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BURMA RELATED NEWS - June 17,
2001.
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HEADLINES
---------------------------------------------------------------- AP - Myanmar Military Allows Opposition Office
To Open
AFP - Thai PM leaving
behind domestic woes for tour of the neighbours
AFP - Laos objects to Thai film celebrating old
battles: reports
Hoovers - Copper miner denies using forced
labour in Myanmar
Bkk Post - Rangers shoot two dead, seize pills
Bkk Post - Premier sends party ahead of his
arrival
Bkk Post - Son of
Burma strongman killed in crash
Xinhuanet - Myanmar's Domestic Tax Revenue Up in
First Two Months
Xinhuanet - Myanmar Seizes Large Amount of
Stimulant Drugs
PlanetRice - Thai-North Korea Deal Fails; Myanmar May Export 300,000
Tons
---------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday June 16, 5:41 PM
Myanmar Military Allows Opposition
Office To Open
YANGON, Myanmar (AP)--In the
latest move easing pressure on Myanmar's pro-democracy movement, the military
government has given the National League for Democracy permission to reopen some
of its offices in the capital after releasing eight elected Members of
Parliament from opposition groups.
"Out of 40 NLD offices in Yangon Division, 18 branch offices will be
allowed to reopen out of which nine will put up their old party signboards," U
Lwin, secretary and central committee member of the National League for
Democracy told The Associated Press on Saturday.
The government on Thursday released eight elected members of Parliament
from the 1990 general election whose results the military refused to honor,
never allowing Parliament to convene. The National League for Democracy won a
landslide victory in the polls.
The releases marked the third batch of political prisoners freed since
January. A group of 84 National League for Democracy members were released from
Insein Prison in January and 16 more were released in March.
The releases followed the start of secret talks between National League for
Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the military government, whose existence
was made public in early January by U.N. special envoy Razali Ismail, a mediator
in the country's political deadlock.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday June 17, 4:45 PM
Thai PM leaving behind domestic woes for
tour of the neighbours
BANGKOK, June 17 (AFP) - Thai
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will put aside the threat of a looming
corruption conviction and embark this week on a tour to mend the troubled
relationship with Myanmar and cement Cambodian ties.
Thaksin last week completed an inaugural visit to communist Laos, where he
tackled the thorny issues of drugs control and cross-border trade -- returning
in time for the conclusion of his Constitutional Court trial.
In a last-ditch bid to fend off a graft conviction and a resulting
five-year ban from politics, the premier will Monday deliver a closing address
to the court before jetting off to the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh.
He is to spend two days in meetings with the nation's leaders before
leaving for Myanmar -- a sensitive mission that represents the biggest foreign
policy test of his four-month-old administration.
For most of this year Thai-Myanmar relations have been bogged down in an
increasingly bitter row over responsibility for the massive trade in opium and
methamphetamines along their border.
The quarrel was touched off in February when fighting between rival ethnic
militias prompted the first clash in years between the two national
armies.
Since then the row has degenerated into a slanging match that saw Myanmar's
official press hurl insults at Thailand's revered monarchy, while the Thai press
was accused of trying to smear the military-run nation's reputation.
But despite the bickering which has prompted a flurry of official protests
from both sides, Thaksin has repeatedly said he is optimistic the situation will
be resolved during his first visit to Myanmar.
"There is no better way (to solve problems) than to have the leaders talk
to each other ... I am ready to go," he said recently.
Ties with Laos are gradually improving after a spectacular cross-border
raid against a Lao customs post, staged by Lao emigres last July, dogged
relations through the second half of last year.
However, a new irritant has now emerged in the form of an historical movie
which depicts a Thai heroine's battles against Laotian invaders, reports said
Sunday.
Thaksin said the communist leadership in Vientiane expressed concern over
the film during his visit last week, but that he explained he could not force
the project to be scrapped.
Political analysts welcomed Thaksin's region tour as a much-needed
opportunity to perform repair work on neglected relations with neighbouring
nations.
The tour, which follows up visits to other Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) members Vietnam and Malaysia, presents a valuable opportunity to
do some confidence-building, they said.
