|
----------------------------------------------------------------
BURMA RELATED NEWS - June 18,
2001.
----------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES
---------------------------------------------------------------- AP - Myanmar Press Halts Anti-Thai Rhetoric
Ahead Of Thaksin
AP - Thai PM Starts Cambodia Visit;To Ink
Maritime Borders MOU
AP - Cambodian Students Rally Against Thai
Premier's Visit
Bernama - Myanmar Takes Measures To Develop
Tourism
Bkk Post - Rivals agree to sign accords, build
trust
Bkk Post - Premier to cement ties, fix
relations
Bkk Post - Postbag - Burmese criticism is no
criticism at all
The Nation - Thaksin taking risk in Burma
The Nation - PM urged
to tip hat to Suu Kyi
Xinhuanet - Myanmar's Customs Duties Income Up
Sharply in 1st Two Months
Xinhuanet - Myanmar Takes Measures to Develop
Tourism
SCMP - Media criticism halted ahead of Thaksin
visit
SCMP - Uncertainty shrouds
releases
---------------------------------------------------------------- Monday June 18, 4:29 PM
Myanmar Press Halts Anti-Thai Rhetoric
Ahead Of Thaksin
YANGON (AP)--Myanmar's
state-dominated media suspended Monday its daily attacks on Thailand ahead of an
official visit by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
For the first time in months, none of the three official newspapers carried
commentaries critical of Thailand, which they have featured daily since
relations plunged after a border clash in February.
In a bid to patch up ties, Thaksin was due in Yangon on Tuesday for talks
with the leader of the Myanmar military regime, Gen. Than Shwe.
It would be the first visit by a Thai prime minister to Myanmar, also known
as Burma, since now-Defense Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh went in 1997.
The drugs trade that proliferates along the Thai-Myanmar border and lies at
the root of the tensions is expected to top the agenda.
Thailand accuses Myanmar of turning a blind eye to production and
trafficking of the illegal stimulant methamphetamine, which is smuggled into
Thailand in huge quantities.
Myanmar accuses Thailand of failing to tackle the drug problem within its
own borders, and of supporting Myanmar antigovernment guerrillas.
Banners welcoming Thaksin were put up along the route from the airport to
the government guest house where Thaksin was to stay. Flags of the two countries
festooned intersections and roundabouts.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Monday June 18, 7:46 PM
Thai PM Starts Cambodia Visit;To Ink
Maritime Borders MOU
PHNOM PENH (AP)--Thai Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, facing a nagging political problem at home, arrived
Monday on his first visit to Cambodia since taking office in February.
After moving through a greeting line of more than 50 officials at
Pochentong Airport, Thaksin was whisked away for a scheduled formal meeting with
his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen.
Thaksin is due to sign a landmark agreement on bilateral economic
cooperation during his two-day stay.
Thaksin and Hun Sen also will formally endorse a memorandum of
understanding on demarcation of offshore waters, which is seen as a key step
toward joint oil and gas exploration off the Cambodian and Thai coasts, said
Thai foreign ministry spokesman Norachit Sinhaseni.
Thaksin earlier Monday in Bangkok delivered a closing statement before the
Constitutional Court at his trial for concealing personal assets while serving
in a previous government. If found guilty he could be kicked out of his post and
barred from public office for five years.
Thai officials said the legal proceedings wouldn't distract Thaksin from
his work in Cambodia.
Though the maritime border between Thailand and Cambodia remains undefined,
earlier this month the two countries agreed to set up committees to work out
their territorial claims in the Gulf of Thailand.
The two prime ministers were also to sign a framework agreement on
cooperation in six economic sectors: infrastructure, trade and investment,
agriculture, industry, tourism and energy.
Spokesman Norachit said it was the first such comprehensive agreement
signed by Thailand with any of its neighbors.
Earlier Monday in Phnom Penh, more than 30 students demonstrated against
Thaksin's visit, accusing Thailand of encroaching on Cambodian soil.
The students started at the National Assembly and later appeared outside
the newly-built Thai embassy toting cartoon placards depicting Thais hoodwinking
Cambodians and stealing their land along the border.
