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BURMA RELATED NEWS - April 27,
2001.
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HEADLINES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCMP - Bush urged to maintain sanctions
The Korea Times - Burmese
Dissidents Visit Seoul
AP - Pakistan's Musharraf To Visit Myanmar Next
Week
AP - Ethnic Grp Protests Japan Aid For Myanmar
Hydropower Plant
Channel NewsAsia - Seven illegal immigrants
arrested
Reuters - CapitaLand sells hotels for US$82
mln
The Star - MGA gets two Myanmar
airport jobs
The Star - Khin Nyunt : Military
regime in Myanmar is temporary
Bkk Post - Senate panel backs shipment
blocking
Bkk Post - State accused of damaging
credibility
The Nation - Thailand wants Burma
to name anti-drug envoy
The Nation - New speed labs come on stream
Kyodo News - Myanmar junta chief
toasts Koizumi
The Star - Shangri-La plans major facelift costing
RM84mil
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- South China Morning Post
Friday, April 27, 2001
BURMA
Bush urged to maintain
sanctions
WILLIAM BARNES in Bangkok More than 30 United States senators have warned President George W. Bush
not to ease sanctions against Rangoon lest he send the wrong signal to the
military regime as it continues closed-door talks with opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi.
The senators said in a letter to the President that any lifting of sanctions on investments could "remove the incentive for the regime to negotiate" with Ms Aung San Suu Kyi. There was surprise this week when it appeared Japan had decided to reward
the military regime merely for talking to the opposition leader by supplying aid
to repair a Japanese-built hydro-power dam.
The deafening silence from the meetings that started last October has
convinced many observers that their primary purpose was to polish up the junta's
image at a time of unprecedented international pressure. Ms Aung San Suu Kyi and
most of her senior leadership remain either under house arrest or in jail and
the regime has worried some Burma-watchers by not boasting about what are
purported to be positive talks at any recent international gatherings, including
the Geneva meeting of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
Debbie Stothard, the co-ordinator of a pressure group, the Alternative
Asean Network on Burma, said from Geneva that the Japanese had made a wrong
move. "Their motives are highly questionable and it looks like rewarding them
for talking to the NLD [National League for Democracy] when these talks haven't
yielded any tangible results yet," she said. "What is it a reward for? Nothing
so far."
Sources have told the International Herald Tribune Japan consulted the US
and United Nations about the aid.
A Japanese source in Rangoon yesterday said Tokyo had offered to rebuild
the Baluchaung dam in Kayah province - which supplies the country with one-third
of its electricity - because "it was on the verge of falling apart". The aid is
worth up to 3.5 billion yen (HK$223 million). It is the biggest Japanese aid
donation since 1998, when Tokyo provided 2.5 billion yen to repair the
dilapidated airport in Rangoon.
Even Japanese officials who describe both projects as "humanitarian" admit
the dam project is more overtly economic, but point out that the station was
originally built with Japanese money provided as part of war reparations in 1960
and that the country suffers frequent power blackouts.
A Western diplomat in Rangoon said that although Ms Aung San Suu Kyi might
be aware of this aid, "no responsible person could claim that she has given her
approval. How could she?"
Increasingly observers think the International Labour Organisation's
unprecedented call last November for sanctions against Burma, combined with
fears the US might impose an import ban, persuaded the regime to talk to a woman
they have frequently castigated in the state-controlled media as a dangerous and
malevolent force.
Burma was slammed for its "continuing pattern of gross and systematic
violations of human rights" by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva
last week and labour rights groups complain that even now, forced labour remains
widespread.
Meanwhile, the toning down of attacks on Ms Aung San Suu Kyi in the state
press and the release of some political prisoners has been widely reported in
hopeful terms. Yet several new political arrests have been made in recent
months.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Korea Times - April 27,
2001.
Burmese Dissidents Visit
Seoul
Several Burmese dissidents will arrive in Seoul today to urge Korea to
support the country's democracy movement.
Five members of the Thai chapter of the National League for Democracy
(NLD), will come to Korea for a week-long visit, Friends of Burma, a local civil
organization advocating the rights of dissidents in that country, said
yesterday.
Lead by the renowned Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi, NLD was founded in
1988 to fight for democracy against the dictatorship of the Myanmar military
regime.
During their stay, the dissidents will hold a press conference with local
civic groups to urge the Korean government to stop supporting the Myanmar
military regime and back Burma's democratization movement through various
diplomatic channels.
