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----------------------------------------------------------------- BURMA RELATED NEWS - June 04, 2001. ----------------------------------------------------------------- HEADLINE ----------------------------------------------------------------- AP - Two Jailed Myanmar Journalists Get Golden
Pen Of Freedom
AP - UN Envoy Ends Visit To Myanmar, Silent On
Result
AP - Asia May Not Be Reader For New Basel Pact -
Ctrl Bankers
AFP - UN envoy completes Myanmar reconciliation
mission
AFP - Work begins on mega ASEAN-China Free Trade
Area
Reuters - U.N. envoy upbeat on Myanmar political
progress
BBC- Two Burmese jounalists
honoured
BBC - Analysis: Burma visit brings
hope
BBC - Tiananmen mothers call for
apology
VOA - UN Envoy Wraps Up Talks in
Burma
Bkk Post - Shan intensify struggle for
recognition
Bkk Post - Rangoon raises religious flag to end
skirmishes
The Nation - A Thai-Burmese communique?
SCMP - UN envoy ends visit but remains
silent
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Monday June 4, 3:46 PM Two Jailed Myanmar Journalists Get
Golden Pen Of Freedom
HONG KONG (AP)--Highlighting
criticism of the Myanmar military government's human rights record, the World
Association of Newspapers awarded its Golden Pen of Freedom to two journalists
imprisoned in Myanmar in dire conditions.
Aung Ko, an exiled democracy activist and actor, received the award Monday
on behalf of jailed Myanmar journalists U Win Tin and San San Nweh during the
opening ceremony of the association's four-day annual meeting.
U Win Tin, 71 year old, is a former editor of the independent Hanthawati
daily newspaper and a founder of the National League for Democracy, which is led
by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. He has been imprisoned in Myanmar since
1989.
Kept in isolation in recent years, he has been subjected to beatings and
was forced for a time to live in a former kennel for prison guard dogs.
Each day, U Win Tin is forced to spend his waking hours in silence,
squatting with his head bowed and staring at the bamboo mat he sleeps upon, said
Ruth de Aquino, president of the World Editors Forum, who presented the award.
San San Nweh, 56, is a dissident writer and poet and was the first woman to
train as a journalist in Myanmar, also known as Burma.
She was imprisoned for 10 years in August 1994 for providing French
journalists with anti-government reports and for providing information about the
human rights situation in Myanmar to a United Nations official.
San San Nweh is a widow and her children have difficulty finding the money
to pay for her prison rations, de Aquino said.
"It is a tale of terror," said de Aquino, adding that both journalists are
reported to be in ill health.
Myanmar's ruling military regime has come under international criticism for
its suppression of Suu Kyi's party and human rights violations.
The World Association of Newspapers, which defends and promotes press
freedom worldwide, represents more than 18,000 publications and its members
include 67 national newspaper associations.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Monday June 4, 3:29 PM
UN Envoy Ends Visit To Myanmar, Silent
On Result
YANGON, Myanmar (AP)--A U.N.
envoy left Myanmar Monday after talking with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi as part of his effort to end the country's political deadlock.
But envoy Razali Ismail has remained silent on the content of his separate
talks with Suu Kyi and members of the ruling military junta since he arrived on
Friday.
Just before leaving Yangon, Razali met with six executive committee members of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy at the party's headquarters. "I have come to visit the NLD. I will not speak here. The U.N. in New York
will make a statement on the results of my visit," Razali told reporters.
Razali met with Suu Kyi Saturday and Sunday, each time for about two hours.
He held talks with Secretary One Khin Nyunt, the No. 3 man in the ruling State
Peace and Development Council, for an hour Saturday.
His meeting with the six NLD officials, including central committee
secretary U Lwin, lasted an hour.
Until October, the junta had consistently refused to negotiate with the
opposition if Suu Kyi took part. The change of heart is believed to have been
brought about by Razali, a Malaysian, as well as Malaysian Prime Minister
Mahathir Mohammad.
Razali was seen off at the airport by deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung
Win.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Monday June 4, 8:41 AM
Asia May Not Be Reader For New Basel
Pact - Ctrl Bankers
SINGAPORE (AP)--Asian central
bankers Saturday said their countries may not be ready for the Bank of
International Settlements' new Capital Accord planned for 2004.
