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BURMA RELATED NEWS - April 25,
2002.
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HEADLINES
----------------------------------------------------------------- Reuters - U.N envoy to meet Myanmar's
beleaguered opposition
Reuters - U.N. envoy in Myanmar lobbies for Suu
Kyi's quick release
Reuters - East Timor seeks security help from UN
and ASEAN
AP - U.N. envoy upbeat about junta-Suu Kyi talks
in Myanmar
Dow Jones - Philippines Isn't Keen To Back Asean
Trade Preference Systems
BBC - UN's Burma envoy 'hopeful of
progress'
BBC - Q&A: Background to Burma
talks
FT - Burmese get glimpse of
superhighway
BBC - Burmese refugees attacked
The Nation - Burmese talks turn to fishing
business
Bkk Post - Thai soldier was shot dead in
Wa-controlled territory
Bkk Post - Trafficking
outlawed
Xinhuanet - Thailand to Hold Trade Fair in
Myanmar
----------------------------------------------------------------- U.N envoy to meet Myanmar's
beleaguered opposition
Thu Apr 25,12:29 AM ET By Aung Hla Tun YANGON (Reuters) - A U.N. envoy
on a mission to salvage flagging reconciliation talks in Myanmar was due to meet
the pro-democracy opposition at its ramshackle headquarters on Thursday to try
to keep alive its faith in talks with the ruling junta.
Malaysian diplomat Razali Ismail met opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on
Wednesday at her lakeside residence where she has been held under house arrest
for 18 months, and he also met powerful military intelligence chief Khin Nyunt,
officially number three in the ruling military council.
On Thursday he was scheduled to meet senior members of Suu Kyi's National
League for Democracy (NLD), which won Myanmar's last elections in 1990 by a
landslide but was never allowed to take over power from the military. Hundreds
of NLD members have been jailed and harassed over the last decade.
In 2000, Razali helped broker secretive talks between the military and Suu
Kyi, which have been hailed as a breakthrough in Myanmar's long political
deadlock. But the talks have failed to produce any concrete results, and
patience is waning.
This is Razali's seventh visit in his capacity as U.N. special envoy, and
analysts say if he ends this trip with no signs of progress, the credibility of
the dialogue will be badly dented. Some believe Razali may even resign.
GROWING SCEPTICISM
Top of the international community's demands is the release of 56-year-old
Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize.
Diplomats say only Suu Kyi's release can help allay growing scepticism that
the talks are being used by the ruling generals merely to try and improve their
image, end the poverty-stricken country's isolation and lift crippling sanctions
imposed by many countries, including the United States and Europe.
"I think Razali will insist the (government) shows concrete progress," an
Asian diplomat based in Yangon told Reuters. "The easiest way to do it is to
release Aung San Suu Kyi."
But many diplomats fear the military is in fact hardening its attitude
towards the talks with Suu Kyi.
The junta said last month it had foiled a coup bid by relatives and cronies
of elderly former dictator Ne Win. His son-in-law and three grandsons were
arrested and are to be put on trial for high treason, which carries the death
penalty.
Many in Myanmar welcomed the arrests -- Ne Win began decades of dictatorial
military rule in Burma when he seized power in 1962, and presided over the
country's decline from being one of Asia's richest countries to one of its most
backward.
But many analysts doubt a coup was ever seriously planned, and say the
allegations are being used by the military to purge its ranks. They say the
purge has strengthened the hand of hardliners opposed to making any concessions
to Suu Kyi.
Razali's latest visit was initially scheduled for last month, but the junta
asked him to postpone it at the last minute, fuelling fears about the future of
the dialogue with Suu Kyi.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday April 24, 9:29 PM
U.N. envoy in Myanmar lobbies for Suu Kyi's quick release By Aung Hla Tun YANGON (Reuters) - A top U.N.
envoy met Myanmar's military leadership and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi
on Wednesday, in a bid to secure her release from house arrest and breath life
into slow-moving talks between the two sides.
U.N. special envoy Razali Ismail had a two-hour meeting with Suu Kyi in the
early evening at her lakeside residence, where the Nobel laureate has been
confined since late 2000.
The Malaysian diplomat met powerful military intelligence chief Khin Nyunt,
officially number three in the ruling junta, and two ministers in the morning.
Diplomats say Razali is lobbying hard for Suu Kyi's immediate freedom, and
suggest the envoy could even resign if he leaves Myanmar empty handed -- a move
that would seriously jeopardise the talks he brokered 18 months ago.
