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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BURMA RELATED NEWS - OCT - 04, 2000. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HEADLINE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AP - Myanmar Government Warns Suu
Kyi
Reuters - Vietnam says ASEAN rejects Myanmar
mediation
The Times of India - Myanmar dismisses Britain's fury over Suu Kyi
The Times of India - Tougher Swiss sanctions to hinder democracy:
Myanmar
Bkk Post - Bangkok
urges UNHCR to hold talks with Rangoon
The Nation - Bern
freezes junta's funds
The Nation - Boost for
tourism
BBC - Vietnam against interference in
Burma
SCMP - Government newspaper threatens Suu
Kyi
SCMP - DRUGS - Fears give reprieve for opium
fields
Wednesday October 4 4:29 AM ET
Myanmar Government Warns Suu Kyi YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - Calling
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi a guest in Myanmar, a government newspaper
warned that she would be driven out with a ``hundred lashes'' if she abuses her
hosts.
The warning, published in the state-owned Myanma Alin daily, is the latest
personal attack on Suu Kyi, who has repeatedly challenged the government's
restrictions on her personal and political activities in recent weeks.
Apparently referring to her marriage to a British man, the newspaper referred to
Suu Kyi as ``a guest.''
``If the guest is good, it contributes to the welfare of the house. But if
the guest is bad it affects the household; thus the guest should not abuse the
host or else she'll be driven out with hundred lashes,'' the newspaper
said.
Suu Kyi, a 1991 Nobel peace laureate, and other leaders of her National
League for Democracy have been under virtual house arrest since Sept. 22 - when
her second attempt in a month to travel outside Yangon was blocked by
authorities.
The regime's actions have drawn international criticism, and this week
Switzerland joined a list of Western nations in imposing sanctions on
Myanmar.
Myanmar's military junta has refused to hand over power to Suu Kyi's party,
which swept the 1990 general elections. It kept Suu Kyi under formal house
arrest from 1989 to 1995. Even after being freed, her movements have remained
heavily restricted. Hundreds of her followers have been jailed.
Wednesday's Myanma Alin also published a separate commentary saying Suu
Kyi's insistence on traveling outside and her declaration to draft a
constitution were confrontational and only widened ``the gap between the
government and the opposition.''
The article noted that drafting a constitution was illegal and punishable
by prison sentence or a ban on the organization that did the drafting.
WIRE:10/04/2000 06:31:00 ET
Vietnam says ASEAN rejects Myanmar mediation HANOI, Oct 4 (Reuters) -
Vietnam, the chair of ASEAN, said on Wednesday that it and "relevant" members
had rejected a proposal for the regional group to mediate in Myanmar as it would
represent interference in Yangon"s internal affairs. The 10-member Association
of South East Asian Nations agreed in July in Bangkok to form a "troika" of
three of its members to try to help resolve regional political and security
disputes. Last month, the Thai newspaper the Nation quoted diplomats as saying
that U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan had suggested the troika help mediate in
Myanmar, where the ruling generals are locked in a confrontation with the
pro-democracy opposition led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Responding to a
question, Vietnam"s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh said: "Vietnam
has exchanged opinions with Myanmar and some relevant countries in the
association on the basis of consensus and non-interference in each other"s
internal affairs and we recognise that the latest changes in Myanmar are
Myanmar"s internal affairs and external parties should not interfere." Suu Kyi
and seven senior NLD colleagues have been kept locked in their homes since
September 22, when she was forcibly removed from Yangon"s main railway station
after the authorities blocked her attempt to travel outside the city by rail.
Myanmar"s treatment of the opposition has sparked world condemnation and thrown
into doubt a planned meeting in Laos in December between ASEAN and European
Union foreign ministers. The idea of a troika has not been whole-heartedly
supported by some ASEAN members who have long cherished the group"s policy of
non-interference in the internal affairs of members. ASEAN contains two
authoritarian communist states -- Vietnam and Laos -- as well as several
countries with varying degrees of democracy. Several members, including
Thailand, are concerned by the security implications of a Myanmar government at
odds with much of its population. Myanmar"s official media have rejected
mediation, pointing to ASEAN"s principle of non-interference and saying that all
issues between member countries should be solved by consensus. ASEAN groups
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The Times of India - Oct 4,
2000.
Myanmar dismisses Britain's fury over Suu Kyi YANGON: Myanmar's ruling military junta Tuesday dismissed Britain's
accusations that a jailed British pro-democracy campaigner was badly beaten
while in prison.
"The British government's recent negative remarks and irresponsible
criticism on James Mawdsley's and Ms (Aung San) Suu Kyi's issues are quite self
explanatory," Myanmar's foreign ministry said in a statement.
