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BURMA RELATED NEWS - September
24, 2001.
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HEADLINES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFP - ILO experts fan out across Myanmar to
investigate forced labour
Reuters - Australia to send aid workers to
Myanmar
Asia Pulse - Indonesia to Ratify Conventions on
Terrorism
Asia Pulse - 20% of Korea's Foreign Industrial
Trainees Become Illegal Aliens
AP - NKorea Opposes Japan Fight Vs.
Terror
ABC online - Australian aid team arrives in Burma
Bernama - ILO Set To Inspect Alleged Use Of
Forced Labour In Myanmar
The Independent Bangladesh - Health challenges
before South-East Asia
The Times (UK) - Suu Kyi still isolated a year
on
Bkk Post - Five killed in border clash with
troops
Bkk Post - Two more bridges to be
built
The Nation - AD unrepentant over lyrics
NSTP - Big challenges ahead
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday September 24, 3:08 PM
ILO experts fan out across Myanmar to investigate forced labour YANGON, Sept 24 (AFP) - A
high-level International Labour Organisation (ILO) team has fanned out into
Myanmar's provinces to investigate at first hand the junta's efforts to
eradicate forced labour, an official said Monday.
The four-member team separated into two groups, which headed for the
military-run nation's west and southern regions to make grassroots assessments
of the problem, ILO official Reuben Dudley said.
Dudley said that the delegation, led by former Australian governor general
Sir Ninian Stephen, was happy with the progress of its mission after spending a
busy week in Yangon consulting widely on the issue.
The officials were given access to opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who
has been held under house arrest for the past year, as well as ministers from
the foreign, home and social welfare ministries.
"Generally it went well. We had all the meetings that we had planned to
have, with the government at all levels, international and national NGOs
(non-government organisations), and within the UN system," he told AFP.
"They seem to have got all the information they needed so now they will
make an assessment on the ground."
The team members left on the field trips Sunday and will return on Friday
before departing on another one-week survey of different regions on about
October 1.
"So by the end of that week they hope to have enough material to prepare
their reports," Dudley said.
"They have not quite decided exactly where they will go on the other trip,
it depends on how much information they can gather in the meantime."
The ILO mission comes after the Geneva-based organisation last year made an
unprecedented censure of Myanmar, and threatened to heap more sanctions on the
country if it failed to curb forced labour.
In a bid to fend off further sanctions, the junta in November made forced
labour illegal for the first time. But it remains unclear how the ban is being
enforced, and how effective it has been in eradicating the problem.
Rights groups say nearly a million Myanmar people have suffered from the
practice, which has helped build roads, ports and tourist resorts as well as
assisting in military manoeuvres on the unstable borders.
The ILO has insisted its four-member team of eminent jurists be given total
freedom to carry out its survey, and the junta has promised to give them
unfettered access, even in the unstable border regions.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday September 24, 1:49 PM
Australia to send aid workers to Myanmar CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia
said on Monday it would send aid workers to Myanmar in recognition of recent
improved political conditions, but said it wanted the release of imprisoned
pro-democracy politicians to continue.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said he was encouraged by last
month's release from house arrest of National League for Democracy (NLD)
chairman Aung Shwe and vice-chairman Tin Oo by Myanmar's military government.
The release of politicians, members of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's
pro-democracy NLD who had been elected at the last democratic poll in 1990,
brings the total number of political prisoners released since January to more
than 160.
"However, we remain deeply concerned that many Burmese citizens remain
imprisoned for their political beliefs and we will continue to impress the
importance of further prisoner releases," Downer said.
Downer said Australia would send an aid project team to investigate ways to
alleviate child nutrition problems in the poor country. The Australian team will
arrive in Myanmar on Monday and stay until October 13.
"We hope that this small measure will send a signal to the SPDC that
progress on human rights and political reconciliation will enhance Burma's
prospects of receiving international assistance that will help relieve its
pressing humanitarian problems," Downer said.
