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BurmaNet News: November 8, 2001
______________ THE BURMANET NEWS ______________
An on-line newspaper covering Burma
November 8, 2001 Issue # 1915
______________ www.burmanet.org _______________
INSIDE BURMA _______
*Reuters: Myanmar military says finds lucky white elephant
*Kaladan Press Network: Further Restriction on Rohingya under the
Pretext of Taliban Scare
*ILO: Findings of the International Labour Organization's High-level
team on forced labor in Burma
MONEY _______
*Reuters: Myanmar sees 700,000 tonnes rice exports 2001/02
*Reuters: China to cut tariffs for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar
GUNS______
*AP: Southeast Asian countries meet to discuss aid for land mine
clearance
*Kaladan Press Network: 5 more landmines exploded
DRUGS______
*Shan Herald Agency for News: Outgoing officer chafes leaving with an
empty pocket
REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL _______
*Financial Times: ILO finds widespread forced labour in Burma
EDITORIALS/OPINION/PROPAGANDA________
*National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma: Japan Asked to
Play 'Active Role' To Push Democratization Forward
OTHER______
*Radio Free Asia: RFA seeks Burmese-fluent journalist
__________________ INSIDE BURMA ____________________
Reuters: Myanmar military says finds lucky white elephant
YANGON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Myanmar's ruling military said on on Thursday
it had captured a rare white elephant, a sure sign the impoverished
country was on a path to peace and prosperity.
Official newspapers and television all featured stories on the find
with pictures of a six-foot (1.8 metre) high, eight-year-old bull
elephant reportedly captured in the northeastern jungles.
``The animal is significant and different from others as its skin is
whitish-pink in colour in the rain and it changes to moderate russet in
cold sunny weather,'' state newspapers reported.
``According to the records compiled by learned persons, it is said the
white elephant brings peace, stability and prosperity to the nation,
that it prevents all hazards and dangers and that the country enjoys
annual bumper food harvests.''
A government spokesman told Reuters the elephant was being brought to
the capital Yangon.
In legend, the possession of these sacred beasts was seen as very
important and ancient kings fought over them. Rulers with white
elephants were seen as successful.
The military has ruled Myanmar, which is also known as Burma, since
taking power in 1962. The country has been isolated by most Western
nations due to its suppression of the pro-democracy opposition and
allegations of widespread human rights abuses.
Experts say Myanmar's economy is starved of foreign capital and is in
tatters.
___________________________________________________
Kaladan Press Network: Further Restriction on Rohingya under the Pretext
of Taliban Scare
By our correspondent
Maungdaw
On October 12, 2001, Major General Myint Zaw had flown to Maungdaw in a
helicopter and inspected the headquarters of NaSaKa, area 1,2,and 3. He
was accompanied by Director of NaSaKa and other military officials.
According to sources concerned, the general had instructed the local
authorities and military officials to further curb on the movement of
the Rohingya people under the pretext of so-called Taliban scare. He
also warned them to watch out for the insurgency. He was finally, flown
Rangoon from a border place of Shaheb Bazar, in northern Maungdaw on 14
October.
___________________________________________________
ILO: Findings of the International Labour Organization's High-level
team on forced labor in Burma
[This is an abridgement of the ILO High Level Team's full report which
is available online at:
p://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/gb/docs/gb282/pdf/gb-4.pdf
(PDF file, 234K)
*************************************
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE GB. 282/4 282nd Session
Governing Body Geneva, November 2001
FOURTH ITEM ON THE AGENDA
Developments concerning the question of the observance by the Government
of Myanmar of the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
Report of the High-Level Team
IV. Findings
IV. 1. Findings as regards formal steps taken pursuant to the Orders
31. Taking as a starting point the observation of the Committee of
Experts in its 2001 report, the HLT has examined the steps taken with
regard to the issuance of additional instructions, including to the
military, the measures taken in order to disseminate the Orders to those
concerned, including the general population, and, finally, any action
relating to the enforcement of the Orders.
A. Background guidance provided by the Committee of Experts in its 2001
report as regards steps still required !!
