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BurmaNet News: October 28, 2001
______________ THE BURMANET NEWS ______________
An on-line newspaper covering Burma
October 26, 2001 Issue # 1907
______________ www.burmanet.org _______________
INSIDE BURMA _______
*AP: Myanmar junta frees eight more political prisoners
*AFP: Myanmar bolsters security to prevent religious "hate crimes" in
north
*DVB: : Burma declares 45-day state of emergency period for fear of mass
unrest
*Network Media Group: Nearly one hundred people killed in religious riot
in Southern Burma
MONEY _______
*Bangkok Post: Registration makes 1.7 billion baht for government
coffers
*Network Media Group: New Jade mine found in Upper Burma
GUNS______
*The Straits Times (Singapore): One in four Thai army recruits a drug
addict, says general
DRUGS______
*AP: Myanmar arrests two suspects linked to huge Thai maritime drug haul
*Bangkok Post: Druglords caught in joint effort
REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL _______
*AP: State Department says religious rights denied in six countries
EDITORIALS/OPINION/PROPAGANDA________
*Radio Myanmar (SPCD): [Burmese radio says junta, Thailand cooperating
in anti-drug activities]
__________________ INSIDE BURMA ____________________
AP: Myanmar junta frees eight more political prisoners
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) _ Eight members of opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi's National League for Democracy party were released from various
prisons Friday afternoon, a government press release announced.
With their release, the government has freed 182 NLD members including
21 elected members of parliament since the start of the year.
The release of political prisoners is considered a goodwill gesture by
the military as it holds a closed-door dialogue with Suu Kyi, which
began late last year at the initiative of a United Nations mediator.
Neither side has released details of the talks, but they have showed no
substantive outcome in ending the country's political deadlock. The
junta's failure to hand over power to a democratically elected
government has made it a pariah state.
Suu Kyi has expressed unhappiness with the slow pace of releases but is
guardedly optimistic for the long-term prospects of the talks, said a
recent visitor with her who insisted on anonymity.
Human rights organizations say more than 1,000 political prisoners
remain in jail.
The military in Myanmar, also known as Burma, seized power in 1988
after crushing a democracy uprising. It called national elections in
1990, but refused to honor the results that gave Suu Kyi's National
League for Democracy party an overwhelming victory.
The junta is also criticized for human rights abuses.
Friday's government statement named those released as three women, Aye
Aye Win, Shwe Pon and Thein Kywe, and five men, Myint Kywe, Win Naing,
Mya Han, Kan Saung and Tin Ko.
The statement said all those released from ``various correctional
facilities are in good health and are back with their respective
families.''
Their release came a little more than a week after the visit to Myanmar
of U.N. human rights rapporteur Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, a Brazilian
political scientist, to assess civil and political rights.
In a pre-visit report to the United Nations, Pinheiro said he welcomed
the earlier releases but urged more. On the eve of his visit Myanmar
freed five more opposition members from jail as a ``goodwill gesture.''
His mission's concern with prisoners was reflected in visits to two
prisons and a labor camp.
Pinheiro, who also visited Myanmar briefly in April, will make an
updated report to the U.N. General Assembly early next month.
Pinheiro was the first U.N. human rights investigator allowed into the
country in half a decade. He was named U.N. human rights rapporteur in
February, replacing Rajsoomer Lallah, a Mauritian judge who was never
allowed entry.
___________________________________________________
AFP: Myanmar bolsters security to prevent religious "hate crimes" in
north
YANGON, Oct 27 (AFP) - Myanmar's military government said Saturday it
was maintaining a curfew in northern towns while tightening immigration
rules to prevent "hate crimes" after a spate of religious clashes in
recent weeks.
Long-standing tension between Muslims and Buddhists erupted into
violence on October 8 after a religious dispute in Myanmar's Bago
district touched off conflicts in neighbouring towns.
Officials said the first clash ensued between Muslims and Buddhist
monks in Prome, also known as Pyay, over a rumour that a Buddhist woman
who eloped with a Muslim man had been forced to convert to Islam.
Buddhist monks, or people posing as monks, ransacked a Muslim-owned
pharmacy before the authorities intervened, they said, adding that no
one was hurt in the melee.
In an effort to head off further violence, Myanmar's ruling junta said
"certain security and immigration measures" had to be stepped up to keep
illegal immigrants from entering Myanmar towns and causing trouble.
