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BURMA RELATED NEWS - September
08, 2001.
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HEADLINES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFP - Russia escapes money-laundering sanctions,
Philippines threatened
Bkk Post - Refugees
want proof of peace
Bkk Post - Second meeting of Asian parties could
come here
The Nation - Karen
woman tells world of junta's racism
Xinhuanet - Myanmar Marks Int'l Literacy Day
With Various Programs
Xinhuanet - Myanmar Exports More Fish, Prawn in
First Four Months
Xinhuanet - Myanmar Agrees to Take Back
Displaced Persons
ST - Thailand widens hunt for drug kingpin
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday September 7, 10:07 PM
Russia escapes money-laundering sanctions, Philippines threatened PARIS, Sept 7 (AFP) -
Industrialised countries gave Russia qualified approval on Friday for stepping
up its fight against international money laundering, but warned the Philippines
it could soon face sanctions and maintained both on a "black list" of
uncooperative states.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) added Ukraine and Grenada to the
list of countries and territories that were not cooperating in the battle
against money laundering, it said in a statement.
The Philippines will be hit by counter-measures unless it passes
appropriate legislation by September 30, the FATF announced from its
headquarters at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
in Paris.
In Manila, Philippines President Gloria Arroyo, expressing concern at a
press conference, said: "We don't want to reach the stage where international
bankers would demand more documents before processing Philippine
accounts."
Her spokesman explained that the FATF had already delayed the transfer of
payments home by Philippine expatriate workers, and that such controls and
delays might worsen.
The FATF is an inter-governmental body which develops and promotes
policies, both nationally and internationally, to combat money laundering.
The task force statement said: "Russia enacted significant legislation over
the summer so the FATF withdraws its call for members to initiate additional
counter-measures with respect to this jurisdiction.
"The FATF urges Russia to take quickly the necessary steps for the
effective implementation of the new legislation, which will be a condition for
removal" from the task force's list at a future date.
The Philippines, however, "has still not enacted long-awaited and necessary
legal reforms," the statement said.
"Accordingly, the FATF renewed its call to its members to implement
additional counter-measures unless the Philippines enacts significant
legislation by 30 September 2001."
The announcement, the latest in a series by FATF, is set against a
background of campaigns by several international bodies against organised
criminal activity, money laundering and tax evasion.
The International Monetary Fund has estimated that money laundering arising
from criminal activity such as drug trafficking and prostitution accounts for
two to five percent of total world economic output.
In 2000, Russia estimates that illegal financial activity on its territory
concerned 100 billion dollars (111 billion euros), and put capital flight out of
the country at 25 billion dollars, of which half was generated by criminal
activities.
The FATF was created in 1989 and is to carry out its current mission until
2004, at which time its member governments must decide whether or not to
continue the effort.
It has 31 members, including most of the world's developed nations, plus
the European Commission and the Gulf Co-operation Council.
It said the Pacific atoll Nauru, accused of laundering money for the
Russian mafia, had obtained a delay in threatened sanctions until November 30,
pending an examination of its proposed anti-laundering legislation.
No countries were removed from the FATF list, which now includes: the Cook
Islands, Dominica, Egypt, Grenada, Guatemala, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel,
Lebanon, Marshall Islands, Myanmar, Nauru, Nigeria, Niue, Philippines, Russia,
St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and Grenadines, and Ukraine.
In early August, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a tough new law
against money laundering, creating a financial watchdog to clean up Russia's
reputation as a haven for illegal funds.
Financial transactions of more than 600,000 rubles (20,550 dollars, 22,750
euros) are to come under scrutiny under the new law.
On Sunday, the Philippine Senate majority leader said the legislative body
would press for urgent ratification of a United Nations treaty against
cross-border crime to help it fight international money launderers.
Ratification of the UN Convention Against Transnational Crime was needed as
an interim measure while Congress debated its own money laundering law, Senator
Loren Legarda said.
Legarda said the house would not be able to pass its own bill by the end of
September.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Sep 08,
2001.
RELATIONS WITH BURMA
Refugees want proof of peace
Criteria should be widened, they say
A member of the Campaign Commission for Democracy in Burma, left, submits a
petition to a Government House official urging the government to review
repatriation of Burmese migrants. _ APICHIT JANAKUL
The government must not repatriate Burmese refugees until there is firm evidence peace and respect for human rights have returned to Burma, NGOs said yesterday. In an open letter to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, 18 NGOs and civic
groups also called on the government to widen the conditions for accepting
refugees, from people who fled fighting to people who fled persecution.
They asked for a role in the registration of refugees, as a partner of the
provincial admissions board, with government departments and the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees.
They asked that the UNHCR be allowed full particiaption in refugee
protection in the country.
The letter comes close on the heels of talks on repatriation between Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, first secretary of Burma's
ruling State Peace and Development Council.
