[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
BurmaNet News: October 5, 2001
______________ THE BURMANET NEWS ______________
An on-line newspaper covering Burma
October 5, 2001 Issue # 1893
______________ www.burmanet.org _______________
NOTED IN PASSING: "Ne Win has died so many times but only in the news."
A journalist in Rangoon. See Irrawaddy: Is Ne Win Really Dead?
INSIDE BURMA _______
*AFP: Cambodian foreign minister to visit Myanmar
*Bangkok Post: Surakiart, Khin Nyunt meet again
*Bangkok Post: Rangoon agrees to set up camps for rejected workers
*DVB : NLD on Suu Kyi, prisoner releases, branch re-openings
*Network Media Group: Mandalay NLD holds meeting to reopen a township
office
*Mizzima: Forced relocation in Mon State, Moulmein
*Mizzima: Forced labor, forced porter still rife in Naga Hills
*Shan Herald Agency for News: Populace notified to say No Force Labor to
ILO
*Narinjara News: New Forced Labour Sites in Western Part of Myanmar
MONEY _______
*Dow Jones: Thai Indus Min In Talks With Premier Oil To Cut Gas Price
*Cavalier Daily (University of Virginia): U. Virginia examines
investments in Unocal due to Burma controversy
*Far Eastern Economic Review: Pottery Barn Bins Burmese Goods
*Xinhua: Tourist Arrival in Myanmar Declines in First Half of 2001
*Xinhua: Myanmar Paper Production Increases in First Half of 2001
REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL _______
*AFP: Singapore clamps tight security around ailing Myanmar ex-leader
*South China Morning Post: Former dictator Ne Win near death in
Singapore hospital
*Irrawaddy: Is Ne Win Really Dead?
*BurmaNet: Dead Again?
EDITORIALS/OPINION/PROPAGANDA________
*The New light of Myanmar (SPDC): World's highest Twin Towers
OTHER______
*Royal Thai Government: Ministry of Labor Policy on Illegal Alien
Workers Registering Scheme
__________________ INSIDE BURMA ____________________
AFP: Cambodian foreign minister to visit Myanmar
PHNOM PENH, Oct 5 (AFP) - Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong will
begin a two-day working visit to Myanmar next week, the foreign
ministry announced Friday.
Hor Namhong, who is also a special envoy to Prime Minister Hun Sen, will
arrive in Yangon on October 8 and leave on October 9, the foreign
ministry source said.
During the visit Hor Namhong will meet Myanmar Prime Minister General
Than Shwe, who is also the country's chairman of the State of Peace and
Development Council, a government official said.
___________________________________________________
Bangkok Post: Surakiart, Khin Nyunt meet again
October 04, 2001.
TACHILEK BRIDGE
Construction plans, site to be inspected
Sa-nguan Khumrungroj
Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai holds talks with Burmese junta
first secretary Khin Nyunt on Sunday on a new bridge linking the
countries.
Ministry spokesman Rathakit Manathat said the pair would meet in the
Burmese border town of Tachilek to talk about preliminary plans for
construction, and inspect the site.
The bridge would link Tachilek and Mae Sai trade town in Chiang Rai,
easing traffic problems on the present bridge which is old and narrow.
Mr Rathakit said the bridge would also foster ties and promote business
and trade relations. It would take two years to build.
Sunday's meeting will be the second between the pair in the past two
months. Mr Surakiart joined Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for talks
with Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt in September in Bangkok.
It comes on the eve of a ministerial meeting of Asean countries and
China in Chiang Rai, to look at development efforts in the Mekong
sub-region.
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt will not join the regional gathering but will be
represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung Win.
___________________________________________________
Bangkok Post: Rangoon agrees to set up camps for rejected workers
October 04, 2001.
Four shelters to take deported labourers
Penchan Charoensutthipan
Burma will set up four camps to accommodate returning villagers if their
work permits are not renewed after six-months of employment in Thailand.
Irawat Chanprasert, permanent secretary for labour, said Rangoon had
agreed to prepare shelters for deported immigrant Burmese workers.
Thailand is registering immigrant workers, mostly from Burma, Laos and
Cambodia. They will be given work permits lasting six months and then be
required to have a health check-up. If there are no problems their
permits will be renewed. If not, they will be deported. Mr Irawat said
Burmese being deported will first be sent to camps at Mae Sai, Mae Sot,
Ranong and Kanchanaburi.
Pusak Thammasarn, deputy chief of the Employment Department, said the
number of registered immigrants reached 150,000 on Oct 1 and almost 300
million baht in registration fees had been collected.
About 120,000 were Burmese and the rest Lao and Cambodian.
Sources said about 20,000 had worked as maids in Bangkok. Their
employers included businessmen, senior government officials and cabinet
ministers.
Many fake banknotes were handed over during the registration process,
Saksakol Jindasawat, director of the immigrant worker registration
centre, said.
___________________________________________________
DVB : NLD on Suu Kyi, prisoner releases, branch re-openings
DVB has already reported about the news and interviews of the ceremony
marking the 13th anniversary of the founding of National League for
Democracy [NLD] held on Thursday, 27 September.
