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BURMA RELATED NEWS
- January 10, 2003.
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HEADLINES
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AP - Three suspected drug runners killed in gun
fight with Thai police
AP - Thai army hands back three Myanmar soldiers
who fled posts
AFP - Rebel army says Myanmar officer,
nine soldiers killed in clashes
AFP - Myanmar women's group denounces harassment
of Aung San Suu Kyi
BKK Post - Concern over kin of illegal Burmese
Asian Tribune - NLD urges the release of
Prisoners and the start of dialogue
Asian Tribune - Injection of Life for Wa Drug
Project with an Extra $ 1.1 Million
Mizzima - Militants attack border security force
near Burma border
SHAN - Wake of large Chinese cargo boats
drowns seven on
Mekong -------------------------------------------------------------------- Three suspected drug runners killed in gun
fight with Thai police
Thus Jan 09, 21:54 PM ET BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) _ Three suspected drug dealers were killed in a nighttime gun battle in northern Thailand after lawmen tried to pose as buyers, police said Friday. After the brief shootout, the bullet ridden bodies of Sekan Saelee, Sutham Laoyeepa and a third yet unidentified man were found at the scene along with 100,000 methamphetamine pills, two pistols and a hand grenade, Police Capt. Theerapong Plungchitwityatorn said. The incident took place Thursday night in Chiang Mai province, about 680 kilometers (420 miles) north of Bangkok. During the past 10 days, at least seven suspected drugs dealers have been killed by police. No official record exists but media reports show that more than 50 suspected traffickers were killed in alleged shootouts with police last year. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has vowed to take tough action to root out drug traffickers, and King Bhumibol Adulyadej reminded the government recently that methamphetamines pose a serious threat to Thai society. Thai narcotics agencies accuse the United Wa State Army, a former rebel group now allied with the Myanmar government, of flooding Thailand with methamphetamines. The Thai military has estimated that at least one billion tablets will be smuggled into Thailand from neighboring Myanmar, also known as Burma, in 2003. --------------------------------------------------------------------
Thai army hands back three Myanmar soldiers who
fled posts
Fri Jan 10, 8:31 AM ET MAE SOT, Thailand (AP) _ In an unusual gesture of cooperation between two armies that have often been at odds, Thailand on Friday sent back to Myanmar three soldiers who had abandoned their posts. The three soldiers had been detained in Thailand since being arrested by Thai border patrol police last May in the northwestern province of Tak. The men were handed back to Myanmar in a small ceremony at Friendship Bridge in Mae Sot, 370 kilometers (230 miles) northwest of Bangkok. The bridge spans the Moei River, which marks the border. A Thai official said the action was a result of a meeting of the Regional Border Committee held late last year. The official, who insisted on anonymity, said it was a sign of better relations between Thailand and Myanmar, also called Burma. Thailand and Myanmar agreed late last year to hold more meetings to ease political and military tensions along their border which sometimes flared into small-scale fighting and artillery duels. Col. Jirasak Chomprasop, commander of Thai army Task Force 23, transferred the men and their arms and ammunition to Myanmar army Lt. Col. Tin Aye in the ceremony. The two men are the chairmen of the Township Border Committee, established by the two countries to help resolve border conflicts at the local level. A former Myanmar army officer contacted by telephone said any Myanmar soldier who flees his post on the border with his arms can face 10 years' imprisonment. In recent years, Thailand has accused Myanmar of turning a blind eye to the production of the illegal stimulant methamphetamine by ethnic minority groups, who smuggle it into Thailand. Myanmar, meanwhile, has long-standing grievances over ethnic minority rebels using Thailand as a base with support from the Thai army. Relations took a sharp turn for the worse last May when Myanmar accused the Thai army of firing shells across the border in support of ethnic Shan guerrillas. Myanmar closed the border for several months, causing substantial losses to Thai traders. It also instituted a nationalistic anti-Thai campaign in the state-controlled press. --------------------------------------------------------------------
Rebel army says Myanmar officer, nine soldiers
killed in clashes
