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BURMA RELATED NEWS - October
10, 2001.
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HEADLINES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- BBC - Burma slowly comes in from the
cold
Kyodo - Japan: Coast guard arrests 12 for
allegedly trying smuggle selves
Kyodo News - Tanaka
welcomes release of political prisoners in Myanmar
UN - UN special envoy for human rights in
Myanmar arrives for 10-day visit
Bkk Post - Thousands of evicted Shan to ask
Thaksin for refugee status
Bkk Post - Walkbridge backed for casino trade
SCMP - Aids discrimination rampant through
Asia, conference told
Mizzima - WLB concluded its Presidium
Meeting
Mizzima - Burma's cows being smuggled across the
borders
Irrawaddy online - Thailand Responds to US
Attacks on Afghanistan
Irrawaddy online - Muslims Kept Under Watchful Eye Irrawaddy online - Five Elected MPs Released -------------------------------------------------------------------------- BBC -Wednesday, 10 October, 2001, 10:48 GMT 11:48
UK Burma slowly comes in from the cold By regional analyst Larry Jagan in Bangkok The international community is seriously considering abandoning its
decade-long policy of isolating Burma.
Many western countries have adopted sanctions against Burma because of its
poor human rights record and the military's failure to respect the 1990 election
results.
In those elections the opposition National League for Democracy, led by
Aung San Suu Kyi, won convincingly, but was never allowed to take power.
But for the past year, the military authorities have been talking to the
opposition leader and released nearly 200 political prisoners as a good-will
gesture.
Five opposition members were released on Tuesday.
Key change
The European Union now faces the problem many western countries are
grappling with at the moment. How can the international community encourage the
dialogue process between Burma's military government and the opposition without
giving the generals an excuse to drag their feet?
In a typical EU decision it has decided to relax its policy towards Burma,
while maintaining sanctions - at least for the next six months.
The European Council of Ministers meeting in Luxembourg earlier this week,
renewed its sanctions against Burma but commended the junta for the progress
that was being made towards political reform.
The EU believes that by renewing the strict sanctions against the military
regime adopted nearly five years ago, they are keeping up the pressure on
Rangoon. They have done this every six months since 1996.
But this time there was a significant difference. In the statement released
after the meeting, EU foreign ministers said they were encouraged by the
dialogue process and expected further positive developments to emerge.
They hinted they would be prepared to remove the sanctions - or some of
them - if there was significant change in Burma, and would do this immediately
rather than wait till the current six-month period elapsed.
Thawing
But it was the supplementary measures they adopted which they hoped would
send the concrete message to Rangoon.
The EU has increased its contribution to the UN's Joint Plan of Action
programme to combat the spread of Aids in Burma by a further $2.2m (five million
euros). They have also said that individual European countries would consider
adding to this in due course.
The programme hopes to raise at least $20m from individual European
countries, a source in the Commission told the BBC.
The EU also agreed to allow Burma to be included in the International
Monetary Fund's programme for heavily indebted countries and to join the
international hydrographic organisation.
They are also allowing Burma to participate in future EU-Asean meetings in
Europe. For more than three years they have not met because the EU objected to
Burma's participation and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations insisted on
its attendance.
And finally the EU has suggested to Burma that it would send another EU
troika to Burma later this year, to assess the political progress being made in
the country and explain the EU's new position on Burma to the generals.
Foreign aid
On the face of it, these new measures seem like a token gesture, but in
reality, reflect a major policy shift within the EU. The decision comes just
after Australia agreed to resume limited aid programmes for child welfare.
Western countries now believe that by engaging Burma they have a better
chance of influencing the generals than by continuing to isolate them.
The EU, in its statement, says it had consulted the NLD before deciding to
shift its position on sanctions. In fact the UK sent one of its most senior
diplomats to Rangoon several months ago to sound out Aung San Suu Kyi as part of
their policy review.
It is quite clear that the NLD is also reviewing its attitude to foreign
aid to Burma even while the junta remains in power. The generals know that if
the dialogue process is to continue to progress they will have to make
concessions.
The NLD spokesman U Lwin told the BBC the NLD leaders were considering
allowing the international community to offer the Burmese military government
limited humanitarian assistance - for areas like child welfare, combating Aids,
and education.
EU officials told the BBC that they wanted to encourage the dialogue
process and would do this by not being prescriptive or issuing threats. They
said the EU would continue to make concessions in terms of aid and lifting
sanctions against Burma, in keeping with changes in Burma.
