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BURMA RELATED NEWS - November
03, 2001.
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HEADLINES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- JT - Japan, Myanmar ink debt-relief
deal
AFP - Southeast Asian summit statement may skirt
US-led air strikes
Reuters - ASEAN to fight terrorism but avoid
Afghanistan issue
Washington File - Text: Rep. Smith Expresses
Support for Measure Honoring Suu Kyi
Bkk Post - Burma democracy group to continue
fight
Bkk Post - A troika on terrorism
Xinhuanet - Thailand, Myanmar, Wa State Army to
Hold Narcotics Talks
Xinhuanet - Myanmar PM to Attend ASEAN Summit
Xinhuanet - ASEAN SOMs Prepare for Leaders
Meeting
Kyodo - ASEAN chiefs
to target migrant workers in fight against AIDS
Irrawaddy online - WGAD Cites Arbitrary
Detention
Irrawaddy online - KNU Denies Ceasefire Talks
Taking Place
NMG - Pegu Monastery reopened
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Japan Times: Nov. 3,
2001
Japan, Myanmar ink debt-relief deal YANGON (Kyodo) Japan has agreed
to provide Myanmar with a debt-relief package totaling 1.8 billion yen, the
Japanese Embassy in Myanmar said Friday.
Japanese Ambassador to Myanmar Shigeru Tsumori and Brig. Gen. Than Tun,
Myanmar's deputy finance minister, signed and exchanged notes on the debt-relief
package Thursday evening in Yangon, according to a news release issued by the
embassy.
Japan is Myanmar's largest aid donor. It had extended 402.9 billion yen to
Myanmar by December 1987 -- the month in which it was declared a least-developed
country.
Since then, Japan has extended debt-relief grants to Myanmar regularly in
an effort to relieve the burden of debt owed by the Myanmar government.
The arrangement is aimed at eventually writing off the entire debt.
Yangon and Tokyo signed the previous debt relief agreement worth nearly 2
billion yen in March.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday November 3, 7:54 PM
Southeast Asian summit statement may
skirt US-led air strikes
AFP - Southeast Asian leaders will adopt a broad
declaration condemning terrorism at their upcoming summit here but may skirt the
prickly issue of US-led air strikes in Afghanistan, officials said
Saturday.
Indonesia and Malaysia, while condemning the deadly September 11 terror
attacks on New York and Washington, have criticised the retaliation in
Afghanistan, saying it was killing innocent people without stamping out
terrorism.
Aside from Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri and Malaysian Prime
Minister Mahathir Mohamad, leaders from Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam will attend the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit on Monday.
The two-part ASEAN leaders' declaration will comprise an "unequivocal
condemnation of terrorism" and "a set of cooperative activities at the regional
level to combat terrorism," ASEAN spokesman M.C. Abad said.
The leaders will also meet their counterparts from Japan, China and South
Korea jointly and individually on Tuesday as part of the annual "ASEAN plus
three" dialogue.
A proposal for the "ASEAN plus three" leaders to also issue a joint
anti-terrorism statement was shot down due to a lack of consensus, officials
said.
Japan had made the hotly-debated proposal at a preparatory meeting among
senior officials on Saturday and received strong backing from South Korea, the
Philippines and Thailand, an ASEAN official told AFP, speaking on condition of
anonymity.
He did not say who objected to the plan.
Fuzi Razak, secretary general of the Malaysian foreign ministry, said
"there is no consensus" among the senior officials.
Fuzi said however that the "ASEAN plus three" position on terrorism would
be reflected in a statement of the chairman (Brunei) at the end of their meeting
Tuesday.
"So in other words, Japan plus (the other) two will be able to get their
views and the chairman will take take into account all the views made by them,"
he added. "So this is a very good compromise."
ASEAN senior officials on Saturday refined a draft declaration by the
Philippines condemning the US terror attacks and seeking a common strategy to
combat terrorism.
"The response (to the draft declaration) is promising and it will be
adopted substantially," said Lauro Baja, Philippines undersecretary for foreign
affairs.
Officials said the declaration would be unlikely to have any reference to
Afghanistan or the US-led military strikes there.
"This is about ASEAN cooperation against terrorism. ASEAN is not
participating in (retaliatory attacks against) Afghanistan," said ASEAN
secretary-general Rodolfo Severino.
