent more than 1999. According to 
the MEPE, since 1988, Myanmar's electric power installed generating 
capacity has increased by 509 mw, of which that of natural gas power 
plants rose by 255 mw, while that of steam power plants by 143 mw and 
that of hydropower plants by 111 mw. Myanmar is implementing five more 
hydropower plants -- Paunglaung, Zaungtu, Mone, Thaphanseik and Maipan. 
Three of them are being built by China. Upon their completion, the five 
power plants will add 407 mw more to Myanmar's installed generating 
capacity and is expected to greatly ease the serious electricity 
shortage problem of the country. Enditem





___________________________________________________



Xinhua: Myanmar's Rubber Export Declines in First Half of 2001


YANGON, October 4 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar exported 8,700 tons of raw rubber 
in the first half of this year, a 36.49-percent decrease from that of 
the same period of 2000, the latest data of the official Economic 
Indicators show. The earning through the export of raw rubber during the 
period was registered at 4.3 million U.S. dollars, reducing by 41.41 
percent compared with the corresponding period of 2000. Meanwhile, 
during the six-month period, the country imported rubber goods worth 
16.48 million dollars. According to official statistics, Myanmar exports 
26,300 tons of raw rubber annually, earning 22 million dollars of 
foreign exchange. Myanmar has been striving to extend the cultivation 
areas of rubber which is one of its major industrial crops and one of 
its major foreign exchange earners. A latest report said the country has 
extended the rubber plantation area from two divisions and states to 
four with the increase of the hectarage from 81,000 in 1994 to 182,250 
at present. In Myanmar, 2.62 million hectares are reportedly suitable 
for rubber growing. Of the country's present rubber plantations, 13 
percent is owned by the state and 87 percent by the private sector, 
while of the rubber production, 15 percent is by the state and 85 
percent by the private enterprises. Enditem




_______________________GUNS________________________


Narinjara News: Seven Nasaka men fled away


Cox's Bazaar, 3 October 01:  Seven members of the Nasaka border troops 
stationed in the western border of Myanmar fled away 14 September 01.  
According to a trader from Maungdaw, the border town across Bangladesh, 
the seven fled from Kyi-gan-byin, Nasaka Headquarters, dissatisfied with 
the ill treatment of the senior officers and poor salary. There has been 
an order by the Burmese Junta SPDC that, anyone whoever shelters such 
fugitives from the law enforcement agencies shall be awarded three 
years' RI.   In the last week of August, an immigration serviceman in 
uniform from Nasaka fled to Bangladesh, and was captured by BDR border 
police. He has since been held in Cox's Bazaar prison in Bangladesh.





________________________DRUGS______________________






AP: Myanmar police seize drugs and weapons in raid 

October 4, 2001


YANGON, Myanmar (AP) _ Myanmar security forces seized more than 300,000 
illegal stimulant tablets and 11 pieces of weapons during a raid in a 
village in the Golden Triangle region in northeastern Myanmar bordering 
Thailand, a newspaper reported Friday. 
 Acting on information that stimulant tablets were being produced in Nan 
Phone village in Tachileik township, a narcotic task force raided 12 
houses on Sept. 28, the state-run Myanma Ahlin daily said. 
 It said the officials seized 314,830 stimulant tablets, 3 grams (0.11 
ounces) of heroin, 11 pieces of assorted small arms and 189 rounds of 
ammunition, and arrested 11 persons. 
 The Golden Triangle, where borders of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet, 
is notorious as a major drug producing region. 
 The newspaper said narcotic task forces seized over 288 kilograms (633 
pounds) of opium, 3.7 million stimulant tablets and 21.3 kilograms (46.8 
pounds) of heroin and arrested 436 persons in various parts of the 
country in the month of August. 






__________________________________________________





___________________ REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL___________________



AFP: Ne Win in serious condition at Singapore hospital Myanmar's 
strongman Ne Win in serious condition at Singapore hospital 

BANGKOK, Oct 4 (AFP) - Myanmar's reclusive former dictator Ne Win, 90, 
is  in serious condition at a Singapore hospital, sources close to the 
family said  Thursday. 

"Ne Win's health condition is very, very serious," one source said, 
adding  that some 30 of Ne Win's family members had gathered at 
Singapore General  Hospital to offer support. 

A Thai military intelligence source said the former autocrat, who seized 
 power in Myanmar in 1962 and stepped down in 1988, had slipped into a 
coma and  was unlikely to recover. 

"As far as we know he has not died yet, and he is in a coma," the source 
 said. "He's not likely to live long." 

				




___________________________________________________



AP: Thai newspaper editor faces jail term in libel case 

October 4, 2001

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) _ A criminal court on Thursday sentenced an 
editor of a Thai-language newspaper to three months in jail for libeling 
a former prime minister and two of his Cabinet colleagues. 

 The Bangkok Criminal Court ruled that Manager Daily and its 
publisher-editor, Tun Sirikulpiphat had published a ``groundless'' 
article and had ``caused damage to the plaintiffs, other organizations 
and the country also.'' 

 Manager Daily newspaper is known for its critical anti-government 
commentaries. 

 The libel case was filed last year by former Prime Minister Chuan 
Leekpai, former Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan and former deputy 
Foreign Minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra. 

 The three leaders are members of the Democracy Party, which was in 
power until its election defeat in January. 

 The suit was over an article Tun published in January 2000, which 
suggested that the three Democrat leaders were accomplices of foreigners 
and terrorists during the sieges of Myanmar Embassy and a hospital by 
Myanmar pro-democracy students in 1999. 

 Surin was foreign minister under the Chuan administration at the time 
and Sukhumbhand was the deputy foreign minister. 

 Tun was also ordered by the court to advertise the ruling in five 
newspapers. 

 Tun told The Associated Press he would appeal the ruling, and that he 
was currently free on a 300,000 baht (dlrs 6,670) bail. 
 ``I will appeal soon since our paper published the story with honest 
intentions,'' Tun said. 

 ``I cannot make any comment on the court ruling, but the only thing 
that surprised me was that if the politicians felt our story was not 
right, why did they not complain to the Press Council,'' he said. 

 Earlier this year, an entertainment editor of Thailand's biggest 
newspaper, Thai Rath, faced three months jail sentence for slandering an 
actress.

 



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