Armed police followed the students but no confrontations were reported.
Border encroachment is a popular cause among Cambodian students, who also
accuse another neighbor, Vietnam, of territorial violations.
Norachit denied the encroachment charges and said the two countries were
cooperating to delineate their land and sea borders.
Thaksin is due to meet King Norodom Sihanouk Tuesday before departing on an
official visit to Myanmar, also known as Burma.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Monday June 18, 1:30 PM
Cambodian Students Rally Against Thai
Premier's Visit
PHNOM PENH (AP)--More than 30
Cambodian students staged a protest Monday against a visit by Thai Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and accused Thailand of encroaching on Cambodian
soil at the countries' land border.
Armed police monitored the demonstration outside the National Assembly,
held hours before Thaksin was due to arrive for his first visit to Cambodia
since taking office in February.
He is due to sign a landmark agreement on bilateral economic cooperation
during his two-day stay.
Thaksin will travel to Cambodia straight after appearing in the Thai
Constitutional Court in Bangkok to defend himself against corruption charges
that could see him kicked out of office. Thai officials say the case won't have
any bearing on his visit.
The students said they plan to rally along the roadside when Thaksin makes
his way from the airport into central Phnom Penh. Police were confident there
would be no violence or confrontations.
Border encroachment is a popular cause among Cambodian students, who accuse
another neighbor, Vietnam, of the same.
Sun Sokunmealea, the secretary-general of the Democratic Front of Khmer
Students and Intellectuals, said Thailand and Cambodia should respect boundaries
set more than 50 years ago when Cambodia was a French colony.
"There is no need for demarcation talks, so Thaksin can put that file
away," she said. She alleged that Thais had "shamelessly" encroached over the
border and erected Buddhist spirit houses on Cambodian soil as a ploy to steal
territory.
Norachit Sinhaseni, the Thai foreign ministry spokesman, denied it and said
the two countries were together trying to delineate their land and sea borders.
He said Thaksin and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen, will formally
endorse a memorandum of understanding seen as an important step towards joint
oil and gas exploration in disputed waters off the Cambodian and Thai coasts.
Though the maritime border between the two neighbors remains undefined,
earlier this month the two countries agreed to set up committees to hash out
their territorial claims in the disputed Gulf of Thailand waters.
The two prime minister will also sign a framework agreement on cooperation
in six economic sectors: infrastructure, trade and investment, agriculture,
industry, tourism and energy.
Norachit said it was the first such comprehensive agreement signed by
Thailand with any of its neighbors.
Thaksin is scheduled to meet Hun Sen for official talks upon arrival then
have dinner with the premier. Tuesday, he is due to meet King Norodom Sihanouk,
before departing on an official visit to Myanmar.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Malaysian National News Agency
Myanmar Takes Measures To Develop
Tourism
YANGON, June 18 (Oana-Xinhua) -- Myanmar is rich in tourism resources such as scenic beauties and cultural heritage including the world known Shwedagon Pagoda, Mandalay royal city and Bagan, a city of pagodas which constitutes the country's main tourist attractions. During the 40 years before 1988, the average annual number of foreign
tourists coming to Myanmar was only 30,000, bringing to the country some US$10
million of foreign exchange income through the sector annually.
Since the present Myanmar government came to power on Sept 18, 1988, it has
taken various measures to promote the tourism industry, including enactment of
tourism law, establishment of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and extension
of the period of stay for foreign tourists in Myanmar.--Oana-Xinhua
---------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - June 18.
2001.
Rivals agree to sign accords,
build trust
Thaksin's visit set to begin tomorrow Wassana Nanuam
Thailand and Burma will sign a memorandum of understanding on drug
suppression and a 21-point joint communique during Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra's visit, a military source said.
Mr Thaksin will be in Rangoon tomorrow and Wednesday.
In the communique, six points of which were proposed by Rangoon, Burma
agreed to take part in a four-way drugs meeting in Kunming with China, Laos and
Thailand.