The Taliban hardline Islamic regime in Kabul is accused by the US of
harbouring Osama bin Laden, the main suspect in the September 11 attacks on New
York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington.
While Muslim nations Indonesia and Malaysia have deplored the US-led
attacks, which have exacted casualties among Afghan civilians, Singapore and the
Philippines gave full support to the strikes on Afghanistan.
Muslim Brunei, the current chairman of the ASEAN Standing Committee, is
heading talks to hammer out the final declaration by the leaders, who will begin
arriving here in the sultanate's capital on Sunday.
Diplomatic sources said Kuala Lumpur was pushing for the inclusion in the
declaration of premier Mahathir's proposal for an international conference to
determine the "root causes" of terrorism.
Malaysia has told the United States that the Middle East conflict should be
resolved to avoid future terrorist attacks.
It was not immediately clear whether Malaysia and Indonesia would demand a
clause in the declaration calling for a halt to US strikes on Afghanistan during
the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan beginning in the middle of November.
They have warned that such attacks would fuel further anti-American
sentiment in the Islamic world.
Aside from the terrorism issue, the ASEAN leaders are expected to adopt a
blueprint to fight the AIDS scourge, a proposal to set up the world's largest
free trade area covering Southeast Asia and China, as well as the current
regional economic downturn.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday November 3, 8:15 PM
ASEAN to fight terrorism but avoid Afghanistan issue By Jalil Hamid BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Reuters) -
Leaders of Southeast Asian nations, meeting in Brunei for a two-day summit
starting on Monday, will sign up to the war on terror without referring to the
bombing of Afghanistan, which several key members oppose.
A draft of the planned declaration was circulating among senior officials
meeting on Saturday, ahead of the annual Association of South East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) summit, which will be joined by leaders from China, Japan and Korea.
The draft, tentatively called "the ASEAN declaration on combating
international terrorism", condemned the September 11 attack on the United States
and affirmed ASEAN members' resolve to counter the threat together.
"The declaration has two parts, one is the unequivocal condemnation of
terrorism," said M.C. Abad, a senior official at the Jakarta-based ASEAN
secretariat.
"And the second part is a set of cooperative activities at the regional
level to combat terrorism," he told reporters.
But while the draft, framed by the Philippines, spoke of being "deeply
concerned by the pernicious effects of terrorism on international peace and
security, regional stability and development" there was no mention of the
ongoing bombing campaign in Afghanistan.
Two key members, Indonesia and Malaysia, have already denounced the air
strikes, and ASEAN is one of the last regional groupings to rally to the cause
of Washington's war on terror.
Several members, including Indonesia and Malaysia, have individually
pledged support, but have condemned the air strikes against fellow-Muslim
Afghanistan from the start.
Their opposition has hardened as civilian casualties have mounted.
And on Friday, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, ASEAN's elder
statesman after 20 years in power, said he was asking the United States to halt
the bombing immediately.
"I am writing to President Bush asking America to stop the bombings against
Afghanistan," Malaysia's Bernama news agency quoted Mahathir as saying.
Earlier in the week, Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, who heads
the world's largest Muslim nation, called for a halt in the conflict before
Islam's holy month of Ramadan begins in mid-November.
Some ASEAN countries face problems of homegrown militancy.
Indonesia is battling Muslim separatists in northern Sumatra,
mainly-Catholic Philippines is fighting Muslim separatists in the south and
Malaysia is arresting suspected militants.
In the last three months, Malaysia has locked up 16 supporters of an
opposition Muslim fundamentalist party on suspicion of belonging to an
Afghan-inspired militant group.
The three countries are increasing joint efforts to counter cross-border
militancy and this cooperation will be furthered by ASEAN's intention to
"explore methods and modalities" to make the fight against terrorism "a truly
regional and global endeavour", the draft declaration said.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Beyond the issue of terrorism, the "ASEAN+3" summit, when the leaders of
China, Japan and South Korea join in, is expected to focus on the ASEAN Free
Trade Area (AFTA), which opens in the six more developed ASEAN members next
year, with the long-term objective of striking a trade agreement with
China.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Washington File
02 November 2001 Text: Rep. Smith Expresses Support for Measure Honoring Suu Kyi (H. Con. Res. 211 calls on Burma to recognize election results) (880) The House International Relations Committee approved by unanimous consent
November 1 a resolution that honors Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi on the 10th
anniversary of her receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.