"The government of Myanmar will not condone hate crimes or harassment
targeted not only at Muslims but other religions as well," a government
spokesman said in a statement.
"But in order to maintain the peace and stability... certain security
and immigration measures have to be beefed up," he said, adding that
people with "proper documentation" would have no trouble travelling in
Myanmar.
"But we do have to be careful not to have the illegal immigrants with
doubtful backgrounds coming into the cities and towns which may create
unnecessary security problems."
Myanmar officials last week said they had clamped down on Pyay and
Pegu, in the Bago division north of Yangon, and Taungoo since the
September 11 attacks on the United States and amid the US-led strikes
against Afghanistan.
The historically volatile towns are home to devout Buddhists and
Muslims alike.
The curfews from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am are seen as an attempt to
discourage rioting over the US-led strikes against in Afghanistan, which
have stirred tremendous interest in Myanmar.
___________________________________________________
DVB: Burma declares 45-day state of emergency period for fear of mass
unrest
[FBIS Translated Text] The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a
directive since the second week of this month declaring a state of
emergency period in Burma and to tighten security measures. The
emergency period has been declared for 45 days from 15 October to 30
November. It has been learned that the SPDC [State Peace and Development
Council] military government declared this 45-day state of emergency
period because they were particularly worried that the current religious
riots might turn into a mass public unrest. Furthermore, respective
township authorities have been convening emergency security meetings in
accord with the directive on riot control and security issues.
In addition, the security groups formed should include township level
officials and they should check the movements of the people in the
township, closely monitor suspected persons and monks, to report any
unusual activity immediately to the security authorities, and to keep
the township riot control company and reserved forces such as the Kyant
Phut [derogatory term for Union Solidarity and Development Association]
members and the Fire Services Department personnel in readiness.
Moreover, security checks should be carried out at the toll gates of the
entrance and exit of any city and the SPDC military intelligence members
are carrying out surprised checks at night at the guest houses, motels,
inns, and hotels. [Description of Source: Oslo Democratic Voice of Burma
in Burmese -- anti-government radio run by the National Coalition
Government of the Union of Burma]
___________________________________________________
Network Media Group: Nearly one hundred people killed in religious riot
in Southern Burma
Mae Sot, October 28, 2001
Nearly one hundred people were killed in a riot between Muslims and
members of Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) at
Pha-auk village in Southern Burma on October 21, Thit Lwin Oo from
Muslim Information Center said to NMG.
About 150 members from USDA came to destroy the mosque in Pha-auk
village, about four miles from Moulmein, where one hundred Muslims were
worshiping on the evening of October 27. A clash broke out between the
Muslims in the mosque and the USDA members around 7 pm and about 60
Muslims and 35 USDA members were killed during the clash, said Thit Lwin
Oo.
Similar religious riots occurred in Pyi and Pegu in early this month and
about 40 shops, including Tawthargyi store, on the main road in Pyi were
destroyed during these riots, Thit Lwin Oo continued.
About 34 prisoners arrested during these riots in Taunggu during May and
Pyi and Pegu in early October are going to be sent to Khamti prison,
very remote town in Upper Burma near Indo-Burma border. The prisoners
include 24 from Mandalay prison and 10 from Pegu prison, a source
reported to NMG.
"Although there are reports about the arrests, we have not yet known how
many Muslims and Buddhists were among these arrested people," said U
Kyaw Hla, chairman of Muslim Liberation Organization (MLO).
Although there were religious riots in Taunggu, Pyi, Pegu and Hinthada,
Burmese regime has not yet announced on the casualties in these riots.
______________________MONEY________________________
Bangkok Post: Registration makes 1.7 billion baht for government coffers
Friday 26 October 2001
By Supamart Kasem Penchan Charoensuthipan
The state earned more than 1.7 billion baht from the registration of
540,000 alien workers, which began last month and ended yesterday.
Permanent secretary for labour Irawat Chanprasert said the total was
well below the 700,000 registrations expected earlier.
Premsak Piayura, the House labour committee chairman, demanded the
government use the money transparently and for the benefit of local
communities which hired the immigrants. The government allows employers
in 10 types of industry to recruit alien workers, most of them Burmese,
but they must register them.
The fees are 3,250 baht for a six-month stay and 4,450 baht for
one-year's employment.
On Monday police begin searching factories and arresting unregistered
foreign workers, who will be deported.
