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The Guardian
Burma's not all bad
Wednesday June 7, 2000
When we went to Burma to plead for clemency for our
daughter Rachel Goldwyn, imprisoned there last September for demonstrating
against the government, we took the Lonely Planet Guide. I believe it is a very
fair book. It gives the history and suggests the reader make their own mind up
about travelling to a country with a military dictatorship.
People desperately need jobs in Burma. It was sad to see the idle waitresses and to know that the taxi drivers, stall holders and other poor people who rely on the tourist industry are being deprived of a living. Meanwhile tourists rush to China. How many travellers check out the history of torture and repression of the countries they are visiting? What about Turkey, and even Singapore? The US and Europe greedily hurry to do business with the billions in China, while holding up their boycott of the 40m in Burma as an example to appease the human rights defenders. I do not believe in sanctions, they only hurt the poor. In many countries, Aung San Suu Kyi would have been
disappeared long ago. Thankfully she is still there and has recently been
released from house arrest. Our daughter was not physically harmed in prison and
was liberated to come home with us. Burma is one of the poorest countries in the
world. We should encourage the ethical involvement of the west to raise the
standard of living and improve the health and education of the disadvantaged.
The People's Daily
Wednesday, June 07, 2000, updated at 10:56(GMT+8) China China Keen to Promote Bilateral Relations with Myanmar The further promotion of good-neighborly and cooperative relations between
China and Myanmar is an important part of China's diplomacy concerning its
surrounding areas, Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao said in Beijing Tuesday.
During talks with Maung Aye, vice-chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council of Myanmar, Hu said that Sino-Myanmese friendship and
cooperation has been developing steadily over the past decades despite the great
changes that have taken place in the international arena.
There have been frequent exchange of high-level visits between the two
countries in recent years, and bilateral cooperation in political, economic,
trade, cultural and other areas has expanded.
In addition, the two countries have supported and cooperated with each
other in international and regional affairs, Hu said, adding that "We are
satisfied with the smooth development of Sino- Myanmese relations."
The Chinese vice-president also expressed his appreciation for the Myanmese
government's consistent adherence to the one China stance and its support for
China's reunification.
Hu said he hopes that the tradition of high-level exchanges of visits will
continue in the future, and government departments and people from all walks of
life between the two countries will increase exchanges.
He also hopes that the two sides will expand economic and trade
cooperation, and promote consultation and cooperation in international and
regional affairs in order to consolidate their traditional friendship and bring
long-term and good-neighborly relations in the 21st century.
Hu briefed the visitors on China's reform and opening-up as well as its
modernization drive. He wished the Myanmese people more success in building
their country.
Maung Aye said that the two countries are linked by rivers and mountains,
and their peoples have a time-honored friendship, noting that bilateral
relations have developed satisfactorily since the establishment of diplomatic
relations between the two countries five decades ago.
There are no pending issues to be solved between the two countries, he
said, noting that the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence serves as the
cornerstone of brotherly relations between the two countries.
He said that Myanmar is willing to work with China to develop their
relations in the 21st century, adding that Myanmar hopes to maintain high-level
visits, expand economic and trade cooperation, implement a border management
agreement, and intensify anti-drug cooperation to maintain a safe and stable
border between the two countries.
The Myanmese leader said that his country has long followed the one China
principle, and the Myanmese government has taken a clear- cut and firm stance on
the Taiwan issue. Myanmar will never develop official relations with Taiwan at
any time, he said.
He offered congratulations to the return of Hong Kong and Macao to China.
He said the smooth return demonstrates that the policy of "one country, two
systems" is successful, expressing the belief that the Chinese people will
accomplish their objective of peaceful reunification of the motherland.
He said that developing countries should intensify unity, and work together
to safeguard their own interests.
Maung Aye also invited Hu to visit Myanmar. Hu expressed thanks for the
invitation.
Prior to the talks, Hu presided over a welcoming ceremony in honor of Maung
Aye.
The two leaders also attended a signing ceremony of a joint statement on a
blueprint for future bilateral relations and cooperation between the two
countries.