The source said Burma rejected Thailand's proposal to set up two joint task
forces, one for joint border defence and the other for drug suppression
operations.
Burma proposed instead the two countries make use of existing mechanisms at
all levels to peacefully solve problems.
The mechanisms include the township border committee (TBC), regional border
committee (RBC) and joint boundary committee (JBC).
The JBC, which was responsible for border demarcation, was formerly
co-chaired by deputy foreign ministers from the two countries.
Since Thailand currently does not have a deputy foreign minister, it would
be represented by Pracha Gunakasem, adviser to the foreign minister.
Burma was not ready to agree on disputed border areas like Doi Lang in Mae
Ai district, Chiang Mai, and Kuteng Nayong in Mae Sai district, Chiang
Rai.
The communique just requires both sides to build mutual trust and respect
for each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The source said Burma was very careful with the wording of the MOU and
joint communique, leaving details on several issues for further
negotiations.
In the joint communique, Burma wanted Thailand to support the construction
of Myawaddy-Pa-an and Myawaddy-Tavoy roads to promote trade and tourism.
Burma also agreed to reopen border checkpoints at Mae Sai-Tachilek, Mae
Sot-Myawaddy and Ranong-Kawthaung. "Burma refused to discuss fishery
concessions. But Burma was expected to consider returning the concessions to
Thailand after the opening of the Ranong-Kawthaung checkpoint," the source
said.
Burma asked Thailand for educational support through the Asean University
project and public health education, especially regarding HIV and Aids. It
sought information on the V-1 Immunitor pill, claimed by its manufacturers to be
a health product and distributed to Aids patients here by a charity
foundation.
The MOU and joint communique were worked out in Rangoon by an advance team
led by Gen Sommai Wichaworn, the armed forces chief-of-staff, Gen Vichit Yathip,
chief of staff officers attached to the defence minister, and Krit
Kanchanakunchorn, director-general of the Foreign Ministry's East Asian Affairs
Department. The team visited Rangoon on Friday and Saturday and worked closely
with Burma's Deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung Win.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - June 18,
2001.
Premier to cement ties, fix
relations
Rangoon trip seen as healing process Bhanravee Tansubhapol and Yuwadee Tunyasiri
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will cement ties with Cambodia and patch
up relations with Burma when he launches the last leg of his visit to Thailand's
neighbouring countries beginning today, officials and analysts said.
Government officials are confident the premier will fly from Phnom Penh
directly to Rangoon tomorrow after fostering bilateral economic co-operation
with Cambodia.
The two countries, represented by their foreign ministers, will sign
memorandums of understanding on overlapping maritime claims and a blueprint for
economic co-operation.
The economic blueprint is the first with a neighbouring country to develop
border areas infrastructure, trade and investment, agriculture, industry and
tourism. It will reflect a growing trust and confidence between the two
governments in working together, a government official said.
With the framework of co-operation to be put in place Cambodia would get
the most benefits, the official said.
At the same time it would end duplication of assistance from various Thai
government agencies, especially financial support, to Cambodia.
The trip to Burma tomorrow and Wednesday is seen as "a healing process" to
return relations back to normal.
Burma rejected all co-operation proposed by Thailand from scholarship to
fishery, except that in health care programmes. Rangoon has also banned the
import of energy drinks and monosodium glutamate from Thailand.
Thai investors in Rangoon have been affected by soured relations and are
hoping this high-level visit will help improve their business.
The most important part of Mr Thaksin's trip was rebuilding trust with
Burma and seeking co-operation in the fight against drugs, an analyst
said.
The many reasons said to have caused relations to deteriorate include
Burma's dissatisfaction over what it claims is Thai support for the Shan State
Army; for not supporting Burma in the International Labour Organisation;
allowing the Thai media to criticise Rangoon; and being the only Asean country
which former premier Chuan Leekpai decided not to visit.
Sunai Phasuk, a researcher of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development
(Forum Asia), said although he was against Mr Thaksin's trip to Burma, he hoped
he would be able to clear up misunderstandings with Rangoon.
