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Burma Related News - February 20,
2002.
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Headlines
----------------------------------------------------------------------- AP - Gart Sports Boycotts Myanmar
Goods
Kyodo News - ILO
fact-finding mission arrives in Myanmar
AFP - UN rights envoy urges bolder steps from
Myanmar government
AFP - Malaysia, Indonesia agree to amicably
resolve labour row
Reuters - U.S. war on terror haunts ASEAN
meeting in Thailand
Reuters - ASEAN meeting to focus on terror,
economic renewal
BBC - Terrorism dominates Asean
meeting
VOA News - Burma: Other Countries Interfere With
Move Toward Democracy
VOA News - UN Human Rights Envoy Satisfied with
Burma's Cooperation
UNHCR - UN rights expert concludes visit to
Myanmar
Narinjara - Myanmar army forcibly collect
charcoal from villagers
DVB - Two killed
in clash between Karen militants, military in Burma
----------------------------------------------------------------------- Gart Sports Boycotts Myanmar Goods The Associated Press, Tue 19 Feb 2002 DENVER (AP) ? Gart Sports, the
nation's No. 2 sporting goods retailer, has agreed to a request from human
rights groups to stop selling clothes manufactured in Myanmar.
Gart's general counsel, Nesa Hassanein, said in a letter dated Feb. 5 that
the retailer will no longer buy apparel made in Myanmar, ``until the authorities
in that country institute appropriate and effective reforms to its political and
human-rights practices.''
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has been condemned by pro-democracy
groups for refusing to allow free elections.
The announcement by Gart Sports came three months after the Free Burma
Coalition asked it to halt imports.
``Most of the companies that we source garments from don't use Burma as a
source,'' said Gart Sports president Doug Morton. ``We may be the last on the
bandwagon, frankly.''
Other retailers and apparel makers that have terminated business with the
country include Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Gap Inc. and Fila.
Myanmar's ruling junta, the State Peace and Development Council, seized
control of the country in 1988 after crushing a democratic uprising.
----------------------------------------------------------------------- ILO fact-finding mission arrives in
Myanmar
YANGON, Feb. 19, Kyodo - A
high-level delegation from the International Labor Organization (ILO) arrived in
Myanmar on Tuesday to probe whether the junta has taken effective measures to
stamp out the use of forced labor in the country.
The fact-finding mission led by Francis Maupin, an official in the office
of the ILO director general, will present a report of its findings to the ILO
Governing Body next month, which will decide whether to remove or continue
sanctions against the country.
Japan has urged the ILO to lift the sanctions, while the United States has
called for leaving them in place.
In November 2000, the ILO Governing Body, stating that the junta has not
taken effective measures to eliminate forced labor in the country, announced
measures to compel it to meet its obligations under a U.N. convention on forced
labor that Myanmar has ratified.
The Geneva-based body called on ILO members to review their relations with
Myanmar and to take appropriate measures to ensure those relations do not
perpetuate or extend the system of forced labor in the country.
The ILO has demanded the junta take ''concrete actions'' to implement the
recommendations of a 1998 Commission of Inquiry that found forced labor in
Myanmar to be ''widespread and systematic.''
In particular, the commission recommended that legislation be brought into
line with the forced labor convention, that the military stop imposing forced
labor and that penalties imposed for exacting forced labor be strictly enforced.
Last November, the ILO Governing Body went further, calling on the junta to
allow a permanent ILO presence in the country to monitor efforts to end forced
labor and to set up an independent watchdog body to receive and investigate
complaints regarding forced labor.
In the wake of ILO missions to Myanmar in May and October 2000, the junta
amended two laws that had authorized compulsory labor in public works and passed
a decree declaring forced labor illegal and punishable under criminal law.
But dissident organizations outside the country have maintained that
widespread forced labor still exists in Myanmar and a high-level ILO delegation
that made a three-week investigative tour of the country last September
concluded that the legislation outlawing the practice has had only ''limited''
impact.
The delegation noted in its report that obstacles to real progress include
the military's de facto immunity from prosecution and the lack of government
funding for unskilled manual labor on public works projects as an alternative to
cost-free forced labor.
Although team members found that a ''certain decrease in the imposition of
forced labor had taken place,'' they expressed ''doubts about the sustainability
of the process over time.''
