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BURMA RELATED NEWS - August 09,
2001.
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HEADLINES
------------------------------------------------------------------ Asia Pulse - Asean Celebrates Its 34TH
Anniversary
Reuters - Oil India to resume work in Arunachal
Pradesh
The Daily Star - Exhibition of Bangladeshi goods
in Myanmar in Oct
NSTP - YANGON - Rakan Muda Zodiac aircraft
arrives safely
Bkk Post - Bold stance urged on
talks
Bkk Post - Border warning
The Nation - WAR ON DRUGS: Chiang Rai ya ba
seizures 'doubling'
The Nation - Protesters urge junta to reopen
universities
Xinhuanet - 442,264 Motor Vehicles in Operation
in Myanmar
Xinhuanet - Myanmar Produces More Cement in
First Quarter
Reuters - Bangladesh says 10 wounded by Myanmar
firing
ABC online - Thailand to repatriate 16 hundred
Burmese refugees
------------------------------------------------------------------ Thursday August 9, 1:47 PM
Asean Celebrates Its 34TH Anniversary MANILA, Aug 9 Asia Pulse - The
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) commemorated its 34th founding
anniversary Wednesday, with Manila claiming credit for espousing the deeper
integration of ASEAN economies into what is now known as the ASEAN Free Trade
Area [AFTA].
In his message at a program attended by ambassadors of the ASEAN-member
countries and other members of the diplomatic corps, Acting President and
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teofisto Guingona, Jr. noted ASEAN's birth pains
"in a milieu of external threats and of uncertainties spawned by global power
politics."
But now, he said, the Philippines, for example, has "been bold and
visionary," initiating the "Joint Statement on East Asia Cooperation," at the
Manila Summit of 1999, which was adopted by the leaders of the ASEAN and China,
Korea and Japan.
Guingona asserted that "the Philippines has much ground to assert
leadership in many ASEAN functional ideals."
The Manila statement committed the ASEAN +3 to economic, monetary and
financial cooperation, as well as collaboration in such areas a social and human
resources, transnational concerns, and environmental protection.
The nucleus ASEAN of five was composed of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand,
Singapore and the Philippines, eventually including Brunei as the 6th member.
Vietnam joined as the 7th member with Laos and Myanmar, joining together as
member no. 8 and 9 and finally Cambodia, completing the 10-member grouping.
Japan, China and Korea are known as Dialogue Partners.
Though ASEAN was formed in Bangkok in 1967, in a document known as the
Bangkok Declaration, this was not ratified until 1976, when, at the instance of
the Philippines, the ASEAN first Summit conference was held in Bali.
Quoting a study, Guingona further noted that "close collaboration among
ASEAN countries offered tremendous benefits to both the Philippine government
and the private sector."
He asked that ordinary citizens of ASEAN "take ownership" of the ASEAN
vision instead of being an exclusive prerogative of governments. Short of
mentioning the term "civil society", Guingona also urged political parties,
advocacy groups and non-governmental organization, to be more intimately
involved in the ASEAN's long-term objective of "human security and
development."
------------------------------------------------------------------ Thursday August 9, 2:11 PM
Oil India to resume work in Arunachal Pradesh GUWAHATI, India, August 9 (Reuters) - Oil India Ltd (OIL) has decided to
resume operations at a remote oil well in India's northeastern Arunachal Pradesh
state after authorities promised security to its employees, a company spokesman
said on Thursday.
"OIL has decided to start activities at Khumsai, in Arunachal Pradesh,
where all our operations were shut down early this month following an extortion
demand from a tribal militant group," the company spokesman told Reuters.
He said the decision was taken by top company officials after discussions
with the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh in which he promised to provide
security to the company's officials.
Arunachal Pradesh shares borders with China and Myanmar.
The separatist National Socialist Council of Nagaland had demanded six
million rupees ($127,334) from the company and its employees working at Khumsai.
The guerrillas set July 31 as the deadline to make the payment.
Immediately, the state-owned company suspended exploration and oil drilling
activities in the area and evacuated 130 employees to safer locations.
