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BURMA RELATED NEWS - February - 09, 2001. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HEADLINE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reuters Health - UN Report Hopeful
About Curbing Global Drug Use
AFP - Political troubles in key
countries to affect the region: Abdullah
AP - New Drugs Send Addiction Soaring
In China -Report
Kyodo News - EU pledges to support
positive developments in Myanmar
The Times of India - Sweden offers
aid to Myanmar refugees in Thailand
The Times of India - Myanmar
sailor charged with killing shipmate
Bkk Post - Government's outward stance admired in
West
Bkk Post - Fears
rise as Burma set to attack rebels
EU council -
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on
Burma/Myanmar
Thursday February 8 5:57 PM
ET
UN Report Hopeful About Curbing Global Drug Use By Sanjay Kumar NEW DELHI (Reuters Health) - The flow of illicit drugs
around the world can be halted, according a report released in Asia on Tuesday
by the United Nations (news - web sites) Office for Drug Control and Crime
Prevention.
About 180 million people--4.2% of the population aged 15
years and older--used drugs in the late 1990s, according to the World Drug
Report 2000. There were 144 million cannabis users, 29 million users of
amphetamine-type stimulants, 14 million cocaine users and 13.5 million users of
opiates, including 9 million heroin users. The numbers do not equal 180 million
because people often use more than one drug.
Despite these numbers, successes over the past
decade--mainly in terms of curbing cocaine and heroin production--give reasons
for optimism, according to the report. The two drugs are responsible for most
drug-related hospitalization, overdose violence and involvement of organized
crime.
Global coca leaf production and cocaine manufacturing fell
nearly 20% between 1992 and 1999, and illicit opium production fell from 5800
tons in 1999 to less than 4800 tons on 2000.
Pakistan, one of the major world producers of heroin
became virtually poppy free. Peru reduced coca-leaf production by 50% and ceased
to be the world's largest coca-leaf producer. Bolivia reduced coca cultivation
area by 78% in three years, says the report.
In the United States, cocaine use fell by nearly 70%
between 1985 and 1999 and overall drug consumption fell by 40% in the same
period. This was directly related to increased expenditure on research,
prevention and treatment from US $ 0.9 billion in 1985 to $ 5.6 billion in 1999,
say the report.
``There is increased evidence that both prevention and
treatment do play a significant role in reducing the drug demand,'' it
says.
``While the goals set by the 1998 UN General Assembly
members of halving drug use and reducing illicit production significantly by
2008 may have sounded very ambitious then, the experience of the last 2 years
provides indications that they are achievable'', Renate Ehmer, regional
representative of the United Nations International Drug Program in New Delhi
told Reuters Health.
Trafficking in drugs is a global phenomenon touching 170
countries, with regional preferences: cocaine and marijuana in Americas, opiates
in Asia and Europe, hashish in Europe and amphetamine-type stimulants in Asia
and Europe. The strongest growth in trafficking in the 1990s was for
amphetamine-type stimulants.
With shrinking production base, illicit opium production
is now concentrated in just two countries: Afghanistan and Myanmar.
``Together they account for about 90% of illicit global
opium production over the last few years and nearly 95% in 1999,'' according to
the report. More than 75% of global opium production in 1999 occurred in
Afghanistan alone while Colombia alone was responsible for two thirds of global
coca-leaf production and 80% of cocaine production, the report
says.
Friday, February 9 12:53 PM SGT
Political troubles in key countries to affect the region: Abdullah SINGAPORE, Feb 9 (AFP) - Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah
Badawi said Friday that political troubles in key Southeast Asian countries will
affect the region but was hopeful that Indonesia will ride out its
problems.
"What is happening in those countries that you referred to
may affect the confidence of investors, may affect whatever economic development
that have been in place," he said, when asked to comment on Indonesia and the
changes in leaderships in Thailand and the Philippines.
If the situation in Indonesia worsens, "Singapore and
Malaysia will have no choice but to cope with the new situation, with arrivals
in Malaysia and Singapore of a new wave of boat people."
"This can also affect our economies, our prosperity,"
Abdullah, who was on a three-day visit to Singapore, told a question and answer
session with academics after a public lecture.
On Indonesia, Abdullah said: "It is our hope that they
will be able to manage their situation well. It is not for us to
interfere.
"I just hope and hope and hope and pray that they will
manage the situation."
Abdullah said countries such as the Philippines and
Thailand faced challenges in meeting people's expectations after changes in
their leadership.
"People expect that the future perhaps could be brighter
for them. But managing transitions is never easy. If you fail to manage well
then the problems will remain, the magnitude will become more complex and more
difficult," he said.
The Philippines' former president Joseph Estrada was
deposed in a bloodless civilian uprising backed by the military that swept his
vice president Gloria Arroyo to power.