----------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday February 20, 2:19 AM
UN rights envoy urges bolder steps from Myanmar government (AFP) - A UN human rights envoy has urged the military government in Myanmar to take bolder steps towards political change by involving the pro-democracy movement in managing humanitarian assistance to the country. In an advance version of his report to the UN Human Rights Commission
released on Tuesday, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the UN special rapporteur for human
rights in Myanmar, said the junta must speed up the process of political
change.
"It is time for the government to start a substantive dialogue with the
leaders of the (opposition) National League for Democracy (NLD) and all other
political parties and ethnic nationalities if the government is serious about
achieving national reconciliation and the restoration of democracy," Pinheiro
said.
The report, due to be presented to the annual session of the Commission
beginning here on March 18, was compiled before Pinheiro's latest 10-day visit
to Myanmar, which ended last Tuesday.
"In order to address the humanitarian situation more adequately, it is
crucial that the commitment of the government go hand in hand with the
involvment of the NLD in the planning and management of international
humanitarian assistance," he added.
Pinheiro said the "bolder moves to carry forward the present process"
should include the full and unconditional release of all political prisoners,
monitoring of human rights violations, and a "substantial enlargement" of
freedoms for political parties and ethnic groups.
He also called on the junta to use maximum restraint in military action
against armed opposition groups and to resort more to political dialogue to
resolve differences.
During the trip this month, Pinheiro met government officials as well as
NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi at her lakeside residence, where she has been under
house arrest.
The United Nations said he will be making an oral presentation to the UN
Commission about the findings of his latest visit.
In his report, Pinheiro noted an "undeniable" if gradual improvement in the
political atmosphere and an opening to the outside world.
He said there were still reports of serious human rights violations, "but
on a different scale than before".
Pinheiro also questioned the accuracy of reports about the use of child
soldiers in Myanmar, saying they "lack a solid factual basis for what is
presented nevertheless as a widespread phenomenon and pattern".
He said he would look further into the issue in his next fact-finding
missions.
"The challenge now, besides calling for more international awareness of
what is wrong, is how to encourage the confidence-building process, without
ignoring large scale human rights violations and seeking to eliminate them
through change," Pinheiro wrote.
His report outlined how UN humanitarian aid to Myanmar -- which forms the
bulk of outside assistance to the country while international sanctions are in
place -- could be managed by a "mixed committee" which would include the
government and the NLD.
Pinheiro said it would enhance the "trust building process" initiated by
talks between the two parties over the past year.
The UN envoy's report is largely based on his mission to Myanmar last
October and on information gathered in December 2001. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday February 20, 7:27 PM
Malaysia, Indonesia agree to amicably resolve labour row KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 (AFP) -
Malaysia and Indonesia agreed Wednesday to resolve differences over Kuala
Lumpur's crackdown on the hiring of Indonesian workers after recent riots in a
"friendly" manner.
They said at the end of a two-day Malaysia-Indonesia Joint Commission
meeting that a new bilateral mechanism was needed to overcome weaknesses in the
recruitment of Indonesian workers, but gave no details.
The agreement came a day after Malaysia rejected a plea by Jakarta for it
to reconsider its new policy of employing Indonesians only as maids and
plantation workers.
Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda, who led the Indonesian delegation to the
meeting, has expressed Indonesia's regret over riots.
"On matters relating to Indonesian workers, we also explained (our stand)
and it is understood by our counterparts here on the need to work together... we
will be working together on how to settle any problems that we have in a
friendly and effective manner," he said Wednesday.
"The fact that thousands of Indonesian workers have been working in
Malaysia and will continously work in Malaysia is a fact of life. The problem is
how do we work together."
Malaysia announced the clampdown on the recruitment of Indonesians after
two riots by textile and construction workers last month, saying it would now
look to Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos, the Philippines and India to
supply the labour market.
In a joint statement, the two neighbours agreed on the need for "effective
measures to be taken to improve and streamline the processes involved in the
hiring of the Indonesian workers."
"The relevant authorities of both countries would jointly review the
existing bilateral arrangements, in particular the MOU (memorandum of
understanding) of 1996 and the Exchange of Notes of 1998 governing the
recruitment of Indonesian workers.