The oil well produces about 100 kilolitres (629 barrels) of crude daily.
Four of India's oil refineries in the northeastern state of Assam are fed by
OIL's wells spread across the region.
------------------------------------------------------------------ The Daily Star - August 09,
2001.
Exhibition of Bangladeshi goods in
Myanmar in Oct
UNB, Dhaka
A solo exhibition of Bangladeshi goods will be held in Myanmar in the first
week of October to develop an export market there. Besides, Export Promotion
Bureau (EPB) of Bangladesh will arrange similar exhibitions of Bangladeshi goods
in Katmandu and Saudi Arabia soon, EPB director Faridul Hasan told a meeting
with Chittagong Chamber and Bangladesh-Myanmar Business Promotion Council
(BMBPC) in Chittagong yesterday.
Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) president Farid Ahmed
Chowdhury said the huge reserves of bamboo and limestone in the Rakhain state of
Myanmar, close to Bangladesh border, would be more feasible to use commercially
by Bangladesh in establishing cement and paper pulp industry.
But, it is necessary to construct a bridge over the river Naf and jetties
at the riverbanks on both its two sides to take the advantage and turn the trade
potential into reality, he said.
"We'll have to develop bilateral economic relation with Myanmar on the
basis of regional cooperation due to face the reality of competitive global
economic scenario," said BMBPC chairman Rashed Maksud Khan.
He said other countries will make use of the advantage if the two countries
fail to utilise the natural resources of both sides despite existing
opportunities.
Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia are now considering investment in Myanmar
due to its resources, he added.
CCCI senior vice president SM Nurul Huq, vice president MA Latif, BMBPC
vice chairman Syed Mahmudul Huq, EPB Director in Chittagong Kazi Mahbubur
Rahman, former CCCI president Engr Ali Ahmed and Youngone Corporation chairman
Kihak Sung also spoke at the meeting, said a press release.
------------------------------------------------------------------ The New Straits Times Press
YANGON - Rakan Muda Zodiac aircraft
arrives safely
By Patrick Sennyah 08 August 2001 The two Rakan Muda Zodiac aircraft which left the Sungei Besi airforce base
on Aug 5 for the Asean Voyage of Friendship mission successfully arrived in
Mergui, Myanmar at 8am today (Yangon time).
The two aircraft had reached Kwangthoung in Myanmar on Aug 6 and were
scheduled to leave for Mergui, about 144 nautical miles away the same day.
However, according to Asean Voyage of Friendship co-ordinator Othman Harun,
bad weather conditions had hampered efforts to take off and the aircraft only
managed to leave Kwangthoung this morning.
The two Zodiac experimental aircraft, the 9M-ERM and 9M-ERA are assembled
by Rakan Muda volunteers and piloted by Colonel Zakaria Salleh , Shahrizal Azley
Suleiman and Affendy Syed Omar and B. Sivanesh respectively.
Othman said the flight path of the two Zodiacs, after arriving in Mergui
was to depart for Yangon, more than 500 miles away.
However, he said due to the uncertainty in the weather, the route had been
altered and the Zodiacs would fly to Bangkok tomorrow. The journey is expected
to take about three hours.
Meanwhile, the Rakan Muda participants and support entourage, including
members of the media on board airforce aircraft, CN235 arrived in Yangon
yesterday about 3.45pm (Yangon time).
The objective of the Asean Voyage of Friendship is to ensure that each
Asean country gets a personalised invitation scroll on their soil from the
Minister of Youth and Sports special envoy for his counterpart and the
people in those countries to attend the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur in
September.
Dr Ahmad Othman, who is the director of the Ministrys Skills Development
Division is scheduled to hand over the invitational scroll to Myanmar Sports
Minister Brigadier General Thura Aye Mint during a brief ceremony later
today.
Yangoon is the first country of the northern route for the Asean Voyage of
Friendship. Other countries are Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.
The support entourage is expected to leave Yangon for Vientiane in Laos
tomorrow where they will attend another handing over ceremony on Aug 10.
