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BURMA RELATED NEWS - September
09, 2001.
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HEADLINES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Independent (B) -
Ethnic cleansing campaign in Myanmar alleged
Bkk Post
- High hopes for Burma peace talks
Bkk Post - Local firms keen to
invest if Rangoon peace effort succeeds
Bkk Post - Seven held in separate drug raids
The Nation - Karen woman tells world of junta's racism
Xinhuanet - Myanmar Exports More
Beans, Pulses in First Four Months
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Independent Bangladesh
Ethnic cleansing
campaign in Myanmar alleged
Arakan Muslim leader seeks world help for asylum by Abdur Rahman Khan The President of the Arakan Muslim Development Foundation,
M A Rahim, an asylum-seeker in Bangladesh since February this year, is passing
his days in distress waiting for humanitarian assistance from the international
community.
Assisted by Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, a
legal and human rights organisation, MA Rahim has appealed to the international
community for asylum and action against "the tyranny of the Myanmar military
government."
Rahim, called U Mg Aung in Burmese, holds an L.L.B degree
from Yangon University and a B.Ed degree from the Institute of Education in
Yangon. He worked as an educationist in his home town Myauk-U.
He was arrested by Military Intelligence (MI-10) on
November 23 last year and held in confinement in Myauk-U for over a month. Rahim
alleged that while in custody he was routinely tortured by the army and police
men.
Continued torture resulted in the loss of all his teeth
and severe injuries to his eyes, he alleged adding "I am now a half-dead man".
Rahim was released following an order from an appeal
judge’s court where he was not proved guilty, he said.
No sooner had he been released from Sittwe prison than he
and other Muslim leaders were accused of setting fire to a mosque in Myaungbwe
in early February this year.
Actually, the MI-10, police and Maghs destroyed the mosque
but they implicated the Muslim leaders, Rahim alleged.
"As the commanding-in-chief Western sector ordered the
officers of a brigade to kill me and other Muslim leaders, I fled to Bangladesh
leaving behind all my property of about 20 million kyats and the beloved members
of my family", Rahim told this correspondent.
"I do not know what has happened to my wife, seven sons
and one daughter at my home", said Rahim in an emotion-choked
voice.
Talking to The Independent U Mg Aung alleged that there is
no rule of law in Myanmar where the Arakanese Muslims were leading a deplorable
life due to torture, humiliation and killing.
The general people of Myanmar are provided with a pink
card showing their identity as a citizen while the Muslims are given temporary
non-citizenship immigration card in white subjecting them to discrimination, he
complained.
Alleging that there is a sustained ethnic cleansing
operation against the Muslims, U Mg Aung said 18 Muslim scholars along with
their families were drowned while trying to escape to Yangon from the state
capital Sittwe by a launch this year.
Bangkok Post - Sep
09, 2001.
High hopes for Burma peace talks Wassana Nanuam Third Army commander Watananchai Chaimuenwong was
optimistic that talks between Rangoon and rebel groups would bear a positive
outcome that could lead to regional stability.
Lt-Gen Watanachai said he would try to arrange a meeting
between Burma's Triangle Region commander Thein Sein and Col Yord Serk, Shan
State Army leader. Rangoon had not set any precondition for the meeting, which
was a good sign, he said.
``At least they have a chance to meet each other and
exchange ideas about how to achieve national reconciliation. We should be
optimistic,'' he said.
During the 19th regional border meeting in Chon Buri,
Maj-Gen Thein Sein asked him to mediate with the groups to end the armed
insurrection in Burma.
``He personally wants me to arrange the meeting with the
SSA first so I will do my best,'' said Lt-Gen Watanachai.
He was confident about a new round of border co-operation
between Thailand and Burma.
``Burma and Thailand agreed that from now on any border
area suspected by either side of irregular activities could be jointly
examined,'' he said.
Citing security reasons, Maj-Gen Thein Sein had proposed
closure of the Burmese border pass, BP1, opposite Giew Pha Woak checkpoint in
Chiang Mai's Mae Ai district. Rangoon wants to rearrange the border area after
SSA rebels increased activities.
Bangkok Post - Sep
09, 2001.
Local firms keen to invest if Rangoon peace effort succeeds Agro-industries and tourism look good Supamart Kasem The Thai private sector is ready to invest in businesses
along the Thai-Burmese border once Rangoon is able to achieve national
reconciliation with minority groups.
