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BURMA RELATED NEWS - September
25, 2001.
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HEADLINES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFP - Myanmar seeks investments from Malaysia to
boost economy
AFP - Campaign against
terrorism will use anti-drug war strategies: experts
Reuters - Southeast Asia
drug flow up as Afghan border closed
Reuters - Myanmar leader
highlights growth, avoids politics
Bernama - Myanmar A Good
Venue For Relocating Industries, Says Than Shwe
Bernama - Myanmar Keen To
Further Enhance Cooperation With M'sia In ICT
NSTP - Myanmar woos
investors
The Star - M’sia and Myanmar
agree to new trade arrangement
China Daily - Privatization
breathes life into Myanmar economy
Bkk Post - Foreign workers
can toil legitimately
Xinhuanet - Malaysian
Businessmen Urged to Invest in Myanmar
Irrawaddy online - MIS to
Receive a Facelift
Irrawaddy online -
Press Leaks Point to
Junta Irrawaddy online -
Australia Quick to Award
Junta
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Wednesday September 26, 5:21 PM
Myanmar seeks investments from Malaysia to boost economy KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (AFP) -
Isolated and cash-strapped Myanmar on Wednesday sought investment and technology
from Malaysia but local investors said they were discouraged by red-tape and a
lack of incentives.
The visiting head of Myanmar's junta, Senior General Than Shwe, urged some
80 business leaders at a luncheon here to consider his country as a possible
investment destination.
"Malaysia is moving towards high technology industries. This transformation
of your economy means that there is need to relocate your more labour intensive
industries," he said.
Than Shwe said by combining Myanmar's human and natural resources with
Malaysia's technology and capital, "we will be able to bring about great benefit
to our two peoples."
"Although some projects had to be shelved as a result of the 1997 regional
crisis, I am confident that with the recovery of the Malaysian economy,
investments will be revived," he said.
Than Shwe said Malaysia ranks third among foreign investors in Myanmar,
with a total of some 600 million dollars in the manufacturing, oil and gas
industries, hotels and tourism and real estate. The top two investors are
Singapore and the United States, according to the Myanmar embassy here.
Bilateral trade stands at 200 million dollars annually, and is heavily
tilted in Malaysia's favour. Exports from Malaysia include edible oil,
machinery, fuel and oil while imports include fish, prawns and rubber.
Than Shwe invited investments in the paper and pulp industry, saying that
51 percent of Myanmar was covered with forests. Steel mills would also be
attractive as the country had an estimated reserve of over 320 million tonnes of
iron ore.
Malaysian businessmen at the luncheon expressed concern about investing in
Myanmar because of red tape, land leasing and ownership problems, and
taxation.
Soong Siew Hoong, secretary-general of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce,
complained that there was "a lot of bureaucracy" in doing business in
Myanmar.
Lachman Naraindas, chairman of Jethwani Naraindas told AFP that Malaysian
investors were unlikely to flock to Myanmar as in the past because of the
slowing world economy.
Than Shwe was making his third visit to Malaysia and came after an
invitation from Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who visited Yangon in January.
He was accompanied by six senior ministers and the chief of military
intelligence, Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt.
Than Shwe was due to fly to the island resort of Langkawi later Wednesday
and return to Yangon Thursday.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday September 26, 5:45 AM
Campaign against terrorism will use
anti-drug war strategies: experts
WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (AFP) - The
US-led war on terrorism will look a lot like the battle against drugs, with
experts predicting a protracted campaign that strikes at criminal networks at
home and abroad, targets money laundering, and relies heavily on
intelligence-gathering.
The battle will be fought simultaneously on various fronts, and military
action could be overshadowed by financial, diplomatic and intelligence missions,
according to several analysts.
President George W. Bush himself has said Americans should brace for a
lengthy, unprecedented campaign against the perpetrators of the September 11
airborne suicide assaults on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, which left
almost 7,000 people feared dead.
On Tuesday, he said the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) should be
authorized to tap suspected terrorists' phones.