The NLD won the 1990 election by a landslide but has never been allowed to
govern. Myanmar's ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has never
recognised the result of the election and has detained dozens of opposition
politicians since.
Tension between the military and NLD has eased since the start last year of
secretive talks between Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize, and the
country's ruling generals.
The human rights group Amnesty International says there are still about
1,500 political prisoners in Myanmar.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday September 24, 11:35 AM
Indonesia to Ratify Conventions on Terrorism HOUSTON, Sept 24 Asia Pulse -
Indonesia is preparing to ratify several United Nations conventions on terrorism
which will lay a firm legal basis for the country to fight acts of terrorism
which are on the rise, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayudha announced.
"We deem it necessary to strengthen our legal instrument we will ratify the
UN conventions," he said.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri and her entourage will meet with UN
Secretary General Kofi Annan at the UN Headquarters in New York on Monday to
ratify the conventions.
Wirayudha admitted that Indonesia is among the countries which are very
slow in ratifying the conventions.
In fact, the Philippines ratified the UN conventions some time ago, he
said.
He said the Organization of African Unity (OAU) also adopted a ragional
convention on combatting terrorism some time ago, and so did Arab
countries.
But ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) which groups Brunei,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and Vietnam has not adopted such a convention, he said.
By ratifying the UN conventions on terrorism, Indonesia will have strong
legal instrument which will allow its immigration and police officers to have
access to training courses to monitor and detect money laundering, arms
smuggling, and human trading, he said.
"For this reason, I feel it necessary to form a task force to coordinate
all units involved in the efforts to fight the acts of terrorism," he
said.
He said one of Indonesia's shortcomings in eradicating acts of terrorism is
the absence of adequate legal instrument thus, acts of terrorism can happen
elsewhere in the country.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday September 24, 11:11 AM
20% of Korea's Foreign Industrial Trainees Become Illegal Aliens SEOUL, Sept 24 Asia Pulse -
About 20 per cent of foreign industrial trainees desert their workplaces and
become illegal aliens, according to data released by opposition lawmakers during
a parliamentary inspection of the Korea Federation of Small Business.
As of the end of July, the number of such foreign industrial trainees
reached 34,061, or 20.3 per cent of the total including 9,991 from China, 6,231
from Vietnam and 5,047 from Indonesia.
The ratio of those absconding from their work sites is highest for Sri
Lankan trainees at 58.7 per cent, followed by Myanmar with 52.9 per cent and
Vietnam 48.1 per cent.
Opposition lawmakers called for tighter control of the trainee system and
for measure to extend the period of stay for foreign industrial trainees.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday September 24 11:38 AM ET
NKorea Opposes Japan Fight Vs. Terror SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North
Korea said Monday that it supported international participation in a campaign
against terrorism - but opposed Japanese involvement.
North Korea accused Japan of using the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the
United States to redefine the role of its self-defense forces, which are banned
under Japan's pacifist constitution from military involvement overseas.
``What Japan truly seeks is to unlimitedly expand the sphere of actions of
the self-defense force, its main aggressor forces, and provide a judicial and
institutional mechanism for re-invasion of Asia,'' said North Korea's official
news agency, KCNA, which is monitored in Seoul.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Wednesday that Tokyo may
enact new legislation to broaden the self-defense force's responsibilities in
overseas conflicts in light of the attacks in New York and Washington.
Koizumi insisted that legal revisions would not involve putting Japanese
soldiers onto the battlefield, and that the military would only be allowed to
help in a backup capacity, such as transport and medical operations.
Japan occupied the Korean peninsula for 35 years until its World War II
defeat in 1945. After the war, Japan adopted a pacifist constitution that bans
the use of force as a means of settling international conflicts, and prohibits
the country from sending troops overseas.
North Korea, a longtime adversary of the United States, reiterated its
sympathy for the American people Monday, calling the attacks ``very regretful
and tragic,'' according to the KCNA.
``It may be a right option taken in line with the policy of each country
opposed to all forms of terrorism to make a due contribution to the efforts of
the international community to eliminate the root cause of this terrorism,''
KCNA said.
