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BURMA RELATED NEWS
- JULY 02, 2002.
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HEADLINES
--------------------------------------------------------------- Reuters - Thai leader says Myanmar border spat
won't be repeated
AP - China executes two men for drug smuggling
BBC - Burma drums up border tension
The Nation - Burma
seeks cross-border rights
Bkk Post - Chavalit in
tough stance against junta
Bkk Post - Junta puts
drug lord in charge
Bkk Post - Arrest of
SSA leaders ordered
Bkk Post - Commentary - A new approach is clearly called for
Xinhuanet - Myanmar's
Water Supply Plan Makes Progress
Xinhuanet - Myanmar Appraises
Chinese-Aided Machinery Factory
--------------------------------------------------------------- Tuesday July 2, 5:09 AM
Thai leader says Myanmar border spat won't be repeated ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Thai
Prime Thaksin Shinawatra said on Monday the country's recent border conflict
with Myanmar would not be repeated because the two governments were in close
contact and understood each other very well.
"The two governments, the Myanmar and Thai governments, are very close
together," he told a news conference while on an official visit to Pakistan. "We
had a very close dialogue even during the conflict, which I consider to be an
accident."
"This had been there for many years and we are trying to solve all the
issues, but I can tell you under my government this incident will be the last,"
he said.
"Even during the conflict the ministers of foreign affairs of the two
countries still talked over the phone, so we understand each other very well and
we will solve the issue as soon as possible, and things will normalise very
soon."
The two countries have been at odds since May after Myanmar accused
Thailand of aiding the Shan State Army, a former rebel group that is fighting
the ruling Myanmar military and its allies in the United Wa State Army along the
common border.
Thailand has denied helping Shan and Karen guerrillas who are fighting the
Myanmar junta, but Myanmar officials and media have retaliated by attacking the
Thais and their monarchy -- a very grave insult in Thailand.
--------------------------------------------------------------- China executes two men for drug
smuggling
Tue Jul 2, 1:04 AM ET BEIJING (AP) - Authorities in
central China have executed two leaders of a gang that smuggled heroin and other
drugs from Myanmar into eastern China, an official newspaper reported
Tuesday.
Unemployed drifters Zhang Hongfei and Yuan Qiming were put to death in
Hunan province sometime over the past few days, said the Guangming Daily. The
paper's legal affairs page editor said a notice from the court received on
Sunday didn't give the exact date of execution or other details.
A person who answered the phone at the Hunan Provincial High People's Court
hung up without responding to a question about the report.
Zhang and Yuan organized others to smuggle a total of 33.9 kilograms (74.6
pounds) of heroin, 500 grams (17.5 ounces) of marijuana, and 300 pills of the
party drug Ecstasy, it said. The drugs were distributed to Hunan and the
southeastern province of Guangdong, it said.
The gang also murdered one person and injured 37 others, it said. It was
unclear if the death was related to the drug smuggling.
The report gave no details about punishments given to other gang
members.
China imposes harsh penalties on drug criminals in hopes of stemming an
epidemic of addiction that is also largely responsible for the rapid spread of
AIDS ( news - web sites) throughout the country.
Chinese officials say the poorly policed northern part of Myanmar, also
known as Burma, is a prime source of heroin and other drugs smuggled into
China.
China executes thousands of people each year, including those convicted of
some non-violent crimes such as tax evasion.
--------------------------------------------------------------- BBC - Tuesday, 2 July, 2002, 11:59 GMT
12:59 UK
Burma drums up border tension By Larry Jagan
BBC Burma analyst in Rangoon A row between Burma and Thailand has been on the verge of erupting for several months. There has been heavy fighting along the border since May, with hundreds of
casualties and thousands of civilians fleeing into Thailand for safety.
On the surface, the Burmese capital Rangoon is awash with nationalist
sentiment.
Cars, taxis and bicycles all have the Burmese flag prominently displayed.
Newspapers are full of anti-Thai rhetoric.
But the reality is that most people in fact do not share the military
government's renewed nationalist fervour.
"We only fly the flag because the military tell us we must," says an
elderly man in one of Rangoon's satellite towns. This is the view of many of
Burma's citizens. They do not trust the government's motives.
This latest border tension started as a result of heavy clashes between two
ethnic rebel armies, the Wa and the Shan, in the country's notorious Golden
Triangle, where most of the world's illicit heroin comes from.
The United Wa State Army (UWSA) has a ceasefire agreement with the Burmese
government and has been allowed virtual autonomy in the areas of Shan State they
control.
Their opponents, the Shan United Revolutionary Army (SURA), are a
break-away group from the former drug baron Khun Sa and his Shan State Army who
surrendered to Rangoon in 1995.