"In particular, infrastructure and internal capacities in some member
countries could limit their ability to fully implement the accord by then
(2004)," the Governors of the Southeast Asian Central Banks said in a communique
after a two-day meeting in Singapore.
Asia's 1997-98 financial meltdown rocked banks and economies worldwide,
drawing intense international pressure for reform among Asian financial
institutions.
The Basel-based Bank for International Settlements, or BIS, hopes to
implement by 2004 its new Capital Accord, which would give banking regulators
more power to assess whether banks have the capital to weather bad loans.
The BIS acts as the banker for central banks, providing financial services
for managing their external reserves.
The new Basel accord poses challenges to Asian banks and regulators,
Singapore's second minister for finance Lim Hng Kiang said earlier in opening
remarks at the Singapore conference.
Asian banks "would have to develop more sophisticated risk management
capability" under the new accord, and regulators would "need to build up
technical knowledge" to handle the accord, Lim said in the opening speech.
The Asian central bankers also said in their communique that there is a
need to use policies that prevent "excessive exchange rate volatility," which
can "have severe consequences for small, open economies."
Central bank representatives at the Singapore meeting came from Indonesia,
South Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri
Lanka, Taiwan and Thailand.
The meeting also included observers from Cambodia, Fiji, Laos, Papua New
Guinea, Tonga and Brunei's Ministry of Finance.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Monday June 4, 4:25 PM
UN envoy completes Myanmar
reconciliation mission
YANGON, June 4 (AFP) - UN envoy Razali Ismail Monday ended a four-day mission to Myanmar where he met democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the ruling junta in a bid to revive the reconciliation talks they began last year. Razali visited Aung San Suu Kyi twice at her lakeside villa during his
visit, and also met the junta's influential number three, Lieutenant General
Khin Nyunt, and Foreign Minister Win Aung.
The Malaysian diplomat is credited with acting as a catalyst for the
historic dialogue that began last October but which in recent months appears to
have faltered after reaching a delicate decision-making stage.
All parties involved in the talks, the first between the military regime
and Aung San Suu Kyi since 1994, have agreed not to divulge any details of their
content or progress.
However, diplomats in Yangon said that Razali's presence after a break of
five months was a good sign that the reconciliation process has not completely
broken down.
"He's come here and been able to talk to both sides and go to and fro
between them and encourage them, and that's pretty important," one said.
"He comes as a special person with a special mandate which the Myanmar side
recognises ... but the situation is all still very delicate."
Senior members of the opposition National League for Democracy had said
they expected the junta would mark Razali's visit with the release of some of
the country's estimated 1,700 political prisoners.
But with no sign so far of any goodwill gesture, or of a hoped-for official
statement on the progress of the talks, there will be disappointment among those
who have so far been left out of the process.
Dissident groups and the nation's many ethnic minorities, whose support
will be crucial in any transition to democracy, have made increasingly loud
calls for light to be shed on the secret dialogue.
"It's difficult for everyone else to have the patience and forbearance to
deal with this situation when we don't have a great deal of information to go
on," the diplomat said.
"The mood here is one that we have to be very patient and we have a long
way to go," he said, adding however that fears Aung San Suu Kyi could call an
end to the contacts appeared to be unfounded.
"I don't think Aung San Suu Kyi is about to call the talks off. That would
be a very serious step and I think she probably think it's better to keep them
going even if they're not making much progress," he said.
Razali wrapped up his visit with a meeting at NLD headquarters with six
members of the party's Central Executive Committee. The three other members,
including Aung San Suu Kyi, are being held by the regime.
Before flying out of Yangon in the early afternoon, he paid a final call on
Foreign Minister Win Aung.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Monday June 4, 11:19 AM
Work begins on mega ASEAN-China Free
Trade Area
SINGAPORE, June 4 (AFP) - A
study has begun into the possibility of establishing a mega ASEAN-China free
trade zone, covering 1.7 billion people, Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong
said.
Similar investigations were also under way with Japan and South Korea which
join China under an ASEAN plus three umbrella.