Mr Thaksin raised the possibility of military measures but made clear
refugees would not be sent back against their will. He also advocated the
participation of the UNHCR and other international agencies in the provision of
vocational training for returnees in a safe area on the Burmese side.
The NGOs asked the government to let them conduct capacity-building
programmes with refugees, including vocational training, higher education and
alternative education.
They urged the government to set up a national committee to study and
recommend long- and short-term policies on all displaced persons, including
refugees and migrant workers.
The panel should incorporate academics, NGOs, and relevant government
departments, with decision-making and implementation processes that are
``transparent and open for public participation''.
``Durable solutions to refugee problems will require the Thai government to
deal with complicated issues according to the principles of human rights,
non-violence and the Thai constitution,'' they stressed.
Signatories of the letter included the Yuwathipat party, Chiang Mai
University, Project for Ecological Recovery Foundation, Community Theatre,
Foundation for Women, Campaign for Popular Democracy, Empower Foundation, Centre
for the Co-ordination of Non-Governmental Tribal Organisations, Institute for
the Development of Education for Sustainable Agriculture
Others were the Centre for Ethnic Nationalities Development, Community
Forest Support Group, and Thai Volunteer Service.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Sep 08,
2001.
Second meeting of Asian parties
could come here
Conference planned for middle of 2002
Thailand may host the second International Conference of Asian Political
Parties at the suggestion of the Philippines, the foreign minister said.
Surakiart Sathirathai said the matter was raised during the visit of
Philippine House Speaker Jose de Venecia. He said other members of a standing
committee also expressed support for Thailand hosting the conference.
The government also received encouraging responses from executives of
political parties, many of whom felt the conference would allow Asian
governments and opposition parties to exchange views on key policies like
international crime, drug suppression measures and the planned Asian Monetary
Fund, he said.
The prime minister also agreed Thailand should host the conference, which
will be held by the middle of next year.
The first conference was held in Manila last September.
Mr Surakiart, deputy leader of the Thai Rak Thai party and Alongkorn
Pollabutr, executive director of the Democrat party, discussed the matter at a
meeting held to begin regional consultation and political co-operation for the
21st century. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Nation
Karen woman tells world of junta's
racism
Subhatra Bhumiprabhas
Published on Sep 8, 2001
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - Ethnic women from Burma made their voices heard this
week at the World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) in Durban, South Africa,
demanding the military regime stop its decade of human rights violations, as
well as urging Asean governments to review their policy towards Burma.
Naw Chai Mei Hua, an ethnic Karen woman from Burma, on Wednesday drew the
world's attention to the plight of ethnic groups in Burma.
Representing the "Women's League of Burma", Naw Chai Mei Hua delivered her
speech in front of her government's delegation, the NGO community and the media
at WCAR's plenary session.
She accused the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) of being
the root cause of multiple discrimination faced by people, especially the women
of ethnic groups.
"Discrimination is exacerbated in ethnic lands due to the war raging
against the ethnic nationalities by the Burmese ruling authority. The soldiers
commit sexual violence against ethnic women with impunity, the most obvious form
of discrimination," said Naw Chai Mei Hua.
Naw Chai Mei Hua, who was presented to the WCAR official panel by the Asia
Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development, told the conference that she and
her female counterparts have faced multiple discrimination because they were
women of an ethnic origin and refugees.
"Ethnic persecution, a form of racism, xenophobia and related intolerance
has led us to flee Burma. Some have become refugees and some, undocumented
migrant workers in neighbouring countries. Again we face more discrimination
because we are non-nationals," she said.
Naw Chai Mei Hua also brought a petition signed by 51,487 internally
displaced persons, refugees and migrants on the Thai-Burma and Burma-Indian
borders, asking the WCAR to address the consequences of racial discrimination
and related human rights violations committed by the ruling junta.
At the end of her statement, Mei Hua requested the United Nations to
encourage the SPDC to negotiate a nationwide cease-fire and enter into a genuine
dialogue with all the political factions in Burma.
"Particularly, we request Asean, China, India and Japan to review their
policy towards Burma and to take a leading role for the development of a
national reconciliation process and meaningful political change in Burma," she
said.
Meanwhile members of the NGO community staged a peaceful protest against
the Burmese junta outside the hall.
They raised pictures of Aung San Suu Kyi and held banners reading "Stop
militarisation in Burma", "Free Burma" and "In Burma, the military is racist and
sexist".
Some of them taped their mouths with white paper as a symbol of "no
freedom" in Burma.
The SPDC came to power in September 1988 after killing thousands of
peaceful protesters who were demanding the restoration of democracy and human
rights.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar Marks Int'l Literacy Day
With Various Programs
Xinhuanet 2001.09.08 13:22:15 YANGON, September 8 (Xinhuanet)
-- Myanmar marked the International Literacy Day Saturday by holding
exhibitions on the country's literacy campaign which displays some
supporting evidences of the success and achievements of the work and
efforts made by the authorities and local literacy committees.
