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BURMA RELATED NEWS - April 14,
2002.
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HEADLINES
----------------------------------------------------------------- AFP - Myanmar opium crop threatens to rise after
Afghan production drop
AFP - Massive drug inflow to Thailand expected
over holiday: report
BBC - Burmese activist 'missing' in
India
The Star - Ushering in their New Years
The Star - Three jailed for
manslaughter
Bkk Post - New maps prepared for
talks
Xinhuanet - 60 Bangladeshi Killed By Myanmar's
Land Mines
Bkk Post - Army fears
inflow of 200m pills
Bkk Post - Chedi built to
demarcate territory
Bkk Post - Temple
grounds split in half by disputed frontier
Bkk Post - All quiet on northern front, at least
for now
----------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday April 14, 1:04 PM
Myanmar opium crop threatens to rise after Afghan production drop (AFP) - As Myanmar's opium
poppy crop bursts into bloom this season, drug experts are anxiously watching
for signs production could be dramatically increased to meet the shortfall from
war-ravaged Afghanistan.
Global narcotics authorities declared in February that after having trailed
Afghanistan for a decade, Myanmar again became the world's largest producer of
opium in 2001, accounting for as much as 60 percent of global supply.
The military-run state overtook Afghanistan after the Taliban militia's
ruthlessly enforced ban on opium poppies, which yield the raw ingredient for
heroin, slashed Afghan production by 90 percent.
Due to vast stocks built up in Afghanistan from two bumper crops, and
complicated criminal distribution networks to its main markets in Europe, opium
grown in Myanmar's Shan state was not diverted to fill the breech.
But warning bells rang earlier this year when the Thai military, on the
other edge of the notorious Golden Triangle region, reported that Myanmar
druglords had told peasants to plant as much poppy as they could this
season.
"We've had reports that there will be increased production," said the US
Drug Enforcement Agency's regional director for East Asia Bill Snipes.
"There are messages being passed to the growers to increase production, and
there are new areas being cleared for poppy-growing... as people look to take
advantage of the situation," he said.
However, crop surveys conducted over the past few months have shown that
fears of a massive increase in opium production, which would have flooded the
global market and potentially destabilised Myanmar, may be unfounded.
In the areas where we were active we know for sure there was 30 percent
opium reduction," said Jean-Luc Lemahieu, Yangon-based representative for the UN
Drug Control Programme (UNDCP).
But Lemahieu said that while catastrophe may have been averted this year,
poor funding for anti-narcotics programs and the parlous state of the Myanmar
economy meant that the drug situation remained a ticking timebomb.
"The accident has to happen. We are very happy it didn't happen this year,"
he said. "The crisis is already here, we don't need Afghanistan to call this a
crisis. But Afghanistan will accelerate it even more."
The international community's heavy sanctions against Myanmar's military
government, which is accused of widespread human rights violation, means it
receives little help in combatting narcotics production.
Lemahieu said even neighbouring Laos, the communist country on the other
edge of the Golden Triangle, receives far more funding.
"It's ridiculous, Laos has total production which is lower than what we
reduce in Myanmar on an annual basis. But Laos gets 20 times more assistance
than Myanmar gets. It's not fair, it's not rational, it doesn't make
sense."
Substantial decreases in the crop since 1996, thanks to crop-substitution
work and government cooperation as well as poor weather, could not be
maintained, he said.
"We have to see, if not this year then next year, an increase in opium
production. Because of Afghanistan, but also because of the economic situation
in this country, and the overall setting in which this country works."
The Myanmar junta meanwhile insists opium production will fall again this
year, after levelling out in 2001.
"Some critics say that production will escalate when the Afghanistan
production falls down... but we don't share that concern," said Colonel Kyaw
Thein, military intelligence spokesman on narcotics.
"There are fewer poppies being grown in most of the densely grown areas, in
some areas the weather is not favourable and government forces have also
eradicated thousands of acres," he told AFP.
In post-Taliban Afghanistan, concerted efforts are being made to prevent
the opium crop from leaping back to their bumper pre-2001 levels.
But this well-funded international campaign could backlash on Myanmar by
rising pressure for it to meet the shortfall.