"If East Asia gets its politics right it will regain its former dynamism,"
Goh told high-powered central bankers at a dinner Sunday night opening the 2001
International Monetary Conference.
"A study is under way on the feasibility of an ASEAN-China free trade area.
Also under study is how East Asia could gradually evolve into an East Asia
community," he said.
China was seen as offering both challenges and opportunities for the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as they competed for trade and
investment dollars.
"In the short to medium term, investments may be diverted from Southeast
Asia to China. But in the longer term, Southeast Asia will benefit from greater
economic exchanges with China," Goh said.
"Southeast Asia will thrive alongside a prosperous China," he told
delegates including European Central Bank president Wim Duisenberg and the Bank
of England's Sir Edward George.
US Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan was to address the conference
Monday by video-link from the United States.
The likelihood of a China-ASEAN free trade zone was first raised last
November by Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji during the ASEAN plus three summit in
Singapore.
It would cover a market area of 1.7 billion people, comprising China's 1.2
billion population and the 500 million inhabitants of ASEAN's 10 member
countries.
"It might be advisable in the long run for China and ASEAN countries to
explore the establishment of a free trade relationship between them," Zhu
said.
"With China's membership in the WTO (World Trade Organisation) in sight and
the ASEAN free trade area by-and-large established in 2002, there is a good
opportunity for us to enhance our cooperation."
ASEAN -- which groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- was described by the
London-based International Institute for Stragetic Studies as having seriously
diminished international relevance.
But closer economic co-operation with its plus-three partners would inject
new dynamism into the region.
At a conference in Cambodia last month, ASEAN economic ministers said
boosting trade ties with economies outside Southeast Asia, as well as forging
greater economic integration within ASEAN itself, were crucial to reducing risks
from global developments such as the current US-led economic slowdown.
Within ASEAN, affluent Singapore is the prime advocate of free trade pacts,
having signed one with New Zealand and negotiating others with Japan, the United
States, Australia and Mexico.
But critics, particularly neighbouring Malaysia, warn that Singapore may be
giving its free trade agreement partners a back door into the region's own free
trade zone.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Monday June 4, 8:47 PM
U.N. envoy upbeat on Myanmar political
progress
By Aung Hla Tun YANGON (Reuters) - The U.N.
special envoy to Myanmar hopes civilian rule will emerge within four years and
has urged the opposition to have confidence in historic peace talks with the
military government, diplomatic sources said on Monday.
Veteran Malaysian diplomat Razali Ismail, on Monday ended a four-day visit
to Myanmar which the international community hopes will break an impasse in
talks between the government and pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi.
A Yangon-based diplomat from one of Myanmar's fellow members of the
Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) said Razali told diplomats
during his visit he was confident the country would make the transition from
military rule in coming years.
"He told us that there will be transition from military to civilian
government in two to four years," the diplomat, who declined to be identified,
told Reuters.
But the diplomat said he could not comment on whether Razali was more
optimistic than during his previous visit in January.
Razali had no comment on his visit, during which he had two meetings with
Suu Kyi and held talks with senior members of the military government and
representatives of Myanmar's many ethnic groups.
"The U.N. will issue a statement in New York about the results of my
visit," Razali told Reuters.
Razali helped broker the start of dialogue between the government and Nobel
Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi on previous visits.
Leading members of the ruling junta have been holding regular meetings with
Suu Kyi since October, raising hopes that the political stalemate that has
gripped Myanmar for more than a decade could finally be broken.
Both sides agreed to keep the content of the talks confidential and even
senior members of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), which won
elections by a landslide in 1990 but has never been allowed to govern, say they
have no information on what progress has been made.
CONCERN OVER DEADLOCK
Concern has been growing that the talks are deadlocked.
Foreign diplomats in Yangon say they believe the dialogue has been stalled
in recent months, amid talk of a heightened power struggle between senior
members of the government.
Some NLD members and representatives of ethnic groups have become
increasingly frustrated about the lack of news on the talks. Diplomats hope
Razali's visit reassured them and can prevent the talks unravelling.
Razali met members of the NLD's Central Executive Committee on Monday
morning. One of the committee members said Razali encouraged them to stay
confident about the talks.