The two Zodiacs, upon their arrival in Bangkok tomorrow are scheduled to
refuel and leave for Veintiane where they will join the support entourage.
The Asean Voyage of Friendship 2001 was launched by Prime Minister Datuk
Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad on July 14 as part of the Rakan Muda Aviation
Development Programme.
------------------------------------------------------------------ Bangkok Post - August 09,
2001.
Bold stance urged on
talks
Personal ties yield but 'meagre' results Post Reporters
The government must be bolder with Burma now there are signs of a thaw in
relations, a member of the National Human Rights Commission said
yesterday.
The government should actively support talks towards national
reconciliation in Burma, and demand an end to the detention of opposition
politicians, said Jaran Dithaaphichai.
The ruling State Peace and Development Council and pro-democracy leader
Aung San Suu Kyi have held talks since last October.
But the junta continues to detain an estimated 1,800 political prisoners,
with Mrs Suu Kyi under virtual house arrest since last September.
Mr Jaran said the Thai government should adopt a more pro-active approach
now that the situation had eased, rather than fall back on personal relations
between political and military leaders as it had done so far.
This approach was not sustainable and had yielded meagre results, he said,
citing border skirmishes that continued after Mr Thaksin's visit to Burma in
June.
Mr Jaran spoke at a panel discussion marking the 13th anniversary of the
Aug 8, 1988 pro-democracy uprising in Burma. He was not the only speaker urging
more of the government's stance towards Burma.
Suriyasri Katasiri, joint secretary of the Campaign for Popular Democracy,
said the government's Burma policy was devoid of principle. It had failed to
raise lapses in human rights and democracy.
Exiled Burmese pro-democracy groups and the Thai Action Committee for
Democracy in Burma issued statements calling for information on the talks
between Mrs Suu Kyi and the junta.
"It is hard to accept that the talks are genuinely making progress," said a
joint statement by the National League for Democracy, Democratic Party for a New
Society, All Burma Students Democratic Front, All Burma Federation Students
Union, and the Thai action group.
The groups also called for the release of all opposition politicians, and
freedom of communication and movement for Mrs Suu Kyi and other NLD
members.
In a separate statement, the National Coalition Government of the Union of
Burma said the absence of information about the talks between Mrs Suu Kyi and
the junta would only raise doubts.
The NCGUB and the Mon National Democratic Front also called for a
broadening of the talks to include ethnic minorities.
"Independent and genuine dialogue is the best way to restore national
reconciliation and democracy," the NCGUB said.
The Mon front added: "We will not accept the military government's
neo-colonialist policy of rule by one superior party."The NCGUB said it was
"impossible" to say Burmese political life had improved even though in the past
10 months authorities had released 180 political prisoners, and 18 NLD offices
had been opened.
The junta continued to hold all those political prisoners, limit the
freedom of political parties, abuse human rights and fight with ethnic
minorities, it said.
Meanwhile, Thailand will send the first batch of 5,000 illegal Burmese
immigrants now hiding in three refugee camps in Tak back to Burma on
Sunday.
Tha Song Yang district chief Vilat Pusilp said the undocumented aliens,
mostly Karen and Mon, had escaped arrest to stay with friends and relatives in
Mae La, Umpium and Nu Pho camps in Tha Song Yang, Phop Phra and Umphang
districts. Around 1,600 people from Mae La camp would be sent back this weekend,
each with 600 baht in travelling expenses, he said.
Camp director Prasong La-on said the Burmese were difficult to
control.
They had sneaked out of the camp at night to work for Thai farm owners.
Some had stolen crops or were hired to cut trees and hunt wild animals.
He said the repatriation was arranged by the Foreign Ministry and the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Maung Htay, 25, a Karen who will be deported, said he would petition the
UNHCR to stay in Mae La camp because he had nothing left at home.
------------------------------------------------------------------ Bangkok Post - August 09,
2001.