"If Afghanistan were to be halted, it does not automatically mean that
Myanmar can jump in. Because the Shan opium goes mostly to the China market
through a totally different group of organisations," said Lemahieu.
"But the risk is there if Afganistan drops out of the game, they will look
for new production areas and the criminal connections would be made. So we have
to be very vigilant."
----------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday April 14, 1:08 PM
Massive drug inflow to Thailand expected over holiday: report BANGKOK, April 14 (AFP) -
Thailand's army fears some 200 million methamphetamine pills could be smuggled
across the border from Myanmar during Songkran, the traditional Thai new year
holiday, a report said Sunday.
The staggering amount is one quarter of the number of pills Thai officials
have estimated will be smuggled into the kingdom from drug laboratories inside
military-ruled Myanmar this year.
The Bangkok Post quoted anti-narcotics sources as saying manufacturers are
quitting stocks ahead of an expected crackdown by the Yangon regime later this
month.
Prices of the cheap but seriously addictive pills, known here as "ya baa"
or crazy medicine, have plunged in the Thai border province of Chiang Rai to
just seven baht (16 cents) each from 18 baht a few weeks ago, the paper
said.
The Post said the northern narcotics suppression bureau believes some speed
pills have already entered the country but the bulk of them are still at the
Thai-Myanmar border.
With anti-narcotics and military personnel braced for the expected influx,
leave for troops in the area has been barred.
"Commanders have told their troops not to take leave or fall ill. All units
must stay on alert," Colonel Somsak Nilbanjerdkul of the Pha Muang task force
told the Post.
Army commanders said they had closed Chiang Mai province's Kiew Pha Wok
check point, the most likely route for trafficking, as well another commonly
used by Myanmar villagers travelling to Buddhist temples during the four-day
festival which began Saturday.
"The border situation is not normal so the checkpoint has been closed
down," Colonel Chaowalit Sirikit of the Third Army, which patrols the region,
was quoted as saying.
Heroin and amphetamine trafficking is rife along the Thai-Myanmar border,
with an ethnic minority militia known as the United Wa State Army accused of
controlling much of the booming illicit trade.
More than four percent of Thais from all walks of life are already addicted
to ya baa, which has largely replaced heroin addiction in the country.
A recent health ministry survey showed 2.65 million Thais have used drugs,
with 91 percent of them having tried methamphetamines.
----------------------------------------------------------------- BBC - Saturday, 13 April, 2002, 16:19
GMT 17:19 UK
Burmese activist 'missing' in India Subir Bhaumik BBC correspondent in Calcutta A Burmese pro-democracy activist arrested earlier this week by Indian
police is reported missing.
Soe Myint, who hijacked a Thai Airways flight to Calcutta in November 1990,
has lived in India ever since.
He was picked up by police on Wednesday in connection with the hijacking
case.
But Mr Soe's lawyers now allege that he has not been produced in Calcutta,
where the hijacking case is registered, and have said there was cause for
concern.
Refugee
Soe Myint was a teenager when he carried out the hijacking.
But the case was not pursued by the Indian Government or by the West Bengal
State Government.
Burma watchers in India point out the arrest comes soon after the visit to
Rangoon of Indian Foreign Minister, Jaswant Singh
He even secured asylum and refugee status in India. Three years ago, he married a fellow Burmese fugitive, Thin Thin, and the
couple ran a popular news website on Burma.
On Wednesday, police from West Bengal entered the offices of the website
and carried Soe Myint away.
More than three days later, he has not been produced in the court in
Calcutta, where the case is registered, as is required by law. Mr Soe's wife
says her husband has done nothing wrong.
The Indian authorities are not disclosing his current location.
Neither are they confirming or denying whether he is being questioned by
intelligence officials at a secret location.
Mr Soe's lawyer and India's leading human rights crusader, Nandita Haksar,
told the BBC the police were within their rights to detain Mr Soe because the
hijacking case has not been dropped.
But she said it was legally mandatory for them to produce him in court
within 72 hours of the arrest.
Rangoon connection
It is not yet clear what action of Mr Soe may have upset the Indian
authorities.
But Burma watchers in this country point out that the arrest comes soon
after the visit to Rangoon of Indian Foreign Minister, Jaswant Singh.