Both groups have been heavily involved in the illegal narcotics trade.
Relations between the two countries have been fragile for years, but border
tensions erupted into fierce fighting in February 2001. Since then the Thai
Government of Thaksin Shinawatra has been keen to improve relations with its
neighbour.
Over the last year there have been frequent senior level meetings. Prime
Minister Thaksin visited Rangoon in the middle of last year and relations seemed
to be on the mend.
Drug disputes
Since then there have been frequent bilateral meetings between the Thai
Foreign Minister Dr Surakiart Sathirathai and his Burmese counterpart, U Win
Aung.
And in April this year, Burma's second most powerful leader, General Maung
Aye, visited Bangkok. These bilateral meetings seemed to have improved relations
between the two countries.
Despite the improved rapport between the two governments, there has been a
growing tension between the two armies along their common border.
The Burmese Government feels it is not to blame for the problems along the
border. It has been angered by what it sees as Thai duplicity, as the Thai army
continuously blamed the Wa for the flow of amphetamines into Thailand.
The Burmese army believes the Shan rebels are just as heavily involved in
the trade and receive active support and sanctuary from the Thai military.
"We know the SURA are involved in drugs," says Brigadier General Kyaw
Thein, the chief military intelligence officer behind Burma's battle against
drugs.
In recent days the fighting has subsided, partly because the Burmese army
and their Wa allies have been able to recapture most of the bases they lost in
the initial fighting two months ago.
But the generals' nationalist pride has been stung.
The number of casualties has shocked the army's leaders. More than 700
Burmese troops, Wa soldiers and civilians have died since the fighting erupted
in mid-May, according to military experts in Rangoon, with twice as many
injured.
Officially, the Burmese military says only 50 Burmese soldiers and militia
have been killed and another 30 wounded.
Parents' fears
Burma's authorities have been press ganging many young men into service,
particularly among the poor in the satellite townships of Rangoon.
There is an informal curfew in place throughout the city. Most parents are
preventing their sons from going out after 2200 at night for fear they will be
abducted and taken to the front as porters.
While the actual fighting may have subsided, the war of words seems to have
intensified, with the official Burmese press making allegations about the Thai
monarchy.
In particular, the Burmese media has suggested that the Thai king who
liberated Thailand from colonial rule more than 230 years ago was not the hero
that Thai history has made him.
So important is the King's position in Thailand that any government is duty
bound to defend it and any criticism is regarded as unacceptable.
Burma's generals are self-styled republicans and recognise that this type
of propaganda will sting the Thais more than anything else.
Despite these problems, there are now hints that the Burmese Government may
be prepared to accept Thailand's offer to discuss the border problems.
Burma's Foreign Minister U Win Aung told the BBC that the two sides
understood each other well and would talk soon.
The two foreign ministers will meet at the regional Asean foreign ministers
summit in Brunei in late July.
According to the Burmese foreign minister, that meeting should help both
countries to resolve the tensions along their common border and restore
relations to normal.
--------------------------------------------------------------- The Nation
Burma seeks cross-border rights
Published on Jul 2, 2002
Burma has asked Thailand to relax rules against Burmese troops crossing
into Thailand in pursuit of anti-Rangoon ethnic-minority armies, Deputy Defence
Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha said yesterday.
The Burmese junta is seeking permission for its troops to conduct
"technical invasions" into Thailand during battles with ethnic-minority soldiers
along the border.
Yuthasak said that the junta made the request on Sunday during a meeting
between the Thai Ambassador to Rangoon, Oum Maolanon, and Burmese Deputy Foreign
Minister Khin Maung Win.
"Burma said that its troops had no intention of invading Thai territory,
but they wanted us to be flexible if its soldiers mistakenly entered Thai
territory while on patrol," he said.
Yuthasak declined to say whether the Thai military agreed with the
proposal.
Rangoon also asked for understanding if Burmese shells spilled over onto
Thai territory during battles, Yuthasak said.
The Thai military's rules call for retaliation for border crossings by
Burmese troops and any artillery shells that land on Thai territory. These rules
have led to several armed clashes because Burma considers retaliation a form of
support for the ethnic armies.
The junta has refused to call off its offensive against the Shan fighters
until its troops retake several strategic areas currently held by the Shan State
Army (SSA).
No fighting was reported over the past few days after heavy losses were
sustained by the pro-Rangoon United Wa State Army (UWSA) in recent clashes, a
military source said.
The Burmese military was planning to change tactics by using its regular
troops to attack the SSA, rather than UWSA's fighters, the source said.
He said that a fresh offensive would take place soon.