But they could just easily be re-imposed, they said, if the process
falters.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Japan: Coast guard arrests 12 for
allegedly trying smuggle selves
Text of report in English by Japanese news agency Kyodo Kobe, 9 October: The Japan Coast Guard on Tuesday (9 October) arrested 12
men who said they are from Myanmar (Burma) on suspicion of attempting to smuggle
themselves into Japan aboard a freighter that arrived in Kobe, coast guard
officials said.
The coast guard also arrested three Malaysian crew members of the
39,582-ton Bunga Raya Satu on suspicion of abetting
the smuggling attempt. Around 0930 (local time), customs officials found the men hiding in the
Malaysian-registered ship and reported the discovery to the coast guard.
The ship left Pusan in South Korea on Sunday and arrived in Kobe shortly
after 0800 Tuesday.
The coast guard said the 12 may have boarded the ship in Pusan.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tanaka welcomes release of political
prisoners in Myanmar
TOKYO, Oct. 10, Kyodo - Foreign
Minister Makiko Tanaka said Tuesday she welcomes the release the same day of
five more political prisoners by Myanmar's military junta.
''The Myanmar government has been working positively on the release of
political prisoners, including those elected to parliament in 1990, and I
welcome the fact that the number of those freed have reached a considerable
figure,'' Tanaka said in a statement.
Tuesday's release brings to 174 the number of political prisoners
affiliated with the National League for Democracy (NLD) who have been freed
since January.
Tanaka said Japan will ''fully support'' the process of dialogue and
trust-building between the junta and NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi which is
expected to lead to political stability and eventual democratization in
Myanmar.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- United Nations
UN special envoy for human rights in
Myanmar arrives for 10-day visit
9 October – A United Nations special envoy arrived today in Myanmar for a
10-day visit to look at the human rights situation in that country.
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the Geneva-based Commission on Human Rights' Special
Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, is scheduled to meet with a
number of government officials, judicial authorities, and religious dignitaries
as well as representatives of different social organizations and members of
civil society.
The Rapporteur will also meet with heads of the diplomatic missions
accredited to Myanmar, representatives of the UN and its agencies and members of
international non-governmental organizations during his visit, which is
scheduled to run through 20 October.
Mr. Pinheiro will travel to a number of provinces in Myanmar in his quest
to address the situation of human rights in the country. His trip comes at a
time when Myanmar has been taking steps in the past few months towards an
important dialogue both inside and outside of the country in the search for
peace and national reconciliation.
The Rapporteur has already submitted his interim report to the current
session of the UN General Assembly following his first visit to the country last
April. He will also present his preliminary observations on this mission to the
Assembly.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - October 10,
2001.
Thousands of evicted Shan to ask Thaksin for refugee status Monk says they are trapped along border Subin Khuenkaew More than 300,000 Shan who claimed to have been evicted from Burma and fled
into Thailand between 1996-1998 are seeking refugee status.
A source said representatives of Shan people seeking refuge in Thailand's
border areas would submit a letter to the prime minister requesting refugee
status.
The National Security Council has yet to decide whether to recognise the
group as refugees, though the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has
agreed to welcome the Shan to refugee camps, the source said.
Phra Khru Inta Inthawaro, abbot of Wat Pa Pao in Chiang Mai who has long
helped Shan immigrants, said more than 300,000 Shan people were living harsh
lives along the border because they could not return to Burma and were
considered illegal immigrants.
These people needed permission from the government to seek refuge in
Thailand and would be willing to go home when the situation returned to normal,
the monk said.
``It was tragic that they had to flee into the country after being
suppressed by armed troops who claimed to be Burmese soldiers and came to seize
their assets, houses and farmland.
``Many who resisted were killed and several hundred others died while
escaping. In most cases, the soldiers set fire to their homes and evicted them
from the villages,'' he said.
Phra Khru Inta said many of the Shan immigrants were living in border areas
and working as labourers.
About 10,000 others were stranded along the border opposite Chiang Rai,
Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son since they were not allowed to enter Thailand.
Jai Nuan, a Shan, said many Shan immigrants, who earned their living as
workers in fruit orchards in border areas of Fang district, risked arrest since
their employers did not register them as foreign labour.
``We do not want to violate Thai law but it can't be helped. Hundreds of
women have become prostitutes and hundreds of teenagers have to work for drug
dealers in border areas. We need help from the Thaksin government and Thais for
humanitarian reasons,'' Jai Nuan said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - October 10,
2001.
