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BURMA RELATED NEWS - December
10, 2001.
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HEADLINES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reuters - Myanmar opposition demands more
progress in talks
Reuters - Myanmar says working with Suu Kyi for
democracy
Channel NewsAsia - Three illegal immigrants
nabbed near Sembawang Park
AP - Myanmar Refuses to Release Suu
Kyi
AFP - Myanmar
opposition parties convene to celebrate National Day
BBC - Burma's military 'supports
democracy'
BBC - Barbed-wire bra protest over Burma
investment
Online IE - Prayers for peace in Burma
Bkk Post - Burma nabs Thais for log poaching
Xinhuanet - Myanmar Starts NIDs Activities
Xinhuanet - Myanmar Leader Calls for Putting
Emphasis on Education
NSTP - Making a difference!l
NSTP - New certificate to verify
fund-raisers
Mizzima - Militant Groups shifted further
towards Indo-Burma border
NMG - Burmese students
in Maneeloi camp to enter Hunger Strike
NMG - Hundreds of Chinese Prisoners to be
released
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday December 10, 11:08 PM
Myanmar opposition demands more progress in talks By Aung Hla Tun YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar's
opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) said on Monday secretive talks
with the military government on national reconciliation must start yielding more
tangible results.
The NLD warned Myanmar's ruling generals that delaying moves towards
democracy could lead to "undesirable negative effects", but it did not
elaborate.
"It is now necessary to develop, step by step, the confidence building
talks between the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and the NLD into
meaningful dialogues," the NLD said in a statement to mark Myanmar's National
Day.
Talks between the ruling SPDC and the NLD were brokered by United Nations
special envoy to Myanmar, Razali Ismail, over a year ago.
Since then the government has released dozens of political prisoners and
allowed the NLD to reopen 30 offices.
But critics say over 1,500 political prisoners still languish in Myanmar's
prisons, NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi is under house arrest and Myanmar appears
no closer to democratic government.
SUU KYI ABSENT
The NLD's celebrations for Myanmar's National Day -- which commemorates a
1920 boycott by a group of Yangon University students in protest against British
colonial rule -- were the first permitted by authorities since 1999.
Around 350 people attended the event, including key opposition politicians
and leaders of Myanmar's main ethnic groups.
Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, whose father led the independence movement
until his assassination in 1947, was absent.
At the gathering, a group of retired politicians demanded Suu Kyi's release
from house arrest, echoing a similar call on Sunday by past Nobel Peace Prize
winners. But the NLD made no public plea for her freedom.
"We appeal for the unconditional and immediate release of NLD Secretary
General...Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners while the talks are
being held, and for allowing political and democratic forces to freely carry out
their organisational activities," the group said in a statement.
Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, a year after her National League
for Democracy Party's (NLD) landslide election victory.
But Myanmar's generals have never allowed the NLD to rule, saying any
weakening of the military's grip on power could send the country into chaos,
torn apart by ethnic divisions.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday December 10, 1:19 PM
Myanmar says working with Suu Kyi for democracy By Aung Hla Tun BANGKOK (Reuters) - Myanmar's
military government on Monday rejected international criticism of its treatment
of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, saying it was working with the opposition
leader to create "a functioning democracy".
Responding to an appeal from Nobel Peace Prize winners and world leaders
for Suu Kyi's release from house arrest, Myanmar's government said it was
working with her to reach a political settlement for the country.
It did not say whether Suu Kyi would be freed.
"Today we are all in the process of joining hands walking on the same path
towards our common objective while successfully maintaining the hard-won peace,
stability and the national unity which the nation is at present enjoying for the
first time in its modern history," the government said in a statement.
South African anti-apartheid advocate Desmond Tutu and East Timorese
independence campaigner Jose Ramos Horta led 30 Nobel Peace Prize Winners
gathered in Oslo on Sunday in demanding Suu Kyi's freedom.
Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, a year after her National League
for Democracy Party's (NLD) landslide election victory.