Tensions between Thailand and Burma rose in the wake of several border
skirmishes in May, which led to a border closure and angry verbal
exchanges.
The Defence Ministry last week launched a propaganda war in retaliation for
a series of articles insulting the Thai monarchy that appeared in the Burmese
press.
The move accompanied an official protest demanding an apology from Rangoon
as well as the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper.
Yuthasak expected the Rangoon junta to take some responsibility for the
insults to Thai monarchy. The paper had ended the series of controversial
articles, he said.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Saturday he had received gestures
from Burma seeking to mend sour relations.
But Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who usually keeps smooth
relations with Burma, said he wanted to see some "real" action from Rangoon.
During a lecture at the Chulachomklao Academy, Chavalit said conflicts
between Thailand and Burma were caused by several factors, including narcotics
trafficking and ethnic groups along the border.
He said that Thailand had been sincere with Burma by implementing a clear
policy of not supporting ethnic fighters.
He added that military intelligence was investigating the alleged presence
of a Shan radio station in Thailand.
The authorities would not allow ethnic armies to use Thailand as a base for
operations against Rangoon, he said.
--------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Tuesday 02 July 2002
Chavalit in tough stance against junta
Defence chief insists on formal apology
Wassana Nanuam
Any verbal apologies by the Burmese leadership for the publication of
articles insulting the Thai monarchy will not serve to patch up the diplomatic
row, Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said yesterday.
He insisted the _expression_ of regret must be backed with action.
``We won't believe [what we hear] easily. What counts is Burma's
willingness to go about redressing it. We won't stop protesting just because
they start smooth-talking us,'' Gen Chavalit said.
He added the government would need to ensure such detrimental remarks did
not recur in future _ and if they did, then appropriate measures would be taken
to counter them.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra quoted Gen Maung Aye,
vice-chairman of Burma's ruling State Peace and Development Council, as saying
the junta had no intention of insulting the Thai monarchy, particularly Their
Majesties the King and Queen.
The junta leader also repeated Burma's ``ever firm'' commitment to all
aspects of bilateral cooperation, and that all agreements would be
honoured.
Mr Thaksin said the Burmese leader expressed his regret and had ordered
Burma's official newspaper New Light of Myanmar, which ran the offending
articles, to cease further comment on the subject.
The premier, however, shied away when asked if Rangoon would be pressed to
apologise formally. He said Gen Maung Aye's reaction was a positive sign for
bilateral relations.
But Gen Chavalit was adamant any apology offered must be made
publicly.
``Rangoon must show it did not mean what it wrote and must admit it was
wrong to have done so,'' he said.
``So far there has been no formal response from Burma. We should give them
more time before deciding our next move,'' he said.
As a retaliatory measure, the military-run radio has continued to pillory
the New Light of Myanmar and its writer Ma Tin Win.
Gen Chavalit said the radio broadcast was aimed at communicating the
government's displeasure to Rangoon, and it seemed to be working.
Gen Chavalit also dismissed New Light of Myanmar's assertion that Thailand
pandered to its hatred for the Burmese by choosing January 25 as Armed Forces
Day to mark King Naresuan's victory over Burma in a battle that freed the former
capital of Ayutthaya from being Burma's vassal state.
He denied any historical link, saying it was pointless reviving what had
happened hundreds of years ago.
The Damrong Rachanuparb Library has issued a statement condemning the
articles authored by Ma Tin Win. Her articles reflected the author's
``disarray'' in her attitude to Thai history, it said and also ridiculed her for
being a self-professed expert on history.
--------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Tuesday 02 July 2002
Junta puts drug lord in charge
Subin Khuenkaew
Rangoon has put drug warlord Wei Hsueh-kang in charge of a new military
grouping tasked with destroying the Shan State Army's military bases alongside
the border with Thailand, SSA chief Col Yawd Serk said yesterday.
Smuggling of illegal drugs from Burma into Thailand would reach a critical
level if Wei, deputy chairman of the United Wa State Army, fulfilled his
mission, Col Yawd Serk said.
The Wa militia is internationally regarded as the biggest drug traffickers
in the Golden Triangle.
Col Yawd Serk, speaking at one of his command posts, said the junta was
reshaping its military strategy to deal with his forces, which had inflicted
much damage on Burmese troops during the ongoing month-long battle.
He said Wei would be directly responsible for recruitment of new militias
from Burma's ethnic minorities, including the Kokang people.
The SSA leader said the Kokang have a reputation as drug traffickers along
the Burma-China border, and have already struck a peace deal with Burma's
military government.