"Both sides recognised the need to estabilish a bilateral mechanism aimed
at overcoming the weaknesses that exist," the statement said.
The two countries also agreed to adopt more stringent measures and
coordinate their efforts to curb the flow of illegal immigrants, and for a "more
systematic" coordination in the repatriation of illegal immigrants.
Both sides also agreed to cooperate more closely to curb transborder
illegal activities such as piracy, human trafficking, terrorism, militancy and
extremism.
Indonesians make up 566,983 out of a total of 769,566 legal foreign workers
in the country.
----------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday February 20, 1:27 PM
U.S. war on terror haunts ASEAN meeting in Thailand By Dan Eaton BANGKOK (Reuters) - Terrorism
will cast a shadow over talks between Southeast Asian foreign ministers in
Thailand on Wednesday, with the region fearful and divided over Washington's
declaration of an "axis of evil" which has roots in Asia.
The informal retreat with no official agenda on the southern resort island
of Phuket comes as U.S. President George W. Bush conducts a whistlestop tour of
China, South Korea and Japan.
That tour, which was postponed by the September 11 attacks on New York and
Washington, is now dominated by their repercussions, pushing other issues on to
the backburner.
The 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) ministers
gather on Wednesday amid controversy over Bush's labelling of North Korea, Iran
and Iraq as an "axis of evil", indicating they may be the next targets in
America's battle against global terror networks.
South East Asian nations have remained largely silent on Bush's speech,
despite what many of them see as a potential to upset stability in a region
which is home to some of the world's biggest and most technologically advanced
militaries in China and Japan, and, in Indonesia, its largest Muslim population.
"The United States is the dominant economy that affects the recovery of the
region...If you don't like the way the U.S. is going, now is the time to bide
your time," said Carl Thayer, professor of politics at the Australian Defence
Force Academy.
The Phuket meeting will be the first by the regional bloc's top ministers
since America opened a new front in its "war on terror" in the Philippines, with
the arrival of U.S. special forces to help combat Abu Sayyaf Muslim militants,
believed to have close ties to Osama bin Laden's al Queda network.
That deployment on the soil of one of ASEAN's oldest members has raised
hackles among the grouping's newer members.
"Probably the Philippines has gone too far in the eyes of many in ASEAN.
They have all stuck by their own rhetoric that it is an internal matter for the
Philippines. The more conservative ones have to sit back an fume," said Thayer.
ASEAN DIVIDED
For much of the past two decades, ASEAN, with its proud tiger cub
economies, was seen as the cornerstone of regional stability, says Somjai
Phagaphasvivat, an expert in regional politics at Bangkok's Thammasat
University.
That image crumbled with the 1997/98 economic crisis and the grouping's
common focus became blurred with the rush to expand membership to include
communist Vietnam and Loas, military-ruled Myanmar and autocratic Cambodia.
Their inclusion makes the group's traditional decision making by consensus
much harder.
ASEAN is going to be divided in Phuket, say analysts, who see a number of
countries, such as Vietnam and Myanmar vehemently opposed to action of the type
America took in Afghanistan being used elsewhere.
Pyongyang has been emerging from its shell and began taking part in the
security-focused ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 2000.
In addition, the approach implied in the axis of evil' runs counter to the
attempts by ASEAN to run security issues multilaterally and use the ARF to
constrain the United States and China.
"The issue (in Phuket) will be how to reconcile the different views in
order to achieve a public face of unity," said Somjai.
"There could be a warning from ASEAN against unilateralism and a
heightening of tensions in the region, although they will all acknowledge that
terrorism is a threat to global security."
Regimes like Laos, Myanmar and even Cambodia and Malaysia, won't want to
allow any precedent which may make them targets themselves, however far fetched
that may seem, say analysts.
"The larger thing I think about the axis of evil' is that it heightens the
perception of a cowboy, unilateralist America. That is the concern for ASEAN,"
adds Thayer.
A CONVERGENCE OF INTERESTS
Until September 11, there was scant political will in South East Asia to
commit government resources to combat terrorism.
That has begun to change, with Singapore and Malaysia rounding up suspected
Muslim militants and others pledging closer cooperation and intelligence
sharing.
"There is certainly a convergence of interests among ASEAN countries and
the U.S. They are bandying the word terrorism around with great facility to
apply to any domestic problem," said Robert Karniol, Asia editor for Jane's
Defence Weekly.