At the ceremony, NLD Chairman U Aung Shwe, NLD Vice-Chairman U Tin Oo,
NLD spokesperson U Lwin, and Rangoon Division NLD Organizing Committee
Chairman U Soe Myint presented reports. Furthermore, three resolutions
were also adopted - for all NLD members to be more united; urge the
release of all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; and
delegating the rights to Chairman U Aung Shwe and General Secretary Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi to hold necessary talks on behalf of the NLD.
One unusual thing is that NLD spokesperson U Lwin explained his meetings
with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, his attempts to secure the release of all
political prisoners including NLD members, and the plans to reopen the
NLD branch offices. DVB will now give a summary of NLD spokesperson U
Lwin's speech.
At the ceremony commemorating the 13th anniversary of the founding of
NLD held on 27 September, U Lwin, secretary of the NLD Central Executive
Committee [CEC] and spokesperson, presented a report regarding the
responsibility given to him by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who remains under
house arrest. Six NLD CEC members including U Lwin were put under house
arrest for over two months late last year and later released. U Lwin,
with permission granted by the authorities, went to see Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi and explained the situation of the NLD. It was seen that Daw Suu and
all the six CEC members share the same view regarding NLD's stance. As
Daw Suu reminded him to work discreetly, he was able to report back to
the other five CEC members after meeting with Daw Suu for the second
time. As Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has delegated her authority to U Lwin to
carry on with the tasks she has been working on, U Lwin has been
performing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's tasks to this day. As the matter is
sensitive and delicate he was unable to inform anyone. There were some
criticisms and negative remarks for this action. Since most NLD members
were arrested, there were only four members who could actually help
around at NLD headquarters. To lend support to those who come to the
office, there were some elderly ladies sitting on old newspapers in
front of the office.
The first step by NLD was to seek the release of those who were jailed
without any official charges. Then came the difficult task of securing
the release of jailed elected people's representatives. Because of U
Lwin's efforts, a total of 133 elected representatives - 130 from the
NLD and three from other parties were released.
In his attempt to reopen the NLD township offices and to reinstall the
NLD signboards, he managed to reach agreements to reopen NLD offices and
reinstall NLD signboards in 18 townships of Rangoon Division. That is
why, NLD offices have been reopened in 21 townships and arrangements are
underway to reopen in 10 more townships. He was reminded to follow the
direction of the NLD chairman and not to reopen township NLD offices
without the approval of the CEC.
Preparations are now underway to reopen NLD offices in the states and
divisions. These achievements came about as a direct result of the
confidence built between NLD and the government with NLD's patience,
tolerance, and endurance.
Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 29 Sep 01
__________________________________________________
Network Media Group: Mandalay NLD holds meeting to reopen a township
office
Chiang Mai, October 3, 2001
National League for Democracy (NLD) in Mandalay organized a meeting on
September 28 to reopen the township office in Aung Myae Tha Zan Township
in Mandalay, a NLD inside source reported.
The meeting was lead by U Ye Min from Aung Myae Tha Zan NLD and attended
by 20 members. The meeting was held at the NLD Mandalay Divisional
organizing committee office in Shwe Phone Shin quarters, Maha Aung Myae
Township. A new township level organizing committee was formed in the
meeting, the source said.
According to the reports from NLD on the 13th anniversary of the
foundation of NLD, NLD is organizing to reopen the township level
offices in different States and Divisions except Kachin State and Kayah
(Karenni) State.
The report of NLD central executive member U Lwin stated that 21
township offices in Rangoon Division had already reopened after the
trust building talks started between military regime and NLD leader, Daw
Aung San Su Kyi.
During a recent first quarterly meeting of the Myanmar (Burma) Ministry
of Home Affairs, Minister Colonel Tin Hlaing instructed the general
administration officers of States and Divisions concerning with the
reopening of NLD offices, "I'd like to warn you that just because there
are permissions in Rangoon, it doesn't mean they apply in the entire
country", Democratic Voice of Burma Radio reported.
NLD offices all over Burma were forced to close by Burmese military
authorities in recent years.
The date to reopen the Aung Myae Tha Zan Township office of NLD is not
yet reported.
___________________________________________________
Mizzima: Forced relocation in Mon State, Moulmein
By our correspondent
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
Mae Sot, Thailand, Oct. 5: On 1 October, over one hundred houses were
destroyed and their inhabitants relocated by SPDC authorities in
Moulmein, Mon State, in the course of a road construction project that
includes the building of a guest house and a bridge.
According to a notice issued by Moulmein Township Peace and Development
Council?s on 1 October, nearly 130 houses in Kyet Tan ward, on the bank
of Salween river, were destroyed and the inhabitants were moved
immediately, causing a loss of 650 million Kyats (about 1 million
U.S.dollars) worth of property. About 700 people (inhabitants of 128
houses) were moved to Kywe Chan Khone, six miles to the west of
Moulmein. At their relocation destination, the displaced people were not
provided with houses or clean water. Moreover, the relocation site
consists of a swampy plot of land. SPDC authorities did not compensate
for the loss of incurred by relocation and did not cover the cost of
transportation to the relocation site.
While plans had been aired previously to start construction in Kye Tan
ward, on 2 October Moulmein authorities also gave notice that Hlaing
ward and Shwe Pyi Aye ward (encompassing a total of 300 houses) were to
be evacuated so that construction on these sites could commence in
November and December, the residents of Moulmein reported today.