Border warning
Armed forces officers wanting to cross into Laos, Cambodia, Burma and
Malaysia must get permission, says Supreme Commander Gen Sampao Chusri.
This was to avoid a repeat of the July 27-Aug 2 abduction of four officers
and three anti-drug officials by the Red Wa in Burma.
Gen Sampao gave the order at a meeting yesterday of the armed forces
commanders. The kidnap victims, who have now been released, were found to have
travelled to Tachilek by themselves, not as part of an intelligence
operation.
------------------------------------------------------------------ The Nation - August - 09,
2001.
WAR ON DRUGS: Chiang Rai ya ba seizures
'doubling'
Don Pathan
The amount of methamphetamines confiscated by authorities in Chiang Rai
province over the past seven months is close to the total amount ceased by
provincial officials last year, a senior police officer said yesterday.
According to Pol Col Thanakit Teurnkaew, a deputy commander at the
provincial counter-narcotic unit, Chiang Rai authorities seized a total of
4,661,324 tablets of methamphetamines between January 1 and July 31 this year,
compared to a total of 5,583,477 for all of last year.
"At the rate we are going, we will double the entire amount we had
confiscated for the year 2000," Thanakit said.
Chiang Rai has for decades been a major drug route for illicit opium and
heroin - and in the recent years, methamphetamines - coming out of the infamous
Golden Triangle, an area where Thailand, Laos and Burma share a common
border.
"It's not that we are easing our counter-narcotic efforts. We have explored
every possible channel, including public relations, educating the masses and
setting up more checkpoints," Thanakit said.
"The problem is that producers still see the illicit business as something
that is worth the risk," he said.
Thanakit said traffickers had become more sophisticated, pointing to the
regular clashes with Thai soldiers along the border near Tak province as well as
a major drug bust earlier this year in the Andaman Sea.
"It's like a balloon affect. When the authorities squeeze one area, the
illicit activities pop up in another," he said.
According to Office of the Narcotic Control Board estimates, about 90 per
cent of illicit drugs produced in the area ends up in the streets of various
cities in the country.
The Thai army has blamed a pro-Rangoon ethnic army, the United Wa State
Army, for much of the methamphetmines flooding into the country, saying the
group has over the years expanded its troops and illicit operations along the
common border to areas near Tak province, as well as areas just north of the
Golden Triangle bordering Laos.
It said a number of the clandestine drug labs have "popped up" in areas
along the Mekong River on the Lao side near Burma since the Thai army stepped up
security along the Thai-Burma border following a cross-border clash earlier this
year.
The Burmese government has said it is being unfairly singled out and that
Thailand and other neighbouring countries need to do more to curb the flow of
precursor chemicals needed to make the drugs.
Following the border clashes, top army brass from both sides engaged in
lengthy war of words, accusing their counterparts of taking kickbacks from the
drug traffickers.
------------------------------------------------------------------ The Nation - August - 09,
2001.
Protesters urge junta to reopen
universities
Subhatra Bhumiprabhas
Hundreds of Burmese students in exile and their sympathisers held a protest
outside the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok yesterday - the 13th anniversary of a
bloody uprising in Rangoon in which hundreds of democracy demonstrators were
killed.
Local activists joined the Burmese students, thousands of whom fled to
Thailand after the 1988 crackdown, in calling for the international community to
pressure the Burmese junta into reopening the country's universities.
"Only military-run universities are allowed to open," said Myat Thu, the
director of foreign affairs at the All Burma Students Democratic Front. "This is
having an adverse effect on the younger generation, which represents the future
of our country."
He said options were extremely limited for students wishing to pursue a
university-level education.
"They can go to a university run by the military, or they can study
abroad," Myat Thu said, adding the junta had left the country completely
isolated.
"Whatever happens in Burma, the education system should be maintained," he
said.
Aung Naaing Htwe, chairman of the Burmese Students Political Refugee
Committee, and Metha Maskhao, secretary-general of Student Federation of
Thailand (SFT), jointly urged the international community to apply pressure on
the Burmese government by ceasing all contact.