They say India might be trying to appease the Burmese military junta by
arresting dissidents like Soe Myint in an attempt to stop anti-Burmese political
activity in India.
----------------------------------------------------------------- The Star
Sunday, April 14, 2002
Ushering in their New Years RAWANG: The Thai, Myanmar and Sikh communities ushered in their New Year
yesterday with several events to mark the occasion nationwide.
The Sikh community here celebrated Vaisakhi, marking the 304th year of
founding of Khalsa, The Sikh Brotherhood, in 1699.
About 5,000 residents gathered at the Gurdwara Sahib Rawang here to
celebrate the event, which also signifies the beginning of a new year for the
Sikh community.
The three-day celebration ? including prayer meetings, amrit (baptism)
rituals, a religious competition, tea party, free kitchen service and blood
donation campaign ? began on Thursday and ended yesterday.
Temple secretary Arjan Singh said religious hymns were sung all day long to
mark the occasion.
?Amrit rituals are specially carried out during Vaisakhi where holy water
will be sprinkled on the people,?? he said in an interview yesterday.
He said those who were baptised would have to fulfil five Ks ? carry a
Kangha (wooden comb), keep Kes (long hair) and wear a Kirpan (dagger), Kachch
(Punjabi pants) and Kara (iron bangle).
?We also provide free vegetarian food to purify the body and mind before
meditation,?? he said.
Describing the blood donation campaign as a charitable cause, he said it
was to help solve the shortage faced by the blood bank.
In Penang, the Thais celebrated the Songkran and the Myanmars greeted the
Dhagyan at various temples.
Under the scorching sun, it was a wet merry making for the Thai and Myanmar
communities when they celebrated the Water Festival held in conjunction with the
occasion.
The festival was celebrated in high spirits at the Wat Chayamangkalaram
Thai Buddhist Temple and the Burmese Temple in Burma Lane here.
Thousands of revellers had a splashing time drenching one another in a
symbolic gesture of goodwill and harmony.
Revellers also scattered or applied talcum powder on the faces of strangers
for good health and prosperity.
Earlier, the Thais performed prayers and offered food to the monks.
Australian tourist Elizabeth Hodge, who is in her 50s, and her friend
Rachael Cookson, 28, from New Zealand, who were both soaked to the skin, said
they knew about the festival after reading it in a tourist guidebook.
?The ice-cold water is very refreshing and cooling after the 1km walk here
(temple) from our hotel in Gurney Drive,? said Hodge.
A group of pupils on a school excursion from SJK(C) Thung Hon in Batu
Gajah, Perak, were caught by surprise when they walked right into the masses of
revellers at the Thai temple grounds.
The 40 boys and girls from Year Five and Six quickly ran into the temple
while begging the revellers not to splash them as they did not bring any spare
clothes.
----------------------------------------------------------------- The Star
Sunday, April 14, 2002
Three jailed for manslaughter SINGAPORE: Three Malaysians were jailed for six years and six months each
for beating to death a Myanmar worker who had refused to pay more for sex with a
prostitute, a report said yesterday.
The three from Sarawak punched and kicked the 36-year-old plasterer after
he refused to pay S$150 (RM350) for a second round of sex with the prostitute,
the Straits Times here reported.
It said the victim was willing to pay only RM76 to the woman.
The three, who were convicted of manslaughter, had arranged for the sexual
encounter at a brothel. ? AFP
----------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Sunday 14 April
2002
New maps prepared for talks Long a source of conflict between Thailand and Burma, disputed territories
on the northern border have occasionally led to fierce clashes. Progress on
demarcation is slow. Post reporters Sermsuk Kasitipradit, Subin Khuenkaew and
Wassana Nanuam head North to look at the situation.
The Thai-Burmese border demarcation process will soon begin with the
production of stripped maps to be used for discussions.
Lt-Gen Prasat Burintrwatana, director of the Royal Thai Survey Department,
said Thailand and Burma will move a first step towards border demarcation by
making stripped maps [aerial photos, joined together] of all target border areas
except trouble points.
Both sides agreed with the method after Thailand explained that the
production of General Description Boundary Alignment (GDBA), a type of map,
proposed by Rangoon last month would be difficult and time-consuming, he
added.