Representative Christopher Smith (Republican of New Jersey), had planned to
offer a technical amendment as a substitution for the resolution during the
markup, but decided instead to bring that amendment up when the full House of
Representatives takes up House Concurrent Resolution 211 (H. Con. Res.
211).
H. Con. Res. 211 highlights the struggle by Aung San Suu Kyi for democracy
in Burma, and would invite her to address Congress.
The measure describes "the suppression of freedom and democracy by the
Burmese military junta and the continuing struggle of Aung San Suu Kyi and the
National League for Democracy to assert the rights of the Burmese people," Smith
said in his prepared statement for the committee.
The proposed resolution expresses a sense of Congress that the United
States government "should continue to encourage the Government of Burma to
restore basic human rights to the Burmese people," Smith, the committee's vice
chairman, said in his prepared statement.
The proposed resolution also calls on the Rangoon regime to eliminate the
practice of human trafficking, to address the manufacture of heroin and
methamphetamines in Burma, to continue to release political prisoners, and "to
recognize the results of the 1990 democratic elections, and to allow Aung San
Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy to enjoy unfettered freedom of
speech and freedom of movement," Smith said.
H. Con. Res. 211 now goes before the full House of Representatives for
consideration.
Following is the text of Smith's statement to the House International
Relations Committee:
(begin text)
Statement of Rep. Christopher Smith
Vice Chairman House International Relations Committee November 1, 2001
H. Con. Res. 211, Commemorating Aung San Suu Kyi on the 10th Anniversary of
her receiving the Nobel Peace Prize and expressing the sense of Congress with
respect to the government of Burma
Mr. Chairman, I urge a unanimous vote in favor of this resolution, which
makes clear the continued strong support of Congress for freedom and democracy
in Burma and for the struggle of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and the
National League for Democracy to assert the fundamental rights of the Burmese
people.
I want to thank and congratulate Congressman King and the 35 bipartisan
co-sponsors of this timely and important resolution. I do have an amendment in
the nature of a substitute, which makes technical and drafting changes that have
been agreed to by Mr. King, Mr. Leach, Mr. Lantos, and others.
Mr. Chairman, ten years ago this month the Nobel committee recognized what
the whole world knew: that the only way to restore peace and prosperity to the
once-proud nation of Burma is to restore legitimacy.
Burma is different from most other countries in which power is wielded by
totalitarian dictatorships, in that we do not have to theorize about what the
people would choose if they were allowed to govern themselves. Eleven years ago
the military government did allow an election, which they figured they would be
able to win by fraud and intimidation and by dividing and conquering the
different ethnic groups that comprise the nation of Burma. To their surprise,
the good guys won, with overwhelming support from all ethnic groups in all parts
of the country. So the dictators simply cancelled the results of
the election. Nevertheless, it laid to rest any doubt about the desire of the Burmese people for freedom and democracy and about the fundamental illegitimacy of the military dictatorship that has continued to govern Burma. This resolution commends Aung San Suu Kyi on the tenth anniversary of her
receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. That anniversary occurred on October 14 of this
year. The resolution also describes the suppression of freedom and democracy by
the Burmese military junta and the continuing struggle of Aung San Suu Kyi and
the National League for Democracy to assert the rights of the Burmese people. It
declares the sense of Congress that the United States government should continue
to encourage the Government of Burma to restore basic human rights to the
Burmese people, to eliminate the practice of human trafficking, to address the
manufacture of heroin and methamphetamines, to continue the process of releasing
political prisoners, to recognize the results of the 1990 democratic elections,
and to allow Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy to enjoy
unfettered freedom of speech and freedom of movement. Finally, Mr. Chairman,
this resolution
declares the sense of Congress that Aung San Suu Kyi should be invited to address a joint meeting of the Congress. It is my hope that this meeting will occur when Aung San Suu Kyi has taken her rightful place as the leader of a free and democratic Burma. Mr. Chairman, I urge a unanimous YES vote in favor of H. Con. Res. 211 as
amended.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - November 03,
2001.
Burma democracy group to continue fight The All Burma Students' Democratic Front vowed to continue its armed
struggle for democracy.