32. In its 2001 report, the Committee of Experts observed that the
amendment of the Village and Towns Acts had not yet been made and
expressed the hope that these Acts would at last be brought into
conformity with Convention No. 29 (for the full text of the observation,
see Appendix V; for the texts of relevant legislation and orders, see
Appendix XIII). However, the Committee of Experts examined the combined
effect of Order No. 1/ 99 and the Supplementing Order. The Committee of
Experts concluded that these Orders "could provide a statutory basis for
ensuring compliance with the Convention in practice, if given effect
bona fide not only by the local authorities empowered to requisition
labour under the Village and Towns Acts, but also by civilian and
military officers entitled to call on the assistance of local
authorities under the Acts".
33. The Committee of Experts also examined several instructions dated 27
and 28 October and 1 November 2000. It observed, inter alia, that the
instruction dated 1 November 2000 "Prohibiting Requisition of Forced
Labour" was signed at the highest level, by Secretary-1 of the SPDC, and
addressed to the chairmen of all state and divisional peace and
development councils and prohibited them from requisitioning forced
labour. The Committee of Experts considered that "a bona fide
application of this prohibition should cover the typical case of members
of the armed forces who order local authorities to provide labourers,
even if the manner of complying with such order ? through requisition or
hiring of labourers or otherwise ? is left to the local authorities".
The Committee further noted that the instruction dated 1 November 2000
directed that the state and divisional peace and development councils
should issue necessary instructions to the relevant district and
township peace and development councils to strictly abide by the
prohibition contained in the Orders concerning forced labour. That would
include cases where members of the armed forces order local authorities
to supply labour. After careful examination, the Committee of Experts
concluded that "? clear instructions are still required to indicate to
all officials concerned, including officers at all levels of the armed
forces, both the kinds of tasks for which the requisition of labour is
prohibited, and the manner in which the same tasks are henceforth to be
performed". [16] The Committee added that such prohibition should also
apply "to the requisition of materials or provisions of any kind to
demands of money where due to the State or to a municipal or town
committee under relevant legislation. Furthermore, the suggested text
was to provide that if any state authority or its officers requires
labour, services, materials or provisions of any kind and for any
purpose, they must make prior budgetary arrangements to obtain these by
a public tender process or by providing market rates to persons wishing
to supply these services, materials or provisions voluntarily, or
wishing to offer their labour". Finally, as regards the enforcement
procedure, the Committee of Experts, noting that there had been no case
of enforcement under section 374 of the Penal Code, expressed the hope
that prosecutions could be brought by the law enforcement agencies on
their own initiative, "without waiting for complaints by the victims who
may not consider it expedient to denounce the 'responsible persons' to
the police".
B. Steps taken with regard to the issuance of additional instructions,
including to the military
34. The HLT requested on a number of occasions to be provided with
authoritative translations of any additional instructions addressed to
any authority, including the military. At the time of drafting its
report, the HLT had only received three instructions in Burmese issued
by various military commanders to units under their command. Official
translations of these orders have been requested but not yet received.
On the basis of unofficial translations, the HLT understood that two of
these orders simply reproduced the text of the order issued by
Secretary-1 dated 1 November 2000. They did not contain any
specifications either of the kinds of tasks for which the requisition of
labour was prohibited nor the manner in which the same tasks were
henceforth to be performed. The third instruction issued by the NaSaKa
[17] and dated 22 July 2001 re-stated the general prohibition on
requisitioning of forced labour contained in the Orders but added that
if recourse to forced labour was necessary, payment should be made
accordingly. It would thus appear, on the basis of the information so
far provided, that the authorities have not given due attention to this
aspect.
C. Dissemination of information to those concerned, including the
general population
35. During its visit to the country, the HLT noted that, in general,
considerable publicity had been given to the Orders, including their
posting in English and Burmese on the notice-boards of VPDC [18] offices
and other public offices, and through large numbers of meetings arranged
by various authorities to inform both the general population and
administrative officials of the content of the Orders. In Rakhine State,
for instance, one TPDC [19] official stated that he had organized 101
such meetings in 1999 and the same number in 2000 covering all village
tracts in his area and authorities under his competence. In several
places around the country that it visited, the HLT was presented with
extensive documentary evidence that such meetings had been held. Copies
of the Orders have also been distributed to members of the military, the
NaSaKa and the police force.
