Inside: Ethnics Draft Alternative Roadmap , NLD?s 4 Minimal Demands, Resource Diplomacy Bails Out Regime, A New Narcotic Drink Called ASEAN... CONTENTS 3 BLURRED VISION... 4 DEMOCRACY & DIALOGUE: * National Convention to Restart; * Myanmar Road to Democracy”: The Way Backward; * Making & Believing Promises; * Reactions to the Roadmap: 4 Minimal Demands, Tripartite Dialogue First, Alt. Roadmap; * International Community: Looking For a Timeframe; * Repression Continues: Criticizing Roadmap gets 17 Years Jail; * Razali Leads Choir of Optimists... 17 MILITARY THREAT: * Going Nowhere; * Command & Control; * Procurement & Recruitment: Upgrading the Airforce, Ethnic Recruitment, Forced Portering; * International Military Ties; * Breaching the Ceasefires: Karenni, Karen, Shan, Mon; * Security Tightened; * Army in Short Supply? 25 DRUGS: * Counter Narcotics: Thailand; Orders Friendly Ties, China Getting Fed-Up, India to Intensify Cooperation; * US Report: Small Concession; * Opium Production: Rising Or Falling? Crop Substitution Fails, Villagers Forced To Pay; * Junta & Police Clash At SPDC Poppy Plantation; * ?Asean”: The New Narcotic Drink; * New Trade Route? * Wa Ecstasy? Wa Refineries Move, ATS Factories At Panghsang, Wa Take Ruby Hill; * Seizures; 35 ECONOMY: * Natural Resources: Regime?s Redemption * A Golden Land: Diamond And Gold Mining At Set Ga Done * Change To Euro Confirmed * India: New Official Trade Point * No Go Area: Bangladesh Shipping Route Suspended * BIMSTEC Free Trade Area * Domestic Economy: More Contradictions: Rice Export Ban, Raw Goods Liberalization, Three Banks Reopen * Foreign Trade: Buy Less, Export More, No More Prawns, China- Burma Trade US$1 Billion in 2003, East-West Corridor * Quick Money Makers: A Guide For Dictators: Japan Tax, Foreign Investment For Tourism, Concessions In Exclusive Economic Zone, Sell Some Gems * Mekong Power Grid: Questionable Policies * ICFTU Updates Shame List 47 AID * Japan Resumes Aid * EU To Offer Border Assistance * US Supports Aids Projects * FAO * UN Rice To Ex-Poppy Farmers 50 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS * United Nations: No One Happy * India: Looking East? * China * Bangladesh * ASEAN: Easily Intimidated? * ASEM * Bangkok Process * European Union: A Little Less Conversation, A Little More Action * United States * Australia 59 THAI-BURMA RELATIONS * Enduring Faith…. * Understanding Is The Key * Bangkok Process: Yes, No, No…..Yes * Economics * Tavoy Port * Thaksin Defensive Over McConnell Accusations... * Human Rights Watch, Another Damning Report * Bo Mya Thanks Thais 65 ETHNIC RELATIONS * KNU Ceasefire: No Formal Agreement * New Hopes For KNPP Ceasefire * KIO: Failed Coup * Shan State Army-South: Committed To Peace * Salone/Moken Forced On Land For Tourism * Arakan National Council: A Source of Concern For Rohingyas * Chin National Front: Ready For Ceasefire Talks * Ethnic Council Formed 73 HUMAN RIGHTS * Political Prisoners: New Arrests, Political Prisoner Dies One Month Before Completing Sentence, Deteriorating Health Condition Of Political Prisoners, 15 Years Jail For Sports * Total In Burma: French Activist Denies Wrongdoing * Freedom Of Movement * Forced Labor: Junta Agrees To An Independent Mediator, Junta Will Review Death Sentences Of ?ILO 3”, Forced Labor, Extortion, Confiscation Continues * Burma: High Risk Of Genocide * Burmese In Bangladesh Prison Despite End Of Sentence * Freedom Of Information: More Press Freedom In China Than In Burma * The US On Burma: Worsening Human Rights Record * Pinheiro: Caution & Despair * Min Ko Naing: 15 Years in Jail 82 WOMEN & CHILDREN * Junta Continues To Rape Women Despite Ceasefire Talks * Lack Of Attention To Women?s Rights Fuels HIV/AIDS Epidemic * Burmese Women?s Reproductive Health At The Thai-Burma Border * NLD Women Demand Releases * Forced Recruitment For Junta Org * Child Soldiers, Girl Soldiers * Child Prisoners: Judges Ignorant Of The Country?s Laws 87 RELIGIOUS FREEDOM * Junta Tightens Its Grip On Buddhist Clergy: Monks Arrested, Disrobed And Imprisoned, Jailed for Refusing SPDC Donations * Buddhist-Muslim Clashes In Arakan State * Christians Persecuted In Chin State * Activist Monk Passes Away * Inter-Faith Prayer Amidst Repression At Thai-Burma Border 91 DISPLACEMENT * IDPs: 3,500 Displaced In Karenni & Karen States, Asian Highway Forces Relocation In Sagaing Divn * Refugees: Japan, Bangladesh, Malaysia * UNHCR Plans Repatriation While Displacement Continues * Thailand: UNHCR Suspends Refugee Status Determination For Burmese, No More Persons Of Concern (POC) Status For Refugees, Hunger Strike In Bangkok Prison * Migrant Workers: Thousands Flee Ahead of Thai Crackdown, Repression of Labor Activists * Human Smuggling 98 HEALTH * Bird Flu Stories * HIV/AIDS Joint Proposal 100 ENVIRONMENT * Chinese Dams On The Nu/Salween River * Thai-Burma Projects For The Salween River * Mangrove Reforestation * A Tiger Reserve For The SPDC * Wildlife Trade Thriving 103 CHRONOLOGY: JAN ~ MAR 2004 119 MEDIA ABBREVIATIONS