The group made the pledge at its 13th anniversary celebration on Thursday
held on Burmese territory opposite Tak province.
Also present at the gathering were representatives of Burma's other
pro-democracy groups, including the Karen National Union, the National Council
of the Union of Burma, and the National League for Democracy.
``The current situation in Burma forces our 3,500 members to fight along
Burmese borders with Thailand, China, India and Bangladesh. We are joining
forces with our allies to fight against dictatorship,'' said the group's
chairman Than Khae, 35, who abandoned his medical studies at the Mandalay
university following a crackdown in 1988.
Than Khae said the mission of pro-democracy groups would not end until
democracy returned to Burma.
Group representatives said they had no choice but to use violence to fight
the ruling junta in Rangoon because its demand for the pro-democracy groups to
lay down arms before any negotiation was ``unacceptable''.
Than Khae said the junta was using its armed forces to drive all
pro-democracy groups out of Burma.
More than 800 group members had been killed, disabled or injured over the
past 13 years of their fight for democracy in Burma, he said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - November 03,
2001.
A troika on terrorism Thailand is going to the Asean summit in Brunei with
some ideas for fighting terrorism. Gaining support will depend on how the prime
minister sells the ideas.
ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT
Thailand must push for Asean leaders meeting in Brunei on Monday to adopt a
collective stance against terrorism and prepare to struggle for the activation
of a troika, Thai and Western analysts say.
Political scientist Chaiwat Khamchoo in addition stressed the need for
Thailand, which will be represented by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, to
show it is sincere, and seeks benefit for all.
``We risk being isolated by Asean colleagues, or offending them if we
always put ourselves in the spotlight with rhetoric or play a leading role in an
unconstructive manner,'' said Mr Chaiwat, dean of Chulalongkorn University's
faculty of political science.
Brunei has made it clear terrorism and the global economic slowdown would
top the agenda at the annual gathering of the 10 leaders from the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations.
The two subjects are also set to be priorities in the leaders' meeting
there with neighbours from China, Japan and South Korea.
Thailand is proposing that Asean activate a troika to determine the
grouping's role and position on terrorism. It favours a troika focus on
preventive measures like capacity building. Thailand is also hoping that the
Asean leaders will endorse Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai's call for
Asean foreign ministers to hold a special meeting on terrorism by the end of
this month.
While all Asean member states _ Burma, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam _ condemn terrorism,
they differ in reactions to the US-led reprisals over the past month to the Sept
11 attacks in New York and Washington.
Former foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan joined Mr Chaiwat in supporting
discussion of terrorism and counter measures.
But Mr Surin, who had trouble convincing doubters when Thailand sought to
develop the troika idea as Asean chair in 1999, emphasised the difficulties his
successor would face.
Acknowledgement is not the same as endorsement of proposals, he said.
Burma, which was among the doubters along with Laos and Vietnam, refused to
let an Asean troika check out the situation in the country in 1999. But it later
in the year agreed to a delegation from the European Union conducting such a
mission.
Carlyle A Thayer, a Honolulu-based regional security analyst, said Mr
Surakiart's initiative was a welcome sign that his predecessor's ``positive
activism''had not been abandoned.
Mr Thayer joined Mr Chaiwat and Mr Surin in believing that it would be
difficult for Asean to activate a troika although the grouping had endorsed the
principle in Manila in 1999.
``The non-interference principle remains untouchable,'' Mr Chaiwat said.
``A common stance among Asean members against terrorism could go as far as
condemning the use of force but it is doubtful if they will adopt certain
solutions to deal with the situation as some Muslim countries have their
domestic constituencies to heed,'' he added.
Mr Surin said the Brunei summit was a good occasion for leaders to make a
concrete pledge and adopt a collective stance on the issue. If this were
achieved , there would be no need for a special foreign ministers' meeting, he
added.
``It's a ticklish situation. Asean usually does not want to take a
political stand since members fear making the precedent of interfering in issues
deemed strictly domestic,'' said the man who had trouble convincing Asean to be
more flexible .
Mr Thayer did not hold much hope for the latest proposal.
``Thailand's proposal for the activation of the troika coincides with a
conspicuous lack of action by Asean itself,'' he said. ``Asean as a regional
organisation is a Johnny-come-lately to the parade of other regional
organisations that have condemned terrorism... Asean's tardiness is a sign of
internal agreement'' he added.