A U.N. source told Reuters Razali had asked for a meeting with the junta's
leader, Than Shwe, but had not yet received a reply.
Razali, who has also met with foreign businessmen and ethnic minority
leaders, has been upbeat about the talks.
"Razali told us there would be some manifestation of progress in a few
weeks," one of a group of foreign businessmen who met Razali on Wednesday told
Reuters.
An ethnic minority leader who met Razali on Wednesday said the envoy was
"cautiously optimistic" he could push the dialogue between Suu Kyi and the
ruling generals forward, and was encouraged by the attitude of Khin Nyunt, who
holds the post of "Secretary One" in the junta.
"Razali said he was satisfied to learn that Secretary One is very
interested in the dialogue," said Khun Tun Oo, leader of the opposition Shan
National League for Democracy.
Opposition activists and several of Myanmar's neighbours have shown
increasing signs of impatience at the lack of progress in the talks that have so
far yielded the release of about 200 political prisoners but little else.
ISOLATION
Diplomats say only Suu Kyi's release can help allay growing scepticism that
the talks are being used by the ruling generals merely to end the
poverty-stricken country's isolation and lift crippling sanctions imposed by
many countries, including the United States and Europe.
"I think Razali will insist the (government) shows concrete progress," an
Asian diplomat based in Yangon told Reuters. "The easiest way to do it is to
release Aung San Suu Kyi."
The military has ruled Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, since 1962. Suu
Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won 1990 elections by a landslide,
taking more than 80 percent of the seats, but the military refused to relinquish
power.
The charismatic daughter of Myanmar independence hero General Aung San has
been under house arrest since before the talks began, and hundreds of her
followers have been in jail for years.
SUU KYI SILENCED
Diplomats say the ruling generals are afraid of Suu Kyi's popularity and
are divided over how much freedom to give her and the NLD.
They say rivalry is fiercest between the relatively moderate Khin Nyunt and
Army chief Maung Aye, second in the junta command, who is considered a hardline
opponent of political change in Myanmar. Maung Aye flew to neighbouring Thailand
on Tuesday and will not be available to meet Razali.
The talks between Suu Kyi and the junta, kick-started by Razali in late
2000, were at first hailed by the international community as a breakthrough.
Since then, the junta has released some NLD members from jail and ended its
daily attacks on Suu Kyi in state media.
But human rights watchdog Amnesty International says more than 1,500
political prisoners still languish in Myanmar's jails, and the government has
been silent on the talks.
Suu Kyi has also remained silent. Her telephone line is cut, she is
confined to her lakeside home in Yangon and her visitors are screened by the
military and limited to a handful of diplomats.
The NLD sees Suu Kyi's release as the only way to lift the party's public
profile, damaged by years of repression.
Diplomats say the NLD is unlikely to accept any form of power-sharing,
preferring to increase its popularity and wait for the regime to voluntarily
leave power or collapse.
Razali's mediation is seen by many diplomats as the only hope for peaceful
political change in Myanmar. The experienced U.N. diplomat has a close
relationship with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad -- a figure who
holds some sway in Yangon.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday April 25, 7:23 PM
East Timor seeks security help from UN and ASEAN SINGAPORE, April 25 (Reuters) -
East Timor would welcome an extension of the United Nations peacekeeping mission
after it becomes an independent nation on May 20, Foreign Minister Jose Ramos
Horta said on Thursday.
"For two years or even more," the 1996 Nobel peace laureate and former
freedom fighter said on the sidelines of an address to the Foreign
Correspondents Association in Singapore.
On Tuesday U.N Secretary-General Kofi Annan recommended a scaled-back
peacekeeping mission stay on in East Timor for another two years to assure its
continued stability and security.
The United Nations has been administering East Timor since late 1999, a few
months after Timorese voted for independence from Indonesia, which invaded the
territory in 1975 after colonial ruler Portugal pulled out.
May 20 will mark the final step in East Timor's long and bloody road to
nationhood. Xanana Gusmao, independence hero and former guerrilla leader, won
nearly 83 percent of the vote in April 14 presidential elections.
Horta said after the long struggle for independence, security was a major
concern of the people in East Timor. The tiny nation has plans for a small
defence force of 1,500 combat troops with another 1,500 reserves along with a
2,200 strong police force.