___________________________________________________
Mizzima: Forced labor, forced porter still rife in Naga Hills
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
Imphal, Oct. 2: The three-week long visit of International Labor
Organization (ILO)'s team investigating the Burmese government's efforts
to eradicate forced labor in the country is coming to its end this week.
In this context, it needs mentioning that there are reports of the
continued use of forced labor coming out of the country, particularly
from the remote areas and border areas inhabited by ethnic
nationalities. The Naga Hills, situated in the Sagaing Division of Burma
(which borders on India), is one of the areas here the use of forced
labor in road constructions and forced porter by the Burmese army units
are rife.
According to the local people of Layshi township in the Naga Hills, the
Burmese authorities continue to use forced labor for the construction
and maintenance of the sixty mile-long Htamanthi-Layshi motor road. In
the last week of August, the Township Peace and Development Council
(TPDC) instructed the village authorities to complete the task of road
repair and construction by the end of November this year.
Naga villagers told Mizzima News that road works are currently under way
between Yan Nwe Village and Kyoe Tadar (the Suspension Bridge) near
Layshi town involving villagers being forced to "voluntarily" contribute
their labor.
The villagers said that the Burmese authorities do not provide any
assistance to the forced laborers and that the villagers themselves have
to bring their own equipments, food and medicines.
Moreover, the villagers are made to work at farms of army units in upper
Sagaing Division and pay regular tax for army rations. The villagers are
also being used as porters by army units moving from one base to another
and in patrolling. Army units recruit up to 50 villagers to carry their
loads during patrolling or transfer. Seven Burmese army battalions are
stationed in the Naga Hills with each battalion being stationed in an
area for the duration of two to four months.
During the ILO's first time visit to the military-run Burma, the
four-member high?level ILO team, led by former Australian governor
general Sir Ninian Stephen, having arrived in Burma in the third week of
September, met with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and government
ministers. The ILO team has reportedly been given access to every
minister concerned and visited some of the states predominantly
inhabited by ethnic nationalities, including Arakan State and Taninthayi
Division, in order to make an assessment of the local situation at
grassroots level. The delegation also met with international and
national non-government organizations and UN agencies' representatives
in Burma.
___________________________________________________
Shan Herald Agency for News: Populace notified to say No Force Labor to
ILO
October 4, 2001
S.H.A.N.'s northern Shan State source reported this morning that a
meeting was recently held in a Shan town close to China where the
people were instructed to inform the International Labor Organization
that forced labor had been terminated.
The source said an ad hoc meeting was called on Sunday, 30 September, in
Namkham, 129 miles north of Lashio, where village and quarter headmen
in the township attended. Captain Tin Maung Win, the township officer,
told the meeting he expected the arrival of the ILO fact-finding team
in a few days and wanted the headmen to oversee that all went well. "We
want you to instruct the people in your charge to tell the ILO there is
no forced labor," he reportedly said.
He also warned the headmen not to use loudspeakers or any public address
systems but to go on a house-to-house tour to relay his instructions.
In addition, each headmen was to observe and report to the township
office without fail the following: Who the ILO team met, what questions
it asked and what answers were given, time of its arrival in the
respective village or quarter and its departure.
Until yesterday (3 October), village and quarter councillors were still
going in and out of homes to "convey the wishes" of the authorities,
said the source.
The ILO is currently in Shan and Kayah (Karenni) states.
___________________________________________________
Narinjara News: New Forced Labour Sites in Western Part of Myanmar
Cox's Bazaar, 4 October 01: The Sittwe-Yangon highway built by
unskilled forced labour during the late 90s has considerably
deteriorated due to incessant monsoons this year. All along the road
potholes make the journey difficult. In many places, flash floods
simply washed sections of the road and rickety bridges away. In a bid to
repair the dilapidated sections, the Bumese Army have engaged
large-scale forced labour in Kyauktaw, Punnagyun, Mrauk-u, Minbra,
Mrebon, Ann, Rambre, and Taungup townships beginning last month,
according to a trader from Sittwe who talked to Narinjara here. The
forced labourers have to take food, water and sleeping mat, etc. and
have to stay in temporary shelters built by them.
In Minbra, he said, some forced labourer died of diarrhoea because of
unavailability of drinking water. When Narinjara asked a farmer/trader
from Kyauktaw who was available in Bandarban about forced labour, he
assured that, the farmers of Kyauktaw, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Mrauk-u
and Minbra townships had to 'volunteer' forced labour two days a week in
the rice paddies confiscated by the military for their own use, all
through the paddy season. For this reason, the farmers in those
townships failed to do their normal agricultural work. He added that,
this year they would not have enough rice for self-consumption.
______________________MONEY________________________
Dow Jones: Thai Indus Min In Talks With Premier Oil To Cut Gas Price
Wednesday October 3, 8:29 PM
BANGKOK (Dow Jones)--Thailand's Industry Ministry Wednesday asked
British oil and gas producer Premier Oil PCL (U.PMO), the operator of
Myanmar's Yetagun gas field, to reduce the price of natural gas and
delay delivery of gas to PTT PCL, formerly the Petroleum Authority of
Thailand.