"Now, this is what we do for drug dealers and members of organized crime,
and it seems ... that now that we're at war, we ought to give the FBI the tools
necessary to track down terrorists," Bush said.
Just like it does in its war on drugs, the US administration will use
"intelligence, surveillance, interception, foiling the delivery or the attack,
interception of phone calls, e-mail messages, surveillance of airports," said
Emilio Viano, a strategic studies expert at Washington's American
University.
Drug and terrorist organizations share the "same same element of secrecy,
of avoiding authority, of forming cells, of establishing networks at all
levels," said Viano.
The cell structure poses a major difficulty in tracking down those in
charge of operations, says Vince Cannistraro, a former head of the Central
Intelligence Agency's counter-terrorism unit.
Smashing a few cells may amount to only limited success, he said. "The
commands in control remain intact despite the fact the tentacles get dried out,"
he said.
"You can't get instant victories," he said.
The US administration, which already has an anti-drug czar last week
created a similar position to coordinate efforts to root out terrorism, and gave
the job to former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge.
While there are similarities in the way they operate, there are also some
significant differences in what motivates terrorists and drug traffickers, said
Anthony Cordesman of the Center Strategic International Studies.
The narcotics trade is motivated by gain, and sometimes includes political
components, while "international terrorism, the one we are most concerned with
is religion-oriented terrorism, said Cordesman.
"They basically attempt to hide under the cover of being freedom fighters
or religious organizations, their ties to states are very different from
narcotics dealers, and obviously their goals and their willingness to use force
are different," he said.
But the need for funding often links extremist organizations to the illegal
drug trade, as is the case in Colombia where leftist insurgents and rightist
paramilitary forces depend on cocaine for much of their revenues.
The International Drug Control Organisation says Afghanistan and Myanmar
are the world's leading producers of heroin, used by a number of extremist
organizations to finance weapons purchases.
While Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia last year officially suspended
cultivation of poppy -- used to make opium and heroin -- a UN report indicated
significant quantities of drugs were being stashed away in a bid to boost
prices.
Bush accused the Taliban of sheltering Osama bin Laden, a Saudi-born
multimillionaire named as the chief suspect in the terrorist onslaught on US
cities.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday September 26, 6:55 PM
Southeast Asia drug flow up as Afghan border closed PHNOM PENH, Sept 26 (Reuters) -
Southeast Asia must brace for a boom in drug trafficking, as the closure of
Afghanistan's borders will spur demand for drugs, United Nations officials said
on Wednesday.
The notorious "Golden Triangle", where the borders of Myanmar, Thailand and
Laos converge, now monopolises the Asian drugs trade as supply from Afghanistan
-- the world's leading supplier of opium -- has effectively stopped.
"The borders are completely closed in Afghanistan so you can't do any
business, legal or illegal," Sandro Calvani, regional representative for the
U.N. Drug Control and Crime Prevention (UNDCP) office, said in Phnom Penh on
Wednesday.
"The Golden Triangle...is now moving all the drugs of Asia because
Afghanistan is out of business for illcit drugs. (They) now have a monoply
because they no longer have to compete with the 'Golden Crescent'."
Calvani said that Afghanistan had accounted for around 85 percent of the
world's opium supply.
The Taliban government banned the cultivation of the poppy plant last year,
but opium stocks inside Afghanistan have only now been stemmed by the recent
closure of borders, he said.
Calvani, who was in Cambodia to meet Prime Minister Hun Sen and other top
government officials, warned also that drug traffickers have been "market
testing" new smuggling routes through Cambodia.
Until last year Cambodia was estimated by the U.N. to be one of the largest
producers of marijuana for the world market, a business thought to be worth
almost $1 billion annually.
Cambodia's northern border with Laos is seeing increased inflows of drugs
and the Mekong River is becoming the main artery of distribution in the country
and the transit route to third countries, he said.
"It is really a threat to the security of the country," Calvani said.