``The new military grouping will have 10,000 militia troops and Wei
Hsueh-kang has already recruited around 2,000 men from Shan state. Soon our
forces will be forced to fight against against them,'' said Col Yawd Serk, whose
military command opposite Chiang Rai's Mae Fa Luang is under siege from combined
Burmese and Wa forces.
Col Yawd Serk said he was most concerned about the spread of illicit
drugs.
``The situation will be more serious if Wei Hsueh-kang is able to establish
the UWSA's influence along Thai-Burmese border. Not only Thailand but also
Europe and the US will be affected,'' he said.
--------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Tuesday 02 July 2002
Arrest of SSA leaders ordered
Wassana Nanuam
Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has ordered authorities to arrest
any leaders of anti-Rangoon minority groups, especially the Shan State Army,
found in the country.
The order has been sent to the Armed Forces Security Centre of the Supreme
Command.
``Leaders and core members of ethnic minority rebels often sneak into the
towns and hold meetings here and there in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong
Son. We are keeping a lookout for them,'' he said.
Gen Chavalit said if found in Thailand, these people would be
arrested.
Military intelligence units were also trying to find out if the SSA was
operating a radio station on Thai soil. ``We will not let any group use Thailand
as a sanctuary or operational base,'' he said.
Gen Chavalit was addressing 1,200 students of the Chulalongkorn Royal
Military Academy at Khao Cha-ngoke in Nakhon Nayok.
Gen Chavalit said the Thai-Burmese border problems were caused by the
presence of various outlaw movements, traders in drugs and illegal labour, and
pro- and anti-Rangoon minority groups.
``These movements and groups are doing everything they can to make money,
legally or otherwise. But Thailand has never supported them in their fight
against one another,'' Gen Chavalit said.
He had repeatedly told Burmese leaders of Thailand's stance.
Gen Chavalit praised army chief Gen Surayud Chulanont for his leadership
and high calibre. He and the army were proud of Gen Surayud's leadership and
experience.
``I usually consult the army chief about various issues. He is a proud man
of the army. He has harvested many military experiences and assisted Privy
Councillor Gen Prem Tinsulanonda when he served as army chief and prime
minister. I am very proud of him,'' he said.
Gen Chavalit admitted he had tried to persuade Gen Surayud to enter
politics when he retired, but the army chief turned him down.
``He said he wanted to enter the monkhood after his retirement,'' said Gen
Chavalit. Sources said the two generals have been very close during the past six
months. They often played golf.
--------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Tuesday 02 July 2002
Commentary - A new approach is clearly called for
Veera Prateepchaikul
So, in the end the critics of the government's appeasement policy towards
Rangoon had the last laugh. Time proved the policy which, up until late last
week, had been pursued so religiously by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and
Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh was a flop. The two were shown to be
wrong in their belief that they could soften the hostile attitude displayed by
the Burmese junta through a softly-softly approach.
Without any explanation (which should come as no surprise), the policy now
appears to have been dumped and replaced by an approach which is confrontational
in nature and will be damaging to relations between Thailand and Burma if it is
allowed to carry on for too long.
The critics were right all along that the appeasement policy would not work
with the Burmese military dictators. These are people who do not hold diplomatic
niceties in very high esteem and treat appeasement as a sign of weakness, not as
a sign of goodwill. It was indeed unfortunate that the critics' views were
rejected by the government and they were reprimanded so harshly for jeopardising
the fragile Thai-Burmese relations by sensationalising the border
conflict.
But now it looks as if Thailand has gone on the warpath with neighbouring
Burma.
Prime Minister Thaksin's compromising tone has hardened and turned
business-like serious. He reportedly demanded last week that the junta ``do
something quick'' to deal with the offensive commentaries, especially those
attacking the Thai monarchy, in the official mouthpiece the New Light of
Myanmar. Even ``Mr Nice Guy'', Gen Chavalit, lost his cool and engaged in a war
of words with the Burmese writer of the commentaries that have so inflamed
passions, a woman by the name of Ma Tin Win.
With the blessing of both the prime minister and Gen Chavalit, all
military-owned radio stations simultaneously declared war on the Burmese junta,
using the airwaves as their artillery. Civilian Burma specialists were recruited
to the cause to write articles attacking Rangoon to complement the barrage from
the military's own corps of commentators.
Why the sudden anti-Burmese outburst and abrupt reversal of the appeasement
policy?
My guess is that Rangoon went too far by raising the matter of the
monarchy. This is a no-go area for most Thais, even though only certain kings
from the Ayutthaya period were mentioned. Such provocation placed Mr Thaksin
under intense pressure to do something. The risk of a very real public backlash
was just too great.