But Myanmar's generals have never allowed the NLD to rule, saying any
weakening of the military's grip on power could send the country into chaos,
torn apart by ethnic divisions.
HOPES RAISED
Suu Kyi has been held under house arrest for most of the last decade, but
recent talks between the government and opposition have raised hopes of a
breakthrough in the political stalemate.
"We know that Aung San Suu Kyi, you are on the winning side and we want to
say to (the Myanmar government) join the winning side," Tutu said in Oslo.
Suu Kyi received other written tributes including one from U.S. President
George W. Bush for her "determination and resolve" and "quiet dignity".
Myanmar's government, which has often criticised what it says is
"interference" by western governments in its internal affairs, said its
relations with the opposition had improved.
"The government of Myanmar warmly appreciates the opinions, concerns and
interest of its partners in the international community and believes that all of
us are on the winning side already since we all have the common objective of
creating Myanmar to become a functioning democracy," the statement said.
"But regretfully in the past due to misunderstanding between the NLD party
and the government of Myanmar, cooperation did not exist."
Secretive talks between the government and the NLD began late last year,
brokered by United Nations special envoy Razali Ismail.
Since then the Myanmar government has released dozens of political
prisoners and allowed the NLD to reopen some offices.
But human rights campaigner Amnesty International says more than 1500
political prisoners still languish in Myanmar's prisons.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Channel NewsAsia
Monday December 10, 10:20 PM Three illegal immigrants nabbed near Sembawang Park Three men, believed to be illegal immigrants from Myanmar, were arrested
early Monday morning in the forested area near Sembawang Park.
The search for the men started Sunday after 8pm when the Police Coast Guard
saw, through their night surveillance cameras, three men jumping off a motorised
sampan and swimming towards shore.
The sampan then made a u-turn and sped back towards Johor.
Police land forces were activated and about five-and-a-half hours later,
all three men, who did not have any valid travel documents, were found and
arrested.
The three will be charged in court Tuesday for entering Singapore
illegally.
If convicted, they could be jailed up to six months, fined up to $6,000 and
given at least three strokes of the cane.
In the meantime, Police advise the public to call them if they see anything
unusual along Singapore's coastline.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday December 10 1:24 AM ET
Myanmar Refuses to Release Suu Kyi BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -
Myanmar's military junta said it is committed to creating a ``functioning
democracy,'' but ignored an international plea to free opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi, who marked the 10th anniversary of her Nobel Peace prize under
house arrest.
In a statement dated Sunday, the military regime said it ``warmly
appreciates the opinions, concerns and interests of its partners in the
international community'' about democracy in Myanmar.
The statement was in response to an appeal by former Nobel Peace laureates
who gathered last week in Norway. They urged the junta to free Suu Kyi, who won
the 1991 prize for her nonviolent struggle to bring democracy to her country.
President Bush (news - web sites) also sent a message, and several
dignitaries worldwide addressed the rally via satellite link on a large screen.
``As a tireless champion of human rights and democracy in Burma, Suu Kyi
inspires countless people around the world who strive for peace, justice and
freedom,'' Bush said in a statement read to the crowd.
The Myanmar government statement, faxed to The Associated Press in Bangkok,
Thailand, said it ``believes that all of us are on the winning side already
since we all have the common objective of creating Myanmar (into) a functioning
democracy.''
However, the Myanmar statement made no mention of Suu Kyi or her house
arrest.
Instead, it said that while there was no cooperation in the past between
the government and Suu Kyi's National League Party due to ``misunderstanding,''
that is not the case today.
``Today, we are all in the process of joining hands, walking on the same
path toward our common objective,'' the statement said, referring to closed-door
national reconciliation talks between the National League Party and the junta
since September 2000.
No breakthrough has been reported, but authorities have released scores of
NLD members from jail.