Further talks could be carried out by the Joint Committee chaired by the
foreign minister and the Joint Boundary Committee chaired by the foreign
minister's adviser Pracha Kunakasem.
Burma had yet to say what it thought about the Terms of Reference (TOR) on
map production and border demarcation submitted by Thai officials last
year.
Lt-Gen Prasat, who chairs the joint technical committee for border
demarcation, said the countries agreed with one thing, a fixed boundary along a
58.4km section of the Sai and Ruak rivers in Chiang Rai's Chiang Saen
district.
It was hard to apply the no-gain no-loss principle to border demarcation
since the issue was strategically involved, he added.
Lt-Gen Prasat suggested that demarcation be done simultaneously by both
countries along the 2,401km border, saying success depended on talks, documents,
sincerity and co-operation.
----------------------------------------------------------------- 60 Bangladeshi Killed By Myanmar's
Land Mines
Xinhuanet 2002-04-13 23:54:29 DHAKA, April 13 (Xinhuanet) -- About 60 Bangladeshi nationals werekilled by a series of land mine explosions during the past one decade in the border areas of the southwestern Bandarban district,the official Bangladesh News Agency reported Saturday. Besides, a huge number of wild animals including majestic elephants were
killed by mines in the same areas.
The report said that the NASAKA, the bordering force of Myanmarhave freshly
planted land-mines in no man's land areas of Bandarban hill district along the
Bangladesh-Myanmar border recently.
Despite protests from Bangladesh, no action had been taken fromthe Myanmar
authorities till now.
The Bangladesh Border Rifles authorities repeatedly requested the NASAKA
for removal of their illegally planted land mines, but no positive response was
available to this effect.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Sunday 14 April 2002
Army fears inflow of 200m pills
Druglords quit stock ahead of crackdown
Subin Khuenkaew
The army expects 200 million methamphetamine pills could be smuggled across
the northern border from Burma during the Songkran holiday.
Manufacturers are quitting stock ahead of a crackdown by Rangoon later this
month, drugs sources said.
The northern narcotics suppression bureau believes some speed pills have
already entered the country but the bulk of them are still at the Thai-Burmese
border.
As traffickers clear their stocks, the street price of speed has halved. In
Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai, one pill can be bought for seven baht, down from
18 baht just weeks ago.
``The price has been slashed. It's lower than transport costs now,'' said
the source.
Drugs officials are bracing themselves for the expected influx.
Lt-Gen Udomchai Ongkhasingh, the Third Army commander, has closed Kiew Pha
Wok checkpoint in Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai, the most likely route through
which the drugs would pass.
Lak Taeng checkpoint in Wiang Haeng district in Chiang Mai has also been
closed, and sniffer dogs deployed at Mae Sai checkpoint in Chiang Rai.
Col Somsak Nilbanjerdkul, of Pha Muang task force, said leave had been
barred. ``Commanders have told their troops not to take leave or fall ill. All
units must stay on alert,'' he said.
Meanwhile, a border source said an office belonging to Hong Pang Group in
Burma's Tachilek was closed yesterday. The group is owned by drug kingpin Wei
Hsueh-kang.
The drug fugitive reportedly left Ban Hong opposite Mae Fa Luang district
in Chiang Rai early last week, heading for the United Wa State Army's
headquarters.
The drug kingpin was made deputy leader of the pro-Rangoon UWSA recently
and is in charge of six Wa battalions stationed along the border opposite Chiang
Rai, Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son provinces.
He was escorted by 500 Wa troops, the source said. Wei reportedly felt
uncomfortable with the political situation in Rangoon.
Rangoon told minority groups this week that drug trafficking would no
longer be tolerated. The Burmese junta reportedly sent the message to UWSA,
widely regarded as the biggest drug traffickers in the region.
Meanwhile, a group of 100 Burmese villagers yesterday petitioned the Third
Army about the closure of Lak Taeng border checkpoint in Chiang Mai.
The villagers wanted to cross the border to make merit at Wat Fah Wiang Inn
tomorrow and Tuesday.
They usually make merit at the temple on holy days.
The petition was accepted by Col Chaowalit Sirikit, of the Third Army
region. He said he would send it to the army for a decision.