Curiously though, one day after the state radio stations declared war on
Rangoon, Gen Chavalit made yet another about-face by ordering a temporary halt
to the airwaves campaign. He is said to have received a positive sign from the
Burmese junta.
The defence minister's erratic policy decisions clearly indicate he has yet
to learn anything about the art of negotiation at the state level, especially
negotiation with the Burmese dictators.
To be fair though, any war of words over the airwaves would not benefit
either Thailand or Burma. It would just further weaken the already strained
relations between our two countries and make it even harder for us to come
together to settle our differences.
While this whole sorry affair has played out, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs has taken a back seat, allowing military figures, Gen Chavalit being
one, to take the lead role in dealing with Rangoon. This cannot continue. The
time has come for Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai to assert his authority
and take the lead in mending the fences with Rangoon on a basis of
non-interference in each other's internal affairs and a mutual interest in and
respect for the sovereignty of each country.uVeera Prateepchaikul is Editor,
Bangkok Post.
--------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar's Water Supply Plan Makes
Progress
Xinhuanet 2002-07-02 14:31:46
YANGON, July 2 (Xinhuanet) -- A
10-year water supply project of Myanmar, which started in 2000-01, is making
progress, achieving 120 percent of the planned target in 2001-02, according to
the latest report of the Myanmar Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and
National Races and Development Affairs.
The report predicted that the plan, which includes digging of wells with
the funds donated by the public, can be completed in five years, much earlier
than targeted, if the progress is maintained.
The plan, aimed at eradicating water shortage in the country's rural areas
and supplying fresh water to every village, is being implemented in 285
townships and five towns across the country, giving priority to the dry zone of
Magway, Mandalay and Sagaing divisions where most of the villagers face shortage
of water.
During the 2000-01, the first year of the 10-year plan, 263,100 rural
people from 714 villages in the dry zone were reportedly benefited.
Meanwhile, under Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) program, the
Japan International Cooperation Agency joined in implementing a 624-million-yen
(5.13-million-U.S.-dollar) rural water supply project in Myanmar's eastern Shan
state covering 250 villages and using heavy machinery equipment of the
organization.
--------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar Appraises Chinese-Aided
Machinery Factory
Xinhuanet 2002-07-02 12:34:31 YANGON, July 2 (Xinhuanet) -- A
high-ranking Myanmar agricultural official has praised the Myanmar Agricultural
Machinery Factory, the largest of its kind being built under Chinese aid, saying
it will enhance the country's agricultural mechanization.
Interviewed by Xinhua recently, Myanmar Minister of Agricultureand
Irrigation Nyunt Tin said the factory will become an importantlandmark
signifying cooperation and friendship between Myanmar andChina.
Meanwhile, another Myanmar official U Mya Thein, deputy director-general of
the ministry's Agricultural Mechanization Department, said the factory will help
boost the nation's rice harvest and lead to higher incomes for farmers.
He said that the factory will create about 1,300 jobs for localpeople.
The factory in Kyaukse in northern Mandalay division is being built with a
long-term interest-free loan from the Chinese government with a total investment
of 144.88 million RMB yuan (about 17.5 million U.S. dollars).
The factory is targeted to be completed within one and a half year and will
produce 10,000 sets of 16-horse-power tractors and 5,000 sets of reapers
annually.
According to official statistics, Myanmar needs 12,000 tillers and 5,000
reapers a year. The existing two agricultural machinery factories of the country
can only produce 6,000 units.
Myanmar has a low degree of agricultural mechanization and the mechanized
farming area accounts for only 23.34 percent of its total.
--------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar Seeks More Tourist
Arrivals From U.S.
Xinhuanet 2002-07-02 12:45:46 YANGON, July 2 (Xinhuanet) --
Myanmar is seeking more tourist arrivals from the United States by working out a
tourism promotion program with U.S. tourism companies.
In cooperation with the Washington-based Global Spectrum and the VIP
Travels, Myanmar hopes to attract more visitors from the United States this
year, according to a report of the Myanmar Tourism Ministry Tuesday.
In 2001, a total of 7,167 American tourists visited Myanmar, accounting for
six percent of the total 119,027 visitors to the country.
The figures of tourist arrivals in Myanmar in 2001 dropped 49.32 percent
from 2000's 234,900, attributing to the sharp fall of cross-border arrivals from
neighboring countries during the year and the impact of the prolonged border
clashes between Myanmar andThailand.
Myanmar drew 182,400 foreign tourists annually in the past fiveyears,
earning about 33.75 million U.S. dollars a year.
Among the tourists, 70.6 percent were from Asia, 18.5 percent from Western
Europe and 4.9 percent from other regions.
Myanmar targets to draw 500,000 foreign tourists annually.
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