In Thailand, former tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra is in the
process of forming a government after his party won elections marred by
allegations of fraud.
Lecturing before the Singapore Institute of International
Studies on the final day of his fence-mending trip, Abdullah lashed at those who
advocate Western-style liberal democracy for developing countries.
"Democracy cannot be infused like shock therapy," he
said.
"The tendency for Western-driven liberal democratic agenda
to be forced upon developing countries lock, stock and barrel, can unravel years
of nation-building efforts."
More than democratic elections, what the region needs is
good governance from those placed in power, he said.
On Thursday, Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said
Singapore and Malaysia should work to produce "some good news" for Southeast
Asia.
"As two of the best performing economies in ASEAN, we
should work together to help the region recover from its economic problems," he
said.
"For example, we should produce some good news together to
dispel the generally gloomy assessment of our region by foreign
investors."
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Friday February 9, 10:26
PM
New Drugs Send Addiction Soaring In China -Report BEIJING (AP)--Exploding use of ecstasy and the
methamphetamine ice have sent drug addiction in China soaring by more than 25%
over the past year, compounding an already serious problem with heroin abuse,
the official Xinhua News Agency reported Friday.
The figures, announced at a national conference on drug
abuse, drew pledges from Public Security Minister Jia Chunwang for stronger
measures, especially along China's border with the "Golden Triangle" drug
producing region in Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, Xinhua said.
Police will also crack down harder on manufacturing, sales
and consumption of drugs and stricter controls will be placed on chemicals used
in drug production, the report quoted Jia saying.
China punishes drug dealing harshly, and Thursday's Legal
Daily reported six members of a gang that smuggled ice from the Philippines have
been sentenced to death in southern Guangdong province. Six others were given
prison terms of 15 years to life in the case, which yielded a haul of 2,000
kilograms (4,400 pounds) of the drug.
China practically eradicated widespread opium use after
the Communist Party came to power in 1949 by shooting dealers and wiping out
supplies of the drug.
However, loosened social controls and rising incomes have
produced a pandemic of addiction over the past decade that crude methods of
prevention and rehabilitation have so far been unable to stem.
Numbers of registered drug addicts rose by 180,000 to
860,000 at the end of 2,000, an increase of 26%, Xinhua reported.
Although most are heroin addicts, many also abuse ice and
ecstasy, drugs unknown in China ten years ago, it said.
Of the heroin sold in China, 90% comes from northern
Burma, which is also the source of most other drugs used in China. However
domestic production is growing, with overseas drug producing gangs now bringing
their techniques to China, the report said.
EU pledges to support
positive developments in Myanmar
BRUSSELS Feb. 9 Kyodo - The European Union (EU) announced Thursday
that it is ready to further support positive developments in Myanmar, welcoming
recent direct dialogue between Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi
and the ruling junta.
''The Union considers these developments to be the most
interesting since 1990,'' Sweden said in a statement. The country currently
holds the rotating EU presidency.
After some 30 years, Myanmar held a general election in
May 1990. The pro-democracy National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide
victory but was barred from taking power by the junta.
The statement also said the EU welcomes the recent release
from detention of more than 80 opposition NLD activists, hoping the move will
bring the early release of Suu Kyi, who has been restricted to her home since
last fall.
The EU sent a mission to Yangon on Jan 28-31. Members of
the delegation met with all the concerned parties including Suu Kyi and Lt. Gen.
Khin Nyunt, No. 3 in the junta and the head of military intelligence.
The mission, the second of its kind, included
representatives from Sweden, Belgium, the European Commission and the European
Council. The last visit by an EU fact-finding mission was in July 2000.
In January, a U.N. spokesman in New York said the Myanmar
military government opened a direct dialogue with Suu Kyi. The United Nations
made the announcement after Razali Ismail, the U.N. special envoy for Myanmar,
concluded his third visit to the country since July last year.
The Times of India -
February 09, 2001.
Sweden offers aid to Myanmar refugees in Thailand STOCKHOLM, Sweden: Sweden will donate 41.1 million kronor
($4.3 m) in cash over the next two years to aid refugees from Myanmar being
housed in camps in Thailand, an aid agency said on Thursday.
The money will be used for blankets, food, transportation
and medicine, said Johan Schaar of the Swedish International Development
Cooperation Agency, or SIDA.
Schaar said about 120,000 refugees from Myanmar, also
known as Burma, live in refugee camps along the border with Thailand.
Most of them are Karen, Myanmar's largest ethnic minority,
who have taken refuge in Thailand after being displaced in a campaign by the
military regime to flush out rebels fighting a guerrilla war for more autonomy.
The money will be channeled through SIDA, the Swedish aid
organization Diakonia and a local umbrella organization called "Burmese Border
Consortium." (AP)
The Times of India -
February 09, 2001.