The postponement of the gas offtake is due to a delay in the start of
the additional phase of a power plant owned by Ratchaburi Electricity
Generating Holding PCL (H.REG), which purchases gas from PTT.
The Industry Ministry's request aims to reduce electricity prices, which
have risen following the weakening of the local currency and an increase
in the price of gas, which is used by the government to calculate
electricity prices.
"We asked Premier Oil to revise the conditions of the Daily Contract
Quantity, or DCQ, and gas price in an effort to reduce the burden from
rising electricity prices," Minister of Industry Suriya Jungrungreangkit
told reporters Wednesday after the meeting with Premier Oil's
executives.
Premier Oil, which holds a 26.7% stake in the Yetagun gas field, will
negotiate with its partners and present a revised contract to the
industry minister by Friday, Suriya said.
Partners in the Yetagun gas field include Petronas Carigali Myanmar
Incorporated, holding a 30% stake; Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise, 15%;
Nippon Oil Exploration, 14.2%; and PTTEP International Ltd., 14.2%.
"The initial negotiations with Premier Oil were going well. The company
is willing to help Thailand solve the problem (of rising electricity
prices)," said Suriya.
Based on the daily contract quantity, the operators of the Yetagun gas
field are obliged to supply 200 million standard cubic feet a day, or
mmscf/d, in 2001. The amount will be brought up to 260 mmscf/d in
October 2002 and to 400 mmscf/d in April 2004, Suriya said.
In 2001, Thailand has so far consumed about 130 mmscf/d of the 200
mmscf/d specified in the contract. The price of gas stands at 164 baht
($1=THB44.671) per million British thermal unit, or BTU, he added.
"We (Premier Oil) will talk with our partners to find solutions to lower
gas prices and modify the agreement for additional gas supply," Premier
Oil's advisor to Chief Executive Officer Peter Cockcroft said.
According to Suriya, the Industry Ministry also reached an initial
agreement with Unocal Corp. (UCL) to cut the price of gas from its
fields in the Gulf of Thailand. More details will be revealed soon, he
added.
However, talks to adjust the gas price formula as well as to reduce the
price of gas in Myanmar's Yadana gas field are underway, Suriya added.
An industry source said Unocal Thailand agreed to lower the prices of
gas from its fields in the Gulf of Thailand, with a total reduction
value of THB700 million for the period of July 2001 to September 2002.
___________________________________________________
Cavalier Daily (University of Virginia): U. Virginia examines
investments in Unocal due to Burma controversy
By Justin Bernick & Ben Sellers
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Oct 03, 2001 (Cavalier Daily, U-WIRE via COMTEX)
--Unocal, a large energy resource development company now in the middle
of a hot University of Virginia debate regarding its business in Burma,
continues to deny any alleged misconduct in its dealings with the
military-led nation.
The California-based company absolutely has not engaged in any form of
misconduct, Unocal spokesman Barry Lane said.
Burma, a small country in Southeast Asia wedged between Bangladesh and
Thailand, has been the recent subject of intense international and local
controversy. The nation's government, which can be categorized as a
repressive "military regime" with a poor humanitarian record, overturned
democratic elections in 1990, according to the CIA.
Although Unocal has not denied the Burmese government is repressive, the
company itself has "totally adhered to Western labor standards," Lane
said.
Smaller than Texas, Burma relies on natural gas as one of its chief
resources. The country began developing its resource, discovered in the
early 1990s, with the formation of the Moattama Gas
Transportation Company.
University of Virginia's role
The University currently owns about $1.5 million worth -- or roughly
0.02 percent -- of Unocal stock, said Alice Handy, president of the
University of Virginia Investment Management Company.
The University has "external managers to make the decisions on what
companies to invest in," she said, and "right now we have stock in a
U.S. company that just happens to be involved in Burma."
Unocal now is valued at more than $8.1 billion, Lane said, which is
equivalent to "254 million shares at approximately $32 and change."
Unocal, in turn, owns 28.4 percent of the $1 billion Moattama Gas
Transportation Company. Unocal is one of four investors in the Moattama
Gas Transportation Company, which include companies from several
nations.
A French oil and gas company TotalFinaElf S.A. is the "project builder
and operator," with a 31.24 percent interest. Thailand's PTT Exploration
& Production Public Co. Ltd., with 25.5 percent interest, and the
Burmese state-owned Myanmar Oil & Gas Enterprise, with 15 percent
interest, are the other project investors.
The controversy
In 1996 the Moattama Gas Transportation Company began construction on
the Yadana pipeline project in Burma. The pipeline currently is used to
carry natural gas from the Yadana gas field, located 43 miles offshore,
to Thailand to fuel a major power station operated by the Thai
government.
The project involved the placement of 412 kilometers of pipeline, 39
miles of which cross the Burmese mainland. Various international
contractors managed the pipeline's construction, and 74 Burmese college
graduates operate the Yadana project's operations.
According to Unocal, the project has contributed to "modernization and
social change" in the region. Unocal and its partners have been a source
of "socioeconomic aid and programs for the Burmese citizens" in the form
of hospitals and infrastructure improvements, Lane said.
The other side of the issue
Nationwide objection to the Yadana pipeline project in Burma centers on
the human rights atrocities committed by the country's ruling military
dictatorship, the State Peace and Development Council.