Cambodia's porous borders and struggling law enforcement institutions have
earned it the title of the "weak link" in regional efforts to fight drug
trafficking.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday September 26, 7:48 PM
Myanmar leader highlights growth, avoids politics By Barani Krishnan KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Reuters)
- Myanmar's military junta invited Malaysian investors on Wednesday to help jump
start its economy but brushed aside questions on political reform and when his
country might embrace democracy.
"Myanmar today is politically peaceful and stable, economically vibrant and
dynamic. It is on the threshold of rapid economic growth," Senior-General Than
Shwe told a lunch hosted by Kuala Lumpur's business community.
Than Shwe, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday for a three-day visit to
the country, said Malaysians were already the third largest investors in
Myanmar, committing some $600 million in manufacturing, oil and gas, hotels,
tourism and real estate.
Bilateral trade was worth $200 million with a surplus in Malaysia's favour,
he said.
Than Shwe invited local entrepreneurs to come more often to Yangon, and
highlighted potential in pulp and iron industries he said offered huge and
largely untapped resources.
"With the participation and assistance from our friends like Malaysia, we
will surely be able to accomplish more in a shorter period of time," he said.
But the military leader declined to take questions from the audience,
leaving the task to Brigadier-General David Abel, a minister in his office.
Abel refused to discuss domestic politics, particularly questions on how
Than Shwe's State Peace and Development Council was faring in talks with
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, seen by many Western nations as Myanmar's
rightful leader.
He also declined to say if Nobel laureate Suu Kyi would soon be freed from
the house arrest imposed by Than Shwe's government.
"I think we are gathered here to answer economic issues," he said to a
question on whether there was any chance of an immiment agreement between Suu
Kyi and his government.
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won Myanmar's 1990 elections
by a landslide but has never been allowed to govern. Instead, her supporters
have been detained and harassed.
The 56-year-old Nobel laureate herself has spent the last year locked
inside her Yangon house, cut off from contact with the outside world except for
a handful of foreign diplomats the government has allowed her to see.
The military, which has led Myanmar since 1962 and crushed all attempts to
promote democracy, began reconciliation talks with the NLD last year. Veteran
Malaysian diplomat Razali Ismail is acting as a special U.N. envoy and mediator
to the talks.
Two weeks ago, the junta released six NLD members in a gesture of goodwill.
Malaysia, which regards Myanmar as an important regional ally, said on
Tuesday Than Shwe's administration had made "very positive" progress in its
talks with the opposition. But it said Yangon should be left to negotiate at its
own pace.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said earlier this year that
future elections in Myanmar should not "undermine authority" and suggested
Yangon adopt Southeast Asian political models rather than Western-style
democracies.
Than Shwe, who held talks with Mahathir and visited landmarks in the
capital, left on Wednesday for a tour of the northern Langkawi island before a
scheduled departure on Thursday.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malaysian National News Agency
September 26 , 2001 21:51PM
Myanmar A Good Venue For Relocating Industries, Says Than Shwe KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- The owners and
operators of Malaysia-based labour intensive industries would do well to
consider relocating their operations to Myanmar.
Malaysian investors are requested to consider Myanmar as a possible
destination for business relocating especially those who involve with the labour
intensive industries.
Making this point here today, the chairman of State Peace and Development
Council, senior general Than Shwe said that such a move could be advantageous to
every one "as Myanmar labour has (the ability) to absorb new technology and
techniques rapidly besides (being paid) competitive wages.
Than Shwe was delivering the keynote address at a luncheon hosted by the
National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM).
According to Than Shwe, Myanmar was particularly attractive for investing
in agricultural-sector ventures.
He explained that Myanmar has more than 10.4 million hectares (26 million
acres) of virgin and fallow land available for crop cultivation.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malaysian National News Agency
September 26 , 2001 14:53PM
Myanmar Keen To Further Enhance Cooperation With M'sia In ICT CYBERJAYA, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- Myanmar is keen to further
enhance cooperation with Malaysia in developing information and communications
technology (ICT) projects.