36. The HLT noted that there was considerable geographic variation in
the dissemination of the Orders as well as in the time frame in which
this dissemination occurred. In many cases persons met by the HLT said
that they had been informed of the Orders by foreign radio stations
rather than by the authorities.
37. In the areas around Dawei (Tanintharyi Division), Mawlamyine (Mon
State) and Hpa-an (Kayin State) visited by the HLT, there was clear
evidence of dissemination of the Orders. Some members of the general
population in these areas, however, did not have any knowledge of the
Orders.
38. In Lashio (northern Shan State), the HLT noted that the Orders had
been fairly widely distributed in the areas it visited, including
posting on boards prominently displayed by the side of the road, and on
village notice-boards. Members of the local authorities also indicated
that they had convened meetings with the local population in many areas
and explained the content of the Orders to them. In many cases, the
prominently-displayed Orders appeared new, and information from the
local population indicated that in most of these cases the Orders had
been put up the day before the HLT arrived. Many of the local people
indicated that they had not previously been aware of the existence of
such Orders.
39. In Rakhine State, the Orders appeared to have been widely
disseminated in those areas that the HLT visited, in the two months
prior to its visit. This included public posting of the Orders in
English and Burmese, and the holding of numerous public information
meetings on the subject. Members of the authorities, the military, and
the vast majority of village heads and VPDC members were aware of the
Orders, and most stated that they had learned about the Orders soon
after they were issued. Some village heads and VPDC members indicated,
however, that they had only become aware of the Orders in July 2001.
More than half of the general population interviewed by the HLT was also
aware of these Orders. Many of them had been recently informed (in
August and September 2001).
40. In the area around Loikaw and Demawso in Kayah State there appeared
to have been considerable dissemination of the Orders. Most people who
were asked about the Orders had been informed about them, often via
distribution of copies to village heads. In some cases this did not
occur until July or August 2001. In contrast, along the road between
Loikaw and Taunggyi (Shan State) and around Taunggyi town there appeared
to have been no dissemination of the Orders at all, and no person met by
the HLT had heard about them.
41. On the basis of information gathered by the HLT across the border in
Thailand there appeared to be little knowledge of, or dissemination of,
the Orders in southern Shan State and eastern parts of Kayin State. Less
than half of the persons interviewed had heard about the Orders, and a
number of these had heard from non-official sources or just by rumours.
Few of them had seen copies. There was no evidence of any dissemination
of the Orders in the Kayin or Shan languages even though most of the
people interviewed did not speak or understand Burmese well or at all.
42. Despite signs of considerable efforts being made to disseminate the
Orders as described above, the HLT noted that they had not been
disseminated at all via the mass media, including radio, television or
print media. Despite the objections (as to the risk of confusion arising
from the fact that new legislation is not normally dealt with through
such media) made during discussions with the Implementation Committee,
the HLT believes that further consideration should be given to this
question, taking into account the exceptional character of the problem.
The HLT also noted that the Orders had not been distributed in languages
other than English and Burmese, and that in particular the Orders had
not been translated into any of the other major ethnic languages spoken
in the country. The HLT was informed by people in different parts of the
country that they could not understand the Orders that were posted in
their areas because they did not read or understand Burmese well enough.
The HLT further noted that the Orders had not always been disseminated
together. It is important that this be done, since the Supplementing
Order needs to be read in conjunction with Order 1/ 99. This would
ensure a better understanding among non-experts of the rather technical
content of the Orders.
D. Action with regard to the enforcement of the Orders
43. Before examining the effectiveness of the Orders in terms of
bringing to trial those who have recourse to forced labour, the HLT
wishes to briefly summarise the legislative and institutional background
in the country, as it understood it from the meetings that it had and
the texts that were provided to it, focussing on the interaction between
the Orders, section 374 of the Penal Code, and the organization of the
judiciary. (i) Legislative and institutional background
44. Section 6 of Order No. 1/99 provides that "[ a] ny person who fails
to abide by this Order shall have action taken against him under the
existing law". Section 5 of the Supplementing Order specifies that the
expression "any person" includes "local authorities, members of the
armed forces, members of the police force and other public service
personnel". Furthermore, section 5 of this Order, as well as several
instructions issued on 27 and 28 October and 1 November 2000, provide
for the prosecution of responsible persons under section 374 of the
Penal Code.