CHIANG MAI, Thailand, Jan 10 (AFP) - The rebel Karen National Union (KNU) said Friday that its forces had killed a Myanmar army captain and nine other soldiers in clashes this week near the Thai border. KNU spokesman Pado Mahn Shar said two rebels and 10 Myanmar soldiers were also injured in the fighting which broke out Sunday and continued intermittently for four days. Thai army commander Major General Prayoon Ponork confirmed that fighting had erupted between the KNU and Myanmar troops, and that one shell had landed on Thai soil but there were no injuries. He said the conflict had also forced some 300 Karen villagers to cross over the Moei river and into Thailand to seek refuge, but he could not confirm the Karen's claimed death tolls. "I don't know about casualty figures on both sides because the fighting was inside Myanmar," he told AFP, adding that the clashes occurred as the annual dry season offensive approached. Pado Mahn Shar said the first battle occurred Sunday south of the border town of Myawaddy, leaving seven Myanmar troops dead and four injured during an hour-long firefight. On Tuesday, some 100 Myanmar soldiers launched an assault near the village of Warly, sparking a four-hour firefight, he said. Warly serves as a base for the Myanmar army's frontline tactical command and is located about 32 kilometers (20 miles) south of Myawaddy, which lies opposite Tak province in Thailand. The KNU, now Myanmar's largest armed ethnic group after most other militias have signed ceasefire pacts with the military government, has been waging a decades-old fight for independence. --------------------------------------------------------------------
Myanmar women's group denounces harassment of
Aung San Suu Kyi
CHIANG MAI, Thailand, Jan 9 (AFP) - An exiled Myanmar women's group Friday denounced Myanmar's military government for harassing opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a recent political trip to western Myanmar. The All Women's Movement Committee of Burma (AWMCB) said the junta had released pamphlets with caricatures ridiculing the Nobel peace laureate and blasted crowds with music such as "Give Up Lady" during last month's tour. "The obstruction, limitation and irritation to her on private visits to pagodas and monasteries, and during public gatherings, violated her dignity and her political movements," it said in a statement. The AWMCB called on the regime to stop its harassment of the opposition leader and to allow her to conduct her party business freely, as it promised after releasing her from house arrest last May. "We believe that the (junta) should review its dire behaviour and respect the rights of the political leader," said senior member Aye Aye Mar. The government has been forced to defend itself against strong criticism from the United States and Britain that it had harassed Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters during the trip to Rakhine state. The most serious incident occurred in the town of Myauk-Oo, where she climbed aboard a fire engine to prevent it from dispersing a crowd of 20,000 people with high-pressure hoses. The US State Department has issued a statement in support of the opposition leader, and called on the Myanmar junta to allow political parties "to carry their message to the Burmese people in safety". Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won an overwhelming election victory in 1990 but the junta has never recognised the result. --------------------------------------------------------------------
Bangkok Post - Friday
10 January 2003
Concern over kin of illegal Burmese Govt unable to verify number of newborns Saritdet Marukatat The government has lost track of the number of newborn babies in the country as illegal foreign labourers do not register births with authorities, an Interior Ministry official said yesterday at the end of a conference co-organised by the UN Children's Fund. Krairat Kaewdee, of the Civil Registration Division, admitted it would be impossible to estimate the number of children born to residents of neighbouring countries who had sneaked across the border in search of work. ``If they come through approved government channels, we can register their babies,'' he said. ``The problem now is the size of the influx of illegal immigrants.'' According to figures compiled by the National Statistical Office, there were about 773,000 births in 2001. However, there was no record of babies born to the more than 1 million foreign labourers working illegally in Thailand, most of them Burmese. Unregistered offspring of illegal Burmese immigrants could experience difficulties when attempting to enter their parents' home country, as Rangoon had insisted it would accept only returnees with official identification documents issued by Thai authorities. During the conference, the government urged its neighbours to improve their respective birth registration systems. Gopalan Balagopal, Unicef senior adviser on child protection, called for governments that had ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to respect their commitment toward registering births, and ensuring children had access to basic rights. --------------------------------------------------------------------
Asian Tribune