According to Ka Hsa Wa, director and cofounder of EarthRights
International, a human rights and environmental protection organization,
military violations include forced slavery, rapes and murders.
The Burmese state-owned Myanmar Oil & Gas Enterprise receives $150 to
$400 million per year from the pipeline project, half of which is used
to fund the Burmese army, Wa said.
The army is responsible for relocating several villages, including the
village of Mi Chaung Laung, and causing thousands of Burmese people to
flee the country, said Katie Redford, co-director of EarthRights and a
1995 graduate of the University Law School.
"Hundreds of people who have fled Burma have testified" to the
atrocities, she said.
Unocal, on the other hand, said the idea that villages were relocated is
a "common misperception."
Wa said the sentiment of the Burmese people in the pipeline area
regarding Unocal is that "if the white people [leave], the military will
[leave]."
Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the Burmese National League of Democracy,
who led her opposition party to win 82 percent of the Parliament in the
nullified 1990 election, has spoken out in support of sanctions on trade
with Burma, said Jeremy Woodram, director of the Washington, D.C.,
branch of the Free Burma Coalition.
The Coalition is a group working to nurture grass-roots support for
freedom and democracy in Burma. The U.S. State Department, the
Department of Labor and the U.N. Human Rights Commission all have
condemned the military regime, Woodram said.
In 1997 former President Bill Clinton imposed sanctions against Burma
for its human rights violations, an act that compelled many American
businesses to leave Burma. President Bush also has expressed his support
for sanctions against Burma.
The campaign, especially on college campuses, "has had a very strong
effect inside Burma," Woodram said. "These types of actions at
universities do have concrete and real effects."
The verdict
In 1997 a U.S. Federal District court agreed to hear EarthRights
International's claims against Unocal in Doe v. Unocal. After three
years the court granted Unocal's motion for summary judgment and
dismissed the case.
Although the court agreed "Unocal knew that forced labor was being
utilized," it said because "there are no facts suggesting that Unocal
sought to employ forced or slave labor," there was insufficient evidence
to establish liability under international law.
The ruling currently is in appeal.
At the University the Board of Visitors announced Tuesday on its October
meeting agenda its decision to hear concerns related to a unanimous
Student Council resolution regarding the divestment of University assets
in Burma.
Council will present its position regarding Unocal investments to the
Board of Visitors Oct. 19.
___________________________________________________
Far Eastern Economic Review: Pottery Barn Bins Burmese Goods
FEER, Issue cover-dated October 11, 2001
Pottery Barn, an upmarket American home furnishings chain, has cut
its business links to Burma because of the repressive political
situation in the military-ruled Southeast Asian nation. The decision
followed threats by the Free Burma Coalition to mount protests at the
San Francisco-based chain's outlets in six U.S. cities on September 15.
Pottery Barn, in two letters to the activists, said it had withdrawn
Burmese-made products from its store shelves, catalogue and on-line
stores. Pottery Barn joins 19 other international
retailers--including Wal-Mart, Costco, Ikea and Sarah Lee--that have
suspended business dealings with Burma over the past 14 months,
according to estimates by the Free Burma Coalition. Last year, Pottery
Barn imported items worth $322,000 from Burma.
___________________________________________________
Xinhua: Tourist Arrival in Myanmar Declines in First Half of 2001
YANGON, October 5 (Xinhua) -- Tourist arrival in Myanmar dropped by
48.48 percent in the first half of this year compared with the same
period of 2000, reaching only 61,743, the country's Economic Indicators
said in its latest issue. The phenomena was mainly due to the sharp
decrease in the number of tourists arriving by land during the six-month
period, showing 92.16 percent of the fall compared with the
corresponding period of 2000. Myanmar depends largely on cross-border
tourism in getting foreign tourists, especially from Thailand and China,
the two close neighbors respectively linking its southeastern and
northeastern parts. Early this year in February, there broke out border
clashes between Myanmar and Thailand, bringing about a sharp reduction
in the number of tourists coming across border from Thailand since then
until June when the two countries' relations were about to resume
normal.
According to official statistics, in 2000, the number of tourist arrival
was registered at only 234,900, falling by 9.3 percent from 1999. Of
them, 49 percent entered the country by land through border points. In
recent years, Myanmar participated in tourism fairs held yearly in
Thailand, Singapore, China's Hong Kong, Berlin, London and the Republic
of Korea, aimed at drawing more tourists to Myanmar for the development
of its tourism industry. Meanwhile, Myanmar is also cooperating with
tourism authorities of member countries of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) in activities in the region including cooperation
programs for tourist destinations in the ASEAN region and market
promotion activities of nations in great Mekong region as well as
Ganges- Mekong cooperation program. To develop its tourism, Myanmar has
signed bilateral agreements with China, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore and
Thailand.
___________________________________________________
Xinhua: Myanmar Paper Production Increases in First Half of 2001
YANGON, October 5 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar produced 8,674 tons of all sorts
of paper in the first half of this year, 12.53 percent more than the
same period of 2000, the latest data of the country' s Central
Statistical Organization show. During the period, Myanmar imported 39.16
million U.S. dollars worth of paper goods, an increase of 41.37 percent
compared with the corresponding period of 2000, to meet its domestic
demand. In 2000, the country produced 16,894 tons of paper and imported
48.1 million dollars worth of paper manufactures. There is a major paper
mill known as the Sittoung Paper Mill in Myanmar's southern Mon state
operating since 1994 and mainly supplying paper for domestic use.