"He gave us encouragement and urged us to have confidence in the talks,"
the committee member told Reuters.
"Razali told us that he was not a negotiator but a go-between. He said his
duty was just to make us start talks. He said the entire international community
encouraged the talks and they also wish the process to continue smoothly."
Diplomats say that while the government faces no serious internal political
threat, the country's precarious economic situation is the main factor pushing
the military towards dialogue with the opposition.
Most Western nations have imposed sanctions against Myanmar including the
suspension of aid programmes, a ban on sales of military items, suspension of
access to favourable tariff rates and opposition to multilateral lending. This
was due to Yangon's treatment of the opposition and alleged systematic human
rights abuses.
The military says it is committed to building a democracy in Myanmar, but
it says the country could disintegrate if the process moves too quickly.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
BBC - Monday, 4 June, 2001, 11:00 GMT
12:00 UK
Two Burmese jounalists honoured Two Burmese journalists imprisoned by Burma's military authorities have
been given an international award for their dedication to press freedom and
democracy at a ceremony in Hong Kong.
San San Nweh and U Win Tin, who are both reported to be in poor health as a
result of appalling prison conditions, were given the Golden Pen of Freedom
award by the World Association of Newspapers, which represents 18,000
publications worldwide.
The Association said the journalists, who were politically active in the
opposition National League for Democracy, were struggling with isolation and
illness.
U Win Tin, 71, a former editor of an independent daily, was jailed for 14
years for allegedly being a member of the Communist party.
San San Nweh, 57, one of the first women to train as a jounalist in Burma,
was jailed for 10 years for publishing information harmful to the state.
From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
-----------------------------------------------------------------
BBC - Monday, 4 June, 2001, 13:15 GMT
14:15 UK
Analysis: Burma visit brings hope By regional analyst Larry Jagan
The UN special envoy for Burma, Razali Ismail, has completed a four-day
visit to Rangoon.
During the trip he met Burma's military leaders and the opposition leader
Aung San Suu Kyi.
Analysts believe Mr Razali's trip to Burma might add new momentum to
negotiations between the opposition leader and the military leadership which he
helped to broker last year.
Many have feared that the talks were on the verge of collapse.
Mr Razali told the BBC that he could not comment on the progress of the
talks, but said he expected the UN secretary-general to make a statement on his
trip later on Monday.
Grapping with democracy
Although everyone is being tight-lipped about the progress of the talks,
diplomats in Rangoon believe that the Mr Razali's visit is a clear sign that the
dialogue process is proceeding.
There were earlier concerns that it had stalled.
With the talks taking place in complete secrecy, there is no way of
determining what progress, if any, is being made.
A senior opposition figure told the BBC that the international community
must have patience with the process.
He said that the real problem was that the military were still grappling
with the implications of introducing democracy.
Many of the military commanders, particularly those out in the border
areas, fear that if they move too fast the country could disintegrate.
Senior members of National League Democracy are hoping to see more concrete
signs that progress is being made.
One of them told the BBC that the military had not fulfilled its earlier
promise to release many of the party's political prisoners currently being held
in Burma's gaols.
Their release soon, he said, would certainly be a sign of good faith on the
part of the authorities, as would the release of Aung San Suu Kyi's from her
eight-month house arrest.
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BBC - Sunday, 3 June, 2001, 23:58 GMT
00:58 UK
Tiananmen mothers call for apology By Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Beijing
As China marks the 12th anniversary of the bloody suppression of the
Tiananmen democracy movement, the mothers of some of the hundreds killed have
called on the Chinese government to apologise for the bloody crackdown.
But there is little sign of China's leaders taking any notice and security
in Beijing has been increased in the run-up to Monday's anniversary.
The plea to the Chinese government from the mothers of the Tiananmen
victims has become an annual ritual.
This year the letter has been signed by 111 mothers of those killed during
the bloody suppression in 1989.
It calls on the Chinese Government to admit it was wrong and apologise for
what it did.
Security tight
But there is little sign of it doing so.
In Beijing, security around Tiananmen Square has been tightened.
The few political dissidents not behind bars have been told to stay at
home.
Foreign media organizations - including the BBC - have been warned not to
try and contact them.