This was concluded at a meeting last week in Tak between
members of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, provincial chambers of commerce and
entrepreneurs during the visit to Thailand of Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, first secretary
of Burma's State Peace and Development Council.
Niyom Wairatchapanich, chairman of the Thai Chamber of
Commerce's border trade committee, said Thai and Burmese investors had long
planned to invest in various businesses along the border where land is fertile
with water resources, raw materials, labour and natural resources.
In the past, investments were mostly made in logging but
they were hampered by fighting between Rangoon and minority groups, particularly
the Karen National Union, Karenni National Progressive Party and Shan State
Army.
Areas along the Burmese border are suitable for
agro-industries and tourism as they are rich in natural resources and culture,
he said.
The private sector in Tak in 1994 tried to promote an air
route between Mae Sot and Moulmein in Burma and in 1999 a land route between Mae
Sot and Pegu. Efforts were hampered by fighting inside Burma.
Moulmein is 96km by air from Mae Sot. It is the second
largest port town in Burma and was a popular resort for Western travellers
during British rule.
Many locations along the road between Myawaddy, opposite
Mae Sot, and Rangoon have the potential to become tourist attractions.
They include Pa-an, the capital of Karen state, and Pegu,
where the palace of the late King Bayinnaung was located.
Panithi Tangpati, president of the Tak Chamber of
Commerce, said the checkpoint at Kiew Pha Wok in Chiang Dao district can be
promoted as a gateway to the middle of Shan state, where Mong Han and Mong Yawn
are located.
``If Burma's plan to eradicate drug production in Shan
state is accomplished by 2005, the area would be good for investments in
tourism-related businesses.
They include river tours along the Salween river from
southern Shan state to Kayah state and Mae Hong Son,'' he said.
Trade and tourism would also get a boost with the
completion of a 196km road from Kanchanaburi to Mergui and Tavoy, on the banks
of the Andaman sea, Mr Panithi said.
He said Thai traders also support plans by the government
to repatriate Burmese refugees.
Mr Panithi said about 5,000 Burmese refugees did not want
to go back to Thailand after they were provided adequate assistance on their
return to an area controlled by pro-Rangoon Democratic Karen Buddhist Army
soldiers.
The rest of the refugees were also likely to be quite
satisfied if they were given the same treatment, Mr Panithi said.
Bangkok Post - Sep
09, 2001.
Seven held in separate drug raids Police net altogether 600,000 speed pills Police arrested seven drug suspects in two separate raids
on Friday and seized 600,000 methamphetamine pills.
Pol Lt-Gen Priewpan Damapong, chief of Narcotics
Suppression Bureau, said police in Nonthaburi first arrested Manoon Inchan, 48,
in Bang Yai district, and seized 100,000 speed pills.
About 500,000 speed pills were seized in Min Buri
district, Bangkok, and six suspects were arrested.
They were Supin Saenset, 40, Nittayaporn Kanthathong, 24,
Banchong Temprom, 35, Yapa sae Thuen, 29, Ahle Saenchai, 29, and Phon Ruankhom,
29.
Mrs Phon was known to be a major dealer who was supplied
with drugs directly from the Red Wa in Burma.
The Nation - Sep 09,
2001.
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 Exports More
Beans, Pulses in First Four Months
Xinhuanet 2001.09.09 09:58:53 YANGON, September 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Myanmar exported 339,900 tons
of various beans and pulses in the first four months of this year, 76.84 percent
more than the same period of 2000, according to the latest figures
published by the country's Central Statistical Organization.
Meanwhile, foreign exchange earned through the export of
these agricultural products during the four-month period amounted to 102.
16 million U.S. dollars, 83.74 percent more than the corresponding period of
2000.
Beans and pulses are one of Myanmar's four pillar
crops, earning huge foreign exchange income. The other three crops
are paddy, sugar cane and cotton.
The country is now implementing beans and pulses
cultivation projects, designing some special zones of these crops to
expand cultivation and boosting production of and trade in beans and
pulses with an accelerated momentum in the wake of growing foreign market
demand.
Myanmar enjoys the status of being the largest beans and
pulses exporter among member states of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations.
According to official statistics, in 2000, the country
exported 655,399 tons of beans and pulses, earning 196.9 million dollars.
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