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BURMA RELATED NEWS - November
05, 2001.
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HEADLINES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reuters - Asian leaders voice concern for Afghan
civilians
Reuters - Japan urges Myanmar to do more on
democracy
AFP - Myanmar's junta
vows not to meddle if Aung San Suu Kyi wins future vote: Japan
AFP - Malaysia favours UN to lead campaign
against terrorism
AFP - ASEAN summit opens after anti-terror
statement
Dow Jones - Malaysia Petronas:Asean Gas Grid
Could Be Finished Early
BBC - Asean leaders' trade hopes
Xinhuanet - Myanmar Targets to Produce 18,530
Tons of Paper in 2001-02
Xinhuanet - Tourist Arrivals in Myanmar Drop in
First 8 Months
Xinhuanet - ASEAN Leaders Adopt Declaration on
HIV/AIDS
Xinhuanet - ASEAN Countries Treat Stimulating
Domestic Economies as Priority
Bkk Post - Repatriation plan worries rights
panel
Kyodo News - Than Shwe hints at possible
role for Suu Kyi in Myanmar
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday November 5, 10:17 PM
Asian leaders voice concern for Afghan civilians By Simon Cameron-Moore BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Reuters) -
Asian leaders at a summit in Brunei voiced concern on Monday over the fate of
Afghan civilians caught in the midst of a U.S.-led bombing campaign.
The 10 members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) met
their North Asian neighbours China, Japan and Korea in a summit primarily
focused on economic issues, but unable to escape the shadow of the Afghan
conflict.
Their misgivings over Washington's military strategy surfaced in a
statement, read by host and chairman Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, at the
end of the ASEAN+3 summit.
"In reiterating their condemnation of the terrorist attacks, leaders
expressed their concern for the welfare of innocent people as a result of the
military action on Afghanistan and considered extending humanitarian
assistance," the statement said.
It was the one reference to the conflict in a summation of the first day's
talks which focused on the economic challenges posed by the global downturn, the
fight against AIDS, and dreams of creating a vast East Asian free trade area.
Leaders of Muslim nations like Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
and Indonesia's President Megawati Sukarnoputri have called for air strikes
against Afghanistan to stop.
Mahathir, at a news conference alluded to the split in ASEAN over the
issue, and summit sources said Singapore and the Philippines had refused to go
along with any joint call on Washington to rethink its strategy.
"We differed on this and we prefer not to insist," Mahathir said. "Whereas
Malaysia and Indonesia had felt that it should stop, others did not express
strong views on that."
Mahathir said the bombing would not root out terrorism, but cause civilian
casualties and make Muslims angry.
More than half of ASEAN's 500 million people are Muslim and daily reports
of casualties in the run-up to the holy month of Ramadan are intensifying
criticism of Washington's tactics.
Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei have Muslim majorities, while five other
ASEAN members have significant minorities.
On the eve of the summit the 10 ASEAN leaders agreed on an anti-terrorism
declaration condemning the September 11 attacks and pledging to work to counter
cross-border militancy in the region, but omitting any mention of Afghanistan.
Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi explained to the summit Tokyo's
decision to send troops overseas to provide non-combat, rearguard support for
the U.S.-led campaign.
ECONOMIC TALKS
They concentrated on economic issues, along with a joint declaration to
combat HIV/AIDS, which has infected around 1.6 million people in the region.
At the ASEAN+3 summit in the afternoon the leaders discussed the report by
its East Asia Vision Group, which proposed establishing an East Asia Free Trade
Area and speeding up trade liberalisation, the statement said.
The final report would be submitted at next year's summit in Cambodia.
On Tuesday the ASEAN leaders will meet the leaders of China, Japan and
Korea separately.
Talks with Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji on Tuesday will focus on how first to
link China's growing economy with Southeast Asia, and create a trade block of
nearly two billion people, but it may be a decade or more before that vision is
realised.
Zhu floated the idea last year at ASEAN's summit in Singapore.
Of more immediate concern for ASEAN is how to cope with an economic
slowdown lengthened and deepened by the world reaction to the September 11
attacks.
The region's exporters have been hard hit by a slump in demand from the
United States and Japan, and foreign direct investment has dwindled.