Suu Kyi has not left Myanmar, also known as Burma, since she emerged as
opposition leader during a peaceful 1988 uprising against military rule that was
crushed. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of people were killed.
The military has ruled Myanmar since 1962. The current group of generals,
which came to power after crushing the 1988 uprising, has refused to hand over
power to the NLD after it overwhelmingly won a general election in 1990.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar opposition parties convene to
celebrate National Day
YANGON, Dec 10 (AFP) - Some 400
opposition National League for Democracy members gathered here Monday to mark
National Day, the anniversary of a 1920 student strike that sparked the
country's push for independence from Britain.
Top NLD officials and ethnic minority leaders addressed the meeting at the
NLD's Yangon headquarters with renewed calls for democracy and human rights, but
refrained from attacks against Myanmar's ruling junta.
NLD president Aung Shwe opened the event before a senior member read the
party's declaration and urged representatives from five ethnic minority parties
to remain steadfast in their struggle for a political voice.
NLD vice president Tin Oo read from the United Nations' declaration on
human rights, noting that Myanmar's National Day coincided this year with Human
Rights Day and that the document praised NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
He also echoed worldwide celebrations at the weekend honouring the 10th
anniversary of Aung San Suu Kyi's Nobel Peace Prize and paid tribute to the
leader who has been under house arrest since September 2000.
An ethnic political leader, chairman Saw Henry of the Karen National
Congress for Democracy, assured the crowd that an alliance of ethnic parties
would continue to "join hands with the NLD."
Meanwhile, state newspapers carried statements from the junta's Senior
General Than Shwe saying the regime's promotion of education in Myanmar had led
to the opening of 110 new colleges and universities since 1988.
He said the number of universities had grown from just 32 in 1988 -- when
the junta carried out a bloody crackdown against student protestors and closed
down campuses -- and now had a total of 142.
Than Shwe added that the ruling State Peace and Development Council had
launched a four-year education promotion plan, and that preserving Myanmar's
independence was essential.
This year's holiday commemorated the 81st anniversary of National Day, when
university students in the former Burma boycotted an educational system
introduced under British colonial rule.
The strike touched off anti-colonial uprisings across the country,
eventually leading to independence from Britain in 1948. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- BBC - Monday, 10 December, 2001, 10:45
GMT
Burma's military 'supports democracy' Burma's military rulers have said they are committed to creating a
"functioning democracy," but have ignored an international plea to free
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
It is 10 years since Aung San Suu Kyi won the Nobel peace prize, and on
Saturday, fellow laureates who were gathered in Oslo, called on the military
junta to release her from house arrest.
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide
election in 1990, but the junta failed to hand over power.
Over the last year, she has been holding secret United Nations-brokered
talks with junta leaders which have raised hopes of a breakthrough.
The negotiations have led to the release of nearly 200 political prisoners,
but an estimated 1,500 remain in detention.
'Winning side'
On Monday, the generals said they were working with Aung San Suu Kyi to
find a political settlement.
"Today, we are all in the process of joining hands, walking on the same
path toward our common objective," said a statement, which was dated Sunday.
The statement directly replied to comments in Oslo by South African retired
Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who said Aung San Suu Kyi was on the winning
side of the conflict.
"The government of Myanmar [Burma] warmly appreciates the opinions,
concerns and interest of its partners in the international community and
believes that all of us are on the winning side already since we all have the
common objective of creating Myanmar to become a functioning democracy," the
statement said.
"But regretfully in the past due to misunderstanding between the NLD party
and the government of Myanmar, cooperation did not exist."
Aung San Suu Kyi has not appeared in public since September 2000, when she
was put under de facto house arrest for attempting to travel outside the capital
Rangoon for a political meeting.
Nobel laureates, in Oslo on Saturday to celebrate 100 years of the peace
prize, paid tribute to Aung San Suu Kyi and called for her release.
Messages of support came from around the world, including US President
George Bush.