In addition, they will press the government to grant refugee status to the
20 members of the Korean chapter of NLD.
The Korean chapter was formed in 1999 by Burmese dissidents residing in
Korea. The dissidents applied for refugee status in May of last year, claiming
they will be prosecuted by their country's military regime if they are forced to
return home. But the Justice Ministry has yet to grant them asylum.
The Korean branch has engaged in active movements to support Burma's fight
for freedom, such as staging rallies in front of the Myanmar Embassy and working
with local civic groups to publicize the dire human rights situation in their
country.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday April 27, 3:24 PM
Pakistan's Musharraf To Visit Myanmar
Next Week
YANGON (AP)--Gen. Pervez
Musharraf will make the first official visit next week by a Pakistani leader to
military-run Myanmar in 16 years, Myanmar officials said Friday.
Myanmar state newspapers announced Musharraf will visit at the invitation
of Gen. Than Shwe, the leader of the ruling State Peace and Development Council.
Diplomats said his three-day visit would start Tuesday.
It will be the first visit by a Pakistan leader since the current Myanmar
regime took power after crushing democracy protests in 1988. The last visit was
by military ruler Zia-ul Haq in 1985.
Only leaders of Southeast Asian countries and the prime minister of China,
which is Myanmar's closest ally, have visited in the past 13 years. Myanmar
remains diplomatically isolated by the West, which is critical of its human
rights record.
Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung Win said Musharraf's visit would
"greatly contribute to the strengthening of traditional ties of friendship and
cooperation between the two countries," he said.
In a faxed response to questions from the Associated Press, the minister
described bilateral relations as "multifaceted", ranging from trade and commerce
to cooperation in international fora and defense.
Myanmar's regime, which has recently been improving ties with neighboring
India, retains closer military ties with Pakistan, which is India's archrival.
On Sunday, a flotilla of Pakistan naval vessels including a submarine, a
destroyer and two support ships will make the first ever port of call by the
Pakistan navy in Myanmar, at a wharf 15 kilometers south of Yangon, a Myanmar
official said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday April 27, 7:41 PM
Ethnic Grp Protests Japan Aid For
Myanmar Hydropwr Plant
BANGKOK (AP)--Ethnic Karenni
opponents of Myanmar's ruling military said Friday that Japan's plan to provide
$24 million to the regime for renovating a hydropower plant will only hurt local
people.
They claimed the electricity from the 39-year old Baluchaung hydropower
plant has never provided for indigenous Karenni villagers, but only fed the
capital Yangon and Mandalay, the second largest city.
"The Karennis there don't have a single light (bulb). They have to buy
candles to burn," Doh Say, the director of foreign affairs for the Karenni
National Progressive Party, or KNPP, told the Associated Press by telephone from
northern Thailand.
The KNPP has a small armed wing that fights a guerrilla war against the
regime.
Earlier this month, Japan announced it was considering a plan to renovate
the power station, which was originally built in 1960 with Japanese war
reparations to Myanmar, also known as Burma. A final decision on the aid is
expected by the year-end. With nearly 200 megawatt production capacity, the
plant is the biggest electricity generator in Myanmar.
The Japanese aid would represent the most significant foreign grant to
Myanmar since the regime took power in 1988 after a bloody crackdown against a
democracy uprising. Since then, donors have only allowed a trickle of
humanitarian assistance.
The grant from Japan is designed as incentive for the regime to press on
with talks with democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party swept general
elections in 1990 but has been barred from taking power.
The talks, which began in secret in October, are seen as the most
significant dialogue in a decade of political deadlock, although there has been
no public announcement on how they are progressing.
The KNPP said in a statement this week that providing aid would only
"further entrench and empower a government that holds no regard for the people
of Burma." It asked that plans to rebuild or repair the dam be stopped.
Doh Say said that seven villages had been forcibly moved out of the Lawpita
area around the power station in the early 1990s to secure the plant. Rebel
guerrillas had attacked the plant and electricity pylons in the past.
Doh Say claimed that thousands of anti-personnel land mines have also been
laid in the area, which lies about 320 kilometers northeast of Yangon, often
injuring villagers and livestock.
In 1998, when water levels in Balu river became low, water was diverted
from farmlands to supply the turbines, Doh Say said. He feared the problem would
worsen if the power plant was expanded.
"Whatever they do, the Karenni people will face forced labor and more land
mines will be laid," he said.