Papers published
The sensitivity of this year's anniversary appears to have been heightened
by the publication earlier this year of "The Tiananmen Papers".
The book claims to be based on secret government documents smuggled out of
China.
It describes in detail the infighting that went on inside the Communist
leadership ahead of the fateful decision to send in the troops to clear
Tiananmen Square.
One of those who comes off worst in the book is the then Prime Minister Li
Peng.
Mr Li is still a powerful figure in China, and as long as he remains so,
there appears little chance that the government will alter its verdict that what
it did was right.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Asia Pacific UN Envoy Wraps Up
Talks in Burma
VOA News 4 Jun 2001 08:07 UTC United Nations special envoy to Burma, Razali Ismail, has wrapped up a
four-day visit to the country after secretive talks with the ruling military
rulers and opposition leaders.
During his stay, Mr. Razali met with the military government's Foreign
Minister Win Aung and First Secretary Khin Nyunt. He also held two closed-door
meetings with democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Before leaving Rangoon Monday, Mr. Razali told reporters that information
about the results of the talks would be revealed in a statement from the United
Nations.
The veteran Malaysian diplomat traveled to Burma over concerns that secret
talks between the junta and the democracy movement were not making any progress.
The government has refused to hand over power to Aung San Suu Kyi's
National League for Democracy, which won general elections in 1990, but has
never been allowed to govern.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Bangkok Post - June 04,
2001.
Shan intensify struggle for
recognition
Observers welcome to its military camps Subin Khuenkaew and Nauvarat Suksamran
The Shan State Army has embarked on a new strategy to seek global
recognition of its decades-old independence movement.
Shan Resistance Day celebrations on May 22 was a successful public
relations campaign which attracted Thai and international media, as well as Thai
entertainers.
The SSA had intensified its independence movement by attacking Burmese
forces and pro-Rangoon United Wa State Army troops opposite Mae Fah Luang and
Mae Sai districts, Chiang Rai, and Fang district, Chiang Mai.
SSA leaders claimed almost all the attacks were aimed at illegal drug
laboratories and smuggling routes.
"Anti-narcotic missions are our first priority," said Col Yod Suek,
chairman of the Restoration Council of the Shan State, mirroring the Thai
government's ongoing fight against drugs along the border.
The idea of narcotics suppression has been raised in place of the
four-decade-long quest for independence. This represented a significant change
in strategy to gain recognition from foreign observers.
The Shan army has received unofficial support from Thailand and expects the
same from the world community. To this end, the SSA set up its own news agency
and tapped into the Internet with it own websites, including www.shanland.org.
The situation was completely changing for the SSA, which had never before
enjoyed international support because of its unacceptable involvement in
drugs.
It also depends on financial support from its own people, especially those
who deal in precious stones and mineral concessions.
"We are ready to prove ourselves. Anyone can come and see that we are not
involved with illegal drugs.
"Today we need help from all possible channels to allow our people to
survive," said Tuen Saeng, deputy secretary-general of the SSA.
Shan soldiers welcome the press to their military camps, especially Thai
reporters, so that their struggle can be documented throughout the world.
Although media reports about the SSA have not attracted concrete support
from foreign observers, they have reached thousands of Shan people living and
working in Thailand.
Sources said Shan immigrants in Thailand played an important role in
funding the past few attacks against strongholds of the pro-Rangoon Wa troops.
It was even reported that Shan men working in Thailand took turns joining their
comrades in the fight against Burmese troops.
"The SSA is training a new generation of soldiers. They are relying on
young Shan men who are seeking their fortune in Thailand," the source
said.
Singer Surachai Chantimathorn, also known as Nga Caravan, said the SSA
invited his Caravan band to perform during the Shan Resistance Day.
"I know they need public relations but their PR is not overly done. We are
interested in the problems of ethnic groups.
"We wonder why there is such a longstanding battle. This shows that
injustice exists. We intended to gather information," he said.
Mr Surachai said the SSA invited Ad Carabao for the same purpose. Mongkol
Utok, a Caravan member, said their presence with the SSA did not mean they
supported the ethnic group.
"We have been visiting Indochinese countries for our musical performances.