The Organisation of Islamic Conference, the Gulf States, and the
Organisation of American States have all formed collective stands on
terrorism.
``If the troika succeeds in defining what a terrorist group is and
identifies a terrorist threat or threats to regional security, what action can
the troika recommend? Once again the instinct of preserving sovereignty will
dominate the concerns of individual states,'' he said.
Mr Surin said the impact on global economies by the terrorist attacks and
subsequent reprisals against the Taliban could help push forward economic
integration within Asean and beyond. The Asean-plus-Three process ``should look
even more seriously into closer regional economic integration'', he said.
The 10-plus-three no longer could stop at ``niceties'' uttered in their
joint statement but had to ``roll up their sleeves to show political will and
explore possibilities of opening up beyond their jurisdictions'', Mr Surin
said.
Mr Chaiwat stressed the need for Asean to ``really implement'' its tariff
reduction scheme, and to ``clear with China'' the implications of the latter's
imminent induction into the World Trade Organisation.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thailand, Myanmar, Wa State Army
to Hold Narcotics Talks
Xinhuanet 2001-11-02 12:03:16 BANGKOK, November 2 (Xinhuanet)
-- Thailand, Myanmar and a group of ethnic fighters in Myanmar, the Wa State
Army (WSA), which Thailand has blamed for the widespread flow of amphetamines
into the country and the region, will meet in Rangoon next week, the Nation
newspaper reported Friday.
A Thai senior government source was quoted by the paper as saying that the
meeting would be the first time to include representatives from the WSA.
But the source said that the WSA had not yet submitted a list of
participants to the Thai side.
The meeting, which was arranged after Myanmar asked Thailand toact as a
mediator in the fight against drug production and trafficking in the region,
expected to hear from the WSA about its plan to control drug trafficking,
according to the Nation.
The Thai side had agreed to offer assistance in growing substitute crops
after poppy fields were eradicated and amphetamine planes were destroyed, the
Nation said.
The source did not reveal the date of the meeting.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar PM to Attend ASEAN Summit
Xinhuanet 2001-11-02 10:39:49 YANGON, November 2 (Xinhuanet)
-- Myanmar Prime Minister Senior-General Than Shwe will attend the 7th Summit of
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and meetings of ASEAN leaders
and leaders of China, Japan and south Korea, to be held in Bandar Seri Begawan,
capital of Brunei, according to an official announcement here Friday.
The summit is scheduled from November 5 to 6.
Than Shwe, who is also chairman of the Myanmar State Peace and Development
Council (SPDC), will be accompanied by SPDC First Secretary Lieutenant-General
Khin Nyunt, Foreign Minister U Win Aung and others, it is learnt.
At the summit, leaders of the 10 ASEAN nations are set to discuss channels
to enhance the unity and role of ASEAN in international community, and the
speed-up of future cooperation as well as the global economic problems, China's
entry into the World Trade Organization and reduction of development gap among
ASEAN members.
The 6th ASEAN summit was held in Hanoi, Vietnam in December 1998.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASEAN SOMs Prepare for Leaders
Meeting
Xinhuanet 2001-11-03 19:50:16 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei, November 3 (Xinhuanet) -- A senior official meeting (SOM) was
held here Saturday to make preparations for the 5th informal leadership meeting
of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus three (China, Japan
and the Republic of Korea) due to start on November 5.
Sources said that the participants discussed the topics of the upcoming
informal leadership meeting and the issues of common concern.
The senior officials also finalized two declarations respectively on
terrorism and AIDS prevention to be submitted to the informal leadership
meeting.
Another SOM preparing for the 5th informal leadership meeting of ASEAN plus
one (China) was also held Saturday. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi
attended the two SOMs.
The informal leadership meetings of 5th ASEAN plus three and ASEAN plus one
are important meetings in the early new century, during which the participants
will exchange views on regional cooperation.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASEAN chiefs to target migrant workers
in fight against AIDS
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Nov. 3 Kyodo
- Southeast Asian leaders will intensify their fight against the
spread of HIV and AIDS when they meet in Bandar Seri Begawan next week,
targeting migrant workers in the region. (22 :47)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Irrrawaddy online
WGAD Cites Arbitrary
Detention
By Zarny Win November 03, 2001—The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
(WGAD) has recently declared the imprisonment of seven political prisoners in
Burma to be arbitrary, according to a statement released by the WGAD on October
26.