The State Department lists North Korea as one of seven national ``sponsors
of terrorism.'' The other countries are Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan and
Syria.
North Korea was first put on the terrorist list in 1988 because of its
alleged involvement in the bombing of a South Korean airliner in the skies near
Myanmar, also known as Burma, in 1987. All 115 people aboard the Korean Air
flight died.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Australian Broadcasting
Corporation
Sep 24, 2001.
Australian aid team arrives in Burma
An Australian aid team arrives in Burma today to help deal with child
malnutrition.
Announcing the visit, Australia's Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, says
one-third of Burmese children under the age of five suffer from
malnutrition.
Mr Downer says the Australian team will design a nutrition project for
Burma's Health Department.
The Foreign Minister's statement says Australia is encouraged by recent
political developments in Burma, with more than 160 political prisoners released
since January.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malaysian National News Agency
September 24 , 2001 14:39PM ILO Set To Inspect Alleged Use Of Forced Labour In Myanmar YANGON, Sept 24 (Bernama-Kyodo) - A visiting high-level
International Labour Organisation delegation left Yangon on Sunday in two groups
to investigate the alleged use of forced labor in Myanmar's rural areas.
The four-member ILO delegation led by the former governor general of
Australia, Sir Ninian Stephen, arrived in Yangon on Monday last week for a
three-week investigation into the forced-labour situation in Myanmar.
The delegation includes over half a dozen assistants including
interpreters.
One ILO party left for Sittway, some 500 kilometers northwest of Yangon in
the state of Yakhine. The other group headed off to Dawei, about 380 km
southeast of Yangon in Taninthayi Division.
The delegation has not revealed its exact destination from these points,
according to diplomatic sources, as the delegation has full discretion over the
mission, travel and contacts in Myanmar.
The Myanmar government outlawed forced labour under a September 1999
decree. However, opposition groups outside Myanmar have said forced labor still
exists despite the decree. -- BERNAMA-KYODO
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Independent Bangladesh - Sep 24,
2001.
Health challenges before South-East Asia by Dr. Maswoodur Rahman Prince The WHO is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) system. The
constitution of the World Health Organisation (WHO) came into force on 7 April,
1948. The constitution was drafted in 1946 by the Technical Preparatory
Committee and was approved in the same year by an International Health
Conference of 51 nations in New York. WHO, however, has its origin in April
1945, during the conference held at San Francisco to set up the UN. The
formation of WHO represents the culmination of efforts to establish a single
worldwide inter-governmental health agency. This specialised non-political
agency of the UN has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
The WHO is unique among the UN agencies in that it has its own
constitution. Certain principles in the field of health have been enunciated in
this constitution for the purpose of cooperation among the member-countries to
promote and protect the health of all people. The WHO is the world’s directing
and coordinating authority on all international health work. It is not a
supranational Ministry of Health, but rather a world-wide cooperative through
which the nations help each other to help themselves in raising health
standards. The concept of "technical cooperation" is a fundamental element in
the work of WHO, in all its activities, which comprise the following broad
areas:
* Prevention and control of specific disease.* Development of comprehensive
health service.* Family Health. * Environmental Health.* Health Statistics.*
Bio-Medical Research.* Health Literature and Information.* Cooperation with
other organisations.
Structurally, the WHO consists of three principal organs. (i) The World
Health Assembly: Composed of delegates representing Member States, each of which
has one vote.
(ii) The Executive Board: The board consists of 31 members, each designated
by a Member State but providing that no fewer than three are to be elected from
each of the WHO regions. The board members are designated by, but do not
represent their governments. One-third of the membership is renewed every year.