Date : 2003-01-10 NLD urges the release of Prisoners and the start of dialogue The National League for Democracy in its statement on the 55th anniversary of Independence has urged that today is the most auspicious, being the Independence Day and is the most appropriate time for a dialogue between NLD and SPDC. The NLD also in its statement appealed to the junta that all political prisoners must be released without any conditional and delay. The summary of the official translation of the statement issued by the National League for Democracy on the 55th anniversary of Burma?s independence day is given below: Today, January 4th 2003, marks the 55th anniversary of Independence day of Burma. We shall never forget the sacrifices made by our leaders, especially Bogyoke Aung San (General Aung San) who was the leading architect to gain independence for the country. The main reason for the loss of Independence was disunity amongst the people during the reign of King Thibaw, the last King of Burma. The top echelon of the King's government lost sight of the progress of the Europe and kept the country to remain backwards. From taking lesson of the past, if no efforts are made to improve political, economic, social, education, communication and if willing to live isolated, the independence can likely be lost again. To regain independence, the people had to struggle. Among these struggles or activities 1920 student strike was the most significant one as it signaled that struggle could win over the colonialists. And that student leaders appeared in the political scene, especially Bogyoke Aung San, the founding father of Tetmadaw (Burma Army), thee National Leader and the Architect of Burma's Independence. Through the unity of the people, under the leadership of Anti Fascist People's Freedom League, Bogyoke Aung San had come to a dialogue with the British government. With compromise, in conformity with the international politics, Aung San - Attlee agreement was signed. At the Fourth Congress of National Leaders, General Aung San pointed out that the objective of Anti Fascist People's Freedom League was to create a country in which all ethnic nationalities had the right of self-determination and in accordance with the terms of Aung San-Attlee Agreement. To realise this aim, Pinlon Conference was held and Pinlon Agreement was signed on February 12, 1947. That was a historical event because "Union Spirit" was born through the process of a peaceful dialogue. This is the noteworthy fact that today's independence was born through the dialogue between the ethnic nationalities and proper Burma. Although the country gained independence on the 4th of January 1948, the people could not get the benefits of independence. Instead military junta came into being from 1962 up till now. The people lost all human rights. Then in 1988, the present military junta held a multiparty democratic general election. With the results of this election it was meant for the emergence of the People's Parliament. It was the form of commitment of the SPDC to the people. But, #: by ignoring the results of the General Election; #: by not allowing NLD to call a parliament. NLD won 82% of parliamentarian elects. It was overwhelmingly supported by the people, hence NLD is the people's party: #: by arresting, detaining and punishing the parliamentarians elect under various acts and laws, and sometimes restricting the movements in disgrace. #: by destroying or bringing down the NLD signboards and the flags of the states, divisions, townships, villages and wards. #: by disrupting the economy, education and social affairs not only of the party members but also of the family members and relatives as well; #: by driving out the party members from their houses which in fact were the Government properties with no regards to the rules and regulations. The SPDC engaged in oppressive measures. Instead of calling People's Parliament, the National Convention was convened since 1993 without the true representatives of the people and with no ending until now. The rightful path to solve the political stalemate of the country, economic problems, health problems and education problems is to convene the People's Parliament in accordance with the provision of the Election Law and solve the problems there. Solving problem in peaceful way is a norm accepted by the world community. Since 1989, NLD has called for dialogue with SPDC (former SLORC) with goodwill for the betterment of the people. And is still calling for it. On the 27th of the September 2002, at the 14th anniversary of NLD, General Secretary of NLD stated clearly that mutual understanding and good relation between the Tatmadaw (Defence Forces) and the political parties. She insisted that in accordance with the country's need and people's wish, she would not hesitate to work with the spirit of goodwill for the country and Tatmadaw which was founded by her father. In that case, she assured that it is the people's will. She pointed out that Tatmadaw's prime duty is to protect the people. It would be highly valued and gained peoples' love and regard. She also pointed out that it is now the time to start substantial political dialogue. The more it is delayed it will affect the people. Dialogue should not benefit SPDC nor NLD but for the country. If engaged in this process, NLD would be flexible. First, only SPDC and NLD would be in the process, but later the ethnic nationalities and