Myanmar sailor charged with killing shipmate KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: A sailor from Myanmar was charged
in court on Thursday with the murder of his shipmate during a night of drinking
in Kuching, eastern Malaysia, the national news agency Bernama reported.
Hla Toe, 32, is alleged to have caused the death of Saw
Bernard Low, 43, in a fight last month that stemmed from a misunderstanding over
a taxi fare. If convicted, he could be hanged.
Magistrate Mahazan Mat Taib ordered Hla Toe to appear
again March 8 for the case to be transferred to a higher court for trial.
(AP)
Bangkok Post -
February 09, 2001,
Government's outward stance admired in West Ministers discuss regional issues Achara Ashayagachat
The Danish foreign minister has expressed hope that
Thailand, under its new government, will continue international engagement,
which has been highly admired in the West including Denmark.
Mogens Lykketoft voiced hope Thailand would continue its
constructive role both in the international and regional arenas, said his Thai
counterpart Surin Pitsuwan.
Mr Surin also sought the same high level of co-operation
from Denmark and the European Union for his successor and the incoming
government.
During their 50-minute talks yesterday, Mr Lykketoft
expressed concern over violent situations in Indonesia and keen interest in
recent developments in Burma.
He hoped the smooth national reconciliation would be soon
established in Indonesia, where confrontational protests by both opponents and
supporters of President Abdurrahman Wahid were rampant.
The Danish minister was also keenly interested in recent
developments in Burma, in which the UN special envoy had brokered for last
month's historic dialogue between the military junta and opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi and a European Union's troika delegation last month.
Mr Surin assured his guest the Burmese situation appeared
to be moving in the right direction and he was hopeful the dialogue would lead
to national reconciliation.
Mr Lykketoft lauded Thailand's involvement in the region,
particularly its peacekeeping role in East Timor.
He also discussed the problem of arms proliferation in
Asia, which he said would be more serious and affect the region's political and
economic stability in the medium as well as long term.
The two ministers shared views on preparation for the 4th
summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting to take place in Copenhagen next
year.
They agreed that concrete and lasting co-operation was
needed. The broad theme of human resource development should help strengthen
competitiveness of Asean as well as Asia in general, they said.
Bangkok Post - February 09,
2001.
Fears rise as Burma set
to attack rebels
Officials brace for spillover of fighting Supamart Kasem
Border officials met yesterday to discuss military
readiness to deal with any spillover of fighting from Burma's dry-season
offensive against rebels.
The meeting was attended by National Security Council
secretary-general Kachadpai Burusapatana, governor Nirat Vatchanaphume and Third
Army deputy commander Maj-Gen Chamlong Phothong.
Mr Kachadpai said Rangoon looked set to renew its
crackdown on rebel groups and there was concern that fighting in Burma would
spill over into Thai border areas.
Also raised for discussion was the Naresuan task force's
operation plan to combat drugs from Burma.
Mr Kachadpai said the council would push for the
repatriation of all 106,000 refugees housed in border camps within the next
three years.
Thailand would seek assistance from the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees and international communities in pressuring Burma to
take them back.
"Burma must allow them to return home and the UNHCR must
use its diplomatic channels in handling this problem which has become a big
burden for us," he said.
Thailand also needed Burma's sincere co-operation to help
solve border disputes and drug trafficking problems, he added.
Asked about the long-standing conflict between ethnic
minority rebels and the Burmese government, the security chief said Thailand
would not intervene in Burma's internal affairs unless asked to do
so.
Peace and reconciliation in Burma would certainly help
minimise problems that might occur between Thailand and its neighbour, he
said.
Asked about the drafting of the next national security
strategic plan for 2002-2006, Mr Kachadpai said a series of brainstorming
sessions were under way on the subject.
Feb 09, 2001:Council of The
European Union
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on Burma/Myanmar The EU welcomes the initial contacts that have taken place between the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi, Secretary-General of the National League for Democracy (NLD). The Union considers these developments to be the most interesting since 1990. They need to be encouraged. At the same time, the EU notes that the political
situation in Burma/Myanmar remains worrying. It emphasises the need for concrete
measures leading to national reconciliation, democracy and the respect of human
rights, in line with the EU's common position and the resolutions of the United
Nations General Assembly. The EU sincerely hopes that the confidential contacts
that have started between the SPDC and NLD will lead to real progress in all
these areas. The EU stands ready to support further developments in these
contacts. The EU also welcomes the recent release from detention of a number of
opposition activists.
The EU reiterates its strong support for the efforts of
the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy Tan Sri Razali Ismail, upon whom the
Troika called in connection with its mission to Rangoon/Yangon.
The European Union welcomes the contacts that its Troika
mission had with all the parties during its visit to Burma/Myanmar from 28 to 31
January.
The Central and Eastern European countries associated with
the European Union, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic, the associated countries
Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and
Norway, members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this
declaration.
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