"In the face of great hardship she has never wavered in her commitment to
peaceful change," Mr Bush said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- BBC - Monday, 10 December, 2001, 14:04
GMT
Barbed-wire bra protest over Burma investment Triumph International, a leading European luxury lingerie firm, is facing a
fierce boycott campaign because of its operations in Burma.
Under the slogan "Support Breasts - not Dictators", protestors will urge
British consumers to boycott the firm until its Burmese factory is closed.
The campaign features a hard-hitting advert showing a picture of a barbed
wire bra.
Burma has one of the worst human rights records in the world and its
working practices have been condemned by the UN's International Labour
Organisation.
A number of companies - including Coca Cola, BHS, Levi Strauss, Apple and
Reebok - have in the past decade agreed to abandon their operations in Burma,
following pressure from human rights groups.
Meeting European conditions
Triumph International is a German, Swiss-based multinational company that
is one of Europe's main retailers of lingerie with an annual turnover of $1.6bn
and 30,000 staff worldwide.
According to the Burma Campaign group of protestors, Triumph International
established a Burmese subsidiary in 1996 and opened a factory there in April
1997.
The Burma Campaign is calling for a boycott of all Triumph products until
the company closes its Burma-based manufacturing sites.
No one at Triumph International in the UK or in Germany was available for
comment on Monday.
But a company spokesman had previously told the Observer newspaper that
conditions in its Burmese factory met European standards.
International outrage
According to the regime's official statistics, Burma has attracted $7.39bn
of foreign investment in 366 projects between the start of 1998 and August 2001.
Last year, investments totalled $152.8m, mostly injected into the
manufacturing, oil and agriculture sectors of the economy.
The British campaign is part of wider international campaign that includes
the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the International
Textile, Garment and Leather workers' Federation.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prayers for peace in Burma
online.ie 09 Dec 2001 Churches across Britain were today taking part in a day of prayer for peace
and democracy in Burma.
It is part of an international series of events timed to coincide with the
10th anniversary of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Aung San Suu Kyi,
Burma's pro-democracy leader.
Michael Taylor, chairman of the Burma Campaign UK, said: "Aung San Suu Kyi
has asked for international support for the struggle for peace and democracy in
Burma.
"This national day of prayer is a response to that call, as well as an
_expression_ of the deep concern for justice we believe we share with God."
Burma has been ruled by a military dictatorship since 1962 and there are
currently more than 1,500 political prisoners languishing in jail.
The National League for Democracy, led by Suu Kyi, won more than 80 per
cent of the vote when elections were held in 1990 but the regime refused to
accept the results and has clung to power ever since.
Suu Kyi, who has spent much of the last decade under house arrest, has come
to symbolise Burma's struggle for freedom.
Churches holding the services will have collections to raise funds for the
pro-democracy campaign.
Members of the congregation will be also encouraged to send postcards and
wear yellow flowers to highlight their support.
Yesterday Foreign Secretary Jack Straw paid tribute to Suu Kyi and called
on the Burmese authorities to fulfil recent announcements that they are
considering a return to democracy.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - 10, December
2001.
Burma nabs Thais for log poaching Burmese soldiers yesterday arrested seven Thais and four Karen people for
allegedly cutting trees on the Burmese side of the border.
The 11 suspects, one of them a Thai woman, were arrested near Sendai hill,
opposite tambon Aow-noi, in Muang district.
They were sent to Mergui in Burma for interrogation.
Thaworn Porsombat, the Prachuap Khiri Khan deputy governor, said Burmese
authorities rejected a Foreign Affairs Ministry request that the Thai suspects
be returned to face charges in Thailand.
Rangoon said it had sufficient evidence to press charges against
them.
But Thai police were not convinced the suspects were actually cutting trees
in Burma.