the representatives of the minorities would be included. The idea of dialogue is give and take. But the policy matters could not be comprised. When Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house detention on 6th of May 2002, Information Committee of SPDC issued a statement in English, which said about "Opening of the New Historical Page". To be in accord with that view, there is nothing but to implement the process of dialogue. Nevertheless, disturbances, restrictions and hindrances took place during the recent Arakan States trip of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and those deeds amounted to turning back the pages rather than the new ones. Those who undertook the deeds are actually the destructionists and not the NLD. The people of the Arakan State were to be honored for its perseverance, tolerance and discipline they exercised in greeting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The restrictions and disturbances occurred during the trip of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's could be assumed that it could not lead to dialogue. But NLD would like to make clear that NLD should pursue the policy of dialogue in peaceful means for the benefit of the people. Before substantial political dialogue is commenced between NLD and SPDC, NLD steadfastly stands by the following; #: that convening of next election shall not be accepted, until the results of free and fair 1990 General Election are carried out; #: with regarding to the issue of National Convention, Secretary (1) of SPDC (former SLORC) Lt. General Khin Nyunt spoke at Kyun Chaung Fertiliser Plant in Magwe Division on the 18th of October 1990 that it was the duty of political parties and Parliamentarians elect to convene the National Convention. The SLORC will provide all the necessities. But that never happened. Thus, NlD will not attend the National Convention, until its present position is changed. #: concerning the task of drawing the State Constitution, Chairman of the SLORC, on the 3rd of July 1990, commented that after the General Elections, the State Constitution has to be drawn and he reminded that he had stated on the 5th of July 1989, that SLORC would not do it, nor be the culprit. He remarked that parliamentarians elect should do this work. #: because of the political climate, IMF, other international organizations and Governments have made limited sanctions. It affects only to a small group of people. Aid from international community should be for humanitarian purposes (such as HIV/AIDS) and must have certain criteria; viz, transparency, accountability and independent monitoring systems. It is recognised that the time has not ripe yet to encourage the tourism. And also CRPP will continue its work as before. Central Executive Committee National League for Democracy Rangoon 4th of January 2003 Addendum Today is the most auspicious, being the Independence Day and is the most appropriate time for a dialogue between NLD and SPDC. And all political prisoners must be released without any conditional and delay. --------------------------------------------------------------------
Asian Tribune
Date : 2003-01-10 Injection of Life for Wa Drug Project with an Extra $ 1.1 Million Extra funding from the international community will enable a United Nations Drug Control Project (UNDCP) in Shan State to be continued for two years longer than originally planned, a senior UN official has revealed. Mr. Jean-Luc Lemahieu, the Yangon representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), said the funding will go towards the UNODC-Wa Alternative Development Project in the southern part of the Wa region. The project was launched in 1999 for four years, but the extra funding will support the project until 2005, Mr. Lemahieu told Myanmar times late last month. "The prospects (for the future of the project) are better now, more countries understand that what we are doing is really of a humanitarian nature, and benefiting the poorest of the poor," he said. Mr. Lemahieu also said that in return for more financial support for the project, the international community would benefit from a reduction in the production of opium, from which heroin is made. He said Germany and Italy had last year contributed Euros 1 million (about US$ 1 million) and $ 100,000 respectively towards the project. The UN agency had originally sought nearly $ 16 million for the four-year project, but up until last year had received about $ 8 million, most of which was provided by Japan and the United States. Japan and the United States had contributed $ 1.6 million and $ 700,000 respectively to the project for the 2002 fiscal year, Mr. Lemahieu said. The extra funding from Germany and Italy meant that spending on the project would rise from $ 1.3 million in the fiscal year ending next March 31 to $ 1.5 million in 2003-2004, he said. Mr. Lemahieu also said France had agreed to provide $ 200,000 to strengthen the operational capacity of UNODC?s Yangon office. The southern Wa project includes the development of a 500 hectare rice-growing area in the Mong Kar region, near the border with China. The