The most developed member Singapore is in recession and the second-most
developed Malaysia is in danger of following suit.
ASEAN's best answer, aside from increased government spending and keeping
borrowing conditions easy, is to keep liberalising and integrate its economies
into a competitive force.
The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) opens in 2002, and members hope to list
more goods in a zero to five percent tariff band, and make cross-border
transportation of goods easier.
The statement said ASEAN members would also speed up negotiations to
liberalise trade in service industries and start negotiations for mutual
recognition for professionals like lawyers and architects.
"The idea is to consolidate ASEAN'S competitiveness and one way to do this
is to integrate ASEAN economies into a single production base to make production
more efficient," ASEAN's official spokesman M.C. Abad told Reuters.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday November 5, 9:08 PM
Japan urges Myanmar to do more on democracy By Elaine Lies BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi said that he welcomed recent efforts by military-ruled Myanmar to
release political prisoners, but believed more must be done to push for
democracy.
Myanmar has been freeing political prisoners steadily, most recently on
October 26, and its military has been engaged in talks with pro-democracy
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The talks have shown no results but have
served to build confidence.
In a meeting with Myanmar ruler Senior-General Than Shwe, Koizumi was
quoted by a Foreign Ministry official as saying: "We welcome your efforts for
freeing political prisoners and we ask for you to continue."
"International society is closely watching the role of Aung San Suu Kyi,"
he was quoted as adding. "We hope you will recognise this and make further
efforts for democracy."
In reply, Than Shwe was quoted as saying that Myanmar will continue to work
towards democracy, adding that what sort of position Suu Kyi might be in in the
future is no concern of theirs, the official said.
"If Suu Kyi were to be elected in an election, that is democracy and not
something we could interfere in," he was quoted as saying.
It was not completely clear in what context the comment was made, but the
Japanese official said it was apparently made in a hypothetical sense and no
specific time frame was expressed.
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won elections in 1990 by a
landslide but has never been allowed to rule. Instead, her supporters have been
detained and harassed.
Suu Kyi herself was under house arrest for six years and in the past was
frequently reviled by the government for her actions.
Koizumi met Than Shwe on the sidelines of a two-day meeting of leaders of
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations plus Japan, China and
Korea that began in Brunei on Monday.
Tokyo has generally taken a softer approach than the West towards Myanmar,
especially on the question of aid, opting for engagement rather than sanctions.
In July, Japanese Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka told her Myanmar
counterpart, Win Aung, that Japan would continue to provide Myanmar with
economic aid to improve the country's hydroelectric power generation.
Japan, which used to be Myanmar's largest aid donor, suspended assistance
-- including yen loans, grant aid and technical assistance -- in 1988 after the
military crushed a pro-democracy uprising.
However, it has provided limited assistance since Suu Kyi, who favours
sanctions, was freed from six years of house arrest in 1995.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar's junta vows not to meddle if
Aung San Suu Kyi wins future vote: Japan
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Nov 5 (AFP) - The head of Myanmar's junta on Monday vowed
not to meddle if opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi wins a future election when
the nation turns itself into a full democracy, a Japanese official said.
"We do not care what kind of position Aung San Suu Kyi would hold in the
course of democratisation," the senior official quoted Myanmar's Senior General
Than Shwe as telling Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in bilateral talks
on the sidelines of an East Asia summit.
But the official said the junta leader was speaking hypothetically and "did
not make a clear statement" that elections will be held.
"If Aung San Suu Kyi was elected in votes, it is democracy and is not what
we should meddle in," Than Shwe was quoted as saying.
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won an overwhelming
election victory in 1990 which was never recognised by the military government,
which took over the nation in 1988.
Asked to clarify the junta leader's remark, the official said Than Shwe
meant "if Aung San Suu Kyi becomes to play a due role after Myanmar is
democratised, it would not be something the current government has a stake in."
Koizumi appreciated the recent release of political prisoners in Myanmar and
called for further democratisation efforts, but did not ask Than Shwe to
elaborate on his election remark, the official said.