The rebels signed a cease-fire with the Myanmar regime in 1994, but took up
arms again when they said government forces invaded their territory and cut
timber. The regime has accused the KNPP rebels of involvement in the drugs
trade.
Nearly 20,000 Karenni refugees live in Thailand.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Channel NewsAsia
Friday April 27, 12:10 AM
Seven illegal immigrants
arrested
Seven illegal immigrants were arrested in 2 separate incidents at the
Woodlands Checkpoint in the last 2 days.
In the first incident on Wednesday, 3 offenders were found huddled in the boot of a Malaysian registered car at the checkpoint's arrival bay. They were from Myanmar, Thailand and Bangladesh.
In the second case at 5.45 am on Thursday, immigration officers arrested 4
Thai nationals, also hiding in the boot of a Malaysian registered car at the
departure area.
SIR says preliminary investigations showed the drivers of both vehicles
were recruited and paid to convey the illegal immigrants in and out of
Singapore.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday April 27, 10:19 AM
CapitaLand sells hotels for US$82
mln
SINGAPORE, April 27 (Reuters) -
Singapore's CapitaLand Ltd, Southeast Asia's largest property group, said it has
agreed to sell its controlling stakes in three hotels in China, Vietnam and
Myanmar to Hotel Plaza Ltd for US$82 million.
"It is good for CapitaLand. It would go towards repaying some of their
borrowings which are very high at the moment," said Winston Liew, analyst at
Daiwa Institute of Research.
Liew said CapitaLand has S$9 billion ($4.95 billion) of debt, putting the
company's gearing at more than 90 percent.
CapitaLand said it was putting aside $20 million for a period of five years
as a profit guarantee for the three hotels and also some money to improve them
for Hotel Plaza, which is a unit of United Overseas Bank .
It expects to have a net write-back of $9 million on provisions previously
made for the hotels.
The company said it was on target to sell S$500 million to S$1 billion
worth of non-core assets as part of its degearing strategy.
CapitaLand shares were up one cent to S$2.22 in thin trade on Friday
morning.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Star( Malaysia) - April 27,
2001.
MGA gets two Myanmar airport
jobs
OUTDOOR advertising group Ganad Corp Bhd unit Myanmar Ganad Advertising Co
Ltd (MGA) has been awarded the exclusive advertising rights for the two major
airports in Myanmar by the Department of Civil Aviation.
Ganad said in a statement that the 10-year concession gave MGA exclusive
rights to manage the indoor and outdoor advertising spaces for both the Yangon
international airport and the Mandalay international airport.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Star(Malaysia) - April 27,
2001.
General: Military regime in Myanmar is
temporary
By Joseph Raj
PETALING JAYA: The military regime in Myanmar has no intention of holding
on to power for long.
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Secretary (1) of the State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC), which governs the country now, stressed that it had always been their
aim to hand over the country to a democratically-elected government.
"The military had to step in in 1998 as the country was in a state of
anarchy. We can be considered a transitional government.
"This is what the government is trying to do. Our target is to hand over to
a strong democratically-elected government that can uphold the constitution,''
Gen Khin Nyunt said during a courtesy call by a Malaysian media delegation in
Yangon on Monday.
He added that the situation in Myanmar had not been "presented forthrightly
by the media in the West.''
"But we cannot fault the media for this as it depends on the situation in
the country and the timing because of the arms insurrection.
"We have a population of 52 million comprising 135 ethnic groups. Because
of differences between the ethnic groups, we have had insurrections since
independence.
"Previous governments had tried to hold peace negotiations with insurgents
but only in our time has there been success.
"If the political situation is bad, the economy cannot grow. That is why we
focussed on bringing back the insurgents into the legal fold.
"Now only one or two (of the 18 insurgent groups in Myanmar) are left,'' Lt
Gen Khin Nyunt said.
He added that the insurgents were working hand-in-hand with the government
to carry out infrastructural development, including building numerous bridges to
connect the east and the west of Myanmar.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - April 27,
2001.
Senate panel backs shipment
blocking
National security comes first, it says Wasant Techawongtham
Thailand is justified in blocking a shipment of power generator parts
destined for Tachilek on national security grounds, the chairman of the Senate
committee on the environment said yesterday.
"If the shipment is allowed to go across the border it could lead to public
chaos, which would affect national security," Panat Tasneeyanond, a former
prosecutor, said.
The Rak Mae Sai environmental group in Chiang Rai, comprising local
villagers, has vowed to prevent the large convoy of trailer trucks from crossing
into Burma.