Meanwhile, a Chinese Tianjin Company concluded a 3-million- dollar
contract with Myanmar in September 1999 to build a 25-ton-
daily-capacity newsprint mill in Paleik, the country's central Mandalay
division.
___________________ REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL___________________
AFP: Singapore clamps tight security around ailing Myanmar ex-leader
SINGAPORE, Oct 5 (AFP) - The health of former Myanmar dictator Ne Win
was shrouded in mystery Friday following reports he was in a coma, with
tight security blocking access to his private room at Singapore General
Hospital.
The 90-year-old was flown to Singapore last weekend and admitted to the
coronary care unit at the hospital's National Heart Centre.
A Thai military intelligence source said the former autocrat, who
seized power in 1962 in Burma, which he later renamed Myanmar, and
stepped down in 1988, had slipped into a coma and was unlikely to
recover.
But a man identifying himself only as a family friend, told AFP at the
hospital Friday that it was inaccurate to say Ne Win was in a coma.
"He's sleeping now, and in a stable condition," he said without
elaborating.
Several men in shirts and ties stood outside Ne Win's hospital room,
and visitors to other patients in the ward said police and security
guards were patrolling the area.
One hospital source told AFP that no staff other than approved doctors
and nurses were allowed into Ne Win's room.
Other sources said Ne Win's family had demanded no publicity, and they
were under strict orders to divert all calls to the Myanmar embassy.
Embassy staff refused to even acknowledge Ne Win was receiving medical
treatment in Singapore.
"We are unable to comment. He is a private citizen now," an embassy
counsellor Ohn Kyaw said.
An unidentified diplomat told AFP: "We don't know anything about this.
Do not contact our embassy."
An AFP reporter who went to the coronary care unit was told by nurses
Ne Win was not a patient, before three hospital staff escorted her from
the building.
As a young man, Ne Win was a key member of the "Thirty Comrades" which
joined with Japan in World War Two to fight British colonialism under
the charismatic leadership of independence hero Aung San, who was
assassinated in 1947.
He seized power in a 1962 coup, ruling until 1988, by then an ageing
and reviled dictator who would come into conflict with Aung San's
daughter, Aung San Suu Kyi after she emerged at the head of the
pro-democracy movement.
By the time he stepped down, Myanmar -- once considered one of Asia's
potentially wealthiest countries -- was one of the world's poorest
thanks to his stubborn neo-Marxist "Burmese Way to Socialism."
Analysts say Ne Win has continued to wield influence behind the scenes
despite having withdrawn from power, saying that significant political
change is unlikely to occur while he remains alive.
___________________________________________________
South China Morning Post: Former dictator Ne Win near death in Singapore
hospital
SCMP, Friday, October 5, 2001
Burma's reclusive former dictator, Ne Win, 90, had slipped into a coma
at a Singapore hospital and was "not likely to live long", a Thai
intelligence source said last night. A source close to the family said:
"Ne Win's health condition is very, very serious."
About 30 members of the family had gathered at Singapore General
Hospital, this source said.
Ne Win seized power in Burma, in a 1962 coup and stepped down in 1988.
He was reported to have left Rangoon in recent days with the family of
his daughter, Sandar Win, who is a medical doctor and has looked after
his health - which was said to have been unstable when he left.
As a young man, Ne Win was a key member of the Thirty Comrades, who
joined Japan in World War II to fight British colonialism under the
charismatic leadership of independence hero Aung San, who was
assassinated in 1947.
In 1988, by then an ageing and reviled dictator, he came into conflict
with Aung San's daughter, Aung San Suu Kyi, after she emerged at the
head of the pro-democracy movement.
By the time he stepped down, Burma - considered in 1962 one of Asia's
potentially wealthiest countries - was one of the world's poorest
nations thanks to his stubborn neo-Marxist "Burmese Way to Socialism".
Analysts say Ne Win has continued to wield political influence behind
the scenes despite having withdrawn from power. Significant political
change in Burma is unlikely while he remains alive, they say.
___________________________________________________
Irrawaddy: Is Ne Win Dead?
By Irrawaddy Staff Writers
October 3, 2001--Is Ne Win really dead? No, not yet. Maybe. But as often
happens, the aging strongman?s demise is frequently rumored to be
imminent. According to a source inside Ne Win?s family the former
dictator has been admitted to Singapore General Hospital but is still
alive. Since yesterday, however, news of Ne Win?s "death" has been
spreading throughout the Burmese dissident community living in exile.
Burmese Embassy officials in Singapore also dismissed the news of Ne
Win?s death, and told The Irrawaddy, "it is only rumor." Embassies in
Rangoon were not even aware that a rumor was circulating regarding the
former dictator?s death.
Some Burmese political analysts and former close aides of Ne Win
strongly believe that Ne Win is still influential in Burmese politics
and hope that his eventual death will have strong political
implications.