Pol Col Detnarong Sutthicharnbancha, deputy superintendent of Prachuap
Khiri Khan police, said the area was a popular transit route for stolen
motorcyles and illicit drugs.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar Starts NIDs Activities
Xinhuanet 2001-12-10 11:20:18 YANGON, December 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Myanmar on Sunday started launching its National Immunization Days (NIDs)activities as the first round of a campaign which covers all parts of the country including remote border areas. About 38,000 polio vaccine feeding groups comprising about 185,000 members
are giving vaccine to a total of over 6.1 million children aged under five until
the end of the second round on January 13 next year.
The country's NIDs campaign is launched in cooperation with neighboring
countries of Bangladesh, China's Yunnan Province, India, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan
and the Maldives.
An official report said there were 60 people infected with polio in 1988,
but there was no one infected with the disease so far this year, claiming
Myanmar a polio-free country.
Official statistics show that during the first NID campaign in the country,
5.4 million under-five children have been twice fed polio vaccine, 5.5 million
in the second year, 5.6 million in the third, 5.7 million in the fourth year,
over 5.8 million in the fifth year and over 6 million in the sixth year.
Myanmar claims that its NIDs campaign won a 95 percent success over the
last six years.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar Leader Calls for Putting
Emphasis on Education
Xinhuanet 2001-12-10 10:46:38 YANGON, December 10 (Xinhuanet)
-- Myanmar top leader Senior-General Than Shwe Monday called on the people to
put emphasis on the education sector to strive for the emergence of
highly-qualified and efficient human resources.
Than Shwe, chairman of the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council,
made the call in his message on the occasion of the country's 81st National
day.
"Measures are being taken right from the basic education sector to ensure
the emergence of human resources which can face and overcome the challenges in
socio-economic life resulting from science and technological advances in the
21st century," he said.
He noted that his government has been implementing a four-year special
education promotion plan since the fiscal year 2000-01 covering the education,
medical and science and technology sectors, adding that a 30-year plan is also
under implementation to promote the national education continuously,
establishing multi-media teaching centers in basic education schools to provide
equal teaching and learning opportunities in urban and rural areas.
Than Shwe said that 142 universities and colleges have been set up in the
country including the 110 new ones added during the last13 years.
He urged the Myanmar people to strive with full national strength for the
emergence of a new, peaceful, modern and developed nation in line with the
national education policy and with the objectives of this year's national day
which call for keeping national unity and nationalistic spirit alive and
dynamic, and perpetuating the country's independence and sovereignty.
Myanmar's National Day is observed annually to mark the national education
movement launched in 1920 against the then colonial education system, paving way
to the regaining of its independence in 1948.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The New Straits Times Press - Dec 10,
2001.
Making a difference!l By Loretta Ann Soosayraj DEBBIE Stothard, 37, has been consciously involved in human rights work for
the past 15 years. This young Malaysian has supported human rights causes from
all over the world by working with colleagues to run various awareness
programmes. She is currently the co-ordinator of Altsean-Burma, a Bangkok-based
network working to support non-violent strategies to promote human rights and
democracy in Myanmar. Altsean-Burma also runs a capacity-building programme for
young women from Myanmar.
Here she shares her views.
"I guess I've always felt strongly about human rights as far as I can
remember, however, I didn't think of it specifically as 'human rights'.
At university, I was involved in activities and issues that interested me,
and then suddenly found myself dubbed a 'human rights activist'. It was then
that I realised that you don't need to be an 'expert' to support human rights,
you only need to be human. Human rights shouldn't be regarded as a
'controversial' or 'sensitive' matter. It impacts on every aspect of our daily
lives.
Before starting university, I was a crime reporter at a national daily in
Malaysia for two years. The experience helped me realise that many families were
being subjected to needless suffering simply because their rights as human
beings went unrecognised.
At university, I met Vietnamese refugees who had been interned in Malaysia,
and when I found out what they had gone through, I felt embarrassed. Yet, they
did not harbour anger towards me, but instead offered me friendship and
hospitality.
I had many friends who cared about what was going on in the world and who
tried to do something about it, using non-violent means. Getting involved helped
me realise that it was possible to make a difference.