Under the existing cooperation between the two countries, representatives
of the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDC) have been to Myanmar to explore
opportunities for cooperation in the development of ICT.
Visiting Myanmar leader, Senior Gen Than Shwe has expressed hope that
cooperation with Malaysia could be further enhanced in the development of its
ICT project, the Bagan Technology Park.
Than, Myanmar's State Peace and Development Council chairman, who was
briefed on the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) by MDC executive chairman Tan Sri
Dr Othman Yeop Abdullah here today, was impressed with the MSC.
He expressed hope that a similar model could be developed in Myanmar, Dr
Othman told reporters after the briefing.
The MSC, covering a 750 sq km area stretching from the Kuala Lumpur City
Centre (KLCC) here to the KL International Airport in Sepang, has been
designated as a hub for the development of multimedia products and services.
The nature-friendly intelligent city is the key component of the MSC and is
being built on a 2,800-ha site.
Than, who arrived here yesterday for a three-day working, was accompanied
by his delegation which includes several ministers and senior government
officials. -- BERNAMA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The New Straits Times Press
National: Myanmar woos investors By Ramlan Said 26 September 2001 PUTRAJAYA, Tues. — Myanmar hopes to see more Malaysian investment in the
country, especially through the setting up of jointventure companies.
The potential areas of investment are oil and gas, timber, paper and pulp
and fisheries.
Chairman of the State of Peace and Development Council and Prime Minister
of Myanmar Senior General Than Shwe said this today at a meeting with Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the Prime Minister's
Department.
Than Shwe, who arrived earlier in the morning, is here for a three-day
working visit.
He is accompanied by his wife, five Ministers and senior officials.
Briefing reporters, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said both
leaders also agreed on the need to improve co-operation and enhance relations
between both countries.
One way to achieve this is through an exchange of visit at various
levels.
Syed Hamid said both leaders also exchanged views on bilateral payment
arrangements (BPAs).
Such arrangements will enable Asean members to increase trade without
having to make payments in foreign currencies.
"Trade through BPAs will see Asean countries depending less on foreign
currencies. It will lessen the burden of countries that do not have sufficient
currency exchange." Syed Hamid said both leaders stressed the importance of
Asean countries working closely with each other and exploring other
markets.
"The grouping should not be too dependent on one market especially in the
wake of the slowdown in the United States, which has been made worse by the
terrorist attacks in New York and Washington." Dr Mahathir and Than Shwe also
witnessed the signing of an agreement on co-operation in information and a
memorandum of understanding on co-operation in tourism.
Malaysia was represented by Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Datuk Abdul
Kadir Sheikh Fadzir and Information Minister Tan Sri Khalil Yaakob, while
Minister at the Office of the Chairman of the State Peace and Development
Council Brig Gen D.O. Abel signed on behalf of Myanmar for both
agreements.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Star -Sep 26,
2001.
M’sia and Myanmar agree to new trade arrangement PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and Myanmar have agreed to minimise the use of foreign
exchange in trade between the two countries.
The decision was reached in discussions between Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his counterpart from Myanmar Senior General Than Shwe
here yesterday.
Briefing newsmen about the meeting later, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed
Hamid Albar said under the new arrangement, trade between the two countries
would be “set off” against each other, leaving only the balance to be paid in
foreign exchange.
The arrangement is expected to result in increased trade between the two
Asean countries, he said.
“It will also lessen the burden of either country which does not have
sufficient foreign exchange,’’ he added.
Syed Hamid said the two leaders also witnessed the signing of two
memorandums of understanding on tourism co-operation and exchange of
information.
He said Dr Mahathir and Gen Than Shwe discussed investment in areas like
oil and gas, joint-venture in timber industry, paper and pulp, and fishing.
The Myanmar Prime Minister wanted more Malaysians to invest in his country,
besides wanting more trade.
“The emphasis is on Asean countries to look at its market while exploring
other markets.