They could be put down to Britain's "lost colony syndrome attitude towards
one of her former colonies which refuses to serve (its) interests," the ministry
said.
Myanmar, or Burma as it used to be known, gained independence from Britain
in 1948.
The junta was responding to furious criticism by Britain's junior foreign
minister, Baroness Patricia Scotland of Asthal, who rejected as a "tissue of
lies" a denial by the Myanmar authorities that Briton James Mawdsley had been
badly beaten by guards at Keng Tung prison in the north of the country.
Mawdsley, 28, who has British and Australian nationality, is serving a
17-year jail sentence after being arrested near the border with Thailand last
year in possession of pamphlets denouncing Myanmar's military regime.
He had previously told Britain's vice-consul to Myanmar that he had
sustained several days of beatings at the hands of his guards because he had
protested about being held in solitary confinement.
The junta has resisted all calls to hand power to opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy which won a landslide victory in
1990 parliamentary elections which were subsequently annulled by the military.
(AFP)
The Times of India - Oct 4,
2000.
Tougher Swiss sanctions to hinder democracy: Myanmar YANGON: Myanmar's military junta Tuesday scoffed at the toughened sanctions
announced by Switzerland, saying they would hinder rather than hasten the cause
of human rights and democracy.
"Myanmar regrets that Switzerland has decided to impose certain measures
against (the country) like those adopted by the European Union," the foreign
ministry said in a statement.
"At a time when an increasing number of international observers have come
to acknowledge that the policy of sanctions is not working, this action by
Switzerland will obstruct rather than hasten the process of promoting human
rights and democracy in the nation."
The junta was reacting to the Swiss government's announcement on Monday
that it would begin freezing funds held in the country by members of Myanmar's
junta as well as banning the supply of materials which could be used for
internal repression or terrorism.
Myanmar's junta has long been accused by human rights organizations of
severe repression of those who show any signs of dissent.
The beefed-up sanctions bring Switzerland into line with measures taken by
the European Union and the UN Security Council.
"The action will not have any great impact since there are no funds held by
members of the Myanmar government in Switzerland and Myanmar has not brought
items prohibited under the said decision in recent year," ministry added.
"Myanmar is not a recipient of any large-scale assistance from
Switzerland," it said.
The tougher sanctions being adopted by Bern, which has already had a
restrictive policy in place towards Myanmar since 1996, were implemented by the
15-member European bloc in April.
The Swiss government's decision to step-up sanctions comes against the
backdrop of an apparent renewed campaign by the junta to crack down on the
opposition National League for Democracy (NLD).
Two weeks ago, Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD leaders were escorted from
Yangon's railway station by police after being barred from travelling to the
northern city of Mandalay to investigate reported crackdowns on the party. At
least 100 party supporters were rounded up and detained.
NLD deputy chairman Tin Oo is still being held at a military base 50
kilometres (30 miles) north of Yangon while Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD
central executive committee members remain under de facto house arrest.
The NLD won a landslide general election victory in 1990, but the junta has
never recognised the result. (AFP)
Bangkok Post - Oct 4,
2000.
REFUGEES - Bangkok urges UNHCR to hold talks with Rangoon Fresh influx of Burmese feared Thailand yesterday called on the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees to hold talks with Burma "the soonest" to prevent a new influx of
Burmese refugees.
The call was made by Kachadpai Burusapatana, secretary-general of the
National Security Council, in his speech to the 51st session of the executive
committee of the UNHCR programme in Geneva.
Mr Kachadpai urged the UNHCR to persuade Rangoon to let the UN body monitor
and assist in safe "repatriation and re-integration of some 100,000 displaced
Burmese in Thailand.
"Playing host to the displaced persons has not been without its cost in
terms of administration, personnel, environmental degradation, deforestation,
epidemic control and the displacement of affected Thai villagers, as well as the
psychological impact on the local Thai population," he said.
Despite these burdens, Thailand has remained firm on its humanitarian
position by giving temporary protection to the displaced people, he said.
However, after 15 years of their temporary stay in Thailand, it was about
time they were helped to go home "in safety and dignity", the NSC chief
said.
Thailand, Mr Kachadpai said, supported the co-operation between the UNHCR
and Burma in restoring peace and in development activities that would facilitate
the voluntary and safe repatriation of displaced Burmese.
"Only in this manner will the problem of the Myanmar (Burmese) displaced
persons be addressed at its root cause and in a comprehensive manner," Mr
Kachadpai said in his speech.
He stressed that a comprehensive and durable solution must be based on the
UNHCR's principles of international solidarity and burden-sharing.
Besides some 100,000 displaced Burmese in Thailand, about 2,000 former
Burmese students housed at Ratchaburi's Maneeloy centre also needed the
attention of the international community, Mr Kachadpai said.