Walkbridge backed for casino trade Gambling qualms could frustrate plan Teerawat Kamtita Thai businessmen are pushing for a walkbridge across the Ruak River linking
Burma to Chiang Saen district to benefit a hotel and casino complex, says an
MP.
Thai Rak Thai MP for Chiang Rai Sarit Ung-apinan said Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt,
first secretary of Burma's State Peace and Development Council, had proposed the
bridge linking the Golden Triangle to Chiang Saen.
Thai businessmen affiliated with the Golden Triangle & Paradise Resort
Hotel in Burma opposite Ban Sob Ruak had offered to fund the 1-million-baht
project.
The walkway needed approval from Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the
National Security Council and other agencies.
Mr Sarit said he would sound out local opinion and he was against any
project which supported gambling.
Last month, then-Chiang Rai governor Samrerng Boonyopakorn presented
Burmese authorities with a proposal to upgrade Ban Sob Ruak border crossing as a
permanent checkpoint.
On Sunday, Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai and Transport Minister
Wan Muhamad Nor Matha met Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt in Tachilek of Burma. They also
inspected the site of the second Mae Sai-Tachilek Bridge.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- South China Morning Post
Wednesday, October 10, 2001 HEALTH - Aids discrimination rampant through Asia, conference told ASSOCIATED PRESS in Melbourne, Australia When Indonesian HIV/Aids activist Suzana Murni visited a Jakarta hospital
recently to receive treatment for the virus, the word "Aids" was written on her
sheets so laundry staff would know to wash them separately.
The hospital's doctors and nurses, who receive no training in how to care for HIV-positive patients, would visit her wearing "astronaut gear, even though they're not taking your blood", Ms Murni said yesterday. Such ignorance is a part of life for many of the 6.4 million people who
live with the virus in Asia and the Pacific, a region still largely in the dark
about how the virus is transmitted.
As the epidemic picks up pace in the region, Aids workers and authorities
are concerned discrimination and human rights abuses against those with the
virus will also escalate.
The issue has been a hot topic at the 6th International Congress on Aids in
Asia and the Pacific, which is being held in Melbourne.
Paul Toh, South East Asia inter-country programme development adviser with
Unaids, the United Nations Aids agency, said discrimination was common in the
region but was especially prevalent where knowledge of the disease was low. The
injustices had included bomb threats against families who supported an
HIV-positive relative in Thailand, to hospitals in India letting Aids-infected
victims die on the street rather than treat them, he said.
Ms Murni said some of her friends have been "outed" without consent by
health workers and the media, leading many to lose their jobs and their families
being ostracised.
Mr Toh said: "[In some communities] people with HIV are seen to be aliens
or are seen to be immoral. I wouldn't say we are totally hopeless in the region
. . . but in the region as a whole, stigma and discrimination is high."
He said it was likely the human rights abuses of HIV-positive people would
continue as the disease spread, particularly in China.
Mr Toh said national governments must educate communities about the disease
and put in place anti-discrimination legislation to stop the abuses.
For her part, Ms Murni has set up the Spiritia Foundation, a non-government
organisation that advocates rights for HIV-positive people in Indonesia and
educates the community about the disease. "By being open about my status, I do
make people realise that it's not a white-people disease, it's not a gay
disease, it can happen to anybody," she said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- WLB concluded its Presidium
Meeting
Mizzima News Chiang Mai, Oct. 10: The Women’s League of Burma (WLB), an umbrella of
Burma's women organizations in exile, ended its Presidium Board meeting
yesterday in Thailand. All the presidents of its member organizations, members
of WLB Secretary and regional responsible persons attended the meeting, which
was held from October 7 to 9 at Chiang Mai in Thailand. This is the second
meeting of the WLB's Presidium Board members.
According to the WLB sources, during the three-day deliberations, the women
leaders discussed the various matters including assessment of the activities
implemented by the women league during the past eight months, the present
political situation in Burma and the role of WLB and organizational matters such
as new membership requests and the detailing for future activities.
Women's League of Burma, which was formed in December 1999 in a Thai-Burma
border area, organizes of workshops and trainings to promote knowledge and
skills of Burma's women activists in exile and works together with the country's
pro-democracy and ethnic organizations to achieve peace and national
reconciliation in the military-rule Burma and to maximize the use of the ability
of women in the national tasks.Moreover, it joins together with regional and
international women organizations on common issues and participates at United
Nations forums and other international meetings.