"The concern, not just in ASEAN countries, has to be that governments use
this as an excuse to crack down on opponents, so it takes on a domestic
political tone."
----------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday February 20, 8:28 PM
ASEAN meeting to focus on terror, economic renewal By Dan Eaton PHUKET, Thailand, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian foreign ministers
arrived on the Thai resort island of Phuket on Wednesday for talks on fighting
terrorism and revitalising economies battered by fears of Muslim militancy.
The ministers start a day of talks on Thursday amid tight security and
against the background of U.S. President George W. Bush's tour of Japan, China
and South Korea, which has sparked debate over the direction of the U.S.-led
"war on terror".
"The main thing is to follow up on the leaders' meeting in Brunei and we
will talk about how to combat terrorism," Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart
Sathirathai told a news conference.
The 10 members of the Association of South East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) pledged closer cooperation in the fight against global terror
networks at a meeting in Brunei in November.
For much of the past two decades, ASEAN, with its proud tiger cub economies
-- Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Brunei -- and
an emerging Vietnam, was seen as the cornerstone of regional stability.
This image crumbled with the 1997/98 economic crisis and the its focus was
blurred by a rush to absorb communist Vietnam and Laos, military-ruled Myanmar
and autocratic Cambodia.
In Phuket, the grouping will seek to regain some of its lost unity and
relevance and present a united front to the world.
On the loose agenda will be the Initiative for ASEAN Integration to develop
the group's poorer countries.
To boost investment between ASEAN members, Singapore this week suggested
that the bloc take a staggered approach to setting up an ASEAN Investment Area
(AIA), starting with Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore in a first wave.
The AIA, which would see countries granting the same investment rights to
firms from fellow ASEAN members as their own companies, is due to come into
effect in 2003 but most countries say they are not ready.
"THREAT TO SECURITY AND IMAGE"
Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and his Thai counterpart Thaksin
Shinawatra met in Bangkok on Monday and agreed to boost intelligence sharing.
Goh also suggested setting up a unit to monitor terrorism in the region.
"We recovered from the impacts of the Asian financial crisis. We can do
without a new threat to our security and our image to foreign investors," Goh
told Thai newspaper editors in comments published in the local media on
Wednesday.
Foreign investment in ASEAN has been on the decline in recent years with
investors wary of higher political risk in a region simmering with religious and
political tensions.
Ethnic and separatist strife in Indonesia, as well as kidnappings and
insurrection by Muslim rebels in the Philippines, have tarred the whole region,
analysts say.
Singapore and Malaysia have recently rounded up suspected Muslim militants,
while at least two of the hijackers who carried out the September 11 attacks on
the United States were believed to have passed through Thailand last year.
The Phuket meeting is the first by the regional bloc's top ministers since
America opened a new front in its "war on terror" in the Philippines, with the
arrival of U.S. special forces to help combat militants there.
ASEAN is going to be divided, analysts said, with many members such as
Vietnam and Myanmar vehemently opposed to further action of the type the United
States took in Afghanistan.
Bush's reference to North Korea as part of an "axis of evil" with Iraq and
Iran is likely to unnerve many in the grouping.
Pyongyang was welcomed into the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 2000 by
Southeast Asian countries eager to bring the isolated communist country out of
the cold and into a multilateral security framework designed to temper U.S. and
Chinese power.
But with the United States the dominant economy affecting the recovery of
the region, most countries are going to be unwilling to express openly any
concerns over U.S. foreign policy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------- BBC - Wednesday, 20 February, 2002,
12:17 GMT
Terrorism dominates Asean meeting South East Asian foreign ministers have begun meeting at a resort Phuket in
Thailand to discuss stepping up cooperation against terrorism.
The Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said the foreign ministers wanted to reasssure international investors that the region was still a safe place to do business. Analysts say regional governments are under pressure to act following the
recent detentions of Islamist radicals in Singapore and Malaysia, accused of
plotting to attack American targets.
But they say the Asean commitment to mutual non-interference could limit
debate on each other's political and security problems.
The secretary general of the grouping, Rodolfo Severino, said that its four
newest members Cambodia, Laos, Burma and Vietnam would approve a plan designed
to facilitate their economic integration into the body.