"The international community is paying attention to the role of Aung San
Suu Kyi, and I hope you will continue efforts towards democracy by paying heed
to this," Koizumi was quoted as saying.
Japan suspended all but a small amount of humanitarian aid following the
1988 military takeover, but the flow of funds resumed in 1994.
Its aid-for-reform pay-off often meets criticism from the Western nations,
notably the United States, who says despite signs of a political thaw, it was
inappropriate to deal with Myanmar's military rulers.
Japan provided 1.9 billion yen of grant aid as well as 1.6 billion yen of
technical assistance to Myanmar in the year to March.
Most recently, Tokyo exchanged notes with Yangon last Thursday to extend
debt relief of 1.8 billion yen.
Koizumi also held separate talks with Laotian Prime Minister BounNhang
Vorachith.
The Laotian leader noted the importance of Japanese assistance and asked
for low-interest loans from Tokyo, the Japanese official said.
The talks were Koizumi's first meetings with Myanmar and Laos leaders.
Japan is the biggest donor for both nations, but Koizumi promised no fresh aid
at the meetings. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday November 4, 7:39 PM
Malaysia favours UN to lead campaign against terrorism BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Nov 4 (AFP) - Malaysia is pushing for the United Nations
to lead the war against terrorism and remains opposed to the US-led bombing in
Afghanistan, foreign minister Syed Hamid Albar said Sunday.
Syed Hamid said Malaysia's position had received favourable response from
several other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),
whose leaders are meeting here for annual talks.
He said other ASEAN member states felt "there should be cooperation in
combatting terrorism in a comprehensive manner at regional or international
level under the auspices of the UN."
Syed Hamid said the US-led air strikes should stop immediately since the
bombings would not flush out the terrorists who staged the attacks in the United
States on September 11.
"Using the arsenal of war has not brought out the terrorists. It has
created humanitarian problems. Innocent civilians suffer," he said.
Syed Hamid said if the US bombing -- which had been going on for the last
four weeks -- was long and drawn out, it would have deep and far reaching
political and economic consequences.
"We feel the bombing and war will not solve the problem of getting the
terrorists," he said.
Asked if ASEAN had reached a common position to urge the US to stop the
bombing, Syed Hamid said: "Each individual country is making its own
position."
Singapore and the Philippines have backed the US-led military strikes in
Afghanistan but the region's biggest Muslim nations -- Indonesia and Malaysia --
have criticised the attacks, which have exacted heavy casualties among
civilians.
Syed Hamid said Malaysia hoped that ASEAN would continue to be a strong
body playing an important role in international affairs and would work together
for a common objective to ensure economic growth.
The seventh ASEAN summit will be the first meeting of all the Southeast
Asian leaders since the September terror attacks in the United States.
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand,
Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday November 5, 9:27 AM
ASEAN summit opens after anti-terror statement AFP - Southeast Asian leaders
opened formal talks here after adopting a joint stand condemning terrorism and
pledging to launch a regionwide assault against it.
Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, among the world's richest men, chaired
the annual summit of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) amid tight security in the tiny Islamic sultanate.
The leaders are expected to discuss the twin problems of terrorism and AIDS
posing a threat to the resource-rich region while finding ways to contain an
economic slowdown aggravated by the September 11 terror attacks on the United
States.
After a morning session discussing largely economic issues including the
need for greater integration among member states ranging from wealthy Singapore
to Laos, one of the least developing nations, the ASEAN leaders will have a
working lunch with their counterparts from China, Japan and South Korea.
During dinner talks Sunday, the Southeast Asian leaders adopted a joint
statement condemning terrorism and pledging to cooperate in the war against the
menace.
But the statement made no reference to the controversial US-led air strikes
against Afghanistan, which is harbouring alleged terrorist supremo Osama bin
Laden, blamed for the September attacks on the United States.
The statement was carefully worded to reflect the differing views of the
leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which
has operated by consensus since its establishment in 1967.
ASEAN is torn between support for the United States, its key trading
partner, and sympathy for Muslims, who make up more than half the 500 million
population in Southeast Asia.
Indonesia, the largest ASEAN state and the world's most populous Muslim
nation, as well as predominantly-Muslim Malaysia have demanded that the United
States cease strikes on Afghanistan, saying they had exacted a heavy toll on
civilians and would not end terrorism.