“(They are) not to be dependent on one market as most Asean countries will
be affected by the tragedy in the US,” he said.
Asked if Dr Mahathir and Gen Than Shwe talked about democracy in Myanmar,
Syed Hamid said the Prime Minister congratulated his counterpart on various
steps taken to move the country “back into the mainstream.”
“But at the same time, it is important that they do it at their own pace.
We as a member of Asean would like Myanmar moving to the mainstream, and not
subjected to problems regarding the political scenario in the country,’’ he
added.
Gen Than Shwe is scheduled to visit the Multimedia Development Corporation
at Cyberjaya and the Petronas Twin Towers, before attending a lunch hosted by
the National Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia today.
He will then depart for Langkawi to attend a dinner hosted by the Kedah
Government.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- China Daily Wed Sep 26
07:21:40
Privatization breathes life into Myanmar economy 09/25/2001 YANGON: Myanmar has been transforming its low-productivity agricultural
economy into an industrial economy over the past decade.
The efforts are based on a high-productivity agricultural system. The country formed the Myanmar Industrial Development Committee in August
1995 to formulate industrial policy and provide guidelines for
industrialization. The committee was later reconstituted in December 1997.
In May 1999, Myanmar formed a 12-member Myanmar Industrial Development
Central Committee, chaired by Vice-Chairman of the Myanmar State Peace and
Development Council General Maung Aye.
The country drafted detailed policies for the development of the industries
and establishment of an industrialized nation.
The industries are categorized as state-run, co-operatives or private.
The state-owned facilities are permitted to run as co-operatives or private
industry. They also can accept foreign investment.
But the policies also say that only the state has the right to run the
industries producing the arms necessary for the nation's defence.
Under the policies, the industrial businesses must be developed in
accordance with the state's desire to keep the national economy in the hands of
the state.
The policies give encouragement and support to the emergence of industries
based on domestic resources.
To regroup the once scattered industries of the country, Myanmar has set up
18 industrial zones across the country, including four in the capital of Yangon.
The number of industries in Myanmar reached 53,338 in 1999: 1,600
state-owned, 637 co-operatives and 51,101 private ones.
And through May 2001, statistics show, 4,159 private industries registered
in 18 zones, including 424 heavy industries, 565 medium-sized enterprises and
3,170 cottage industries.
Under a privatization plan Myanmar introduced in January 1995, state-owned
industrial enterprises and those nationalized in the 1960s are to be transferred
to financially strong and technically manageable private enterprises by way of
auctioning, leasing and joint ventures with local and foreign entrepreneurs.
Other measures taken include the increase of low-interest loans to
industrial enterprises and a reduction in the rate of revenues paid by
industrial entrepreneurs.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Sep 26,
2001.
EDITORIAL - Foreign workers can toil
legitimately
The registration of illegal migrant workers from Burma, Laos and Cambodia
got off to a shaky start on Monday. Malfunctioning computers and digital cameras
and a shortage of staff, among other things, caused unnecessary delays in the
issuance of identity cards at registration centres right across the country.
Several employers who accompanied their staff to the centres became agitated at
the delays.
Although the problems were largely minor, those responsible at the Ministry
of Labour and Social Welfare must see to them quickly otherwise they might need
to go to the cabinet for an extension of the registration period beyond the Oct
13 deadline. As many as 700,000 illegal workers need to be registered before the
period elapses.
The regulation of the illegal Burmese, Lao and Cambodian workers is a
realistic approach to the presence here of more than a million illegal
immigrants from a good many countries. The move will help the authorities
ascertain just how many foreign workers there is in the country. This provides a
range of benefits. Communicable diseases such as elephantiasis had been
eradicated from Thailand several decades ago, but recently there has been a
resurgence, possibly carried by illegal immigrants. Such diseases can be better
monitored now the workers will have access to medical care.