From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
----------------------------------------------------------------------- Burma: Other Countries Interfere
With Move Toward Democracy
Ron Corben Bangkok VOA News - 19 Feb 2002 13:46 UTC Burma's military leader, General Than Shwe, says interference by other
countries is slowing Burma's moves toward democracy. Than Shwe's spoke while
U.N. special envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro was wrapping up a 10 day visit.
General Than Shwe says foreign interference through trade and aid sanctions
hamper Burma's moves toward democracy.
He spoke to members of the state-controlled Union Solidarity Development
Association as U.N. human-rights investigator Paulo Sergio Pinheiro ended a
visit to gauge Burma's progress on human-rights reform.
General Than Shwe said the policies of some Western states, especially
Europe and the United States, hold back political progress in the country. The
head of the military government said Burma faces difficulties and internal
disturbances as well as external interference.
He said without such interference Burma would develop more quickly and the
democratization process in the country would be faster.
The United States and the European Union maintain aid and trade sanctions
against Burma, in an effort to pressure the government to hand over power to an
elected government and to force human-rights reforms.
Burma is one of Asia's poorest countries, receiving little foreign aid or
investment.
Comments about "internal disturbances" are usually seen as referring to
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party. The
NLD won landslide elections in May 1990, but has been kept from taking power.
There have been some signs of progress since the start of U.N.-mediated
talks in 2000 between the government and Aung San Suu Kyi. Government criticism
of Aung San Suu Kyi has been toned down and some political prisoners have been
freed.
The military government appears to be more willing to work with
international observers who are assessing its progress human and labor rights in
Burma. A team from the International Labor Organization (ILO) is visiting Burma.
Mr. Pinheiro has told reporters he is satisfied with the cooperation he
received from the government. He met with ethnic minority leaders as well as
Aung San Suu Kyi during his visit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------- UN Human Rights Envoy Satisfied
with Burma's Cooperation
Dale Gavlak Geneva VOA News -19 Feb 2002 20:40 UTC A U.N. human-rights envoy has wrapped up a 10-day fact-finding trip to
Burma, saying he is satisfied with cooperation from the country's military
government. The International Labor Organization is beginning talks with Burmese
officials on allegations of widespread forced labor.
Special U.N. envoy Paulo Pinheiro said he received full cooperation from
Burma's military leaders during an official visit to investigate the country's
human rights situation.
U.N. Human Rights Commission Spokesman, Jose Diaz, says the special U.N.
envoy met members of the Burmese opposition, including Nobel Peace Laureate Aung
San Suu Kyi.
"In Yangong, he visited the Insein Central Prison and prison hospital also
in Yangon where he interviewed in a confidential manner about a dozen detainees.
He was also able to go to Kachin State, Myitkyina is the name of the locality
where he also visited a police lock-up, and Myitkyina prison where he also
interviewed, confidentially, about a dozen detainees," Mr. Diaz said.
The military released 11 political prisoners during the U.N. envoy's stay.
Mr. Pinheiro will report his findings to Human Rights Commission in early April.
The United States and the European Union keep an aid and trade embargo on
Burma, but say that could change if progress is made in talks between military
leaders and the opposition. The human rights group, Amnesty International, said
1,500 political prisoners are jailed in Burma.
Meanwhile, the International Labor Organization, has begun its own
discussions with Burmese authorities on allegations of forced labor in the
country, particularly in areas where there is a large military presence.
Spokesman John Doohan has said the four-member team is looking for the
government's response to its request last November to establish an ILO presence
in Burma to investigate charges of forced labor.
The ILO wants a legal body established to guarantee the rights and safety
of people said to be subjected to forced labor. Mr. Doohan says the team also
wants to check the progress of investigations made into murders of people who
have complained about the labor situation in the country.
"The situation is very, very difficult. These problems are deeply rooted,"
he said. "The legislative and social revision that has to be undertaken is
considerable and so there is no underestimating the size of the task and the
political difficulty of the task. The government's responsibility is to live up
to its obligations under an ILO convention that prohibits forced labor."
Mr. Doohan has said the governing body of the ILO will carefully scrutinize
Burma's response. The ILO said it wants to see the practice of forced labor
completely eliminated in Burma.