"Rather than material benefits, the visits to neighbouring countries are
more likely to create a friendly and peaceful environment," said political
science lecturer Chayachoke Chulasiriwongs.
"Confident building is the first step, followed by talks on security talks
and economic cooperation comes later."
---------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday June 17, 12:58 PM
Laos objects to Thai film celebrating
old battles: reports
BANGKOK, June 17 (AFP) - Laos
is putting pressure on Thailand to scrap the making of an historical movie which
depicts a Thai heroine's battles against Laotian invaders, newspapers reported
Sunday.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said the communist leadership in Laos
expressed concern over the content of the film during his official visit to
Vientiane last week, the papers reported.
"Tao Suranari", which details the eponymous heroine's victory over Laotian
leader Chao Anuwong nearly 200 years ago, could create misunderstandings between
Laos and Thailand, the communists said.
Thaksin told his hosts that because Thailand is a free country he could not
force the Thai politician planning to produce the film, Korn Dabbaransi, to
shelve the project.
"I believe Mr. Korn knows that the movie can cause disunity between
Thailand and Laos," he said, according to The Bangkok Post.
Ties with Laos are gradually improving since a war of words -- sparked by a
spectacular cross-border raid against a Lao customs post staged by Lao emigres
last July -- dogged relations through the second half of last year.
"If any scene could worsen relations with Laos, the part should be
skipped," Senate Speaker Pichet Pattanachot told The Nation newspaper.
The warning came after another nationalistic film, "Bang Rajan", inflamed
tensions with Thailand's other neighbour Myanmar, as the two bickered this year
over responsibility for their border drugs trade.
The wildly popular film tells the 19th century story of the heroic, if
ultimately vain, struggle of a Thai village, Bang Rajan, to fend off invading
Burmese troops.
Myanmar has issued complaints through the official press that Thai films
and media reports have tried to smear the military-run country's
reputation.
The junta was particularly unhappy with the Thai military's decision to
show the blockbuster film to new recruits, just weeks after a bloody half-day
border clash between the two armies in February.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Hoovers - June 17, 2001
12:08am
Copper miner denies using forced
labour in Myanmar: Ivanhoe annual meeting: Company officials
come prepared to challenge protestors
Source: Financial Post, June 16, 2001, Page 9
DREW HASSELBACK
VANCOUVER - Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. denied yesterday it uses forced labour at
its copper mine in Myanmar and said it remains committed to a US$280-million
expansion of the project.
Ivanhoe, which is chaired by mining promoter Robert Friedland, owns 50% of
the Monywa Copper Project in Myanmar. The other half is owned by the Myanmar
government.
Forced labour is something that is abhorrent to directors, to all of the
management, and to anyone right-minded. We have a policy where, I can assure
you, we do not use forced labour, Daniel Kunz, Ivanhoe's president, told
shareholders at the company's annual meeting yesterday.
About 40 protestors yesterday picketed the Vancouver hotel where Ivanhoe's
annual meeting was held. They complained of Myanmar's human rights record and
handed out leaflets criticizing the country for allowing forced labour.
Some critics have demanded Ivanhoe quit Myanmar, formerly known as Burma,
entirely.
Mr. Kunz said Ivanhoe's investment in Myanmar uses no government-produced
infrastructure that has been built with involuntary labour.
The company was prepared to be challenged about the human rights issue at
yesterday's meeting. Ivanhoe handed out a prepared statement to all
shareholders. There has never been any evidence that Ivanhoe has ever used
forced labour, and there is not a whit of evidence that Ivanhoe's investment is
contributing to the use of involuntary labour in Myanmar, it said.
In an interview after the meeting, Mr. Kunz said Ivanhoe has received
competing offers to supply the US$280-million in loan financing the company
needs to expand the second phase of the Monywa project. The company wants to
increase annual production to 125,000 tonnes by 2003, up from the present level
of 30,000 tonnes.
Ivanhoe has been looking for the financing since February, when Mr.