expected completion of the Mong Kar scheme in March would increase food security in the southern Wa region as well as providing farmers with an alternative income to growing opium poppies. Mr. Lemahieu also called for more international funding to enable UNODC to launch a new project in the northern Wa region. "Let us provide them with alternatives, let us provide the alternatives where they are or close to where they are, "Mr. Lemahieu said, adding that UNODC could launch projects in the northern Wa region in 2004 if funding was available. Mr. Lemahieu said a target set by the Wa authorities for opium cultivation to be eliminated in their region by 2005 could be achieved if adequate funding was available. There were indications that the target could be achieved. The UN had recorded a 30 per cent decline in opium production in the southern Wa region project area in calendar 2002, compared to a national reduction of 25 per cent. "It shows that our solution is working and our methodology is the way to go," he said. "We are not promising to make the farmers and their families rich, but at least we can give them a decent living without opium poppies through well-targeted humanitarian interventions within their community," Mr. Lemahieu said. Looking to the future, he said UNODC and other UN agencies were planning to work together to help the Wa region after opium was eradicated. - Myanmar Information - --------------------------------------------------------------------
Militants attack border security force near
Burma border
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com) Guwahati, January 10, 2003: In a fierce encounter along the Indo-Burma border last night, at least 10 persons including four Indian security personnel were killed. The encounter occurred at Shajik Tampak near Moreh in Chandel District of Manipur bordering with Burma. The sources said that the causality figure might go up as bodies were yet to be recovered due to bad weather in the area. Highly placed official sources in the Border Security Force (BSF) told that about 300 ultras of the Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF) attacked a Border Security Force (BSF) convoy while they were patrolling along the international border killing It's Captain Vivek Saxena and three other soldiers. In the encounter, the Indian security force personnel shot dead six ultras and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from them, the military sources claimed. The Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF) is an apex body of three Manipur insurgent groups such as UNLF, PLA and PREPAK. Giving more details about the operation, a BSF official who does not want his name to be mentioned told Mizzima correspondent that the ultras of MPLF equipped with mortar and sophisticated rifles had attacked the BSF convoy taking advantage of hilly terrain resulting in a fierce encounter which lasted throughout the night. "We have deployed more forces in the area to nab the ultras. It was one of the major encounters in the last two decades in which 300 militants involved", he said adding that the ultras had attacked the force from the Burmese soil. Meanwhile, the Indian Army has geared up operation along the international border to contain the activities of the militants. Despite an agreement of launching a joint operation to dismantle the camps of the militants, India and Burma are yet to take any concrete step in this regard. --------------------------------------------------------------------
Shan Herald Agency for News
No: 01 - 02/2003 10 January 2002 Wake of large Chinese cargo boats drowns seven on Mekong On December 31, 2002, seven Lahu villagers from Burma were drowned when their small boat capsized in the wake of large boats on the Mekong, sources in Mae Sai have reported. Since December 15, boat traffic on the Mekong River between China and Thailand has been restricted to only one day in four, in order for the blasting of the rapids between Burma's Shan State and Laos to take place as part of the Mekhong Navigation Improvement Project. On the day of the accident, the small long-tail boat had left from the Shan side of the river, near Pa Liao-Keng Larb, to travel across to the Lao side with eight villagers on board. Soon after it left the bank, it was overturned by the wake of a convoy of at least five large Chinese cargo boats travelling downstream. Of the eight villagers, seven men drowned, but one woman wearing a life-jacket survived. At least one body was later recovered downstream. Accidents of this kind have frequently occurred on the Mekong River, but the restriction of boat traffic to only one day in four during the period of December 2002 to April 2003 has meant an increase of large boat traffic on these days, heightening the possibility of accidents. Locals fear that once the remaining rapids on the river are blasted and even larger, 300 to 500-ton boats are able to navigate the Mekong, there will be even greater frequency of such accidents. --------------------------------------------------------------------
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