----------------------------------------------------------------------- UNHCHR
UN RIGHTS EXPERT CONCLUDES VISIT TO
MYANMAR
19 February 2002
Prof. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human
Rights on the situation in Myanmar, today completed his second fact-finding
mission to the country.
During the visit, which started on 10 February, the Special Rapporteur met
with the Secretary of the State Peace Development Council; the Foreign Minister
and his Deputy; the Home Minister; the Attorney-General and Chairman of the Bar
Council; the Minister of Labour; the Director-General of the Prisons Department;
the Police Director-General; members of the Human Rights Committee and the
National Convention Convening Commission. He also held talks with
representatives of legal parties and leaders of ethnic groups that have entered
into a ceasefire with the Government. Mr. Pinheiro visited the Insein Central
Prison and a prison hospital in Yangon, where he interviewed confidentially a
dozen detainees. He also had meetings with the General Secretary and members of
the Central Executive Committee of the National League for Democracy,
representatives of ethnic parties, the UN country team, the diplomatic
community, and international civil society organizations.
The Special Rapporteur also travelled to Myitkyina (Kachin State), where he
was received by local authorities and had meetings at the State court, the
lawyers' association, and the police office. He also met with representatives of
local civil society organizations, religious and community leaders and UN
project staff. He visited police lock-up No. 1 and Myitkyina prison, where he
interviewed detainees. Finally, he visited the offices of two groups that have
agreed to the ceasefire and a village near Myitkyina.
Before arriving in Myanmar Mr. Pinheiro went to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for
consultations with the Special Envoy of the Secretary General to Myanmar, Razali
Ismail.
The Special Rapporteur said before leaving Yangon on 19 February that he
had received full cooperation from the Myanmar Government.
----------------------------------------------------------------------- Narinjara news
Myanmar army forcibly collect charcoal from villagers Sittwe, 20 February 02 : Troops of the Myanmar Army are busy forcibly
collecting charcoal in Ponnagyun township in the south-western state of Myanmar,
according to a charcoal trader from Sittwe.
The charcoal making has been more profitable than rice farming this year since the rice farmers have been compelled to 'sell' more quantity of rice at throwaway prices this year than ever to the State Peace and Development junta. In recent dry months, the villagers around the Bey-nga-ra ranges in the township, are seen burning firewood and making charcoal in pits and caves in the hills. A kyin (100 cft) or gu of charcoal fetches a price of about kyat 20,000 depending upon quality. In a typical working day villagers could be seen vigorously working in the
villages of Bajun-cheik, Mrat-lay, Kanaing-daung,Thay-do, Poh-ri-gung,
Taung-na-rwah, Kyang-talinn, Kraing-khin, Paing-neela, Aung-pru-brang, and
Yoe-nguung at the foothills of the Bay-nga-ra ranges. Compared to
last year, this year's production of charcoal is expected to double.
The Myanmar troops from Light Infantry Battalion 550 led by Sergeant Aung
Tint are forcing the charcoal makers to give them 30 viss (120 lbs) of
charcoal on a monthly basis for each charcoal-producing family in the villages
beginning 26th January 2002. Previously the troops collected 40 lbs of
charcoal from each household in November 2001. One viss of charcoal used
in cooking is now selling at kyat 50 in Sittwe.
All the households in Sittwe and other towns of Rakhine State have to depend upon charcoal as there is a supply of electricity below normal voltage only on every third day, and that too only in the evening hours. The supply of kerosene oil is not enough to meet the requirements of the general people, too. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Two killed in clash between Karen
militants, military in Burma
Text of report by Democratic Voice of Burma on 19 February A clash between members of the KNU [Karen National Union] and a SPDC [State
Peace and Development Council] military unit took place in Tavoy township.
A SPDC private and a porter were killed in this clash. The clash took place
when a KNU group ambushed a military unit led by Capt Ne Lin Oo of the No 8
Strategic Command which was transporting a group of nearly 50 porters from the
Tavoy Jail. A SPDC private and a porter were killed in the attack.
In another incident, a grenade belonged to a soldier exploded on a car
carrying ammunition. A prisoner was killed and eight school girls were injured
in this explosion. Although the eight wounded school girls were back in their
villages, they were prohibited from being hospitalized by a department of the
regional battalion.
Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 19 Feb
02
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