(iii) The secretariat : The secretariat is headed by the Director General
who is the chief technical and administrative officer of the organisation. The
Regions : In order to meet the special health needs of different areas, WHO has
established six regional organisations. These organisations are an integral part
of the WHO and have under the constitution an important part in implementing the
policies and programmes of the WHO. The Regional Offices are headed by the
Regional Directors. There is a regional committee, in each region, composed of
representatives of the Member States in the region. The six regions are:
1. South-East Asian Region2. Africa Region3. Region of the Americas 4.
European Region5. Eastern Mediterranean Region 6. Western Pacific Region
The South-East Asia Region (SEAR): The headquarters of the South East Asian
Regional Office is in New Delhi, India. The Member States belonging to the SEAR
are:
(1) Bangladesh (2) Bhutan (3) Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (4)
India (5) Indonesia (6) Maldives (7) Myanmar (8) Nepal (9) Sri Lanka and (10)
Thailand. The WHO activities in South-East Asia Region cover a wide range of
subjects such as malaria eradication, TB control, control of other communicable
diseases, health laboratory services and production of vaccines, health
statistics, public heath administration and rural health services, maternal and
child health, nursing, environmental health and water supply, health education,
nutrition, mental health, dental health, medical rehabilitation, radiation,
quality control of drugs and medical education. Dr. Uton Mukhtar Rafei is
presently the Director for the South-East Asia Region.
The 54th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for the South-East Asia was
held in Yangon, Myanmar, recently (Ist week of the current month). Dr. Uton
Muchter Rafei, the Regional Director of WHO, SEAR, presented a report on The
Work of WHO in the South-East Asia Region for the period 1 July 1999 to 30 June
2001. Myanmar’s Minister for Health, Major General Ket Sein, in his inaugural
speech remarked that in the face of the health challenges, particulurly in the
areas of communicable diseases, close collaboration among the countries of SEAR
is essential. He further stated that HIV/AIDS is not rampant in Myanmar as
sometimes reported by the International media. He added that given the possible
toll that the disease could take in future, the country has taken steps to
control the disease by setting up a National AIDS Programme, ensuring sentinel
surveillance and by making a joint plan of action for prevention and control
with the UNAIDS.
The Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia Region, Dr. Uton Mukhter
Rafei, addressing the session said that a major policy thrust of WHO and
member-countries is the emphasis on the importance of placing health as an
integral part of sustainable development. He said that this is vital to ensure
that the centrality of health is sustained and economic growth and poverty
reduction is recognized and acted upon. Overall, Dr Uton said that there has
been considerable improvement in the health situation in the countries of the
region, as seen in the reduced mortality and morbidity particularly, caused by
communicable diseases.
Some of these successes include the significant progress achieved by the
polio programmes; in TB control, the DOTS strategy was likely to get nation-
wide coverage in the countries by 2005, and leprosy elimination targets too are
likely to be reached soon. A major challenge in the region is the spread of
HIV/AIDS. WHO’s South-East Asia Region has made considerable progresses in the
prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases. A landmark
achievement in public health was the region’s receiving certification in
February 2000 for being free of guinea-worm disease. However, the region
continues to face many health challenges.
The global HIV/AIDS pandemic is a matter of serious concern. While several
strategic plans to combat HIV/AIDS are being implemented, the rapport underlines
the need for the highest level of political commitment to enhance preventive
efforts. Every year, there is an estimated 3 million who develop TB in the
Region and three quarters of a million died of TB last year. The report draws
attention to the global impact of trade agreements, like the TRIPS Agreement on
the health of the people. It alerts countries of the likely impact of the
agreement on the affordability and access to pharmaceuticals.
WHO is supporting analysis and clarification of these implications to
countries. Dr. Uton, the RD, SEAR, WHO, also reported on the new initiatives
undertaken to ensure full participation of member-countries in programme
planning, development and evaluation.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Times (UK)
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 24 2001 Suu Kyi still isolated a year on FROM JAMES PRINGLE IN RANGOON A YEAR after again being put under house arrest, Aung San Suu Kyi, 56, Burma’s pro-democracy opposition leader, remains cut off from the outside world. Police forcibly stopped the Nobel Peace laureate from leaving Rangoon on September 22 last year and took her to her home in University Avenue, once a main street but now closed to through traffic. Barricades still surround her rambling lakeside residence, her telephone
number is cut off and Western journalists face detention if they go within 200
yards. Few are optimistic that closed-door talks between her and the country’s
harsh military rulers will lead to a let-up in the years of oppression and
arbitrary military control.