The country also observed the day with programs and activities
including broadcasting of songs honoring its illiteracy- eradication efforts,
radio talks, TV views and news, and publication of articles in newspapers
and news media regarding its endeavor in the sector.
Panel discussions were also held on non-formal education with
particular emphasis on literacy programs in Myanmar.
Literacy paper reading sessions also took place among other
activities.
Literacy campaign in Myanmar was first initiated as a pilot project
in 1965 which was later formally expanded and the achievements and success
of these literacy campaigns were internationally recognized by awarding
Myanmar two UNESCO (U.N. Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization)
prizes -- the Mohamed Reza Pahlavi Literacy Prize in 1971 and the Noma
Prize in 1983.
By 1988, the country's 247 townships had been declared totally
literacy areas. The campaign was actively participated by nearly 880,000
volunteer teachers, bringing about over 2.1 million adult literates from
illiterates.
The Myanmar government has been adopting two ways to undertake
literacy campaign. The first way makes the school-going age children go to
school, that is a formal education. The second one makes children above
school-going age to accept the non-formal education.
According to official statistics, illiteracy rate in Myanmar was 65
percent in 1950 and it declined to 9 percent or about 4.68 million in
2001.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar Exports More Fish, Prawn
in First Four Months
Xinhuanet 2001.09.08 13:17:53 YANGON, September 8 (Xinhuanet)
-- Myanmar exported 22,600 tons of fish and prawn in the first four months of
this year, 36.14 percent more than the same period of 2000, according to
the latest figures released by the country's Central Statistical
Organization.
Of the exports, fish accounted for 18,400 tons, while prawn
represented 4,200 tons.
During the four-month period, export earnings from fish and prawn
reached 39.1 million U.S. dollars.
There is a total of about 40,536 hectares of fish and prawn breeding
ponds in Myanmar at present and more such ponds, especially the prawn
breeding ones, are being extended in the country's seven states and
divisions along its long stretch of coastline of 2,276 kilometers
under a three-year plan, which began from June 2000. It targets to
extend such area to 48,600 hectares.
Myanmar is rich in fishery resources and the fishery sector has become one
of the productive mainstay of its economy.
Official statistics show that the country produces over 910,000 tons of
fish and prawn annually, the export of which covers 49 countries and
regions with nearly 60,000 tons, earning about 150 million dollars.
Fishery sector is the third productive mainstay of Myanmar's economy
after agriculture and forestry, contributing 7.3 percent to the country's
gross domestic product and standing as the third largest foreign exchange
earner.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar Agrees to Take Back
Displaced Persons
Xinhuanet 2001.09.08 10:31:45 BANGKOK, September 8 (Xinhuanet)-- The 19th Regional
Border Committee meeting, held between Thailand and Myanmar in Thailand's
eastern city of Chonburi, has agreed that Myanmar displaced persons fled
from their border fights into the Thai soil would be taken home, the Thai
News Agency(TNA) said Saturday.
Myanmar authorities said Friday that they would guarantee for the
refugees' homes, security and occupations but rejected to associate the
matter with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Chairman of the
Meeting and Thai Third Army Region Commander Wattanachai Chaimuanwon was
quoted as saying.
Both sides also agreed not to increase more forces at two stations
namely Chiang Rai's Masai district and Chiang Mai's Mae- eye district.
Another issue agreed upon was to assign Myanmar officials to be stationed
at the Marine Cooperation Center in Thailand's Ranong province.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Straits Time - Sep 08,
2001.
Thailand widens hunt for drug kingpin BANGKOK - Thailand will ask China and Myanmar for help in locating fugitive
Thai drug kingpin Surachai Ngernthongfoo, or Bang Ron.
Bang Ron, said to be the ringleader of one of the country's largest
amphetamine distribution networks, has been on the run since police raided his
home in 1998.
A senior source from the Office of Narcotic Control Board said on Thursday:
'To ask China and Myanmar for help in finding Bang Ron does not mean that we
know for sure he is now taking shelter in either country.
'However, we believe Surachai has connections with drug-trafficking
syndicates operating in those countries.'
Bang Ron is believed to have fled to Myanmar via Kanchanaburi
province.
A police team swooped down on his home in Nong Jok district in October 1998
but encountered a hail of bullets from his guards. More than 758,000 amphetamine
pills were found hidden inside his luxury home.
Surachai used to bury speed pills smuggled from Myanmar beneath a bear's
cage at his home so that in the event of a raid sniffer dogs would be put off by
the bear's strong scent.
Police believe there could still be as much as 100 million baht (S$4
million) circulating within his drug network.
Residents of the area said Surachai frequently had drugs flown in from
Myanmar, and light planes used nearby farmland as a clandestine landing
strip.
He is believed to have close connections with senior Thai police and army
officers, and they are thought to have aided his escape.
Initial reports suggested he had taken refuge with the United Wa State Army
militia and then underwent cosmetic surgery so he could return to Bangkok.--The
Nation/Asia News Network
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