"Mistrust and suspicion has now reached its deepest point in relations in
the last decade," he said.
Mr Sunai was worried Thailand might end up in a game plan set by Burma.
"I don't know what Thailand has to offer in exchange for this trip," he
said.
At least Rangoon had sent a signal of its readiness to negotiate with
Thailand by suspending verbal and media attacks on the government two weeks ago,
and turning instead to the Thai media as a target.
In Rangoon, Mr Thaksin will witness the signing of a memorandum of
understanding on drug co-operation by Thai and Burmese foreign ministers.
Thailand expects the two countries will soon exchange drug suppression
officials.
"The drug issue is a fundamental problem," an official said.
Thai-Burmese relations worsened after Mr Thaksin said in March that Mong
Yawn was a production base for the methamphetamine pills plaguing
Thailand.
His remark "made Burma lose face", another analyst said. The summit between
leaders of the two countries was the only way to tackle the problem.
Mr Thaksin and Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai have both expressed
confidence this visit would be able to clear up misunderstandings, which were
"sensitive" issues between the two neighbours.
In the Burmese capital, the prime minister will hold talks with his Burmese
counterpart Than Shwe, Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, the first secretary of the State Peace
and Development Council, and Thai businessmen.
Mr Thaksin said he would have a heart-to-heart conversation with the
Burmese leaders.
There should be a hotline between the two countries so problems could be
solved immediately, he said.
"I am going there to solve, not to create, problems," the prime minister
said.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - June 18,
2001.
Postbag - Burmese criticism is no
criticism at all
Shunyam Nirav Hawaii So the Burmese textbook author says Thai people are "given to fun and the
appreciation of beauty", and are lazy.
Thais occur to me as some of the most industrious and enterprising people
in the region. Where are Burma's huge agricultural, manufacturing and tourist
industries? It is hardly in a position to criticise.
And to dislike fun, beauty, and relaxation-this is almost the definition of
a barbarian. Conversely, a culture that does appreciate fun, beauty and
relaxation very much, as does Thailand, is almost by definition a very refined
and advanced culture.
There are more than enough serious, ugly, tense countries on this planet.
If they would follow Thailand's example and give themselves more to fun, beauty
and relaxation, this would be a much happier, peaceful and prosperous
world.
---------------------------------------------------------------- The Nation - June 18,
2001.
REGIONAL TOUR: Thaksin taking risk
in Burma
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra leaves Bangkok today on official visits
to Thailand's two close neighbours, Cambodia and Burma, countries which not so
long ago shared one thing in common - an internal political armed
conflict.
The presence of tens of thousands of Burmese refugees along the border as a
result of Burma's political conflicts and the spill-over of fighting between
Burmese troops and ethnic armed rebels |is clear in many people's
memories.
And this serves to remind us how painstakingly Thai border villagers had to
endure the same problem during the Cambodian conflicts of the1980's and early
1990's
Only at the end of Cambodian conflicts in 1991, did Thailand begin to move
with speed in normalising its ties with Cambodia, not without leaving a legacy
of ragged nerve-ends exacerbated by boundary disputes.
Nevertheless, the leaders of both countries managed to resolve their
problems amicably.
Thaksin's visit to Cambodia will be "icing on the cake", building on past
efforts to restore trust and resume normal economic relations with our
neighbours.
He will witness the signing of two historic agreements between Thailand and
Cambodia during his two-day visit.
One will delimit their mutual sea boundary and jointly develop their
overlapping maritime borders.
Another is a framework agreement on comprehensive economic
cooperation.
The late prime minister Chatichai Choonhavan helped open doors for economic
opportunities to the war-torn Indochina by his popular policy of turning the
Indo-Chinese battle field into a marketplace and thus laying the groundwork for
boundary demarcation.
Former premier Anand Panyarachun emphasised trust-building with Thailand's
neighbours.
Their successors, including Chuan Leekpai and Banharn Silpaarcha, have
followed |suit although with different emphases.
Banharn was the first Thai prime minister to visit Burma in a decade when
he travelled to Rangoon in 1995.