"About half of the defence force is ready...and a bit more than half of the
police force is trained," Horta said.
Horta said the situation in the border area between East and West Timor,
where much of the worst violence following the independence vote took place, has
become largely peaceful.
"I hope that as the dialogue with Indonesia develops, we regain trust
between the two sides so that, in the medium term, the area around the border
between East and West should be demilitarised and turned into a free trade
area," Horta said.
ASEAN MEMBERSHIP SOUGHT
To enhance its security, Horta said East Timor would seek to become a full
member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in around three to
five years.
"Membership of ASEAN is an important strategic goal for East Timor," Horta
said.
East Timor has been invited to attend the next ASEAN ministerial meeting,
to be held in Brunei in July, as the guest of the host country, the third time
it has been invited to a meeting of the Association.
Horta said East Timor would like official observer status at ASEAN but its
proposal is facing some objections from Myanmar, in particular, for his
country's strong support of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
"It seems that Myanmar has objected to us even obtaining observer status."
Horta said Singapore had also expressed reservations about East Timor's bid
on the grounds that ASEAN still needed time to absorb other new members such as
Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos.
"The reality is that East Timor is a southeast Asian sovereign entity, the
geographical criteria alone should prevail," Horta said.
On plans by Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri to attend next
month's independence celebration, Horta said the tiny nation would welcome the
visit.
"President Megawati Sukarnoputri, if she is to join us on May 19 and 20 for
our independence celebration, would be honoured by our people, would show
herself to be a stateswoman," Horta said.
"She probably would be the star of the event."
----------------------------------------------------------------- U.N. envoy upbeat about junta-Suu
Kyi talks in Myanmar
Thu Apr 25, 6:41 AM ET By AYE AYE WIN, Associated Press Writer YANGON, Myanmar - United Nations envoy Razali Ismail believes his efforts
to end Myanmar's 12-year political deadlock will bear fruit soon, opposition
members and foreign businessmen said Thursday.
Razali, who is mediating between Myanmar's military junta and the
opposition in a bid to restore democracy, expressed optimism during hour-long
talks with top leaders of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League
for Democracy party.
"Mr. Razali told us there will be a new development coming up soon," NLD
Secretary U Lwin told reporters.
He said Razali did not elaborate but "said the developments will have to go
step-by- step."
Razali himself would only say that he is "hopeful there should be progress
but I can't promise when it will be."
If necessary, he said he would like to come back to Myanmar more frequently
than the trips he makes every two to three months.
The current group of generals came to power in 1988 after a bloody
crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations. The junta called general elections in
1990 but refused to hand over power when the NLD was declared the winner.
On Tuesday, Razali met with Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, the chief of military
intelligence and the No.3 official in the junta, as well as with foreign
businessmen and diplomats.
One of the businessmen said Khin Nyunt told Razali negotiations toward a
political settlement were proceeding despite "some hiccups" because of last
month's coup attempt by relatives of former dictator Ne Win. The government said
it foiled the plot.
Razali told the business community and diplomats to be patient, the
businessman said on condition of anonymity. He quoted Razali as saying the
political situation was not as negative as it seemed.
Razali arrived on Tuesday on his seventh visit to Myanmar since being
appointed special U.N. envoy two years ago. He was instrumental in starting
reconciliation talks between Suu Kyi and the junta in October 2000.
But the opposition and the international community have expressed
frustration. They say the only tangible results of the talks have been the
freeing 258 political prisoners and allowing the NLD to reopen 35 of more than
300 branches it once had in Yangon.
They note Suu Kyi has remained under virtual house arrest since September
2000 and more than 1,000 political detainees remain in jail.
U Lwin, the NLD secretary, said he urged Razali to have Suu Kyi and other
political prisoners released. Razali, who met with Suu Kyi Wednesday, was
scheduled to meet her again later Thursday. He was to leave on Friday.
In Bangkok, Thailand's Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai urged the
international community to refrain from intervening in Myanmar's reconciliation
process, saying it would succeed sooner without intervention.
Surakiart met Wednesday with Myanmar No. 2 leader Gen. Maung Aye, who is on
a four-day visit to Thailand. He said Maung Aye told him the talks were going
positively.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Philippines Isn't Keen To Back
Asean Trade Preference Systems
Thu Apr 25, 7:28 AM ET MANILA -(Dow Jones)- The
Philippines isn't keen on supporting a plan by the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations to establish a general system of trade preferences for products
from Cambodia , Laos , Myanmar and Vietnam, a government official said
Thursday.