Ten years ago, one of our friends, Kamal Bamadhaj, was killed in Dili (East
Timor) by Indonesian soldiers. It was a terrible shock. It helped Kamal's
friends understand what it was like for people who had lost loved ones to human
rights violations, especially in East Timor, where every family has had a member
tortured or killed. It also was a turning point for many of us -- human rights
became a long-term commitment.
I've been in situations where refugees who have lost everything would still
offer me a cup of water and a warm smile. I have worked with people who have
gone through hell and yet are still committed to work for peace and justice. I
work with people who inspire me every day. I am lucky that I have the chance to
work for something I feel passionate about.
We are living in times of great possibilities, where today's political
prisoner can be tomorrow's president. I also believe in common sense - most
people know that justice and peace is more sensible than oppression and
fear.
Recently, an academic was lecturing me that the military regime of Myanmar
was here to stay and I just had to live with this reality. Moments later, a
former Minister from an Asian country leaned forward and said, 'That was exactly
what we were told when we were student dissidents, but months later the
Government changed. So don't listen to this nonsense.' I've never felt like
giving up, although there are times when I need a holiday! Every time something
negative happens, it is usually because someone in power feels insecure. When
something 'bad' happens to me, I think of others who have had to go through
worse experiences. I like to think of these problems as just another logistical
complication to deal with.
I felt disappointed when we were attacked at a peace conference on East
Timor in KL five years ago. My sister was thrown to the ground, other friends
were physically attacked as well. The incident caused so much damage to
Malaysia's image internationally. Some of the attackers later apologised when
they realised their mistake. I think the apology took more courage than the
attack.
I really don't think I have 'given up' anything to do the work I am doing.
I am so lucky to be doing something that I believe in and to work with people
that I love and respect. It is absolutely worth it! In a way, I am working to
make myself obsolete - when all people feel safe and confident to speak up for
themselves, people like me won't be needed anymore.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The New Straits Times Press - Dec 10,
2001.
KOTA BARU New certificate to verify fund-raisers by Rahman Daud The Kelantan Islamic and Malay Customs Council (MAIK) has introduced a new
cerficate or approval letter for fund raisers and donation collectors to avoid
misuse.
Its deputy president Datuk Yusoff Ismail said the certificate, which was
introduced recently has Maik's seal in red and also security features.
He said the new letter was issued because there have been many complaints
from the public about people collecting donations.
"The activity is quite serious and we have received two reports of
falsification involving foreigners residing here including from Thailand and
Myanmar," he told reporters here.
Yusof said the council also co-operates with other authorities including
the Welfare Department, Immigration Department and Islamic Department for
further action.
He said at the same time, Maik has ceased issuing certificates to
foreigners especially Thais to avoid it being misused.
He said the council has printed about 2,000 of the approval letters and it
is limited to locals to collect donation for repairing and building madrasahs,
mosques and religious schools.
"Those found misuing the letter, could be punished under Section 67 of the
Maik Enactment 1994," he added.
He said the letters could be used for a year and colection limited to
RM50,000 while collection for amounts exceeding the figure had to approved by
the council's committee.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Militant Groups shifted further
towards Indo-Burma border
Mizzima News Group Guwahati, 8 December: Assamese militant groups – the United Liberation
Front Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) –have
recently shifted several of their camps in the Tirap and Changlang border areas
further towards the Indo-Burma border, forcing security forces to review their
ongoing anti-insurgency operations. Security forces were made aware of the
shifts, following the seizure of explosive designated for camps close to the
border recently.
Moreover, the security forces busted an ULFA transit camp in Dibru
Forest last week. The Second Mountain Division engaged in the counter-insurgency
operations along the international border also arrested three hardcore members
of the ULFA just three days back. During questioning these members
admitted that.the two militant groups have set up seven camps along the
international border.