However under Chuan's administration, Thailand has achieved a more balanced
relationship with Burma. Whilst maintaining economic co-operation, the country
fully encouraged political dialogue between |the Burmese military junta and
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Like it or not, Thaksin sets his own record as being the first Thai prime
minister to visit Burma and is in favour of what he believes to be sincere
efforts to solve pressing problems.
His visit was preceded by three months of unprecedented turbulence, mainly
stemming from his highly-publicised anti-drug campaign which blamed Rangoon for
the massive influx of stimulant pills into Thailand.
He dispatched Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai and PM Office Minister
Thammarak Issarangura on separate fence-mending missions to Burma only to
encounter new obstacles.
Rangoon has tactically pushed the limit too far, using the media to play up
the historic rivalry between Thailand and Burma and by criticising this
country's highly revered monarchy.
Without giving a clear signal or a sign of repentance, this tactic
effectively prompted Thaksin to hastily arrange his visit to Rangoon before
Burmese Foreign Minsiter Win Aung's trip to Thailand next week.
In the latest spate, widely publicised here this past week, Burma released
a new history textbook for elementary schoolchildren, portraying Thais as
servile and lazy.
It seemed an unnecessary insult to throw at Thailand, particularly on the
eve of an important visit such as the one taking place in Rangoon today.
It would be interesting to be a fly on wall, tuning-in to the private
discussions to be held between our two countries' most important leaders, to
hear precisely how Thaksin deals with these latest slanderous attacks which were
clearly authorised by those in charge in Burma.
His visit is considered highly risky since he has played Thailand's last
remaining card in his dealings with Burma.
Securing, the anti-drug cooperation as well as a united front on border
controls would certainly help improve the atmosphere after the recent period of
diplomatic turbulence.
But Thailand's approach to its future relationship with Burma will never be
the same.
---------------------------------------------------------------- The Nation - June 18,
2001.
PM urged to tip hat to Suu Kyi
Jeerawat Na Thalang
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra should send a delegate to meet opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi during his visit to Burma, Kobsak Chutikul, deputy
chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said yesterday.
Kobsak said it would show Thailand's determination to support national
reconciliation in the country, and rid the Burmese of suspicions about
Thailand.
Kobsak, an MP under the Chat Thai banner, also said in an interview with
The Nation that the prime minister should expect to achieve some fundamental
short-term gains such as the reopening of border checkpoints and an agreement on
stopping cross-border drug-smuggling.
Describing the visit as Thailand's last card, Kobsak said the fact Thailand
had made the first move in visiting Burma meant it would "lessen our bargaining
strength." Thaksin believes the visit will reduce tension and dispel mistrust,
crucial to the resumption of normal border activities and the firming up of
anti-drug-smuggling cooperation.
But Kobsak said Thaksin should think of long-term solutions rather than
short-term sentiment with regard to his visit. He said the prime minister's
visit should certainly reduce tension between the two countries, but added: "I
am doubtful if this will be sustained."
He said that since Thai-Burmese tensions were the result of internal
problems in Burma, Thailand should aim to help Burma address the root
causes.
"If Thai leaders meet the junta leaders while ignoring 80 to 90 per cent of
the population [who voted for Suu Kyi] it may leave feelings of distrust among
the Burmese people," Kobsak said. He then cited the visits of other Asean
leaders such as Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia, Abdulrrahman Wahid of Indonesia
and Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, who have all sent delegates to meet
Suu Kyi. He said the absence of such a gesture from his schedule would send the
wrong signal to the international community, especially after the more balanced
engagement policy pursued by previous governments.
Meanwhile, Thaksin yesterday remained unperturbed by the latest Burmese
news report suggesting that he might not get a red-carpet welcome in Rangoon,
saying he cared more for substance than for formality.
Thaksin said he believed that high-level talks with the Burmese leaders
would eliminate problems between the two countries, including negative media
reports from both sides.
The prime minister said an advance party preparing his visit had confirmed
that all agreements he would sign during the visit had been secured.