The Bureau of Customs is concerned Asean countries wouldn't be able to
validate the origins of products exported from these four countries, leading to
exploitation by smugglers, a senior Philippine trade official said.
Without adequate trade laws in Cambodia , Laos , Myanmar and Vietnam,
unscrupulous traders may use the four countries to attain duty-free status for
goods from non-Asean nations, the official said.
The four countries are the newest members of Asean and among the region's
poorest nations.
The proposed Asean Integration System of Preferences, or AISP, has already
been endorsed by Malaysia , Thailand and Indonesia . It is intended to coincide
with the implementation of the Asean Free Trade Area, through which goods traded
within the region would be taxed no more than 5% from next year.
Asean's senior economic officers proposed the AISP last year as a means of
bridging the development gap among Asean countries. It is patterned after the
U.S. ' General System of Preference, which grants preferential access to
imported goods from its allies such as the Philippines .
Asean countries are Brunei, Cambodia , Indonesia , Laos , Malaysia ,
Myanmar , the Philippines , Singapore , Thailand and Vietnam.
----------------------------------------------------------------- BBC - Thursday, 25 April, 2002, 07:42
GMT 08:42 UK
UN's Burma envoy 'hopeful of progress' The United Nations' special envoy to Burma, visiting Rangoon to try and
forge a reconciliation between the military government and opposition, has said
he is hopeful of progress.
Razali Ismail, a retired Malaysian diplomat, was speaking after holding
talks with members of the opposition National League of Democracy (NLD) at their
headquarters on Thursday.
"I'm hopeful there should be progress but I can't promise when it will be,"
Mr Razali said.
Mr Razali's visit to Rangoon, his seventh since he initiated secret talks
between the two sides in October 2000, is being closely watched because of
rumours about a possible breakthrough.
Mr Razali has been trying to persuade the military government to release
the NLD's leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, from house arrest and begin talks on
political reform.
The NLD won 1990 elections by a landslide, but the military junta has
refused to give up power.
Some analysts warn that the military is still not serious about allowing
change, and it is carrying on the talks as a way to stop international
criticism.
Drawn-out process
Mr Razali met with Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday, as well as with the
military government's number three, Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt, the
influential chief of military intelligence.
Neither Mr Razali or the Burmese Government made any official comment on
the meetings, although the UN envoy is reported to have told local businessmen
that he had "a good meeting" with General Khin Nyunt.
A South-East Asian businessman told AP news agency that Mr Razali was
optimistic of progress "in a few weeks".
UN officials say Mr Razali's visit comes at a make-or-break time because
the international community is growing increasingly impatient at the lack of
concrete results.
But privately, UN officials have told the BBC that the chances of a major
breakthrough are slim.
The on-going talks have so far resulted in the release of about 250
political prisoners, but have achieved little else. Mr Razali has hinted he
might resign if he leaves the country empty-handed this time.
Diplomats say that only Aung San Suu Kyi's release can counter growing
suspicion that the junta is using the negotiations as a means of ending the
poverty-stricken country's isolation and lifting crippling sanctions.
"I think Razali will insist the [government] shows concrete progress," an
Asian diplomat based in Rangoon told Reuters. "The easiest way to do it is to
release Aung San Suu Kyi."
Mr Razali is also to meet Senior General Than Shwe, the leader of Burma's
junta at some point during his four-day visit.
He will again meet Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday, party officials said.
The opposition leader has been under house arrest since September 2000 when
she tried to take a trip outside the capital Rangoon.
----------------------------------------------------------------- BBC - Wednesday, 24 April, 2002, 15:20
GMT 16:20 UK
Q&A: Background to Burma talks Pressure is mounting on Burma's repressive military government to allow reform and modernisation. BBC News Online examines the issues behind secret talks that could shape the country's future. Why is Burma in the headlines now?
Burma's military government has been holding talks with opposition leader
and Nobel peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi for 18 months, raising hopes of
reconciliation.
The two sides have been at loggerheads since the military refused to
recognise the 1990 election result which would have put Aung San Suu Kyi's
democratic party in power. She has been under house arrest for nearly two years.
In recent weeks, rumours have started spreading that the two are close to a
breakthrough. Aung San Suu Kyi could even be released - paving the way for
widespread political change.