"Please don't ignore the plight of the people and students. The closure of
universities in Burma is a rights violation," Metha said. "I call on students
worlwide to join our campaign for the right to education in Burma, and urge
everybody to help stop the repression immediately."
Other groups that supported the protest included the National League for
Democracy (Liberated Area), the Democratic Party for a New Society and the All
Burma Federation Student Union. They released a joint statement demanding the
publication of details of ongoing political dialogue between the National League
for Democracy and the Burmese government.
"Ethnic minorities should be allowed a significant role in the dialogue
process to ensure peace, national reconciliation and a genuine federal union,"
the statement said.
"We would like to emphasise that our fight for democracy has not come to an
end," it added.
In Rangoon, the NLD cancelled plans to mark the anniversary for the first
time in several years.
Party sources said that arrangements for a low-key commemoration of the
protests had been abandoned. An explanation for the decision was not given, but
the NLD has been careful in recent months not to provoke the military regime
while it holds reconciliation talks with the party's leader, Aung San Suu Kyi,
who is currently being held under house arrest.
------------------------------------------------------------------ 442,264 Motor Vehicles in
Operation in Myanmar
Xinhuanet 2001.08.09 09:57:42 YANGON, August 9 (Xinhuanet) --
The number of motor vehicles in operation in Myanmar reached 442,264 at
the end of March this year, an increase of 12,109 or 2.8 percent from a year
ago, according to a government-released figure.
The latest issue of the official Economic Indicators, published by
Myanmar's Central Statistical Organization, show that the total registered motor
vehicles running in the country included 174,749 passenger cars, 53,892
trucks, 16,866 buses and 174,489 motor cycles.
Official statistics show that Myanmar has so far built 6,819 km of roads
since 1988 with its total length extending up to some 28, 800 km.
------------------------------------------------------------------ Myanmar Produces More Cement in
First Quarter
Xinhuanet 2001.08.09 09:28:30 YANGON, August 9 (Xinhuanet) --
Myanmar produced 119,615 tons of cement in the first quarter of this year,
27.1 percent more than the same period of 2000, according to the latest
issue of the official Economic Indicators.
During the three-month period, the country increased importing of
cement, buying in 8.72 million U.S. dollars worth of the goods, 22.4 percent
more than the corresponding period of 2000.
In 2000, Myanmar, in addition to producing domestically a total of 393,355
tons of cement, also imported 27.18 million dollars worth of the
goods.
In the wake of the rising demand for cement in its infrastructural
construction such as roads, bridges and dams, Myanmar is also making
efforts to build more cement plants.
In June 2000, Myanmar signed an accord with a Chinese company to
build a 500-ton daily-capacity cement plant in Kyaukse, central Mandalay
division.
------------------------------------------------------------------ 09 Aug 2001 08:32
Bangladesh says 10 wounded by Myanmar firing COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Bangladesh said on Thursday that at
least 10 Bangladeshi fishermen were wounded when Myanmar border guards fired on
them inside Bangladesh territory.
"Myanmar border guards shot and wounded at least 10 of our fishermen inside
Bangladesh's water territory in the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday," Lt. Col.
Rafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan said.
He told reporters the guards fired on four Bangladeshi boats fishing near
Saint Martin's island. Bhuiyan said Bangladesh had lodged a protest with the
Myanmar government.
------------------------------------------------------------------ Australian Broadcasting Corporation
August 09, 2001.
Thailand to repatriate 16 hundred
Burmese refugees
Thailand says 16-hundred refugees from Burma will be repatriated to their
homeland later this month.
Thai district officials in the border province of Tak say the refugees have
been staying at the Mae La refugee camp, home to about 30-thousand long-term
refugees, 500 kilometres northwest of Bangkok
More than 100-thousand refugees from Burma, mostly from the Karen ethnic
minority, shelter in Thai border camps after fleeing fighting and mass
relocations.
Referring to those who are to be repatriated, officials say the office of
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has determined that "they are
not real refugees" and did not flee from a battle area.
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