Thaksin was responding to the latest commentary by Burmese-language
newspaper Myanma Ahlin suggesting he might not get a very warm welcome.
The daily paper on Saturday blamed some Thai officials and members of the
military, as well as the Thai media, for creating misunderstanding and driving a
wedge in ties between the two countries.
The author of the article pointed out that Thailand had portrayed Burma in
a negative light in its school textbooks and films and repeated familiar charges
about Thailand's support for Burmese anti-government groups.
The commentary charged that Lt-General Wattanachai Chai-muanwong, the
regional army commander for northern Thailand, had given military support to the
"drug-trafficking terrorist" Yawd Serk when he was under attack by the Burmese
army during its offensive against the Shan ethnic rebels.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar's Customs Duties Income Up
Sharply in 1st Two Months
2001.06.18 15:07:49 YANGON, June 18 (Xinhuanet) --
Myanmar received 771.1 million U.S. dollars from customs duties in the
first two months of this year, 394.58 percent more than the same period of
2000 when it registered at 155.91 million dollars with the income,
according to the latest figures released by the country's Central
Statistical Organization.
The sharp increase of the country's customs duties income in the
two-month period was attributed to the high income from import duties in
February alone with 711.32 million dollars. This phenomena was also linked
to the strict management and supervision of the country's Customs
Department.
The main source of Myanmar's customs duties income comes from import
through normal trade and border trade, of which the import customs duties
income earned through normal trade accounted for 89. 32 percent of the
total.
To promote agricultural development, Myanmar government has exempted
import customs duties levied on agricultural implements including
fertilizer, pesticide and improved variety and machinery.
According to official statistics, in 2000, Myanmar earned 891 million
dollars from customs duties and its foreign trade totaled 4.086 billion
dollars in the year, of which imports amounted to 2. 567 billion dollars, while
exports were valued at 1.519 billion dollars.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar Takes Measures to Develop
Tourism
2001.06.18 10:20:47 YANGON, June 18 (Xinhuanet) --
Myanmar is rich in tourism resources such as scenic beauties and cultural
heritage including the world known Shwedagon Pagoda, Mandalay royal city
and Bagan, a city of pagodas which constitutes the country's main tourist
attractions.
During the 40 years before 1988, the average annual number of foreign
tourists coming to Myanmar was only 30,000, bringing to the country some
10 million U.S. dollars of foreign exchange income through the sector
annually.
Since the present Myanmar government came to power on September 18, 1988,
it has taken various measures to promote the tourism industry, including
enactment of tourism law, establishment of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism
and extension of the period of stay for foreign tourists in Myanmar.
Myanmar enacted in June 1990 its first Tourism Law since it regained
independence in 1948. The government had extended in May 1989 the period
of stay for tourists from seven days to 14 and again further extended it
in 1993 to 28 days.
Meanwhile, the government also encouraged local private sector and
foreign entrepreneurs to engage in the tourism industry.
In the past, tourism was monopolized by the state until 1988 when
there were only 39 hotels and motels with 1,240 rooms in
Myanmar.
Since opening to foreign investment at the end of 1988, Myanmar has
attracted 1.054 billion dollars of tourism-related investment in the
sector of hotels and tourism in 42 projects.
So far, there has been 492 different hotels and motels with 13, 984 rooms
in Myanmar. Of them, 21 are foreign-invested, four are joint
ventures, 439 are private-run and 28 are state-owned.
There has also been 521 licensed travels and tours companies in the
country, of which 508 are private-operated, 12 are joint ventures and one
is foreign-owned.
The number of registered tourist guides reached 3,768, of whom
English language guides accounted for 2,644, while Japanese guides took 486,
Chinese guides 222 and French guides 189.
Meanwhile, Myanmar also enhanced construction of tourism- related
infrastructures and improved tourism environment.
The government, in addition to renovating the Yangon International
Airport, has also built another international airport in the second
largest city of Mandalay which can accommodate larger aircraft.
At present, the government is also building a third international
airport -- The Hantharwaddy Airport -- in Bago city, 80 kilometers from
Yangon.