Dr Premsak, who observed the registration in Tak with 15 committee
members, told local authorities he would ask the government to organise
a workshop on the problem of illegal alien labourers, who could pose
threats to national security. Local groups and employers should be given
a say.
Deputy Labour Minister Ladawan Wongsriwong said the department was
considering heavier penalties for employers and foreign migrant workers
who break alien employment law.
Employers are liable to a maximum three-year jail term and/or a
60,000-baht fine. Illegal workers face three months in jail and a
5,000-baht fine. Employers sheltering illegal immigrants are liable to
10 years in jail and a 100,000-baht fine.
___________________________________________________
Network Media Group: New Jade mine found in Upper Burma
UMEH Ltd. got permission to produce jade
Chiang Mai, October 28
New jade mine was recently found at the Khamti region in Upper Burma and
Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings (UMEH) Ltd. got the permission to
produce jade form the mine, a source from Indo-Burma border reported.
State Peace and Development Council Secrectary (3) Lt. Gen. Win Mint and
party including the commander of North-West Command and other 4
ministers visited to Makyankha Mine near Makyankha village in Khamti
township on yesterday, October 27, the source said.
The permits for this new mine was issued to the Union of Myanmar
Economic Holdings Ltd., most shares of which is own by Burmese Army.
UMEH Ltd. has already taken 63 mine areas and is starting to produce
jade on November 1, 2001.
The mine was found in last December while some villagers from Namsi Bum
came and dig a pit to make fire to produce charcoal in this area. After
they found some jade, many villagers came to the area to dig the jade.
But, very soon after the villagers came to the area, the mine area was
ordered to close by Khamti based Tectical Command Head Quaters number 2
under North-West Command.
_______________________GUNS________________________
The Straits Times (Singapore): One in four Thai army recruits a drug
addict, says general
October 25, 2001, Thursday
SECTION: South-East Asia, Pg. A6
LENGTH: 385 words
HEADLINE:
BYLINE: Edward Tang, Thailand Correspondent
BODY:
The trend reflects the national drug problem, blamed on methamphetamines
which are smuggled in from Myanmar
BANGKOK -- One in four recruits in the Thai army is a drug addict, an
alarming statistic that is matched by a sharp rise in drug offences in
the country.
The drug problem has escalated in recent years -- five years ago, only
one in 10 draftees was an addict.
But cheap drugs such as methamphetamines from Myanmar have invaded
Thailand and its military camps like no foreign army has ever done. "We
are facing a drug situation which is getting too deep in our society,"
army commander-in-chief General Surayudh Chulanont told The Straits
Times.
"From less than 10 per cent within the past five years, it has moved up
to 25 per cent.
"That's an indication that something has to be done about the drug
problem in Thai society," he said.
He blamed the widespread availability of yaa baa, or crazy drug as
methamphetamines are called locally, for the rise in drug abuse in army
camps.
Thailand has an estimated two million addicts, of whom 500,000 are
regular users of yaa baa, which has a street value of less than 100 baht
(S $4) a tablet.
Another 500,000 use the drug occasionally, while the rest are addicted
to drugs such as heroin and marijuana, as well as solvents.
Thai troops are tightening security at the border with Myanmar, where
millions of yaa baa pills are smuggled into the country.
"Our duty is to ... try to reduce the supply of drugs," said Gen
Surayudh.
But he conceded that the army alone would not be able to snuff out the
drug problem.
The demand side of the problem also had to be tackled, and other
agencies had to help to educate people, especially villagers, on the
dangers of drug abuse.
According to the national anti-narcotics board, drug offences have
soared during the current economic crisis from 20,000 convictions in
1996 to 70,000 last year.
One-third of secondary school students are said to be taking yaa baa,
and even primary school pupils have been found with the pills.
An estimated 700 million tablets are smuggled into Thailand annually
from drug factories owned by the Wa tribes in Myanmar.
An estimated 700,000 Thai youngsters are said to have experimented with
ya baa, cocaine, heroin, marijuana or other drugs.
________________________DRUGS______________________
AP: Myanmar arrests two suspects linked to huge Thai maritime drug haul
October 26, 2001 Friday
AYE AYE WIN; Associated Press Writer
YANGON, Myanmar
Two persons linked to a major drug seizure by Thai authorities in the
Andaman Sea in January have been arrested in Myanmar, a government press
release said Friday.
Thai authorities on Jan. 7 seized 116 kilograms (255 pounds) of heroin
and nearly 8 million methamphetamine tablets from two Thai-registered
fishing trawlers off Surin island in Phang-nga province, 650 kilometers
(400 miles) southwest of Bangkok.