Singapore and the Philippines have backed the strikes.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday November 5, 2:16 PM
Malaysia Petronas:Asean Gas Grid Could Be Finished Early KUALA LUMPUR (Dow Jones)--The
Trans-Asean gas grid could be completed before the targeted 2015 if there is the
political will among Asean countries to do so, a senior official of Malaysia's
national oil company Petroliam Nasional Bhd. (P.PET) said Monday.
"While we acknowledge that many obstacles exist, we are confident that the
Trans-Asean gas grid will be fully realized by the year 2015," Petronas
President and Chief Executive Hassan Marican said in a speech at a petroleum
conference.
"With political will and strong support of the Asean member countries to
overcome the obstacles, the Trans-Asean gas grid can be fully realized earlier,"
he added. He didn't give an expected completion date other than the targeted
2015.
The Trans-Asean gas grid will link the national gas networks of countries
in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Asean members are Brunei,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,
and Vietnam.
Hassan said the Asean Council of Petroleum has identified seven new links
to connect supply sources to demand centers in Asean. He didn't elaborate.
Hassan also said Petronas, Indonesia's Pertamina and Vietnam's PetroVietnam
are finalizing talks to form three-way tie-ups for upstream activities.
In a news conference, Hassan said the joint-venture companies will look at
exploration blocks within the three countries.
He declined to give financial details, saying: "We will talk about figures
when we announce them."
He said the details will announced when the terms are finalized.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- BBC - Monday, 5 November, 2001, 11:49
GMT
Asean leaders' trade hopes South east Asian leaders are meeting in Brunei for a two-day summit, with
the economic focus of the talks centred on the creation of a free-trade area.
At issue is the question of how best to expand trade with China, amid fears
by many members of Asean (Association of South East Asian Nations) that their
markets will be flooded with cheap Chinese goods.
Many of the region's export-led economies have been hit hard by the drop in
demand in the United States and Japan.
This global slowdown is expected to increase pressure for stronger trade
ties within the region, though observers say it will be some time before a
free-trade bloc will exist.
Non-members join in
Leaders of China, Japan and Korea also met in Brunei, and were expected to
meet with their Asean counterparts later on Monday.
The Asean Free Trade Area (AFTA) is expected to come into effect next year.
"The main subject for discussion (at the Asean-China summit) is a report
and recommendations by an experts group. One of the recommendations is the
possibility of working towards a free trade area," ASEAN secretary general
Rodolfo Severino said.
Many Asian states fear being inundated with cheap Chinese goods, such as
textiles, electronics and agricultural produce.
Some observers say this makes it more likely that ASEAN members will strike
bilateral deals with China.
East asia trade block a non-starter
Some observers believe that the creation of an east Asian trading area,
like that of the European Union, is unlikely.
The regions' economies are too varied and at different stages of
development, says Hank Morris of Industrial research and Consulting in Seoul.
The industrial north east Asian economies of Japan, Korea and China differ
greatly from the south east asian economies of countries like Indonesia and
Malaysia which are dependent on commodities.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar Targets to Produce 18,530
Tons of Paper in 2001-02
Xinhuanet 2001-11-05 10:04:57 YANGON, November 5 (Xinhuanet)
-- Myanmar's three existing paper plants are targeted to produce a total of
18,530 tons of various kinds of paper in the present fiscal year ending in March
2002.
According to the Ministry of Industry No.1, the three state-run paper
plants under the ministry, respectively located in Mon state, Bago and Yangon
divisions, are producing stationery and print paper, exercise books, brown
paper, packing paper and tissue paper.
A new newsprint paper factory, in Mandalay division, set up in April this
year with the assistance of the Tianjin Machinery Import and Export Corporation
of China, will produce 7,500 tons of paper annually.
According to the sources, Myanmar is also building a 200-ton-daily-capacity
bleached bamboo pulp factory in Ayeyawaddy division's Thabaung township, buying
in machinery from the China Metallurgical Construction (Group) Corporation. When
completed, the plant will produce 60,000 tons of the pulp yearly.