We have gathered information on lives and this is our first time to perform
beyond the western border. The Burmese government may misunderstand our presence
and ban our entry in the future. But we want to confirm that we are not a tool
of any particular party," he said.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Bangkok Post - June 04,
2001.
Rangoon raises religious flag to
end skirmishes
Gen Sommai told to exploit his good ties Wassana Nanuam
Burmese soldiers have apparently called a truce in the disputed border area
of Kuteng Nayong by raising a religious flag next to the Burmese national
flag.
Lt-Col Suparerk Supapornpol, commander of the 18th Cavalry Battalion, said
the religious flag was raised two weeks ago by the commander of Burma's 316th
battalion.
Burma and Thailand have been locked in a dispute over the
one-square-kilometre area overlooking Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai.
Thai soldiers erected two outposts either side of an existing Burmese
outpost. The three outposts were only 200m apart.
Col Wanthip Wongwai, commander of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, said Thai
soldiers remained on alert despite the truce signal.
Col Wanthip, who has just been appointed chairman of the Thai Township
Border Committee, said the TBC meeting originally scheduled for May 28 was
postponed indefinitely because the Burmese side failed to show up.
Rangoon has not issued an explanation.
Gen Sommai Wichaworn, armed forces chief-of-staff, yesterday visited border
units in Mae Sai and said border disputes had to be settled at a national-level
meeting of the Joint Committee. He was referring to Kuteng Nayong and Doi Lang
in Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai.
He believed the border situation would improve after the visit to Burma of
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Defence Minister Chavalit
Yongchaiyudh.
Gen Sommai, a former Third Army commander, enjoys personal relations with
Gen Maung Aye, the Burmese army commander, and Maj-Gen Thein Sein, commander of
the Triangle Force. He was assigned by Gen Sampao Chusri, the supreme commander,
to co-ordinate with Burma.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Nation - June 04,
2001.
REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE: A
Thai-Burmese communique?
KAVI CHONGKITTAVORN
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has already decided to visit Burma along
with key Cabinet ministers. The trip is so important that it has been shrouded
in secrecy. Several feelers were sent out last week about the pending visit, but
no one has given a specific time frame. Yet it is almost certain that the trip
will take place before the Constitution Court wraps up its month-long
deliberation on June 18.
Both sides are planning to issue a joint communique at the end of Thaksin's
visit. Judging from the ways the two countries have been intensely engaged in
the past 100 days, the all-purpose Thai-Burmese communique will certainly be
called "historic" and is highly likely to contain the following points:
1. The Burmese government welcomes the visit of Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra. Knowing and appreciating full well the prime minister's difficulties
in coping with the political and juridical situation back home, it is hoped that
this trip will contribute to uplifting his image as a courageous leader.
2. Thailand and Burma have enjoyed a long historical relationship. They
agreed that to improve their relations, the media should write only positive
things. It does not matter if the media is a government mouthpiece. The New
Light of Myanmar has shown the way here: after a series of articles attacking
Thailand and its past monarchs, the same author praised the present monarch.
Ridiculous as it might seem, this is deemed appropriate as it has helped to jack
up bilateral relations. It so provided the justification for this historic
visit.
3. Both sides have agreed to convene the Joint Border Committee, long in
abeyance. The committee will prepare an agenda and ensure that all important
issues are included since the last time it met almost two years ago.
4. Both sides have discussed bilateral issues affecting their relations,
including drugs, refugees, fishing cooperation and border demarcation. New
infrastructure projects and telecommunications plans were discussed during the
four-eye meeting.
5. On the drug issue, Thailand and Burma agreed to sign a memorandum of
understanding that bilateral efforts alone were not sufficient to cope with the
drug issue. Both countries also recognise that drugs are the scourge of their
nations and should be eliminated. Therefore anti-drug efforts must not be
confined to a bilateral framework but should involve other regional countries
and international organisations. The issue of minority involvement in the drug
trade was not discussed as there was no representatives of United Wa State
Army.
6. On fishing cooperation, Burma is working out new concessions for fishing
grounds. The Thai side will be invited to take part in "free, fair and
competitive" bidding to win new fishing concessions. This will ensure the
survival of thousands of Burmese fishermen working on Thai trawlers, some of
which have Burmese names.