The boats were intercepted after a tip-off, in an operation involving
Thai, Myanmar and U.S. authorities. The street value of the drugs was
estimated at tens of millions of dollars. Twenty-four seamen on the
trawlers were arrested and four other suspects were arrested in the Thai
capital Bangkok and the northern city of Chiang Rai.
The arrest of the four latter suspects led Myanmar authorities to Nyein
Kyaw, alias Xi Yong Qin, after Thailand's Narcotics Control Board
provided a phone number to Myanmar's Central Committee for Drug Abuse
Control. He was arrested at the Eastern Hotel in Yangon.
Xi was said to have confessed and named as the financier of the
smuggling operation Kyaw Hlaing, alias Lauk San, who was arrested at
Kalawy, 400 kilometers (250 miles) north of Yangon in Shan State, the
press release said.
It was not clear exactly when the arrests took place.
Myanmar rivals Afghanistan as the world's largest heroin exporter and
has also become a leading production center for the stimulant
methamphetamine. Most of the drugs are trafficked through China and
Thailand to third country destinations.
Faced with security crackdowns on traditional overland smuggling routes
in northern Thailand, smugglers have begun using sea lanes.
Friday's government statement said that Myanmar, also known as Burma,
continues its transnational drug control activities with all nations,
particularly its neighbors.
It cited cases in April and September where Myanmar law enforcement
authorities handed over to their Chinese counterparts two Chinese drug
fugitives, Tan Xiaolan and Xian Quo Min.
It also pointed out that Myanmar drug officials in cooperation with the
Australian Federal Police arrested two Myanmar nationals, Twan Sin Htan,
30, also known as Maung Win, and Aik Tun, 24, also known as Aung Kyaw,
in Yangon on April 1 for their alleged connection with more than 350
kilograms (770 pounds) of heroin seized at a port in Fiji last year.
Drug trafficking is punishable by death under Myanmar's drug law
although death sentences are rarely carried out.
__________________________________________________
Bangkok Post: Druglords caught in joint effort
October 28, 2001.
Burma is committed, says Thammarak
Sermsuk Kasitipradit
The recent capture of two leading drug traffickers in Burma was the
result of improved co-operation between Bangkok and Rangoon, said PM's
Office Minister Thammarak Issarangkul na Ayudhya.
The suspects were thought to be directly involved in the trafficking of
116 kilogrammes of heroin and 7.8 million methamphetamine pills seized
this year in the Andaman Sea.
Gen Thammarak, who supervises the Narcotics Control Board, said he was
pleased Nyein Kyaw and Kyaw Hlaing, arrested in Rangoon and the Shan
State on Oct 8 and 13, had been caught.
``The arrests came about because we co-ordinated and exchanged
intelligence information. This is a good sign which shows our
determination in fighting illicit drugs,'' the Thai Rak Thai party-list
MP said.
On Jan 7, the ONCB joined police, the army and the navy to arrest six
Thais aboard two Thai fishing trawlers in the Andaman Sea.
``The seizure would not have been possible without intelligence
co-operation,'' said Gen Thammarak.
The street value of the drugs was estimated at tens of millions of
dollars.
A drug official said the ONCB sought the co-operation of Burma's Central
Committee for
Drug Abuse Control.
The office had told staff there about the possible involvement of Nyein
Kyaw.
The official said Rangoon kept a close eye on Nyein Kyaw and captured
him at the Eastern Hotel on Bo Myat Tun Street on Oct 8.
Nyein Kyaw admitted shipping the drugs aboard his trawler, Shwengagyi,
and handing them over in the Andaman Sea.
He said Yaw Phar Li funded the smuggling operation.
An ONCB official said Nyein Kyaw and Yaw Phar Li were regarded as
leading drug traffickers.
The official said Yaw Phar Li kept a record in his notebook of drug
trafficking in Mae Hong Son and Tak provinces in 1998 involving 841kg of
heroin and 5.5 million speed pills.
``We may have had problems with Burma in the past but the situation has
improved and will lead to a more efficient war against drugs,'' Gen
Thammarak said.
___________________ REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL___________________
AP: State Department says religious rights denied in six countries
WASHINGTON (AP) _ The State Department singled out six countries and the
Taliban rulers of Afghanistan for widespread denial of religious
freedoms.