Meanwhile, Myanmar plans to add 14 more paper and pulp mills of 50 to 500
ton daily capacity in different states and divisions during the five-year-plan
period from 2001-02 to 2005-06.
According to the ministry, Myanmar's per capita consumption of paper is 2.6
kilograms and its total domestic paper demand in the present fiscal year of
2001-02 is 117,600 tons.
The country produced 16,894 tons of paper in 2000, accounting for only
14.36 percent of the total demand, and it has still to import over 100,000 tons
of the paper or 85.64 percent of the total demand.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tourist Arrivals in Myanmar Drop
in First 8 Months
Xinhuanet 2001-11-05 10:18:03 YANGON, November 5 (Xinhuanet)
-- Tourist arrivals in Myanmar dropped by 48.82 percent in the first eight
months of this year compared with the same period of 2000, reaching 77,773, the
country's Economic Indicators said in its latest issue.
The decline of tourist arrivals was attributed to the sharp fall in the
number of cross-border tourists from neighboring countries during the
eight-month period, showing a 93.71 percent fall compared with the corresponding
period of 2000.
Myanmar depends largely on cross-border tourism in getting foreign
tourists, especially from Thailand and China, the two close neighbors
respectively bordering its southeastern and northeastern parts.
There had been border clashes between Myanmar and Thailand since February,
which lasted for four months until June.
According to official statistics, in 2000, the country registered 234,900
tourist arrivals, of which 49 percent entered the country by land through border
points.
In recent years, Myanmar participated in tourism fairs held in Thailand,
Singapore, China's Hong Kong and Republic of Korea, with the aim of drawing more
tourists for the development of its tourism industry.
Meanwhile, Myanmar is also cooperating with tourism authorities of member
countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in regional
activities, including cooperation programs for tourist destinations in the ASEAN
region and market promotion activities of nations in great Mekong region as well
as Ganges-Mekong cooperation program.
To develop its tourism, Myanmar has signed bilateral agreements with China,
Cambodia, Laos, Singapore and Thailand.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASEAN Leaders Adopt Declaration on
HIV/AIDS
Xinhuanet 2001-11-05 16:29:28 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, November 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Leaders of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Monday adopted a Declaration on HIV/AIDS at
their 7th summit here.
The ASEAN leaders also adopted the ASEAN Work Program on HIV/AIDS and
pledged to work together towards accomplishing the regional activities in
support of national programs and joint regional actions, according to an
official press release.
They declared: to lead and guide the national response to the HIV/AIDS
epidemic as a national priority to prevent the spread of HIV infection and
reduce the impact of the epidemic by integrating HIV/AIDS prevention, care,
treatment.
The leaders declared: to promote the creation of a positive environment in
confronting stigma, silence and denial, elimination of discrimination;
addressing the prevention, treatment, care, and intensify and strengthen
multisectoral collaboration involving all
development ministries and mobilizing for full and active participation a wide range of non-governmental organizations, the business sector, media, community-based organizations, families, citizens as well as people infected by HIV/AIDS in the planning, implementation and evaluation of national response to HIV/AIDS including efforts to promote mutual self help. The leaders declared: to intensify inter-ministerial collaboration at the
national and international levels to implement HIV/AIDS programs.
There are at least 1.6 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in the ASEAN
region, and the number is increasing rapidly through risk behaviors, according
to official statistics.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASEAN Countries Treat Stimulating
Domestic Economies as Priority
Xinhuanet 2001-11-05 18:11:46 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, November 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Leaders of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Monday discussed a wide-range of issues at their
7th summit as ASEAN now faces its biggest challenge since its founding in 1967
in the current climate of intense global uncertainty, Brunei Sultan Hassanal
Bolkiah said at a press conference after the first day's meeting.
"In a shorter term, stimulating our domestic economies is an urgent
priority to cushion the impact of reduced external demand and appropriate fiscal
and monetary policies are crucial" in a severe world economic slowdown, said
Bolkiah who is the summit chairman.
He said the leaders endorsed the Mid-Term Review of the Hanoi Plan of
Action, a six-year plan they adopted in 1998, and identified new priorities
which include the integration initiative launched last year, information and
communications technology along with human capacity building.