In response to this declaration, the Assistance Association for Political
Prisoners (Burma) (AAPP) based in Mae Sot, Thailand, has called on Burma’s
ruling military government to immediately and unconditionally release the seven
prisoners.
The AAPP sent the WGAD a petition in February of this year asking the UN group to review the terms of the prisoners’ continued incarceration, noting that their extended sentencing was in contradiction to international law. "The WGAD’s opinion will tell the regime that it is not acting in
accordance with international law, and they (WGAD) have asked the country to
rectify their position," said Ko Tate, secretary of the AAPP. He added that the
AAPP is hoping the WGAD’s recent opinion may increase political pressure on
Burma’s military regime to adopt a democratic system.
The AAPP has said they will be releasing a statement soon concerning
student leader Min Ko Naing’s continued detention despite completing his
original sentence. Min Ko Naing’s case has been reviewed by the WGAD and his
detention has also been deemed arbitrary.
The group has already sent a petition to the WGAD asking for opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s case to be reviewed as soon as possible. Suu Kyi
remains under house arrest in Rangoon. The WGAD will review Suu Kyi’s case at
their November session.
Between 1991-1997, the WGAD has declared the detention of over 1,300
prisoners around the world to be arbitrary. They have also ruled the detention
of nineteen other prisoners to be legitimate. According to the WGAD, 335 of
these prisoners have been released.
Since 1993, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights has authorized
the WGAD to take up cases on its own when sufficient evidence exists that
substantiates allegations of arbitrary deprivation of liberty.
The WGAD not only attempts to free arbitrarily detained individuals but
above all seeks to have governments adopt the necessary legislation that would
prevent any new cases of arbitrary detention.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Irrawaddy online
KNU Denies Ceasefire Talks Taking
Place
By Ko Thet October 31, 2001—The Karen National Union’s (KNU) supposed talks with the
Burmese government regarding a ceasefire agreement have been fabricated,
according to a KNU official. The rumor claimed that the two parties met in
Bangkok last week, but KNU General Secretary Phado Mahn Sha denied the alleged
meeting ever occurred.
"The KNU did not talk with the regime; this news is just a rumor. Our
troops are still fighting with government forces throughout our controlled
areas. The government has actually stepped up efforts against us now that the
rainy season is ending," Phado Mahn Sha told The Irrawaddy.
The KNU is the most powerfully armed ethnic minority group in Burma that is
currently fighting against government troops. The KNU has 12,000 troops based
along the Thai-Burma border. KNU officials met four times with military
officials during 1995-1996 to discuss a ceasefire agreement but the two sides
were never able to agree on a settlement.
During the Burmese junta’s Secretary One Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt’s recent trip to
Bangkok, he met with Thai Third Army Commander Gen Wattanachai to discuss
Burmese insurgent groups operating from Thai soil. Phado Mahn Sha said that he
has not heard anything from the Thai government regarding this meeting.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Network Media Group
Pegu Monastery reopened Chiang Mai, November 3, 2001
The monastery in Pegu, which was ordered to close after the religious riot
occurred in Pegu, was recently allowed to reopen and monks learning Buddhist
Scriptures in monastery were allowed to re-register on October 28 and 29.
The monks re-registered in the monastery will be let stay at "Sasana
Mandaing" and "Vipatsana" buildings. Although the monastery was allowed to
reopen, authorities in Pegu ordered security forces to closely watch the
movement of the monks, said an inside source.
The monastery was ordered to close by authorities after religious riot
occurred on October 18 and the monks who were learning Buddhist Scriptures were
sent back to their hometowns even during the period of Buddhist lent.
Some monks and security police got injured in October 18 riot and
authorities had to issued curfew order in Pegu.
Although some of the monks were amongst the arrested in the riot, the exact
number of arrested monks has not yet known.
Thirty-four prisoners who were arrested in the religious riots occurred in
Pyi, Taunggu and Pegu were sent to remote Khamti prison and they reached Khamti
on November 1, a source reported to NMG.
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