45. For its part, section 374 of the Penal Code makes forced labour a
criminal offence in the following terms: Whoever unlawfully compels any
person to labour against the will of that person shall [be] punished
with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to
one year, or with fine, or with both. [20]
46. The HLT had extensive discussions in order to understand how section
374 applied in the general context of the judicial organization of the
country, and to clarify certain details of the criminal procedure and
the respective jurisdictions of civil and military courts.
47. The present judicial system has existed in Myanmar since 1988. In
addition, the HLT was informed that the SPDC had promulgated two laws,
in June 2000 and February 2001 respectively, governing the organization
of the judiciary in the country and specifying the duties and powers of
the Attorney-General. These texts were provided to the HLT and are
called "The Judiciary Law, 2000" and "The Attorney-General Law, 2001".
48. Four levels of courts exist in Myanmar, at the township, district,
and state/divisional levels, and the Supreme Court. [21] The Supreme
Court, which is the highest court of appeal, is entrusted a nationwide
jurisdiction. All decisions rendered by township, district or state/
divisional courts on forced labour charges are appealable.
49. The Chief Justice further stated that the SPDC appointed the members
of the Supreme Court, which presently comprises 11 members. It sits in
the cities of Yangon and Mandalay. There is no predetermined term of
office and no security of tenure; judges could be removed by the SPDC at
any time for good reason. However, no change in the Supreme Court's
composition has occurred since the promulgation of The Judiciary Law in
2000. The Supreme Court, in turn, forms state/ divisional, district and
township courts. There is no predetermined term of office for the judges
comprising these courts either.
50. According to Myanmar legal authorities, there is a sophisticated
procedure provided for concerning the prosecution of cases of forced
labour. However, it seems pointless to describe this procedure in detail
since, on the highest authority, that of the Chief Justice and the
Attorney-General, not a single criminal prosecution has been initiated
since the Orders were enacted, and this is, in the view of the HLT, by
no means because no instances of forced labour have occurred. On the
contrary, there have been widespread instances of forced labour of all
kinds, but no prosecutions. [22] At the most there has been occasional
administrative action taken against members of the authorities and the
armed forces involving a very few cases of violations of the Orders.
51. When it comes to punishment for forced labour offences, the Penal
Code of Myanmar provides for a maximum term of imprisonment of one year
or payment of a fine, or both. It does not give any indication as
regards the criteria that should be applied when determining the
appropriate amount for such a fine, but judges questioned in this regard
by the HLT said that they were vested with full discretion. The
punishment of members of the military is determined by The Defence
Services Act which states that they are liable "to suffer any
punishment, other than whipping, assigned for the offence by the law in
force in the Union of Burma, or imprisonment for a term which may extend
to seven years, or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned"
(The Defence Services Act, section 71). The lesser punishment mentioned
in The Defence Services Act includes, inter alia, cashiering, dismissal
from the service, reduction to the ranks, forfeiture of seniority,
service or pay and allowances, reprimand or stoppage of pay and
allowances (ibid., section 73).
(ii) The realities of enforcement
52. The HLT was also given a document prepared by the Ministry of Home
Affairs entitled "Action Taken on Cases For Not Abiding Order 1/ 99 and
Its Supplementary Order Issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs".
Thirty-eight instances where action had been taken were mentioned. A
meeting was specifically organized on the HLT's last day in the country
in order to obtain further details concerning the cases referred to in
this document. It appeared that all actions taken were of an
administrative nature. They ranged from a simple warning to dismissal or
discharge of the person concerned. None referred to section 374 of the
Penal Code as provided for in the Orders. The HLT was informed that
"inquiry committees" had authority to decide on the measures that should
be imposed in case of violations of the Orders. To date, these inquiry
committees had deemed it more appropriate to deal with alleged breaches
of the Orders from an administrative standpoint rather than by having
recourse to criminal prosecution. Out of the 38 cases, 10 occurred prior
to May 1999 and therefore were not covered by the Orders. All cases
involved TPDC or VPDC officers. A number of them dealt with allegations
related to forced contribution of labour, including for road
construction (five cases) and portering (one case), as well as
contribution of money and compulsory provision of produce, such as rice
and beans. Others raised wrongdoings, such as misuse of public funds and
goods, which did not appear to fall within the purview of Convention No.