Friedland conducted a week-long Canadian road show to promote the company.
Mr. Kunz said it has not been hard to interest lenders from Asia in backing
the expansion. Two potential lenders have submitted bids. That' s not a lot of
money when you consider the size of resource we're talking about here.
Mr. Friedland did not attend.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - June 17,
2001.
Rangers shoot two dead, seize
pills
Chiang Rai-Rangers seized 50,000 methamphetamine pills and shot dead two
Akha tribesmen in a clash with a drug convoy near the border in Mae Fah Luang
district early yesterday.
Acting on a tip-off, 10 rangers were sent to Ban Igor Arbae where a group
of hilltribesmen was about to cross the border from Burma to deliver the drugs
to Thai traffickers.
At 2.45 am, the rangers spotted the convoy and ordered it to stop but the
hilltribesmen opened fire.
The rangers returned the fire.
The group retreated into Burma, leaving behind two bodies, two assault
rifles and 50,000 methamphetamine tablets.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - June 17,
2001.
Premier sends party ahead of his
arrival
Team to hold prior talks on three pacts Wassana Nanuam
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has sent an advance team to Burma ahead
of his visit on Tuesday.
The move comes amid criticism about an overlap of responsibility between
Defence Ministry staff and Mr Thaksin's adviser Gen Chettha Thanajaro, as staff
prepare for the visit.
Mr Thaksin's five people left for Rangoon on Friday.
They will meet the Burmese foreign minister to discuss details of three
pacts.
The agreements on drug suppression, border demarcation, and trade
co-operation will be signed by Mr Thaksin and Burmese military leaders.
The advance team comprises Armed Forces chief-of-staff Gen Sommai
Vichavorn, Gen Vichit Yathip, head of the defence minister's staff officers,
Maj-Gen Niphat Thonglek, chief-of-staff attached to Gen Chettha,
director-general of the East Asian Affairs department Krit Kanchanakunchorn, and
a National Security Council official.
"The team was set up at the demand of Mr Thaksin who wants all people
concerned to work with unity.
"If there is success, it's because of them all," the source said.
Third Army commander Lt-Gen Watanachai Chaimuanwong said the military would
try to ensure normal relations along the Thai-Burmese border during the
talks.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - June 17,
2001.
Son of Burma strongman killed in
crash
The son of Burma's number three strongman Gen Win Myint was killed in a car
accident in Bahosi township on the outskirts of Rangoon on June 11.
According to sources in Rangoon, the 21-year-old ran his car into a truck.
He was taken to Rangoon General Hospital where he died on arrival.
Bahosi is where the Rangoon Prison was once located.
Burmese people believe it was an act of God for the atrocities inflicted on
them.
Gen Win Myint is the third secretary of Burma's State Peace and Development
Council. Second secretary Gen Tin Oo was killed in a helicopter accident a few
months ago. His position is yet to be filled.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar's Domestic Tax Revenue Up
in First Two Months
2001.06.16 10:20:00 YANGON, June 16 (Xinhuanet) --
Myanmar's State Internal Revenue Department (SIRD) received a total of
8.275 billion Kyats (18.38 million U.S. dollars) in domestic revenue from
various taxes in the first two months of this year, up 14.87 percent from
the same period of 2000, according to the latest official Economic
Indicators.
Of the revenue obtained during the two-month period, 62 percent were from
commodities and services taxes and commercial tax, 13.4 percent from state
lottery, 12.1 percent from profit tax, 9.2 percent from income tax and 3.3
percent from stamp duties.
In Myanmar, individual citizens having an income amounting to 10,001
Kyats (about 22.2 dollars) and above are assessed to tax under the
country's Income Tax Law which also covers cooperatives, companies and joint
venture enterprises.
However, salary recipients are not required to pay for income tax as
the tax has been paid by way of deduction at their income sources,
according to the SIRD.