Her National League for Democracy (NLD) won Burma’s last free election in
1990 by a landslide but was never allowed to govern and Western diplomats say
that hundreds of political prisoners remain incarcerated.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Sep 24,
2001.
Five killed in border clash with troops Manhunt on for heroin smugglers Thirawat Khamthita Five drug smugglers were shot dead during a running gun battle with troops
in Mae Fah Luang district yesterday and nearly 17kg of heroin was seized.
Rangers came across the smugglers shortly after midnight in a Ban A-bae,
tambon Mae Salong Nok. After a 30-minute firefight the smugglers disappeared
into the jungle.
Four dead bodies were found eight hours later when 200 soldiers and local
police officers combed the area with the help of helicopters. They also found
16.8kg of heroin packed inside two fertiliser bags.
Police said the traffickers were armed with assault rifles and plenty of
ammunition.
About 11am, rangers following a trail of blood through the jungle again
caught up with the drug traffickers, triggering another clash.
Two soldiers suffered shrapnel wounds when the smugglers attacked with hand
grenades before again retreating into the jungle towards the border.
Police said the troops caught up with the gang about 10 minutes later and
killed another smuggler during a brief gunfight.
Only two of the five dead smugglers could be identified yesterday, police
said. Both were members of a hilltribe in Mae Fah Luang district.
Police believe the gang consisted of 10 hilltribe members who were paid by
the drug-producing Red Wa to smuggle heroin into Thailand from Burma.
It was the third time this year Thai border forces had clashed with drug
traffickers in this area. Four million methamphetamine pills were seized in one
previous encounter.
The manhunt for the rest of the gang continued yesterday, police
said.
- A Singapore man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for attempting to
smuggle 3.45kg of heroin out of the country.
Lim Yu Lee Steven, 32, was on Friday given the death sentence but the
Criminal Court commuted it to life because he confessed.
Lim was arrested at Don Muang airport on April 30 with eight packs of
heroin on his body. He was about to board a flight for Sydney.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Sep 24,
2001.
Two more bridges to be built Burma, Thailand to conduct joint survey Thirawat Khamthita Thai and Burmese local authorities have agreed in principle on the
construction of a second bridge at Mae Sai-Tachilek and another from Sop Ruak in
Chiang Saen district to the Golden Triangle.
Arun Narongchai, the provincial public relations chief, said the bridge
plans were discussed at a meeting last Thursday between Chiang Rai governor
Samroeng Punyopakorn, Tachilek governor Lt-Col Tin Myo Myint and Kengtung
governor Lt-Col Khin Maung.
The Burmese governors were accompanied by about 30 officials.
Mr Samroeng said the existing Mae Sai-Tachilek bridge is very old and too
narrow to cope with the growing vehicle traffic across the border.
Thai authorities had spotted a suitable new location at tambon Ko
Chang.
Lt-Col Tin Myo Myint and Lt-Col Khin Maung had no objection to the
plan.
The two sides agreed to conduct a joint survey of the site.
The two Burmese governors also agreed to a Thai proposal to build a bridge
from Sop Ruak in Chiang Saen district to the Golden Triangle.
At present there is only a temporary border checkpoint at Sop Ruak through
which Burmese and Lao people are allowed to enter the country to buy
goods.
Thai people, however, are not allowed to cross the border into Burma.
They can do so only at Mae Sai and Chiang Saen.
In the Golden Triangle area opposite Sop Ruak, a Thai investor with links
to national-level politicians is said to have built a casino, hotel and golf
course.
The Burmese governors also told Mr Samroeng the construction of the 100-km
Tachilek-Kengtung road was still in progress.
They hoped that on its completion the road would open a wider channel for
bilateral trade.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Nation
AD unrepentant over lyrics Published on Sep 25, 2001 Singer and composer Yuenyong Ophakul again denied yesterday his new album
would harm the relationship between Thailand andBurma.