Those who fail to register with the state will be treated as illegals and
dealt with strictly by the law. But those who do register will receive a number
of benefits. For a start, they no longer will be forced to play hide and seek
with the authorities. They will be able to work openly and walk the streets
without fear of arrest or harassment. They will be able to take advantage of
medical services at state hospitals-a basic necessity which they were denied
while working illegally. The healthcare is made possible by a 1,200 baht fee
paid by each worker or his/her employer at the time of registration.
More importantly, registration automatically places foreign workers under
the protection of Thai labour law. This means they will be entitled to at least
the minimum wage and the same fringe benefits, holidays and working conditions
as Thai nationals.
On paper, the future looks much brighter for foreign workers. But the
reality may be something different.
Many of the employers who now pay their illegal staff below the mandatory
minimum wage in order to maintain a competitive edge are unlikely to change
their ways. They believe they have the upper hand in any negotiations with the
workers. How empowered will the employees feel themselves to be even if they are
fully aware of their rights? Most will probably just continue to accept whatever
the bosses are willing to offer. The alternative, if it can be called that, is
to return home to a bleak future of probable unemployment, no medical care and
possible starvation.
The registration process in a way represents a first, big step on the road
to resolving the illegal immigration problem which has been with us for so many
years. It's a first step that should have been taken some time back. Now the
authorities must make sure the business establishments which hire workers from
these three countries meet all the requirements of the labour laws. Exploitation
of those desperately in need, whether they be our own nationals or foreigners,
is as deplorable to a civilised society as the use of child labour.
Making sure the laws apply is the next step, but then there is still that
very disturbing question of what we do with these hundreds of thousands of
"guest" workers once we decide we have no further use for their labour. But that
surely will be put off as a bridge to be crossed when we come to it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malaysian Businessmen Urged to
Invest in Myanmar
Xinhuanet 2001.09.26 20:36:27 KUALA LUMPUR September 26 Xinhuanet-- Chairman of State Peace and
Development Council of Myanmar Than Shwe Wednesday urged Malaysian
businessmen to invest in Myanmar.
In a keynote address at a meeting with members of the National
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia NCCIM here Wednesday
Than Shwe said that such a move could be advantageous to every one "as
Myanmar labor has the ability to absorb new technology and techniques
rapidly besides being paid competitive wages."
According to Than Shwe Myanmar was particularly attractive for
investing in agricultural-sector ventures.
He explained that Myanmar has more than 10.4 million hectares of
virgin and fallow land available for crop cultivation.
"Therefore it is our belief that Malaysia instead of importing from
distant destinations its needs for sugar onions chillies and other
foodstuff it could make use of available land in Myanmar to meet
these requirements" he said.
He added that by introducing high-yielding crop and modern techniques
Malaysia's need would be satisfied while bringing economic benefits to the
Myanmar people.
Meanwhile NCCIM signed an agreement of cooperation with the Union of
Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Under the agreement both chambers will work together to tighten the
business and trade relations between the two countries.
Last year the value of merchandise trade between Malaysia and Myanmar
totaled 1.14 billion ringgit 300 million U.S. dollars.
Malaysia's exports to Myanmar were valued at 880 million ringgit 231.5
million U.S. dollars and its imports from Myanmar at 260 million ringgit
68.4 million U.S. dollars.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Irrawaddy online
MIS to Receive a Facelift By Maung Maung Oo September 26, 2001—Burma’s military government is set to initiate a
large-scale reform of its notorious Military Intelligence Service (MIS) in
October of this year, according to a source close to the army. The source said
the government is involved in a plan to increase security throughout the
country.
MIS will soon be composed of twelve battalions as part of a larger Military
Intelligence Force. Each battalion will have four companies with each company
having three platoons. The units are to be divided into a front line and a
support line. Each battalion will serve as an intelligence net for its companies
and platoons. The companies will be responsible for district-level intelligence
and the platoons will be in charge of intelligence on the township level.
Under the new reform, Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt will become Commander-in-Chief
(CIC) of Military Intelligence. Burma now only has CICs for its army, navy and
air force. Currently, Khin Nyunt is serving as the Director of Defense Services
Intelligence (DDSI). He will be in command of twelve military intelligence
commanders and twelve lieutenant commanders. It is unclear what is going to
happen to the DDSI.