At present it has eleven women organizations including the country's ethnic
women organizations based in border areas and cities of Thailand, India and
Bangladesh. The women league holds its Presidium Board meeting, which is
composed with the Presidents of the member organizations, every eight months and
its general conference is held every two years.
Mizzima News has learnt that leaders of the WLB will soon travel to India,
Thailand and Bangladesh in an organizational trip to meet Burma's pro-democracy
and ethnic activists based in these countries.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Burma's cows being smuggled across
the borders
Mizzima News Oct. 10: The cross-border business of Burma's cows being smuggled into
neighboring countries has been growing in recent years. As a result the
price of cows in the country has increased, and draught cows are becoming
relatively rare in Burma whose economy relies on agriculture.
According to cow traders, Burma's cows are being smuggled from the border
areas of Rakhine State, Chin State, Shan State, Kaya State, Kayin State and
Tanintharyi Division in Burma not only to neighboring countries such as India,
Bangladesh and Thailand but also to far away countries like Malaysia.
In Rakhine State, cows are smuggled by boats to Bangladesh through the
townships of Yen Bye and Kyauk Phyu. Cows from central Burma are smuggled
across the Indian border via Mindat township of Chin State. Similarly, through
Loikaw of Kaya State, cows are being smuggled daily into Mae Hong Son, Mae
Sariang in Thailand and from Shan State in Burma to the border of Chiang Rai
district in Thailand. Smuggling of cows also takes place between Kyaik Hto
Township in Mon State to the Thai border via Phar Pun Township. The smuggling
routes from the Tanintharyi Division of Burma to Thailand are the Moe Taung - Pa
Kyut border route, Kaw Thaung-Seit Phu-Kalapuri-Dawei-Nat Ai-taung route.
Moreover, Burma's cows and goats are being transported by boats up to Malaysia.
Sources in the border areas estimate that between three hundred and one
thousand cows are being smuggled across these borders from Burma each day. As a
result, the price of cows inside Burma increased. The price of two draught cows
(cattle of an age fit to be used as a beast of burden) is at present above one
lakh of Kyat (Burmese currency) while it used to be about eight thousand Kyat
last year. Some pair-cattle fetch up to two lakhs.
However, two draught cows are sold at a price of more than six lakhs if
smuggled across
the border, according to a cow trader. Cow smugglers pay bribes and "tax" to various police, army, intelligence units, and "cease-fire" groups (armed ethnic groups which have cease fire agreements with the junta) on their ways to border. "Sometimes, we need to give only 300 Kyats per cattle to a Gate and there are also Gates where we have to pay up to five thousand Kyats per cattle", said a trader. As there is much profit in the business for smugglers, more and more people
become involved in it. On the other hand, as cows are still widely used in the
country's farms, Burma is facing a scarcity of cows, and prices are going
up.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Irrawaddy online
Thailand Responds to US Attacks on
Afghanistan
By John S. Moncrief October 10, 2001—Thailand’s government has voiced its support for Sunday’s
US-led strike on Afghanistan and said it would allow US planes to use Thai
airbases. However, a Thai Navy official said yesterday that the US would not be
permitted to bring weapons into the country. Members of the Thai Senate have
criticized the decision of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to give support to
the US. As the US retaliation for the Sept 11 attacks continues, Thais and
foreigners living in Thailand are taking security precautions, as well as
bracing for a potential economic downturn.
"After having seen the evidence, Thailand agreed with the United States’
plan to get rid of the terrorist, who attacked America," Thai Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra told the Bangkok-based Nation newspaper.
On Sunday before the attacks, US Ambassador Richard Hecklinger traveled to
Chiang Rai to brief Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai on suspected
terrorist ringleader Osama Bin Laden’s involvement in the Sept 11 attacks on New
York and Washington. Surakiart commented that the evidence was very
compelling.
Air facilities at both Don Muang in Bangkok and U-tapao in Chonburi have
been used by US planes, according to an Air Force source quoted in the Bangkok
Post.
On Monday, Supreme Commander Adm Narong Yuthawong told reporters: "The US
doesn’t need to tell us anything, even in cases when it is bringing soldiers or
weapons to attack terrorists in Afghanistan."
But on Tuesday, Navy Chief of Staff Thaweesak Somapa told reporters that
the US had been given permission to use the airbase at U-tapao. He added,
however, that planes stopping at the base would not be allowed to carry weapons.