"This is beside the fact that the power plant could also facilitate the
production of methamphetamines, and further complicate our suppression efforts,"
he said.
Burma could complain officially, he said. Thailand was withholding the
shipment even though all customs procedures had been complied with.
However, national security was an overriding factor.
The environmental impact from the power plant was a major concern for Thai
residents on the northern border because Rangoon did not have firm control over
the area.
However, environmental concerns could not be cited as a reason to block the
shipment.
While Burma had the right to build the power plant in its own territory, it
was nevertheless bound by the principle of "state responsibility" under
international law and was accountable for any damage to its neighbours.
The senator said legal sanctions in the international arena were often
ineffective and difficult to enforce, but it was not just an issue of law. It
was an issue of politics and economics.
If sued and found guilty in the international court of law, a country was
subject to scorn and pressure by the world community, Mr Panat said.
He suggested Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai make Thailand's concern
plain to Rangoon and ask for full information about the project.
If bilateral discussions failed to resolve the issue, the government should
explore possible mechanisms for redress within Asean.
"We could lodge a protest with Asean citing environmental concerns about
the project, making use of its existing environmental forum," he said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - April 27,
2001.
State accused of damaging
credibility
Thaksin seen losing investor confidence Former foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan has accused Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra and his government of having caused confusion among foreign investors
and damage to the national credibility.
Mr Thaksin's speech to the Escap meeting on Tuesday had created uncertainty
and scared away potential investors, Mr Surin told the US Chamber of Commerce
yesterday.
The prime minister had called for rethinking of development models instead
of just copying those of the West and Japan, he said. But at the same time
Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak was planning to launch a road show abroad
to attract investors.
That speech was the latest in a series of confusing speeches made by Mr
Thaksin and his government, Mr Surin said.
Mr Thaksin's other actions that had caused "tremendous confusion and
contradiction" included his claim "against scientific evidence" that he was the
target of an explosion on board a Thai Airways plane, and his rush to Lijia cave
in Kanchanaburi following rumours that gold had been found inside the cave,
according to Mr Surin.
The ex-foreign minister said the Thaksin government should try to put a
quick end to such confusion in order to restore the national credibility that
the previous administration had built up.
"We need foreign co-operation" and that would not happen "until the signal
is clear," said Mr Surin, a Democrat.
He also urged Mr Thaksin to stop mouthing rhetoric just to please voters.
Instead, the premier should focus on pushing for the country's economic growth.
"Ineffective and wrong leadership can do a lot of damage," Mr Surin told the
chamber.
Mr Surin also defended the foreign policy of the previous Democrat-led
government, saying it had helped push for new dialogues in Burma between the
military regime and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi through lobbying efforts
of Asean members.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thailand wants Burma to name anti-drug
envoy
The Nation, Agence France-Presse
April 27, 2001.
Thailand will propose at next month's regional anti-drug meeting in Rangoon
that Burma should establish an "anti-drugs envoy" to liaison with countries in
the region, PM's Office Minister Thamarak Isarangura said yesterday. "High on
the agenda for the ministerial-level meeting on drug control will be a Thai
proposal that Burma has an ambassador-level official to deal with the problem.
A representative from the Burmese side would be necessary and important to
the attempts to combat the widespread trade in drugs," Thamarak told The Nation.
Thailand and China have already agreed to appoint anti-drug envoys who are
expected to expedite cooperation and assistance on drug-related issues.
Burma, Thailand, China, Vietnam and Cambodia will meet from May 8 to 11 in
Rangoon to discuss cooperation on fighting drug trafficking. Thamarak will
represent Thailand.
Meanwhile, Burma yesterday accused Thailand of jeopardising unity among
members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations by blaming the Burma's
ruling junta for rampant drug trafficking along their shared border.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Nation - April 27,
2001.
DRUG FLOOD: New speed labs come on
stream
THE Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) is keeping a close watch
on the Northern communities of Mae Hong Son and Tak as drug trafficking rings in
Burma were believed to have opened up new methamphetamine factories opposite the
two provinces.
ONCB secretary-general Kitti Limchaikij yesterday said his agency suspected
that methamphetamines were being turned into tablets at factories located on
Burmese soil close to the country's border provinces.
"Army intelligence sources have informed us that the insignia on the speed
pills has just changed. It is likely that this change results from the fact that
new factories are being used to finish production of the illegal drugs," he
said.