Highly-placed official sources said that both ULFA and the NDFB have set up
camps along the Indo-Burma border in association with the National Socialist
Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K). “According to reports, the
insurgent outfits are gradually consolidating their bases, now managing to sneak
into Burma very easily”, sources said. It was also revealed that the Chin
Liberation Army (CLA), a Burmese militant group, has extended full cooperation
to ULFA and NDFB.
Upper Assam, previously inaccessible for these militant groups, is now
reportedly controlled from Burmese Camps. It is also reported that, in
reaction, security forces have geared up their operations.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Network Media Group
Burmese students in Maneeloi camp to
enter Hunger Strike
Mae Hong Son, December 10, 2001.
Burmese students from Maneeloi camp decided to enter into hunger strike
tomorrow, December 11, to protest against Thai government's plan to move them to
border camps, border opposition sources said.
Burmese students in Maneeloi camp in Rachaburi district near Bangkok said
that they heard that those living in the camp as United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees - UNHCR's persons of concern and those who recognized
as border case would be sent to border camps whereas those received "reject
case" will be sent back to Burma by force.
Burma Students Association (BSA) has not yet got any answer till December
9, although they requested UNHCR and Thai authorities to negotiate with them and
asked the Burmese opposition groups to give pressure on UNHCR and Thai
government to accept their four demands, mentioned in the open requesting letter
of BSA to Burmese opposition groups sent on December 9.
"We asked Thai authorities and UNHCR to come and discuss with us. We are
demonstrating aiming to Thai government. The sit in demonstration ends today.
But, there was no reply from Thai authorities as well as UNHCR yet. So, we will
enter into hunger strike start from tomorrow", said Kyaw Swe, joint general
secretary of BSA on telephone interview today.
According to the Burmese students in the camp, Burmese students led by BSA
demanded four points; "to exit the Burmese Student' Center in the Future, to
recognize the status of Political Refugees, to stop the Plan for Forced
Relocation to the Political Refugees and not to use force to solve the
problems".
After releasing the demands, Burmese students started to boycott and made
sit in demonstration since December 6 in Maneeloi camp.
The news about the closure of the camp came out after some Burmese students
raided "Myanmar" Embassy in Bangkok in 1999 October.
"We are going to enter into hunger strike starts from tomorrow in protest
not to move the camp. We will demonstrate peacefully. If Thai authorities use
force to stop the demonstration, Thai government must take all responsibilities
for complications", Kyaw Swe continued.
The students in camps said UNHCR could not give appropriate answer for
their questions and demands although they had meetings with UNHCR on November 20
and November 27.
The Mayor of Rachaburi said the camp would be closed down on December 15,
reported in the Bangkok Post newspaper November 24 issue.
During the demonstration, the students in Maneeloi camp managed today to
celebrate International Human Rights Day and National Day of Burma successfully,
said student leader Kyaw Swe.
Since 1988, about 3,000 Burmese students have resettled to third countries
with the help of UNHCR and more than 300 Burmese students are still left in
Maneeloi camp.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Network Media Group
Hundreds of Chinese Prisoners to be released Burma promotes friendship with China Chiang Mai, December 9, 2001 Hundreds of Chinese prisoners from 8 prisons in Burma will be released
today on December 9 in order to promote China-Burma friendship, a source
reported from Sino-Burma border.
The Chinese prisoners from Meiktila, Kalay, Myitkyina, Banmo, Katha,
Lashio, Taunggyi and Kyaing Tong prisoners are going to be released at 3
border checkpoints today with the criminal ruling code 401 (1).
"The release of prisoners can be related to the Chinese president Jiang
Zemin visit to Burma", a political researcher who watches the progress on Burma
said. Chinese President Jiang Zemin is visiting Burma from December 12 to 15.
The Chinese prisoners who are to be released include 202 man and 28 women,
according to the report.
Most of the Chinese prisoners were charged for illegal entry with the
immigration law. The report did not mention are there any prisoner charged with
criminal laws amongst these prisoners.
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