``The border situation is not normal so the checkpoint has been closed
down. The army will decide if it will be opened for such special
circumstances,'' he said.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Sunday 14 April 2002
Chedi built to demarcate
territory
A Burmese-style chedi atop a mountain in disputed Doi Lang. At left is a
bunker of former drug warlord Khun Sa.
Rangoon troops ask to cross every year A small unit of Burmese troops in disputed Doi Lang find time once a year
to pay homage to a white chedi, built atop a mountain near Ban Pang Nai of Mae
Ai, Chiang Mai.
``In the past they have regularly asked our permission to pay tribute to
the chedi. We have no objection,'' said an officer from Pha Muang Task Force in
charge of security at Doi Lang.
It was unclear when the Burmese-style chedi was built and it was widely
believed that Burmese forces who once occupied the disputed territory put it up
to show where the boundary lay.
Burmese army commander-in-chief Gen Maung Aye was said to be responsible
for the chedi's construction when he was a junior officer posted in the
area.
``How could one take this chedi as a mark of a boundary? We did not know
when the chedi was constructed but I don't think it was proper to make one-sided
assumption that the border line lay here,'' said the officer.
Also on the mountain is a bunker used in the 1980s by drug warlord Khun
Sa's men to fight off Burmese troops and United Wa State Army fighters.
Khun Sa's men took the land in 1982 from the now-defunct Lahu National Army
and turned it into their stronghold.
In the late 1980s, Doi Lang had become a fierce battle zone where Khun Sa's
Mong Tai Army troops fought UWSA and Burmese troops.
Under an agreement with the Burmese military junta following the 1989
break-up of the Burmese Communist Party, of which the UWSA was part, a brigade
under Wei Sai-tang was relocated south from UWSA headquarters in Pang Hsan,
northeastern Shan State near the Chinese border, to bring down Khun Sa in Doi
Lang. Khun Sa's forces in Doi Lang were defeated in the early 90s by UWSA
fighters, who were allowed to stay in the area. The UWSA, regarded as the
biggest drug traffickers in the Golden Triangle, later used drug trade money to
build Mong Yawn. Khuensai Jaiyen, former aide to Khun Sa, said Khun Sa lost more
than 500 soldiers and spent more than 300 million baht defending Doi Lang, an
area which the charismatic opium warlord called his ``back door to
Thailand.''
At the time, Khun Sa said Wa troops were the toughest fighters who would
battle to the last. Khun Sa was forced to move his headquarters to Ho Mong
opposite Mae Hong Son's Muang district in the early 90s. Khun Sa made his
surprise surrender in early 1996.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Sunday 14 April 2002
Temple grounds split in half by disputed
frontier
Patrols conducted by units from both sides
Wieng Haeng, Chiang Rai
Burmese troops have patrolled the northern part of the Fah Wieng Inn Temple
since former drug warlord Khun Sa surrendered to the Burmese military junta in
early 1996.
Burma claims that half of the temple is inside its territory, and Thailand
claims the other half. A supposed boundary line cleaves the 40 rai temple ground
in two.
Up until Khun Sa's surrender, the border area around the temple was
off-limits to Burmese forces. The late Shan nationalist Kornjueng Chanasuek,
former chairman of the now-defunct Mong Tai Army, based his military command
around the temple in early 60s.
``He was a tough fighter playing a leading role for reconstruction of this
temple. Kornjueng was much respected by local people here,'' said Somboon
Kamherng, 53, a local villager from Ban Piang Luang.
After Kornjueng's death in 1991, local people agreed to place his tomb on a
small hill to the west of the temple. Local people are mainly ethnic Shan.
Kornjueng was founder and former leader of the now-defunct Shan United
Revolutionary Army. In 1985, Kornjueng agreed to merge his forces with the Khun
Sa-led Shan United Army to form the Mong Tai Army.
A Thai soldier makes his daily observation. In the background is the northern part of Fah Wieng Inn monastery, where the temple's church and Buddhist school are situated. This section was taken by Burmese forces in 1996. Thailand claims almost all the temple grounds including Marajina Chedi while Burma has claimed half the area to the north of the temple, which includes the church, Buddhist school and lodging for monks and novices. Burmese troops have occupied the temple's northern section and will not
patrol southwards into territory claimed by Thai forces.