29. It was apparent to the HLT that this document was a totally
inadequate response to any inquiry as to what action had been taken to
give effect to the Orders; yet no other response was made, nor, it
seems, could be.
53. Most members of the general population with whom the HLT met during
its visit to the country stated that they would not use the complaint
procedure as envisaged in the Orders (through the courts or the police).
[23] They would more likely complain to the VPDC or TPDC. Many were
scared that reprisals could be taken against them. In that respect, the
HLT was given several accounts of people being beaten, detained or
otherwise punished for earlier complaints on this or other issues. For
example, in Shan State, accounts were made to the HLT of serious
reprisals being taken by the military against those who complained about
forced labour. One villager was arrested for seven days by the military,
and the villagers had to pay a 30,000 Kyat ransom for his release. Other
villagers were allegedly beaten by the military for complaining. But the
most disturbing case is the one previously referred to and on which the
HLT decided to obtain comments from the authorities (see paragraph 28
above). Other people met indicated that there was no point in
complaining to the authorities, since it was the authorities themselves
who were imposing forced labour. Many added that, in any case, it would
be impossible to complain, because of language difficulties, cost, or
distance, including the problems of restriction on movement that some of
them had to face.
______________________MONEY________________________
Reuters: Myanmar sees 700,000 tonnes rice exports 2001/02
YANGON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Myanmar's rice exports may reach 700,000
tonnes in 2001/02 (April-March), up from 241,800 previously, a farm
ministry official said on Wednesday.
``Due to very favourable weather conditions throughout the year, both
crops -- summer and monsoon crops -- turned out very successfully,'' the
official told Reuters.
Myanmar exported only 54,900 tonnes in 1999/2000, according to the
latest figures from the Central Statistical Organisation.
``This year, altogether 16.3 million acres were put under paddy, and we
expect to produce 13 million tonnes of rice, compared with 12.5 million
tonnes produced last year,'' the official said.
Ten million tonnes of rice would be needed for domestic consumption,
leaving a total surplus of about three million.
The official did not say what the government planned to do with the
remaining rice.
The military government, which controls the rice trade, is gearing up
to capture overseas markets by lowering prices below those offered by
other origins in Asia, trade sources in Thailand say.
Myanmar 25 percent broken grade rice was offered on Wednesday at $122
per tonne, FOB. Thai 25 percent broken grade was offered at $150
(RICE/ASIA1).
Myanmar military intelligence chief Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt said
last month Myanmar wanted to become a major food producer in the near
future.
``However, we are still facing some difficulties in transporting
harvested paddy to the mills, milling the paddy and transporting the
unhusked rice to the storage facilities and ports due to shortage of
electricity and diesel oil,'' said one official.
___________________________________________________
Reuters: China to cut tariffs for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar
PHNOM PENH, Nov 7 (Reuters) - China has agreed to cut import tariffs for
goods from Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos, seen as a first step in Beijing's
efforts to create a regional free trade area within a decade, a
Cambodian official said on Wednesday.
The deal was struck at a summit this week among the 10 members of the
Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) with China, Japan and
South Korea, Cambodian government spokesman Chhem Vidhya told reporters
on his return from Brunei.
``China has agreed to offer special low tariff treatment for Cambodia,
Myanmar and Laos,'' he said.
``Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos can export their products to Chinese
markets with lower import duty,'' he said, without elaborating.
He said the preferential tax treatment would start on China's entry to
the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which in the interim gave a
compelling reason for ASEAN to engage Beijing quickly as many countries
fear being flooded with cheap Chinese goods and agricultural produce.
Approval of China's WTO membership is expected at a meeting of the
world trade body in Qatar which begins on Friday.