Kitti also revealed that machines capable of pumping out methamphetamine
tablets were earlier confiscated in Tak just before they were due to be
exported.
Asked how many speed pills are flooding into the country, Kitti projected a
figure of between 600 million and 700 million tablets this year.
He pointed out that nearly 14 million speed pills were confiscated over the
past three weeks.
Kitti said his office had a plan to suppress the spread of drugs but
declined comment when asked how the drug problem could be solved while the
Burmese government continues to deny any involvement.
On reports that fugitive suspected amphetamines dealer Surachai
Ngernthongfoo had undergone plastic surgery, changed his name and sought a new
ID card in order to enter the country, Kitti said his office had no information
and that police were directly responsible for arresting the elusive
Surachai.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar junta chief toasts
Koizumi
Friday, April 27, 2001 at 19:00 JST
YANGON(Kyodo News) — The chief
of Myanmar's military junta sent a message to congratulate Junichiro Koizumi on
his election as Japan's new prime minister, state-run newspapers reported
Friday.
The papers did not elaborate on the message which they said was sent
Thursday by Sr. Gen. Than Shwe, chairman of the ruling State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Star - April 27,
2001.
Shangri-La plans major facelift costing
RM84mil
By MOKHTAR HANAFIAH
SHANGRI-LA Hotels (M) Bhd plans to invest nearly RM84mil over the next two
years to refurbish some of its assets in the country, especially the Shangri-La
Kuala Lumpur.
According to Shangri-La Hotels managing director Kay Kuok Oon Kwong, the
move is to enable the company to compete more effectively in the market, which
has seen the entry of newer deluxe hotels and resorts in the last few years.
Kay said that the refurbishment would inevitably result in reduced
availability of guest-rooms and the temporary closure of several food and
beverage outlets.
She said that as a result of that, the company expected pre-tax profit for
the financial year ending Dec 31, 2001, to drop by 10% to 15%.
Shangri-La Hotels registered RM58.3mil in pre-tax profit last year compared
with RM33.8mil in 1999. The improved result was achieved on the back of a rise
in turnover to RM262.1mil from RM232.6mil previously.
"However, the enhanced products are expected to contribute positively to
the group's earnings and cashflow in the long run,'' Kay told reporters after
the company AGM in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
According to Kay, the Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur would undergo a major
renovation programme starting in August to modernise and upgrade its facilities.
She said that the renovation cost of RM80mil would be financed by internal
resources and borrowings.
"We are in a comfortable financial position to take this major step as the
group now enjoys a strong balance sheet with relatively low gearing,'' she said.
Kay said the first phase of renovation, costing about RM41mil, would
involve the hotel's public areas, several food and beverage outlets and the
premier corporate guestrooms on the Horizon floors.
The second phase would involve the hotel's remaining guest-rooms, she said,
adding that the hotel would remain in operation throughout the renovation
period.
Kay said that some of the upgraded facilities at the Shangri-La Kuala
Lumpur were expected to start contributing to group revenue in 2002.
"The renovation is expected to result in a 15% to 20% drop in Shangri-La
Kuala Lumpur's pre-tax profit for the current financial year,'' she said.
"However, when renovation works are completed in the first quarter of 2003, the
upgraded facilities will reinforce its position as the premier deluxe business
hotel in Kuala Lumpur.''
The Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur, which registered an occupancy rate of 70%
throughout last year, achieved a 253% growth in pre-tax profit to RM14.2mil in
the financial year 2000.
Kay said that the company also planned to invest RM2mil to refurbish the
guestrooms at the Garden Wing of its Rasa Sayang Resort in Penang, and a
furtherr RM2mil to upgrade the main lobby and passenger lift lobbies at its UBN
Tower in Kuala Lumpur.
She said the group started a self-financed renovation programme, costing
about RM21mil, involving all the guestrooms at its Golden Sands Resort in Penang
in October last year.
Renovation on two guestroom floors were completed at the end of last year.
Work on the remaining five floors was continuing and was expected to be
completed in June this year.
"Those rooms that have been renovated so far have been well received in the
market and are commanding a good rate. We have already raised the room rates by
about 20%,'' Kay said.
On the company's 22.2% stake in Traders Hotel Yangon in Myanmar, which
continued to incur a loss last year, Kay said: "The outlook remains difficult
for this year. However, at the moment, we do not have any plan to dispose of our
stake. We are there for the long haul.''
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