According to official statistics, Myanmar received 53.25 billion
Kyats (118.3 million dollars) in domestic revenue from various taxes in
2000.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar Seizes Large Amount of
Stimulant Drugs
2001.06.17 10:37:41 YANGON, June 17 (Xinhuanet) --
The Myanmar authorities seized 131, 600 tablets of stimulant drugs in Tachilek,
the country's eastern Shan state, earlier this month, state-run newspaper
The New Light of Myanmar reported Sunday.
The seizure, which includes 62.8 kilograms of stimulant dough for
producing such tablets, was made by a combined team comprising local
intelligence unit and the police force when they searched a house in the
area on June 9.
A woman, who was also charged with illegally possessing a gun, was
arrested in connection with the case, the report said.
According to official statistics, in 2000, the Myanmar authorities
confiscated 26.6 million tablets of stimulant drugs along with 1.52 tons
of opium, 158 kilograms of heroin and 590 kilograms of
marijuana.
Besides, during the first quarter of this year, the authorities exposed a
total of 766 drug-related cases, seizing 331 kilograms of opium and 13.28
kilograms of heroin and punishing 1,080 drug offenders involved in the
cases, the statistics show.
PlanetRice.net - June 16, 2001
Thai-North Korea Deal Fails; Myanmar May
Export 300,000 Tons
Barges of rice in Thailand. Source: Sun Thai
BANGKOK--Asian rice prices held firm on June 14, as Thailand faced tight
local supplies after recent heavy rain, and as North Korea held talks with
Thailand during the worst drought in years, Reuters reported. "Recent rains in
Thailand have disrupted the drying process of the rice, resulting in fewer
supplies coming onto the market," a trader said. "Supplies are hard to find."
Millers can dry unhusked rice with drying machines, but most prefer to dry
it in the sun to cut costs and improve the taste, Reuters reported.
With high demand from Asia, and also from Nigeria, Thai 100 percent
parboiled grade was quoted at US$193-$195, FOB, up from around $185-$187 last
week.
Vietnamese rice prices are likely to ease in coming weeks as millers are
expected to release some old stocks to clear warehouses before new supplies from
the summer-autumn crop arrive later this month.
"Most millers have held onto their stocks, but in coming weeks they need to
release the old stock from warehouses to have enough space for new rice crop," a
trader told Reuters.
Thai 25 percent broken grade was quoted higher at around $147-$149 from
last week's $145.
Vietnamese 25 percent broken grade was quoted steady at $136. Myanmar 25
percent broken grade was quoted at $122-$123.
Thailand talks with North Korea
The North Korean commercial counselor to Thailand, Rim Jong Duk, held talks
this week with Thai Commerce Minister Adisai Bodharamik, trade sources told
Reuters.
"They held talks at the Thai commerce ministry, but not even senior trade
officials were allowed in the meeting," a source said.
Thailand and North Korea failed in April to finalize an agreement for North
Korea to buy up to 500,000 metric tons of Thai rice. The reasons were
disagreements on quality of the rice, and North Korea's failure to repay an
outstanding debt for previous rice purchases, Reuters reported.
North Korea's weak farm industry is suffering from the longest drought in
the nation's history.
The drought has continued through the rice-planting season that began in
mid-May, and has decimated the nation's fall harvest.
Myanmar (Burma) may export 300,000 tons
Myanmar is estimated to have up to 300,000 metric tons of rice to export,
traders told Reuters.
The military government, which controls the rice trade, was increasing
efforts to capture overseas markets by making prices cheaper than other Asian
rice, traders said.
The Geneva-based trading firm Novel recently signed a contract with the
Myanmar government to buy up to 10,000 tons of 25 percent broken rice grade at
around $122 per ton FOB, traders said.
London based-Louis Dreyfus has also bought 43,000 tons of Myanmar 25
percent broken rice grade for African markets for June/July shipment, traders
said. During January-May 2001, Myanmar exported a total of 119,000 tons of rice,
compared with only 23,000 tons exported in the same period last year, figures
from cargo surveyor Societe Generale de Surveillance Myanmar (SGS) showed.
The country shipped a total of 110,000 tons of rice in 2000, mainly to
Bangladesh, compared with a total of 63,700 tons exported in 1999.
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