MIS officers are viewed by Burmese citizens as the most powerful and
dangerous body in the entire military. Since the military coup of 1988, MIS
officers have penetrated almost every corner of Burma in an attempt to stamp out
any cells of subversion, including pro-democracy groups.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Irrawaddy online
Press Leaks Point to
Junta
By Zarny Win
September 26, 2001--A confidential report that was supposedly sent to Than
Shwe, Burma’s top general, by other high-ranking generals was leaked to the
public recently. The uncharacteristic leak has many wondering if this is just
another PR move by the ruling military regime.
Burmese observers have been questioning the authenticity of the report,
with some even wondering if the opposition created it. However, some exiled
Burmese politicians feel the alleged report was concocted by the Military
Intelligence Service (MIS) to sound out the opposition’s thinking on the talks.
Aung Naing Oo, a Burmese political analyst in exile, said that some of the
report’s details regarding the secret talks between the opposition and the junta
clearly indicate that the report is the work of the Burmese government. "But
some of the information has clearly been created and is just not reliable," he
adds.
The report mentions different details regarding the ongoing secret talks
between opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the junta. The report states that
Suu Kyi agrees with both Sec-1 Lt Gen Khin Nyunt and Maj Gen Kyaw Win on many of
the topics being discussed during the talks.
"The junta is implementing a well-planned psychological warfare campaign
against the opposition and the media," said a student activist in Rangoon. "They
want to hold power for as long as they can and by tricking people into believing
the opposite they will be able to prolong their grip on power," he added.
The report quotes one prominent Burmese politician, Bo Hmu Aung, as saying
that Suu Kyi and the junta have agreed to give military representatives
one-quarter of all seats in any future parliament. Suu Kyi also said that
Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore are concerned about the future progress of
Burma and any political changes that might be taking place, according to the
report.
Two months ago, a private speech given by Home Affairs Minister Col Tin
Hlaing was also leaked out. Genuine news leaks are extremely rare in Burma,
where the military government maintains almost total control over the flow of
information.
The opposition National League for Democracy has said that the talks have
not reached a dialogue yet, but that the two parties are still going through
confidence-building measures.
Secret talks have been under way between the ruling junta and opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi since October of last year. However, the details of
those talks have not been released.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Irrawaddy online
Australia Quick to Award
Junta
By Kyaw Zwa Moe
September 25, 2001--Despite the International Labor Organization’s (ILO)
ongoing investigation of the alleged continued use of forced labor in Burma, the
Australian government has sent a team of aid workers to Burma in recognition of
recent efforts by the junta to improve its political landscape.
The aim of the team is to eradicate mal-nutrition among children in the
country, said Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer. The team will spend
three weeks training workers at Burma’s Department of Health.
Mr Downer said he was encouraged by the release last month from house
arrest of National League for Democracy (NLD) Chairman Aung Shwe and
Vice-Chairman Tin Oo.
"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," he said in a statement.
While some Burmese residents welcome the humanitarian aid put forth by the
Australia government others feel it is a bit too early to congratulate the
junta.
"Any aid to Burma now is premature," a university student in Rangoon says.
"We have yet to see if the ongoing talks between the NLD and the SPDC will bear
any positive results," he adds.
In 1999 Burmese opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi asked the Australian
Government to halt its engagement policy with the junta. In a video smuggled out
of Burma in 1999, she said, "Sometimes we are a little concerned that the
policies of the Australian Government may not be such that would hasten the
process of democratization in Burma."
Last year, despite Suu Kyi’s request and international criticism of
Australia’s soft approach to Burma’s ruling military regime, the Australian
government began dispatching a human rights training team to educate civil
servants, including both police and prison officials, about human rights.
Secret talks have been underway in Burma since October of last year between
Burma’s military government and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Details of
the talks have not been disclosed.
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