At the regional summit which ended on Tuesday, China and ASEAN agreed
to create a free trade area within 10 years, forming a trillion-dollar
market which they hope would propel their economies to new heights.
Chhem Vidhya said China's tax break scheme was aimed at boosting the
economies of the three countries -- considered the least developed in
the ASEAN grouping.
_______________________GUNS________________________
AP: Southeast Asian countries meet to discuss aid for land mine
clearance
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) _ More than 150 officials, social activists and
victims of land mines from Southeast Asia met Wednesday to discuss ways
to raise the social status of land mine survivors.
Representatives from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam
agreed to meet after being assured there would be no politics involved
in the first Regional Conference on Mine Victim Assistance, said a
leading anti-land mine activist.
``This meeting is humanitarian and purely technical. There's no
political thing here ... Our goal here is only to help the survivors to
go on with their lives,'' said Susan Walker, government relations
liaison officer of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. The
campaign, along with its coordinator, Jody Williams, won the 1997 Nobel
peace prize.
Political issues arise because among the countries represented at the
meeting, only Cambodia and Thailand are signatories to the 1997 Mine Ban
Treaty. Anti-personnel land mines remain in use in Laos, Myanmar and
Vietnam.
Although the countries rank near the top of the world's most land
mine-infested countries, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam say mines are needed
to protect their soldiers.
Walker said the conference signaled ``a good sign of good news'' which
she hoped would lead to multinational cooperation among the nations,
which has been blocked by centuries-old antipathies.
According to the latest report from Walker's association, progress has
been made since 1997, with the number of land mine casualties going down
to 15,000-20,000 from 26,000 per year in 73 countries. The group
ascribes the improvement to international support, increased funding,
more demining and a drop in land mine production worldwide.
But another major task to be tackled is the circumstances of 500,000
land mine survivors worldwide.
``Most live in impoverished, war-torn or developing countries where
state assistance is rare,'' Walker said.
The main stumbling block was that land mine victims were often
neglected, unlike other types of disabled people, and thus excluded from
some public welfare.
The three-day meeting, which ends Thursday, was aimed at finding
solutions to problems of recovery from trauma, psychological
rehabilitation and social reintegration.
Duangkamol Ponchamni, a conference organizer and country manager of the
private group Handicap International, said ideas and proposals from the
meeting would be pushed toward integration with each nation's existing
law on the disabled.
``Our job is to support the government's work,'' she said.
___________________________________________________
Kaladan Press Network: 5 more landmines exploded
November 7
Cox?s Bazar, November 4: Five landmines were exploded on
Burma-Bangladesh border, in between pillar Nos. 42 and 43, at about 1315
hours on 29 October 2001, bordering villagers of both Arakan and
Bangladesh said. Some wild animals were killed but no human causality is
reported. According to villagers, more mines were brought in boxes to
the NaSaKa (border Security Forces) area No. 1, 2 and 3 in the township
of Maungdaw, Arakan. Local people are now living in daily fear of mine
incident.
________________________DRUGS______________________
Shan Herald Agency for News: Outgoing officer chafes leaving with an
empty pocket
7 November 2001
A battalion commander in eastern Shan State due to be relieved soon from
his tour of duty along the flourishing Thai-Burma border was reported to
be "in a vile mood" because, unlike his predecessors, he had failed to
become as "well-heeled", reported a source across the border.
Speaking of Lt-Col Ko Ko Kyi, Commander, LIB 293 (Mongpiang), who had,
since the start of the monsoons, been in the Mongtaw-Monghta area,
Mongton township, once a booming domain under warlord Khun Sa until he
abruptly surrendered in early 1996, the source told S.H.A.N. all
officers, who came before him, including the late Maj-Gen Thura Sit
Maung and Maj-Gen Myint Aung who was forced to retire last year as
Commander of Southeastern Region, "departed home loaded".
"Even Lt-Col Aye Kyaw (Commander of IB 43 also from Mongpiang), his
immediate predecessor, went back with 3-offroaders in his possession
only after a 6-month tour," he said.
One reason was that, unlike others, he was less sociable and less
accessible. The other was the presence of the United Wa State Army late
last year. "Their appearance on the scene poses as a limit to his range
of powers over the local populace," he remarked.