In May of this year, Ne Win surprised everyone by appearing at the
Sedona Hotel in Rangoon to celebrate his 90th birthday. His favorite
daughter, Sandar Win, and some old military friends accompanied Ne Win
to the ceremony. Those in attendance included Sein Lwin, known as the
"Butcher of Rangoon" for his role in the 1988 massacres, Aye Ko and Myo
Nyunt. No current military leaders attended the ceremony.
Ironically, his re-appearance in May coincided with yet another rumor
that the dictator had finally died.
"Ne Win has died so many times but only in the news," quipped a
journalist in Rangoon. The journalist also said that news about the
death of Ne Win if invented or spread by the opposition in exile would
be counterproductive and could lose its credibility.
"I first wrote Ne Win?s obituary in 1984," said Bertil Linter an
authority on Burmese politics.
Ne Win, originally named Shu Maung, was born in 1911 and was one of the
famous "30 Comrades" who liberated Burma from British control during
WWII with the aid of the Japanese.
Ne Win officially came to power in a 1962 coup and formally stepped down
in July of 1988 amid nation-wide protests calling for an end to his
26-years of military rule. A period that drove Burma into extreme
conditions of poverty.
While visiting Singapore in the past, Ne Win often met senior minister
Lee Kwan Yew who later wrote in his book: "He (Ne Win) talked about his
peace and serenity of mind through his practice of meditation. For two
years after he withdrew from the government in 1988, he had been in
torment, fretting and worrying about what was going on in the country.
Then in 1990 he began to get interested in and practice meditation. He
was spending many hours each day in silent meditation. He certainly
looked much better than the sickly person I had met in Rangoon in 1986."
Perhaps all that meditation is what is keeping the "old man" alive.
___________________________________________________
BurmaNet: Dead Again?
October 5, 2001
Rumors about Ne Win's death continue to circulate but appear, as usual,
to be premature. As of early Friday evening Singapore time, the Burmese
Embassy in Singapore is denying reports that Ne Win has died but an
Embassy official told one caller that former general was in critical
condition.
___________EDITORIALS/OPINION/PROPAGANDA__________
The New light of Myanmar (SPDC): World's highest Twin Towers
Thursday, 4 October, 2001
During the official goodwill visit to Malaysia, the Myanmar delegation
headed by State Peace and Development Council Chairman Prime Minister of
the Union of Myanmar Senior General Than Shwe and Secretary-1 Lt-Gen
Khin Nyunt, visited the Petronas Twin Towers on 26 September 2001. They
were welcomed there by Petronas Co-Chairman and officials concerned. On
the 41st floor of Tower (1), Senior General Manager Mr Encik Mohd Azhar
Osman Khairuddin reported on the Twin Towers and economic undertakings
to the Senior General and entourage.
Afterwards, the Senior General and party proceeded to the Tower (2)
through the sky bridge situated at 42nd floor. On the 83rd floor of the
Tower (2), Senior General Than Shwe signed in the visitors book of
Petronas Twin Towers. Next, the senior General and party viewed the
model of Kuala Lumpur metropolitan city and had the panoramic view of
the development of the city from 83rd floor.
Then, the Senior General and party viewed the model of Petronas Twin
Towers and documentary photos. The Twin Towers located on City Centre
project site in Kuala Lumpur are among the world's highest towers. Each
of the Twin Towers is 452 metres high. The construction of the Twin
Towers completed in 1996. It took two years to build them. The Twin
Towers are situated on formerly Selangor Turf Club Race Course. The
Petronas Twin Towers are facilitated with modern communication equipment
and they are reflecting the prosperity and wealth of Malaysia. The
Towers manifest Malaysia's economy which is keeping abreast with the
world's nations.
The Twin Towers are situated on the northern boundary line of Multimedia
Super Corridor which is the significant technical zone of Malaysia. They
were built by architects of Kuala Lumpur City Centre with the design
made by Cesarpelli & Associates of USA. The 88-storeyed twin towers are
linked by a sky bridge at 42nd floor. The sky bridge is meant for some
kind of support for the towers and to be used as emergency exits. The
sky bridge is 58.4 metres long. In each tower, there are 29 elevators
and 10 escalators. Each tower has 765 steps.
The Petronas Twin Towers were opened with ceremony by Malaysian Prime
Minister Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad on 31 August 1999. Among the structures
related to the Petronas Twin Towers, a significant one is Suria KLCC
(Kuala Lumpur City Centre). The six-storeyed building has
crescent-shaped shopping mall which is always bustling and hustling with
buyers and consumers.
Its system to ventilate air and get sunshine is superb and it
accommodates over 270 shops and stalls. Open-air cafes, restaurants and
cinema halls are there. Another building near the Petronas Twin Towers
is Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, a world-class theatre with 865 seats. At
that theatre with Malaysian architectural design, Malaysian Filhamonik
orchestra presents regular classical programmes to the viewers and
listeners. Yet, the other building linking with Petronas Twin Towers is
Galeri Petronas. The splendid structure is on the third floor of Suria
Kuala Lumpur City Centre. In fact, Galeri Petronas is an international
standard gallery where master pieces of local and foreign artists are
displayed. The gallery also reflects the traditional arts and artefacts
of Malaysia. On the fourth floor of Suria KLCC is a contemporary museum
named " Patrosains Petroleum Discovery Centre". Put on display there
are materials and equipment relating to natural oil exploration. It is a
good place for researchers and scholars and enthusiasts to study facts
about oil exploration. The KLCC Park located next to petronas Twin
Towers is designed by world famous Brazilian landscape architect Roberto
Burle Marx. The Myanmar delegation viewed round the Twin Towers and paid
a courtesy call on Petronas Oil Co Chairman Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican
at the Petroleum Club.
