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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.



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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  
 








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