He also noted that the US built the base during the Vietnam War and that access
was in accordance with Thai-US agreements and international aviation
regulations.
The government’s decision to grant US military aircraft access to Thai
airbases has received strong criticism from members of the Thai Senate.
"The government must explain the nature of the US mission and what the
aircraft are carrying," said Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Head Sen Kraisak
Choonhavan.
Senator Klaew Norapati reportedly submitted a letter to the prime minister
opposing the use of U-tapao by the US. "We are being dragged into what could be
a prolonged war," Sen Klaew told the Bangkok Post newspaper.
Businesspeople in tourism and related sectors are concerned that an
escalation of hostilities in Afghanistan could discourage tourists from coming
to Thailand. Next month is the start of the Thai tourism industry’s high season,
which continues through to January.
Travel agencies have reported a few cancellations. However, it appears that
most tourists are simply taking a wait-and-see attitude. "American tourists are
being paranoid about travelling to Southeast Asia. I just tell them not to go to
Indonesia," said one American businessman.
In the northern city of Chiang Mai, one trekking operator reported that she
hadn’t received any cancellations for the upcoming high season. "I think they
see that Thailand doesn’t have a high Muslim population."
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has reportedly already lowered its
projection of visitors by 6% from 10.3 million. Projected revenue from tourism
has also been reduced, from 320 million baht to 280 million baht (from US $7.2
million to $6.3 million).
Meanwhile, Thai police have begun 24-hour patrols of the area around the US
embassy in Bangkok after US officials requested increased security following the
attacks on Afghanistan. Thai security forces have taken extra measures to
protect other Western and Middle Eastern embassies as well. International
schools in Bangkok have also increased security.
Thai Airways International has announced an indefinite suspension of
flights to and through Pakistan. [Top]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Irrawaddy online
Muslims Kept Under Watchful
Eye
By Maung Maung Oo October 10, 2001— Muslims living in Burma have seen their movements
restricted and communities watched by the government since the September 11
attack on the US, according to a Burmese Muslim living in Rangoon.
A source in Kawthaung, in southern Burma, told The Irrawaddy that last week
a Muslim man was pulled off a plane in Kawthaung without reason that was bound
for Rangoon and had has ticket canceled. Airport authorities in Kawthaung
refused to comment on whether Muslims are currently permitted to board planes in
Burma.
"Thousands of Muslims live in Kawthaung and many have connections with
Muslims living in Malaysia. The government is concerned about reprisals from
Muslim extremist groups in the region," said a security guard working at
Kawthaung’s airport.
A Muslim man in Rangoon vehemently denied that Islamic terrorists operate
in Burma despite reports indicating that they do.
Police officers have formed additional checkpoints on highways throughout
the country and have been asking detailed questions as to where Muslims are
traveling and why. Burmese citizens must carry state issued identification cards
that indicate their religion.
Two or more police officers have also been stationed at Mosques throughout
the country and plain clothed officers have been attending Muslim religious
gatherings as well, according to sources in Rangoon.
In Rangoon, the government tightened security around the US Embassy as well
as other western embassies and yesterday the US embassy in Rangoon closed for
security reasons. [Top]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Irrawaddy online
Five Elected MPs
Released
By Zarny Win October 10, 2001— The junta released five political prisoners yesterday in
what they are calling a "goodwill gesture" to mark the beginning of a two week
visit to Rangoon by a UN team sent to investigate political and civil rights in
Burma. The prisoners were all National League for Democracy (NLD) members as
well as elected Members of Parliament (MP).
The political prisoners freed yesterday are Tun Win, Min Don Constituency,
Magwe Division, Kyi Lwin, Ngaphe Constituency, Magwe Division, Min Swe, Pyapon
Constituency Two, Irrawaddy Division, Kyi Myint, Latha Constituency, Rangoon
Division and Dr. Myo Nynt, Dedaye Constituency One, Irrawaddy Division.
"He (Min Swe) is free for now but I am worried about him going back to
prison again," voiced one student in Rangoon in regards to Min Swe being
imprisoned twice since 1990.
" Hopefully while Mr. Pinheiro (UN envoy) is in Burma he can visit some
prisons and get an understanding of the true conditions," said Ko Tate, former
political prisoner and a spokesman for the Assistance Associaion for Political
Prisoners (Burma).
The government has released 174 political prisoners since reconcilliation
talks began with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi last October. Roughly 2,000
political prisoners remain incarcerated in prisons and "guest houses" throughout
Burma.
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