However, some analysts believe that the government is not serious about
reform and is drawing out the talks as a way to stifle international criticism
of its human rights record which is one of the worst in Asia.
Sceptics point out that although the government has freed 258 political
prisoners since the existence of talks were first made public in January 2001,
more than 1,000 remain in jail.
Either way, pressure is mounting on both sides to make progress. UN envoy
Razali Ismail, who has visited Rangoon since October 2000 to keep the talks
going, has hinted he may otherwise resign. Diplomats warn that unless the
government agrees to major concessions soon, the talks could unravel.
The US, EU and Japan, which have so far given Burma's rulers the benefit of
the doubt, would then come under pressure to impose further penalties and trade
sanctions on the already impoverished nation.
So how did Burma's problems get so serious?
Burma was a British colony until 1948 when it was one of the world's
biggest rice exporters and one of South East Asia's wealthier countries.
But since 1962 it has been ruled by a repressive military regime.
The first military leader, General Ne Win, put in place nominally socialist
policies which nationalised the economy and discouraged foreign investment.
By 1988, rice shortages and anger at repression led to street protests
which, on 8 August, saw soldiers firing on unarmed crowds and killing thousands.
A month later, a group of generals styling themselves as the State Law and
Order Restoration Council (SLORC) took over and crushed the pro-democracy
movement.
Surprisingly, the generals did agree to hold elections, and in May 1990
Burma voted in a free general election.
Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of assassinated nationalist leader Aung San, saw
her National League for Democracy (NLD) win more than 80% of the contested
seats.
But the military government, perhaps stunned by the scale of the opposition
victory, refused to recognise the result. It said the elections were not to
decide who took power, but who drew up a new constitution.
Twelve years later, that constitution has still not been completed and
political reform remains on hold.
What have the latest talks been about?
The talks are believed to have started in October 2000, a month after Aung
San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest after trying to travel out of Rangoon.
But it was only in January 2001 that the UN envoy to Burma, Razali Ismail,
was able to reveal that the talks had in fact got under way, though very few
details have leaked out.
Most of the meetings have been between Aung San Suu Kyi and a military
intelligence liaison officer, though there were rumours in January that Aung San
Suu Kyi had met with head of state General Than Shwe, the military government's
all-powerful leader.
The UN has been pressing the government to make a number of key
concessions.
These include Aung San Suu Kyi's immediate release, freedom for political
parties to operate, and moves towards power sharing.
In return, the government is thought to be looking for increased
international aid, foreign investment, and a lifting of trade restrictions.
There have also been reports that Aung San Suu Kyi is preparing to make
some concessions herself, in order to ensure a breakthrough.
Judging how far she should go will be extremely difficult. She will face
fierce criticism from inside the NLD and from international human rights groups
if she is seen to be appeasing the military government.
What is life like for most Burmese?
For the privileged families and friends of the military government, the
past decade has brought increased wealth, imported cars and a property boom.
But for most of the country's 42 million people, life remains difficult.
More than 40% of government spending goes to the military, while health and
social programmes suffer.
Inflation has averaged more than 25% and unemployment is very high in the
cities. There are regular power cuts and fuel shortages, and import restrictions
keep some foreign goods out of the shops.
In rural areas, farmers are forced to sell part of their rice to the
government at below-market rates. A UN report estimated that one in three
children is undernourished.
If there is a breakthrough, what are the priorities to address?
There are almost too many to list but the international community would be
hoping for meaningful political reform.
With no democratic tradition, there are no legal checks on the military
government, which has been accused of using policies including torture, rape,
political imprisonment and forced labour.
There is also a problem with refugees. Military action against ethnic
groups like the Karens, and relocations within Shan State, has forced about
155,000 people into refugee camps in Thailand and Bangladesh.
A further million Burmese live in neighbouring countries but not in refugee
camps - including 700,000 in Thailand.
There are also serious problems with drugs and Aids.
Despite government pledges of a crackdown, Burma is one of the world's
biggest producers of opium, the base for heroin, and methamphetamines.
Although the figures are unreliable, Burma is itself estimated to have
500,000 heroin addicts. Because of a shortage of needles, they are believed to
be spreading the HIV virus which can lead to Aids.
Some health officials warn that Burma is facing an Aids epidemic that could
eclipse the worst seen in Africa.