Responding to long-term challenge, Bolkiah said ASEAN must improve its
credibility as a regional organization and respond decisively to
challenges.
Among recent worrying developments are a decline in foreign investment in
ASEAN countries and the erosion of their competitiveness resulting from the
emergence of new markets, he said, adding these challenges offer a unique
opportunity for ASEAN to work even closer together.
"We are determined to strengthen our competitiveness and accelerate
regional integration," the summit chairman said.
He said the leaders agreed to go beyond the ASEAN Free Trade Area and
the ASEAN Investment Area by deepening market liberalization for both trade and
investment and agreed to speed up negotiations on liberalizing intra-ASEAN trade
in services and to start negotiations on mutual recognition arrangements for
professional services.
The leader agreed on the need for a Roadmap for Integration of ASEAN
charting milestones along the way including specific steps and timetables and
instructed all ministers and senior officials to start work on the roadmap and
submit their final proposals to the summit meeting in Cambodia next year, he
said.
Bolkiah said the leaders encouraged the private sector to convene a regular
ASEAN Business Summit in conjunction with the summit meeting, starting in
Cambodia next year and agreed to set up an ASEAN Business Advisory
Council.
He said, "in working even closer together, we agreed to embark on
activities for far-reaching economic cooperation in many areas" such as energy,
tourism, agriculture and telecommunications.
"Bridging the development gap is crucial for regional integration and part
of our confidence-building efforts to help members cope with challenges. Our
priorities are developing human resources, infrastructure and information
technology, especially with the private sector and our dialogue partners," the
chairman said.
He said other efforts to narrow the development gap include an ASEAN
Integration System of Preferences for newer members, which will allow Cambodia,
Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam to gain tariff-free access to the more developed ASEAN
markets and the leaders agreed to implement this by the beginning of January
next year.
Bolkiah said that Monday afternoon ASEAN leaders also exchanged views with
their colleagues from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea to build a closer
East Asian partnership.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - November 05,
2001.
Repatriation plan worries rights
panel
Returnees tricked into signing forms
Anchalee Kongrut
Forcing 63 Burmese immigrants to return home could put their lives in
danger, said Wasant Panich, a member of the National Human Rights
Committee.
Authorities plan to send the immigrants back tomorrow, by leaving them at a
border village in Burma known to be friendly to the Rangoon government.
The immigrants faced severe punishment if they ended up being handed over
to Burmese soldiers, said Mr Wasant, who visited the immigrants at their shelter
in Ban Rai Pa, in Thong Pha Phum district on Saturday.
The committee visited the border to investigate the government's policy
towards Burmese immigrants and refugees.
It had received complaints that the immigrants had been tricked into
signing repatriation forms.
Chalida Tajroensuk, from Forum Asia, said the immigrants were under the
impression they would be moved to the United Nations refugee camp in Tha Song
Yang district in Tak.
Burmese soldiers had been recruiting civilians to build roads and bridges
for military operations against the anti-Rangoon Karen National Union, which has
bases along the border.
The villagers said they had walked for more than a month to reach the Thai
border on Oct 25.
Soldiers were forcing civilians to work from dawn to dusk without being
paid, they said. Their food and possessions had been confiscated.
``People who refused were beaten. Those who tried to flee were tortured,''
one immigrant said.
Most villagers did not know they would be sent back, Mr Wasant said.
One immigrant, who asked not to be named, said sending him back was
tantamount to a death sentence, as the junta kept the names of people who
fled.
Thailand has a policy of repatriating immigrants who enter illegally. Only
people fleeing war are normally allowed into refugee camps.
One humanitarian worker said the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees was willing to accept the villagers at its camp in Tak.
The committee would propose that the government review its refugee policy,
Mr Wasant said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Than Shwe hints at possible role for Suu
Kyi in Myanmar
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Nov. 5 Kyodo - Myanmar junta leader Senior Gen. Than Shwe
hinted Monday that he will not stand in the way of pro-democracy leader Aung San
Suu Kyi playing a major role in the country should she be chosen by the people
of Myanmar in the future, a Japanese government official said.
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