"These students should be encouraged to resettle in the third countries in
order for them to receive proper education and training," he said.
The Nation - Oct 4,
2000.
Bern freezes junta's funds THE region's leading human rights group Forum-Asia yesterday praised
Switzerland for stepping up sanctions against the military government of Burma
by freezing funds held in the country by junta members.
"There is no safe haven for the junta anymore," said Sunai Phasuk, a
spokesperson at Bangkok-based Forum-Asia.
"This is very important given the fact that Swiss banks have a long
tradition of protecting their clients - be it dictators or corrupt individuals,"
Sunai said.
Switzerland will also ban the provision of materials that could be used for
internal repression or terrorism, the Swiss foreign ministry said.
Switzerland will expel all military personnel attached to Burma's
diplomatic missions. There will be a formal arms embargo, and all
non-humanitarian aid will be suspended.
"Switzerland has been critical of Myanmar [Burma] for years, especially
within the UN Human Rights Commission and the International Labour Organisation,
by supporting resolutions calling for an improvement in human rights and the end
to forced labour," the Swiss foreign ministry said.
The decision to step up sanctions was aimed at bringing Switzerland's into
line with those of the European Union (EU) and the UN Security Council. The
tougher sanctions being adopted by Bern were implemented by the 15-member
European bloc in April. Switzerland is not a EU member. A Thai government
official, meanwhile, said it is unclear whether the sanctions are targeting
individual members of the ruling State Peace and Development Council.
"If it's [freezing] the bank account of the Rangoon government as a
collective body then it would be very significant as it would cut off their
capital resources," the official said.
The Swiss government also decided on Monday to follow the sanctions applied
against the Taleban by the UN Security Council since last October. The Swiss
foreign ministry said the Taleban's funds as well as those of individual members
of the regime would be frozen.
In Rangoon, the military junta yesterday scoffed at the toughened
sanctions, saying they would hinder rather than hasten the cause of human rights
and democracy.
"At a time when an increasing number of international observers have come
to acknowledge that the policy of sanctions is not working, this action by
Switzerland will obstruct rather than hasten the process of promoting human
rights and democracy in the nation," Burma's foreign ministry said.
"The action will not have any great impact since there are no funds held by
members of the Myanmar [Burma] government in Switzerland and Myanmar [Burma] has
not brought items prohibited under the said decision in recent years," the
ministry added.
"Myanmar [Burma] is not a recipient of any large-scale assistance from
Switzerland," it said.
The Nation.- Oct 4, 2000.
Boost for tourism
BY Choosak Jirasakunthai
THAILAND and three neighbouring countries - Laos, Burma and Cambodia -
expect to reach a wide-ranging agreement to promote tourism during ministerial
meetings in Bangkok.
"The four countries will formulate a common agreement to facilitate tourism
as well as reduce travel costs in the region," Adisai Bhodaramik, PM's Office
Minister in charge of tourism, said yesterday.
Ministers responsible for tourism in the four countries will meet in
Bangkok between October 5-7 at the Shangri-La hotel. Tour operators and the
private sector will not participate in the meetings.
The focus of will be on the Suwannaphumi tourism cooperation agreement,
which highlights tourist attractions of the Suwannaphum (Golden Land) era.
Vietnam is also expected to join the group soon and China is also interested in
participating.
Adisai said that the agreement would lead to an increase of tourist
arrivals to the four countries. He did not give any figures on the expected
increase but said that about 400 million tourists visit the countries annually.
"We plan to promote these four countries as a single destination. Thailand
will continue to be the main gateway to the region," he said.
During the past three months, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has
also established bilateral agreements to promote tourism with the three
countries. Part of the agreements is to provide training and technical
assistance.
The authority had earlier reached its first tourism cooperation agreement
with Cambodia, under the theme of "Two Kingdoms, One Destination".
TAT governor, The TAT has also separately established similar bilateral
agreement with Burma and Laos.
Pradech Phayavichien, said recently that the number of tourists to visit
Thailand is expected to grow by 10 per cent this year. A total of 9.6 million
visitors, compared to last year's figure of 9.12 million.
BBC -Wednesday, 4 October, 2000, 12:44
GMT 13:44 UK
Vietnam against interference in Burma Vietnam, which currently chairs ASEAN, has said that it is against any
attempt by the organisation to mediate in the current political tensions in
Burma.
A spokeswoman for the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry said in Hanoi that it had
been in contact with some of its partners in ASEAN and it was agreed that the
latest events in Burma were a matter for Burma alone, and that there should be
no external interference.
Last July, ASEAN agreed to form a committee of three of its members to try
to resolve regional disputes.
Burma's ruling military government is involved in a protracted dispute with
the pro-democracy opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.