----------------------------------------------------------------- VOA News
UN Diplomat Continues Efforts to
Advance Burma's Political Dialogue
Ron Corben Bangkok 24 Apr 2002 13:34 UTC A United Nations diplomat has hopes of moving political dialogue forward in
Burma, after meetings with the Rangoon government and an opposition leader.
U.N. envoy Razali Ismail talked with Burmese military intelligence chief
Khin Nyunt. He also met Wednesday with Aung San Suu Kyi, the head of the
opposition, the National League for Democracy, or NLD, at her home. She has been
held under virtual house arrest since late 2000.
Mr. Razali later told foreign business leaders in Rangoon that he hopes to
encourage the government to resume its dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi's party
within a few weeks.
Burma has been under military control since 1962. Since then, the once
robust economy has stalled under a form of socialism.
The military has been under international pressure to open dialogue with
Aung San Suu Kyi since the NLD won landslide elections in 1990. The military
refused to accept the vote and imprisoned many opposition members. Nearly two
years ago, Mr. Razali began brokering talks between the government and the
opposition. So far, the talks have resulted in the release of about 200
opposition members from jail.
Professor Chaiyachoke Chulasiriwong from Bangkok's Chualongkorn University,
says the time may be approaching for the generals to accept political reform.
"I think it can come out soon, probably by the middle or end of this year,
because as I said Razali's term is finishing, and he will probably try to push
it ahead and try to get it done before he leaves office," Professor Chaiyachoke
said.
He said the support of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad for Mr.
Razali's effort also pressures Rangoon to re-open talks. Mr. Razali is a retired
Malaysian diplomat.
Mr. Razali meets with the government's leader, Than Shwe, Thursday before
departing Burma on Friday.
----------------------------------------------------------------- The Financial Times
Burmese get glimpse of superhighway By Amy Kazmin Published: April 24 2002 16:56 | Last Updated: April 24 2002 22:48 In the elegant bungalow that is home to Bagan Cybertech, a housewife
seeking information on foreign education for her daughter and a commodities
trader looking for price data have signed up to join Rangoon's version of the
internet revolution.
Until recently, Burma's 50m citizens have been almost totally cut off from
the global information superhighway, denied access by a military government
fearful of the consequences. Only a handful of senior officials in government
ministries have been allowed to surf the net, while another 4,000 people can
send and receive e-mail, presumably monitored by authorities.
But last month Bagan Cybertech, a "semi-government" company under the
auspices of the defence ministry, and its private joint venture partner, Maykha,
launched a minor internet offensive. It began accepting public subscribers to a
new service - BaganNet - that combines e-mail accounts with access to a handful
of carefully screened sites on the world wide web.
In a country where the average government salary is just 12,000 kyat a
month - or $15 (£10) at current market exchange rates - the initial installation
fee for the service will be $260, and potential users will have to secure their
own scarce foreign exchange to pay that and subsequent monthly fees.
For this handsome sum, public users will initially be allowed to send and
receive e-mail and to visit about 860 websites, though Ye Htut, the sales
manager for BaganNet, says the company will open up open up other websites
requested by subscribers if board members - that is, the military - decide that
the content is appropriate.
"If you are in the car business and you request a car website, if it is for
your business, that's OK," Ye Htut said. "But if sites are not suitable for this
country's culture they will not open them, even if there is high demand."
The initial offerings are an inoffensive mix of computer-related sites,
corporate websites for hotel chains, airlines, international banks, electronics
companies and sports sites. The menu also includes the sites of Mercedes-Benz, a
few foreign universities, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund,
Nasdaq and, oddly, the US Federal Reserve.
What's definitely not available is access to international news sites,
web-based e-mail accounts such as Hotmail, or any search engines; the seamless
move from one site to another is essentially out of the question.
However, "reputable" local and foreign companies, travel agents, hotels and
trusted non-governmental organisations are being allowed to apply for accounts
with unrestricted net access, though there are no guarantees that they will get
it. For the chosen ones, prices are steep: $500 for installation, $300 in annual
maintenance, then use-based monthly charges.
Aung Aye Htut, the venture's US-educated chief financial officer, says the
purpose of the gradual opening "is to have policy makers here get more
confident. They understand the power of the internet and what information can
give to the public. It's just a matter of being comfortable with the people who
are going to be running the system."
The current set-up should reassure the generals. Maykha, which holds a 70
per cent stake in the venture, belongs partly to Dr Ye Naing Wynn, the son of
Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, one of the country's three ruling generals.