China, Iran, Iraq, Myanmar and Sudan were cited as repeat offenders and
North Korea was added in the annual report.
Spokesman Richard Boucher acknowledged that many other countries,
including Saudi Arabia, also sharply limited freedom to practice a
religion of choice.
He said the regimes named in the report had become significantly more
repressive since last year's report was issued.
``We think there is no justification whatsoever for persecution of
believers or discrimination against people because of their faith,''
Boucher said.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent
commission set up by Congress to monitor religious freedom worldwide,
had urged the State Department to add Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Laos
and Turkmenistan to the list of countries of ``particular concern.''
Human rights groups supported the effort.
In the end, only North Korea was added.
Still, Boucher said the report made clear ``there is essentially no
religious freedom in Saudi Arabia,'' that the government requires all
citizens to be Muslims and it prohibits the open practice of any
religion other than Islam.
Uzbekistan, he said, only partially respects the rights to religion
that are set out in the country's constitution, while Turkmenistan
harasses unregistered religious groups. The majority of people in both
countries are Muslims.
In North Korea, Boucher said, there are many reports of a crackdown on
unregistered groups and unconfirmed reports that members of underground
Christian churches had been killed.
The Taliban rulers of Afghanistan were ``a particularly severe violator
of religious freedom,'' Boucher said.
The Afghan Shi'a minority is abused, women have been
beaten by religious police for not wearing what the militia consider to
be proper attire and Buddha statutes were destroyed in February despite
appeals form religious leaders around the world, he said.
The Bush administration leads an alliance trying oust the Taliban from
power for harboring the al-Qaida terrorism network.
___________EDITORIALS/OPINION/PROPAGANDA__________
Radio Myanmar (SPCD): [Burmese radio says junta, Thailand cooperating in
anti-drug activities]
Radio Myanmar, Rangoon, in Burmese 1330 gmt 26 Oct 01
The Office of the Narcotics Control Board of Thailand informed the
Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control of Myanmar Burma on 10 October
that two Thai boatswains and 22 Thai crew members were caught with 116
kg of heroin and 7.798m stimulant tablets aboard two Thai fishing
trawlers near Phuket island of Thailand in Andaman Sea on 7 January
2001. That drugs seizure led to the arrest of Mr Chairat Sae-Tan and Mr
Prateep Taveeapiradeeraj of Bangkok, Mr Chensum Sae-Sao of Chiang Rai,
and Mr Supachai Krajaechand of Ranong. The Thai authorities passed on
information about the involvement of Nyein Kyaw from Myanmar in that
case and gave a phone number used by him. The Myanmar Burmese
authorities tracked down Nyein Kyaw by gathering information about him
through the phone number, and in October discovered that Nyein Kyaw was
staying at the Eastern Hotel on Bo Myat Tun Street in Yangon Rangoon .
At 1100 on 8-10-2001, Nyein Kyaw alias Si Yon Kyin, who was reportedly
implicated in the Andaman Sea drug seizure case, was arrested with 1,403
stimulant tablets at Room No 408 of the Eastern Hotel.
According to Nyein Kyaw alias Si Yon Kyin's confession, he brought the
narcotic drugs with his trawler Shwengagyi and handed them over in the
Andaman Sea. It was found that Kyaw Hlaing alias Lauk San alias Yaw Phar
Li financed the drug trafficking operation and collaborated with him.
Thus, Kyaw Hlaing alias Lauk San alias Yaw Phar Li was arrested in Kalaw
at 0130 on 13 October. Furthermore, the Shwengagyi trawler involved in
the drug trafficking case was also confiscated.
Authorities concerned from Myanmar and Thailand are continuing to
cooperate after exchanging information and arresting the culprits from
Myanmar and Thailand in the Andaman Sea drug case. Similarly, as a
result of exchange of information and cooperation in drug control
between Myanmar and China, a Chinese national Mr Tan Xiao Lin, who is a
drug fugitive wanted by China, was arrested at Mu-se in Myanmar on 20
April and handed over to the officials of the National Narcotics Control
Commission of China on 23 April. Shan Chauk Mei, who was implicated in a
narcotic drug seizure case in China, was also arrested in Mu-se on 4
September.
As drug-traffickers are now operating transnational activities, Myanmar
is speeding up its cooperation with ASEAN member countries, the nations
in the Asia-Pacific region and the sub-region, UN agencies and NGOs,
particularly with its neighbouring nations in fighting narcotic drugs.
________________
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