Author : Tekkatho Tin Kha
______________________OTHER______________________
Royal Thai Government: Ministry of Labor Policy on Illegal Alien Workers
Registering Scheme
[Unofficial Translation from Thai original by American Center for
International Labor Solidarity (ACILS), 120 Silom Road, Suite 402,
Bangkok 10500, email: acilsth@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
According to the resolution of the Council of Ministers on August 29,
2000 and April 3,2001, the special dispensation for Burmese, Laos and
Cambodian workers will end on August 31, 2001. However, the Ministry of
Labour and Social Welfare will register the illegal alien workers and
give work permit to them, by the following conditions.
1) Registering Conditions:
- The workers can register individually or in group, by filling the
?workplace?s alien workers detail? form and send in advance to the
Employment Office of the province where the workplace is situated.
- The Employment Office will keep the confidential information and will
inform the registering date.
- Registering site will be announced by the Employment Office of the
province.
- The workers that will be allowed to register must be Burmese, Laos and
Cambodian.
2) Registering Expense:
For the first 6 months:
1 Work Permit Fee ( for 6 months ) 900 Bht
2 Health Insurance ( for 1 year) 1, 200 Bht
3 Deposit for Returning to Origin 1,000 Bht
4 Working ID Card 150 Bht
Total 3,250 Bht
For the second 6 months
1 Working Permit Fee ( for 6 months) 900 Bht
2 Medical Exam 300 Bht
Total 1,200 Bht
Note: The workers with malignant disease will not be allowed to extend
the work permit and will be sent back.
3) Duration: September 24- October 13, 2001
4) Working ID card Issuing
1 Working ID card will be issued immediately to the workers who
register. The working ID card contains name of cardholder, ID number
(identifying province code, hospital and nationality), name of
workplace, type of business and expiry date(with color bar identifying
the year).
2 The relevant government agencies and the employers will keep the
counterfoil.
3 The alien workers without employee or other employment will get 6
month work permit and can be extended for another 6 months if guaranteed
by the employer.
4 The registered alien workers must work with the same employers and
cannot change the employer.
5) 10 Occupations that can be Registered
1 Agriculture 6 Livestock
2 Mining 7 Fishery
3 Potter 8 Transportation Workers
4 Construction Workers 9 House Workers
5 Ricemill Workers 10 Other occupations
6) If the registered workers escape / resign, the employers must
inform the Employment Office to cancel the work permit and will be sent
back to home country.
Note: The objective of this registration project is to find out the
exact number of the illegal alien workers in the country.
Types of Businesses that will get the Dispensation following the Section
12 (2)
1) Business no.1 consists of gardening, cane farming, rubber trees
farming, coffee gardening, palm tree gardening.
2) Business no.2 is mining.
3) Business no.3 consists of brick making, earthen jar making and
ceramics.
4) Business no.4 consists of construction, boat building.
5) Business no.5 is ricemill.
6) Business no.6 consists of pig farming, shrimp farming and other
animal farming.
7) Business no. 7 consists of fishery and relevant business.
8) Business no.8 consists of transportation and cargo.
9) Business no.9 is of home working.
10) Other businesses
________________
The BurmaNet News is an Internet newspaper providing comprehensive
coverage of news and opinion on Burma (Myanmar) from around the world.
If you see something on Burma, you can bring it to our attention by
emailing it to strider@xxxxxxxxxxxx
To automatically subscribe to Burma's only free daily newspaper in
English, send an email to:
burmanet-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To subscribe to The BurmaNet News in Burmese, send an email to:
burmanetburmese-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
You can also contact BurmaNet by fax:
(US) +1(413)604-9008
________________
Burma News Summaries available by email or the web
There are three Burma news digest services available via either email or
the web.
Burma News Update
Frequency: Biweekly
Availability: By fax or the web.
Viewable online at
http://www.burmaproject.org/burmanewsupdate/index.html
Cost: Free
Published by: Open Society Institute, Burma Project
The Burma Courier
Frequency: Weekly
Availability: E-mail, fax or post. To subscribe or unsubscribe by email
celsus@xxxxxxxxxxx
Viewable on line at: http://www.egroups.com/group/BurmaCourier
Cost: Free
Note: News sources are cited at the beginning of an article.
Interpretive comments and background
details are often added.
Burma Today
Frequency: Weekly
Availability: E-mail
Viewable online at http://www.worldviewrights.org/pdburma/today.html
To subscribe, write to pdburma@xxxxxxxxx
Cost: Free
Published by: PD Burma (The International Network of Political Leaders
Promoting Democracy in Burma)
________________
==^================================================================
EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://igc.topica.com/u/?b1dbSX.b1CGhI
Or send an email To: burmanet-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
This email was sent to: reg.burma@xxxxxxxxxx
T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail!
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register
==^================================================================