ASEAN-JAPAN
MEETING PM to lead talks on G-8 helpChuan flying tonight for
Obuchi's funeral
Bhanravee Tansubhapol Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai and other Asean heads of government will discuss the help they seek from G-8 countries when they meet Japanese Premier Yoshio Mori in Tokyo on Friday. Kobsak Chutikul, director-general of the Economic Affairs Department, said the Japanese government had called the meeting to discuss a follow-up to the so-called Obuchi Plan, after the state funeral for the late Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi tomorrow. At least seven heads of government from the Asean member states, including Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, are due to attend the state funeral, Mr Kobsak said. Singapore will be represented by Home Minister Wong Kang Seng, Vietnam by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam and Brunei by Trade Minister Rahman, he added. It will be the first meeting between the Asean leaders and Mr Mori since the death of Mr Obuchi on May 14. Mr Chuan, in his capacity as standing chairman of Asean, will lead the Asean side. Mr Obuchi travelled to the Asean region in January and February to gauge the help member states seek from the G-8 countries, whose summit Japan is hosting next month in Okinawa. During the Asean-Japan summit on the sidelines of the 10th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) in Bangkok in February, Asean called on the G-8 to help reform the international financial architecture, open up markets, develop the Mekong sub-region, and install a mechanism for Asian countries to resolve their economic problems themselves. Mr Obuchi at the time promised to help mobilise funds for developing the Mekong Basin in the areas of infrastructure along the East-West corridor, and human resources development. Akapol Sorasuchart, the government spokesman, said the Asean-Japan talks on Friday would also cover the late Mr Obuchi's initiatives to provide assistance in information technnology, open up Japanese markets to 48 least developed countries, and forge an investment promotion agreement among developing economies. Mr Chuan, who leaves for Tokyo tonight, is also due to meet Australian Prime Minister John Howard. China Daily Tourism, economy bind Myanmar, China (06/7/2000) Stable relations between China and Myanmar got a boost yesterday as the two countries signed a statement that outlines how those relations should develop. The statement pledges working together on political issues, economy and trade. It also notes personnel exchanges and joint efforts on tourism, culture and criminal busts. In the statement, China says it respects Myanmar's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. And Myanmar recognizes that Taiwan is part of China and that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China. General Maung Aye, visiting vice-chairman of the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council, reiterated his government's support for one-China policy during talks with Vice-President Hu Jintao yesterday. As quoted by a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Maung said Myanmar will make no official contacts with Taiwan. Maung's visit coincides with the 50th anniversary of Sino-Myanmar diplomatic ties. Hu, satisfied with ties now, said he hopes relations improve. (SHAO ZONGWEI, China Daily staff) BBC-Wednesday, 7 June, 2000, 07:48 GMT
08:48 UK
China arrests internet editor By Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Beijing
The man who launched China's first human rights website has been arrested
and accused of attempting to overthrow the state.
Huang Qi and his wife were taken from their home in the city of Chengdu
last Saturday after articles commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown were
published on his website.
The arrests came on the eve of the 11th anniversary of the bloody
suppression of the pro-democracy movement.
His wife, Zeng Li, was released three days later, but she says her husband
continues to be held and has now been charged with subversion.
One of the items published on Mr Huang's website was a letter from the
mother of a young student killed during the demonstrations. It accused police of
beating her son to death.
Hundreds, possibly thousands, of people were killed as the Tiananmen Square
movement was suppressed in 1989.
Another told how dissidents around China had been detained by police ahead
of this year's anniversary.
Net boom
Mr Huang's arrest is another sign of just how nervous the Chinese
Government is about the explosive growth of the internet, and, in particular,
with its use by dissident groups to disseminate information the authorities
consider subversive.
On Tuesday, China's official news agency reported the number of internet
users in the country had broken the 10 million barrier, up from just two million
a year ago.
Earlier this year, the government announced a series of draconian
regulations designed to control the content of news sites on the internet.
Previously, websites had been operating largely outside of the tight
control imposed by the government on all mainstream news
media. |