Last month, she was forcibly removed from Rangoon's main railway station
after the authorities blocked her attempt to travel outside the city by rail.
The move was strongly criticised by several countries, including the United
States and Britain.
From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
South China Morning Post
Wednesday, October 4, 2000 Government newspaper threatens Suu Kyi ASSOCIATED PRESS in Rangoon A government newspaper warned Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi
on Wednesday that she would be driven out with a ''hundred lashes'' if she
abused her hosts.
The warning, delivered in a verse published in the state-owned Myanma Alin daily, is the latest in a litany of personal attacks on Ms Suu Kyi who has repeatedly challenged the government's restrictions on her personal and political freedoms in recent weeks. Apparently referring to her marriage to a British man, who died last year,
the verse said Ms Suu Kyi was a guest of the country.
''If the guest is good, it contributes to the welfare of the house. But if
the guest is bad it affects the household; thus the guest should not abuse the
host or else she'll be driven out with hundred lashes,'' the verse said.
Ms Suu Kyi, a 1991 Nobel peace laureate, and other leaders of her National
League for Democracy have been under virtual house arrest since September 22
after her second attempt in one month to travel outside Rangoon was blocked by
authorities.
The regime's actions have drawn international criticism, and this week
Switzerland joined a list of Western nations in imposing sanctions on
Burma.
Burma's military junta has refused to hand over power to the NLD, which
swept the 1990 general elections. It kept Ms Suu Kyi under formal house arrest
from 1989 to 1995. Even after being freed, her movements have remained heavily
restricted. Besides, hundreds of her followers have been jailed.
On Wednesday, Myanma Alin also published a separate commentary saying Ms
Suu Kyi's insistence on travelling outside and her declaration to draft a
constitution were confrontational that only widened ''the gap between the
government and the opposition''.
The article noted that drafting a constitution was illegal and punishable
by prison sentence or a ban on the organisation that did the drafting.
''She is being confrontational and provoking arrest apparently because she
has someone to depend on. Anyone living in the country must abide by the laws
... or leave the country.
''Our country relies on our own resources and we are not afraid of any
foreign pressure,'' the commentary said.
South China Morning Post
Wednesday, October 4, 2000 DRUGS - Fears give reprieve for opium fields WILLIAM BARNES in Bangkok A fungus developed to wipe out the Golden Triangle's opium fields is
unlikely to be used following research which shows it could affect other crops.
The finding has also lessened a unique chance to test the Burmese military regime's good faith over drugs. Fears that the hi-tech fungus being developed with US and British money
could run amok to create an ecological disaster have spread to the United
Nations, a UK television programme aired on Monday night revealed.
Confidential documents from the UN show its experts are worried that once
spread on poppy fields in Burma and Afghanistan, the fungus - which could be
ready in a couple of years - might be difficult to contain. There are also
worries that the fungus might mutate in forms that could be used by terrorists,
it was reported on Panorama.
The prospect of crippling the world's greatest sources of heroin with
something that looks like fur on old bread is tantalising. Sceptics do not
believe the military regime's claims that it will wipe out all poppy fields
within a decade. Burma, with a population of about 45 million, has a bloated
military of some 400,000 personnel in uniform.
Even optimists admit the UN drug-control programme's poppy crop
substitution projects in Shan State - heartland of the Golden Triangle - can be
easily circumvented.
"Frankly, without a magic bullet, I don't see anything dramatic happening
in the Shan State for many years. It's too lucrative for too many people," said
a foreign drugs officer in Bangkok. "Now I am beginning to wonder whether anyone
will have the courage to try the fungus," he said.
Such a move would be a unique test of the Burmese Government's sincerity
about eradicating an industry that has tripled in a decade.
The regime claims that a rugged terrain and battle-hardened drug armies are
too prickly to tackle head on. It vigorously denies allegations that drug money
helps prop up the economy and lines the pockets of top generals, though it
admits to "low-level" drug corruption.
The fungus is being developed by former Soviet germ warfare experts and
others at a research institute in Uzbekistan. The US and British governments
have contributed substantially to the search for a virulent form of the mould,
Pleospora papaveracea, which, in its mild, natural form, is no more than an
irritant to opium farmers.
The Uzbekistan strain causes poppies to wither and die and - unlike
chemical plant killers - spreads naturally by wind.
Reports from the research centre talk of "100 per cent success" in trials.
It is described as "aggressive, infectious, self-propagating and deadly". Mixed
with talc and silica gel, it can be dropped by plane.
UK plant pathologist Paul Rogers told the TV researchers that the fungus
"could easily become a poisoned chalice". He urged "great caution". But British
microbiologist Mike Greaves, who is overseeing the project for the UN, said: "I
love it. It's actually working".
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