Yuenyong, popularly known as AD, claimed some people in government were
unhappy with his lyrics, which, they say, are obviously anti-Burmese.
But the singer said 10 of his songs about the Shan people, or Tai Yai
(elder Thai), reflect his personal views and have nothing to do with the Thai
government.
"I feel slighted. I'm just an ordinary songwriter and I don't think my
songs will have any negative impact or cause any problems," he said, adding that
he had no intention of rewriting the lyrics just to please someone.
Yuenyong said he was not surprised that people with opposing views would
have different opinions about his songs. While the Shan people would love his
songs, which support their cause, it was no surprise that the Burmese junta
would dislike them.
The singer-songwriter also dismissed as groundless a suggestion that his
comments about any possible ban were part of a wider publicity stunt to promote
his album, tentatively titled "May Tong Rong Hai" (Don't Cry).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The New Straits Times Press
Big challenges ahead By Kasmiah Mustapha MON: IN 1967, five countries got together to form the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations with one vision — to co-operate in securing peace,
stability and development in the region.It was a bold vision for Malaysia,
Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia as at that time the region
was still badly divided by ideological conflicts and war.
Many had predicted that Asean would not last long, but against all odds it
survived and has evolved into one of the most influential regional associations
in the world.
From only five member countries, Asean now comprises all 10 countries in
Southeast Asia. Brunei joined in 1984, Vietnam in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997
and Cambodia in 1999.
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said
Asean was stronger now with 10 members which provided investors with more
options.
"The additional members have given Asean strength, not only in numbers but
also in terms of marketplace. It has provided better options for
investors.
"Investors can opt for labour-intensive markets easily. They can invest in
countries where there are vast natural resources," she said.
She said Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia were quickly evolving.
Although they were less open and there were still bureaucratic constraints, they
were aware of what they needed to do.
Rafidah said with so many regional entities coming up, Asean was facing a
more competitive marketplace especially in attracting trade and investments.
"And the pressure within the World Trade Organisation, for example non-trade
issues being brought up, shows that it is no longer a stable environment that
allows us to be complacent.
"It is changing by the day, therefore Asean must be realistic about this,"
she said.
The Asean region stretches across three time zones and incorporates a key
part of Asia's continental landmass and several archipelagos.
Economically, it belongs to the developing world, but some of its member
countries have joined the world's top 20 most competitive economies.
It now has a total population of about 500 million, a total area of 4.5
million square kilometres, a combined gross national product of US$685 billion
(RM2,397 billion) and a total trade of US$720 billion.
Rafidah said Asean was continuously finding ways to enhance internal
capacity and dynamism.
"We are looking at our neighbours, namely China, Japan and Korea, and those
who would like to be our partners such as Australia and New Zealand to enhance
economic co-operation.
"So if we can co-operate in any way possible with our neighbours, then at
least we are making sure that we provide the necessary economic linkages," she
added.
Rafidah said the first step for Asean was to put into place an arrangement,
projects and programmes that could enhance trade, investment and exchange of
technology.
One example, she said, was the move to look at recommendations for a free
trade area with China, which would become a formidable competitor to Asean once
it entered the WTO.
On Afta, Rafidah said the Asean Six would achieve the target of zero to
five per cent tariffs by next year, earlier than the targeted year of
2003.
On whether Afta was threatened by the impending Free Trade Area of
Americas, she said there were concerns that some American investments might flow
into that area.
"However, we are more concerned with selling in the region, the region
selling to the bigger East Asian region and the region selling to the world,"
she added.
Asean has been through many obstacles. It began in an era of poverty and
conflict and until recently, the region was in a deep financial crisis which
began in July 1997.
It is facing the biggest challenge in its 34-year history as the recent
attacks on New York and Washington will undoubtedly see many changes in the
world.
But Asean's fundamental strengths, resilience and concentrated efforts by
member countries will once again ensure that it is able to overcome obstacles
and move forward as a group.
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