``We all know our area and will not cross to areas claimed by the Burmese
side to avoid causing misunderstandings and tension,'' said a cavalry soldier
from Pha Muang Task Force, whose platoon of cavalry soldiers were deployed to
guard the disputed terrain.
Local people and monks were not barred from entering the temple area
controlled by Burmese troops.
It was Kornjueng, a devoted Shan Buddhist, who pushed for the construction
of a chedi _ believed to contain the relics of Lord Sariputta who was one of the
two chief disciples of the Lord Buddha _ and also the temple's main hall.
The hall sits right over the supposed boundary line. On Buddhist holy days,
people from both sides of the border crowd the temple's main hall, while temple
abbot Phra Kamtoon Inthawangso, 78, holds religious rituals inside the church on
the disputed area. ``We live peacefully and never have any problem with Burmese
troops posted around here. The temple committee overseeing the monastery has
also been selected from people from both sides,'' said Somboon.
The abbot was hopeful the situation here would not turn explosive no matter
what the outcome of demarcation talks.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Sunday 14 April 2002
All quiet on northern front, at
least for now
Troops reduce tension at former flashpoint
Chiang Mai
Thirty-two square kilometres of rugged terrain at Doi Lang in the Mae Ai
district of Chiang Mai has been regarded a border flashpoint since hundreds of
soldiers were deployed to confront a Burmese troop build-up in the disputed
area.
Burma began stationing security forces at Doi Lang in 1996, when Mong Tai
Army fighters, allied to former drug warlord Khun Sa, defected to Rangoon.
Khun Sa had based his military command in the area since the early '80s,
before it was crushed in 1995 by Burmese troops and the United Wa State Army,
led by Wei Sai-tang.
Burma subsequently claimed the land, arguing it was previously controlled
by Khun Sa, so therefore could not be Thai territory.
Gen Maung Aye, Burma's army chief, later dismissed a proposal from Gen
Chettha Thanajaro, former commander of the Thai Army, suggesting the area should
be demilitarised until the dispute was settled.
An estimated 1,500 Burmese soldiers are currently in the area, while the
Third Army has deployed Ranger Task Forces at 15 border outposts opposite
Burmese military bases.
``The situation here must look quite scary from the outside,'' said Col
Samphan Siratbuaphan, task force commander. ``But we share a good understanding
of each other.''
He said both sides had agreed on a set of unofficial measures aimed at
avoiding conflict in the area.
The measures were:
Col Samphan Siratbuaphan, chief of the 3rd Army's Ranger Task Force, right, seeks to increase understanding with Burmese forces at the disputed Doi Lang border area. - not to deploy any reinforcements or set up new bases;
- not to resort to force in tackling disputes;
- to give notice of inspections, which must be conducted with troops from
both sides present;
- not to open negotiations on the disputed area.
Col Samphan said it was Third Army policy to build ties with the Burmese
forces, adding he occasionally met Burmese military commanders in a bid to
foster understandings.
Burmese troops were allowed to cross the border into Thai villages to buy
provisions.
Despite the relative calm, the stand-off did intensify in February 2001,
when Thai security forces clashed with Burmese troops at Ban Pang Noon in Mae Fa
Luang district of Chiang Rai.
In May, Rangoon's military junta demanded Thai troops withdraw from Doi
Lang or face a Burmese offensive.
Gen Surayud Chulanot, current Thai Army chief, stood firm and insisted the
area was Thai territory.
``The situation has been much improved since then,'' according to one Third
Army officer.
Indeed, there have been no reports of heavy clashes since both sides
stationed troops within the disputed area.
It is now common to see Thai and Burmese soldiers playing takraw together
at a shared recreation area.
It was widely believed the lessening of tensions was due mostly to the
absence of other militia in the area.
``The situation would be a lot different if there were Shan rebel bases
around here,'' said an officer from Pha Muang Task Force, which enforces border
security in the extreme North.
He said the Burmese side was extremely concerned by rumours the Shan State
Army would be allowed to set up bases at Doi Lang.
``That would definately heighten military tensions in the area,'' said one
security analyst.
However, he doubted the Thai military would allow such a potentially
explosive move.
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