7. Both sides have exchanged views related to the problem of displaced
persons from Burma. The discussion was serious and frank, as usual. Burma was
very sincere in expressing its strong commitment to take back all these refugees
if they could prove that they were of Burmese nationality. Thailand was also
sincere arguing that these refugees were not Thai and should leave the country
the same way they came in. Both sides will take up this issue when they meet in
the future.
7. The two countries acknowledge that their excellent relations are crucial
for the unity and stability in the region constantly at each other's throat.
They should avoid being the two black sheep of Asean. Before 1997, Thai-Burmese
tit-for-tat did not affect the political image of Asean as Rangoon only joined
Asean four years ago. Asean is still very proud of its 34-year record that its
members have never fought a war except for exchanges of artillery shells and
gunfire along the Thai-Burmese border.
8. Although the future and fate of Third Army Region commander General
Wattanachai Chaimuanwong was not touched on directly owing to constraints of
time, it is a welcome sign for the betterment of Thai-Burmese relations that he
will be promoted to the Supreme Command Headquarters later this year.
9. To strengthen further relations, the two countries decided unanimously
to erect more statues along their porous border. The Burmese side will continue
construction of a statue of King Bayinnaung facing the Thai side. In a similar
fashion, the Thai side will erect a statue of King Naresuan with his elephant's
tusks pointing at Burma. It was agreed the Thai side needed to hurry.
10. Both sides have agreed to meet soon. It is likely that the Thai leaders
will come to Burma.
11. This communique is drawn up in three languages, English, Thai and
Burmese. In the event of dispute, the English version shall be authoritative
provided that it is the same as the other two. Otherwise each side may interpret
it in whichever way suits its domestic conditions.
Signed in Rangoon, in the year of 443 AFFY (After the First Fall of
Yodaya).
-----------------------------------------------------------------
South China Morning Post
Monday, June 4, 2001
BURMA - UN envoy ends visit but
remains silent
A special UN envoy left Burma on Monday after intensive talks with
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi as part of his efforts to end the
country's political deadlock.
But the envoy, Razali Ismail, remained silent on the results of his
separate talks with Ms Suu Kyi and members of the ruling military junta since he
arrived on Friday.
Just before leaving Rangoon, Mr Razali also met with six executive
committee members of Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy at the party's
headquarters.
"I have come to visit the NLD. I will not speak here. The UN in New York
will make a statement on the results of my visit," Mr Razali told reporters.
Western nations and Burma's opposition hope that Ms Suu Kyi's talks will
pave the way for democracy in the country, which has been ruled continuously by
the military since 1962. The current group of generals took power after crushing
a pro-democracy movement in 1988, killing thousands of people.
The junta called national elections in 1990 but refused to honour the
results when the NLD won overwhelmingly. Since then, the junta has harassed and
arrested scores of NLD members and thwarted political activity. Ms Suu Kyi has
been living under virtual house arrest since September.
Mr Razali is credited with achieving the first breakthrough in the deadlock
by initiating reconciliation talks between Ms Suu Kyi and the junta leaders in
October, conducted in secrecy in the Nobel peace laureate's lakeside villa.
Belying initial hopes of progress, diplomats had, however, expressed
concern recently that the talks have stalled.
The diplomats' speculation gained credence when the NLD said last month
that the military must honour the results of the 1990 elections, which indicated
that the party was showing signs of inflexibility. Most observers agree that the
junta would find it hard to accept the election results.
Mr Razali met with Ms Suu Kyi on Saturday and Sunday, each time for about
two hours. He also held talks with Secretary One Khin Nyunt, the number three
man in the ruling State Peace and Development Council, for an hour on Saturday.
His last meeting with the six NLD officials including central committee
secretary U Lwin on Monday lasted an hour.
Until October, the junta had consistently refused to negotiate with the
opposition if Ms Suu Kyi took part. The change of heart is believed to have been
brought about by Mr Razali, a Malaysian, as well as Malaysian Prime Minister
Mahathir Mohammad.
Deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung Win saw Mr Razali off at the
airport.
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