Before its foray into infotech, Maykha built a name as a key figure in the
local chicken and animal feed market, and it has distribution rights for
up-market brands such as Swatch and Adidas. The company also operates a bread
and cake-making plant, which distributes products under the brand name "Wonder".
Maykha is also selling VSAT networks for internal communications and has so
far clinched deals with three government ministries - education, health and
science - to supply the systems for 40 universities and other government
facilities. It has also installed VSAT networks for five private banks.
For BaganNet, Maykha sees strong growth potential, despite the high cost
and restrictions. Mr Aung Aye Htut expects to sign up 10,000 subscribers from
the general public for BaganNet by the end of the year, and says the subscriber
base could double each year after that for several years. The lack of telephone
lines - Burma has only about 250,000 - will be made up for by wireless
technology.
"We're coming very late so we can implement the latest technology
available," he said.
Only time will tell whether this rocky, broken trace of a footpath
eventually widens into real public access to the information superhighway, or
whether it merely doubles back on itself, going nowhere. But about 500 Rangoon
residents have already signed up to see where it might lead.
As Tin Maung, a 40-year-old commodities dealer, said: "It's better than
nothing."
----------------------------------------------------------------- BBC - Thursday, 25 April, 2002, 05:20
GMT 06:20 UK
Burmese refugees attacked At least 40 Burmese Rohingya refugees living in a camp near the Bangladeshi
coastal town of Cox's Bazar have been injured during a violent clash with local
people.
Police officials say a group of local youths attacked the refugees while they were constructing a new shelter. Nearly 6,000 Rohingya refugees live in the camp.
They came from neighbouring Burma to escape what they described as
repression and religious persecution ten years ago.
Camp officials said new sheds were being constructed for 5,000 refugees
from another camp who were being moved for security reasons.
There are nearly 20,000 Rohingya refugees living in two separate camps in
the south-eastern Cox's Bazar district.
From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
----------------------------------------------------------------- The Nation
Burmese talks turn to fishing
business
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
Published on Apr 24, 2002
Thailand yesterday offered Burma Bt300 million in soft loans to renovate a
road linking Mae Sot to the Burmese town of Pa-an as a gesture of goodwill that
stemmed from an official visit by Burmese No 2 leader General Maung Aye.
The 160-kilometre road is part of an ambitious plan mapped out at a recent
meeting by Thailand, Burma and India for land transport of goods and
passengers.
Thailand also offered aid worth Bt80 million to upgrade the first 18km from
the Thai border, said foreign ministry spokesman Ratthakit Manathat.
Details yet to be hammered out include developing Burma's southern port of
Tavoy, he said.
The project was discussed during a meeting between Thai Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra and Maung Aye, who welcomed the offer. As vice chairman of
the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), Maung Aye is in Thailand till
Friday to seek closer ties.
He and Thaksin agreed to resolve the problem of Thai trawlers fishing in
Burmese waters after a long stalemate.
An old fishery agreement was terminated in 1999 after the seizure by
Burmese dissidents of the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok.
The new agreement stipulates "catch-sharing", whereby Thai fishermen keep
85 per cent of their catch in Burmese waters.
Burmese authorities agreed to waive a bond previously required as deposit
for the concession.
Three Thai personnel, a captain, an engineer and a navigator, will be
allowed aboard each vessel. The first fishing trip under the scheme will not
take place until officials of both sides conclude details of the agreement, the
spokesman said.
Strained relations with Burma were eased after the Thaksin government came into power a year ago. Maung Aye's visit reflected ties with Burma have been strengthened as the general had not visited Thailand since 1993. Conflicts along a 2,400km border have constantly put a dent on relations
between the countries. Prime Minister Thaksin suggested during a meeting with
Maung Aye to have a joint border mechanism
The Township Border Committee (TBC) should be a 24-hour operation that can
call quick dialogue to prevent unnecessary conflicts in border area, rather than
having only monthly meetings, Ratthakit said.
Maung Aye also briefed Thaksin about the ruling junta's plan to undertake
national reconciliation with opposition parties and rebellious minorities.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Thursday 25 April 2002
Thai soldier was shot dead in
Wa-controlled territory
Subin Khuenkaew
Mae Mao village, where a Thai soldier was killed on Monday during a brief
clash with the United Wa State Army, is under Wa control, the Third Army
commander said yesterday.