"All the same, I think he should feel proud of himself for being less
corrupt," he reasoned.
Concerning the Wa fighters, he said, many of them were drug users and
spent most of their monthly pay - B. 250 - on "yaba" (methamphetamines).
"It is not unusual to see a
Wa soldier in front of our house asking for food or cheroots," he said.
He also confirmed reports that opium output would be high this season
owing to favorable weather conditions.
__________________________________________________
___________________ REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL___________________
Financial Times: ILO finds widespread forced labour in Burma
By William Barnes in Bangkok
November 8 2001 22:00
A high-powered investigatory team from the International Labour
Organisation that had unprecedented access inside Burma has dismissed
the military government's claims to have abolished forced labour.
The investigators' report holds out hope that Burma's ruling generals
may yet grasp a "historic opportunity" to turn their back on what the
ILO describes as an ancient, if ugly, practice. The ILO's ruling body
will consider later this month what action to take.
The generals' ability to soften the agency's unprecedented censures -
previous reports have come close to calling Burma a slave state - has
been widely seen as a measure of their willingness to embrace criticism
and, by extension, political change. Some critics suspect the government
opened talks with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi last year to head
off the threat of ILO-inspired sanctions.
The investigators' initial scepticism over the government's claims to
have scrapped forced labour with directives issued in 1999 and in 2000
was "amply justified", the report said.
Forced labour remained widespread, with "disturbing evidence" that local
army units - the worst offenders - ignored warnings without compunction
or trepidation.
The research in Burma suggested, nevertheless, there had been a "very
moderately positive evolution" of forced labour pressures on the
population.
Interviews on the Thai border near where many minorities live threw up a
"more disturbing" picture of its blatant use, "all to often it was
accompanied by acts of cruelty".
The report stepped around any call for wholesale political change but
said that the simple existence of a bloated 350,000-strong military that
meddled in all areas of civil life fuelled abuses.
The report proposed as an initial step the deplo yment of an ILO office
in Burma.
___________EDITORIALS/OPINION/PROPAGANDA__________
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma: Japan Asked to Play
'Active Role' To Push Democratization Forward
November 6, 2001
The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) has
learned that Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Junichiro Koizumi has had a
sideline meeting with Senior Gen Than Shwe, chairman of the State Peace
and Development Council (SPDC), during the ASEAN plus Three Summit
Meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan to discuss the future of Burma.
We truly appreciate Mr. Koizumi's interest in the political future of
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the democracy movement, his support for
the democratization of Burma, and for asking the generals to release all
political prisoners.
Mr. Koizumi is no doubt aware that the talks being held with Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi have lasted more than a year now. Japan and the
international community can contribute to the democratization of Burma
by strongly persuading the SPDC to take significant and immediate steps
to bolster the talks with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and to move the
democratization process forward.
The NCGUB is firmly convinced that if democracy is to come to Burma all
forms of assistances to the SPDC must be withheld until the talks with
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi produce irreversible and substantive results.
Prime Minister Dr. Sein Win of the NCGUB said, "We look forward to Japan
and the international community working concertedly with the United
Nations and playing more active roles to convince the SPDC that it is in
Burma's interests to work for democracy and national reconciliation
together with the National League for Democracy."
______________________OTHER______________________
Radio Free Asia: RFA seeks Burmese-fluent journalist
APPLICATION DEADLINE NOVEMBER 19 5 P.M. EASTERN STANDARD TIME
(International Broadcaster)
International radio service (Radio Free Asia) seeks journalist(s) with
background and experience in East and South East Asia. Candidates must
fluently speak and write Burmese.
Working knowledge of English required. Positions available immediately
in Washington, DC. All qualified applicants will receive consideration
for employment without regard to race, creed, color, sex or national
origin. Candidates residing outside the USA may also apply.
Send cover letter and resume to: P. O. Box 57023, Washington, DC 20036
or fax to 202-530-7797. Or emamil to Mr. T.Beeson at beesont@xxxxxxx> or
to U Soe Thinn at thinns@xxxxxxx
Deadline for applications is November 19, 2001 USA Eastern Standard Time
5.00pm.
RFA is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity.
---
________________
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