Besides, Myanmar has also forged international aviation links with
countries and regions like Brunei, India, Malaysia and China' s Macao in the
last few years in addition to the existing links.
At the same time, Myanmar's domestic private airlines have also extended
their flights to the border towns of neighboring Thailand, and their chartered
planes are allowed to land on Myanmar's tourist sites since
1993.
Myanmar also cooperates with other countries in the sector of
tourism. In the last few years, Myanmar signed a number of tourism cooperation
accords with China, Thailand, Singapore and others.
Myanmar also sponsored a series of travel shows in Thailand and Singapore,
sending selected students to Singapore to receive tourism-related
knowledge and skill training.
According to the data released by Myanmar's Central Statistical
Organization, in 2000, the number of foreign tourists visiting Myanmar
reached 234,900 and the foreign exchange earning reached 30 million
dollars.
At present, the main obstacles that restrain the development of the tourism
industry in the country are the impact of the Asian financial crisis, the
economic sanctions imposed by the United States-led Western countries as
well as the 10-year-long political crisis between the Myanmar military
government and the opposition National League for Democracy led by Aung
San Suu Kyi.
Myanmar's short-term target is to draw 500,000 foreign tourists
annually.
---------------------------------------------------------------- South China Morning Post
Monday, June 18, 2001
BURMA - Media criticism halted ahead of
Thaksin visit
ASSOCIATED PRESS in Rangoon Burma's state-dominated media suspended on Monday its daily attacks on
Thailand ahead of an official visit by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra.
For the first time in months, none of the three official newspapers carried
commentaries critical of Thailand, which they have featured daily since
relations plunged after a border clash in February.
In a bid to patch up ties, Mr Thaksin was due in Rangoon on Tuesday for
talks with the leader of the military regime, General Than Shwe.
It would be the first visit by a Thai prime minister Burma, since
now-Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh went in 1997.
The drugs trade that proliferates along the Thai-Myanmar border and lies at
the root of the tensions is expected to top the agenda.
Thailand accuses Burma of turning a blind eye to production and trafficking
of the illegal stimulant methamphetamine, which is smuggled into Thailand in
huge quantities.
Rangoon accuses Thailand of failing to tackle the drug problem within its
own borders, and of supporting Burmese anti-government guerillas.
Banners welcoming Mr Thaksin were put up along the route from the airport
to the government guest house where he was to stay. Flags of the two countries
festooned intersections and roundabouts.
---------------------------------------------------------------- South China Morning Post
Monday, June 18, 2001
BURMA - Uncertainty shrouds
releases
DEUTSCHE PRESSE-AGENTUR in Rangoon The junta released two top opposition leaders on Friday after nine months
of house arrest, but it was unclear yesterday whether their release was
temporary or final, military and opposition sources in Burma said.
National League for Democracy (NLD) chairman Aung Shwe and vice-chairman Tin Oo were released to attend the funeral of Lieutenant-Colonel Sein Ban on Saturday, sparking rumours the ruling junta had lifted restrictions on their movements. Their whereabouts yesterday were unknown. The regime released another eight prominent leaders of the NLD and four
other opposition figures on Friday.
The releases came in the wake of a recent visit to Burma by United Nations
envoy Razali Ismail.
In its statement confirming last week's releases, the Government said they
came about because of an understanding between the Government and NLD.
Rumours in Rangoon suggest the military is about to lift similar
restrictions on the movements of NLD secretary-general Aung San Suu Kyi, perhaps
before her birthday on Tuesday.
The release of Aung Shwe and Tin Oo followed the release of a group of NLD
politicians from jail last week, in what was seen as a major move towards
conciliation between the regime and the opposition party, which won the May 1990
general election but has been denied political power for the past decade.
Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been holding talks with the military since last
October, has insisted on the release from jail of all NLD politicians as a
precondition to keeping the dialogue going, opposition sources said.
Nine fairly senior NLD political prisoners were freed from Insein jail on
Wednesday and Thursday.
The junta has also allowed more than a dozen NLD provincial offices to
reopen.
---------------------------------------------------------------- |