The village, centrally located in rugged terrain covering Chae Hom and Ngao
districts, could be part of a UWSA drug route running from the upper North to
the Central plateau, Lt-Gen Udomchai Ongkhasingh said.
The UWSA had strengthened its influence in the area during the past
year.
Lt-Gen Udomchai inspected the village yesterday.
He said five villagers from Ban Mae Mao, all hilltribesmen, were killed
recently after they declined to co-operate with the UWSA.
A suspected drug trafficker, Siew Ping, from Chiang Rai's Mae Fah Luang,
was killed during Monday's clash with soldiers from Third Army's Pha Muang Task
Force.
Lt-Gen Udomchai said Siew Ping, of mixed Chinese Haw and Wa blood, was
believed to be a leading drug trafficker with close links to the UWSA. He was
sent to the village to recruit tribespeople and to set up a drug smuggling
route.
The area had long been neglected by local administrative officials, the
general said.
Troops from Task Force 399 had gone in at the invitation of the provincial
governor to root out UWSA forces.
Col Krit Jitsuwan, TF 399 commander, said troops searched caves in the area
thought to be used to store drugs.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Thursday 25 April 2002
Trafficking
outlawed
Scepticism greeted the United Wa State Army's recent declaration that drug
trafficking is to be outlawed. - Forestry chief Plodprasop Suraswadi is adamant
about his future career - Gen Prem Tinsulanonda this yea
r broke with his Songkran tradition
Security observers along the Thai-Burma border were sceptical over the
United Wa State Army's recent declaration that its armed militants had been
instructed that drug trafficking in their controlled areas would not be
tolerated by UWSA headquarters in Pang Hsang.
The UWSA are regarded as the biggest drug traffickers in the Golden
Triangle. The statement followed a meeting in Lashio on 22 March when the State
Peace and Development Council's first secretary Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt gave clear
instructions to Burmese ethnic minority leaders not to get involved in the drug
trade, or else face tough legal penalties. Among the ethnic leaders was Pao Yu
Yi, the military leader of the UWSA's southern command bordering Thailand. He is
also the younger brother of UWSA chairman Pauk Yu Chan.
Kokang leader Phon Kyar Shin also issued a similar instruction to Kokang
military elements, whose drug trafficking along the Burma-China border has posed
a drug menace to China, Burma's closest ally. A veteran border watcher said he
was a little bit surprised with the UWSA's declaration since it was an open
secret that the drug trade formed the UWSA's main income. The meeting was deemed
by many as an attempt to improve the Burmese military junta's image, and also
change the international community's perception over Rangoon's sincerity in
rooting out the problem.
``This could be seen as a positive sign from Rangoon but it remains to be
seen whether they are serious with it,'' said a veteran drug buster. ``No
trafficking shall be permitted under the name of the Wa group. Trafficking of
narcotic drugs through the Wa region is totally prohibited,'' said the
statement, adding that the UWSA would soon send its men to make an inspection
trip to see whether the new UWSA's instruction had been strictly followed.
There was an earlier rumour of an internal rift inside the UWSA, whose
leadership wanted to clean up its ``drug image'' by eliminating leading members
directly involved in the drug trade. Among these is the notorious Wei
Hsueh-kang, whose drug empire covers the Burma-Thailand border area.
Wei Hsueh-kang had resisted an earlier move from Pang Hsang which wanted to
relocate him from the Thai-Burma border. One border insider said the UWSA's
junior commanders posted along the Thai-Burma border were recalled back to their
command in Pang Hsang where they would be thoroughly briefed on their new order
from Rangoon. ``We really don't know whether the new order would backfire since
all Wa troops posted along our border are directly involved with the drug
trade,'' said an officer from the Pha Muang Task Force.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Thailand to Hold Trade Fair in
Myanmar
Xinhuanet 2002-04-25 20:05:36 BANGKOK, April 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Thailand will organize a trade fair in Myanmar next month to strengthen trade and cooperation between the two neighboring countries, the Thai News Agency (TNA) reported Thursday. Oum Maolanont, Thai Ambassador to Myanmar, was quoted as saying that the
trade fair, dubbed as Thailand Exhibition 2002, will be held in Rangoon between
May 9 and 12.
Various Thai products will be displayed in the fair, ranging from
automobile parts to textile products and fruits, he said.
Thailand organizes two large scale trade fairs in Myanmar every year.
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