|
Please visit this page and sign the petition for Mr.
Soe Myint, the Editor (Founder) of Mizzima News http://www.petitiononline.com/soe123/petition.html --------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------- HEADLINES -------------------------------------------------------------------- AFP - AFP - Following
AFP - At least 87 killed in first week of Thai drugs war AFP - AFP - Thai PM
Thaksin arrives in
AP - Thai prime minister to discuss drug trade with
Asian Tribune - Thai-Burma relation: Border Shan temple reopening heralds passing of the abbot. Asian Tribune - Shan National day
jointly observed Asian Tribune - Illegal Entry: Thai woman, infant freed from Burmese prison after 8 months Asian Tribune - Govt orders crackdown on Karen
refugees BBC - Thaksin targets
The Nation - SIDELINES: Go West, young man, and stop the drugs SHAN - Shan politician detained SHAN - Burma army battle
ready -------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday February 9, Government
first secretary Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt said the country had reached the
target at which the disease is considered eliminated -- fewer than one case for
every 10,000 people -- at the end of January, the Myanmar Times said in its
edition to be published Monday. Khin Nyunt
made the announcement at a meeting in the capital Working with
its international partners,
Khin Nyunt
paid tribute to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a key player in GAEL, and
other international partners for helping the country fight the
disease. "Mutual
support among partners in developing a comprehensive and consistent leprosy
elimination program has proved to be the cornerstone of our success," Khin Nyunt
said. GAEL, which
includes donors and countries still battling leprosy, said in a declaration at
the end of the three-day meeting that military-ruled
Leprosy was
still a public health problem in only 12 of the 122 countries listed as endemic
in 1985, the Yangon Declaration said. According to
GAEL, 90 percent of leprosy cases are found in
"The target
set to achieve elimination by all countries by the year 2005 may be missed by
some countries...," the declaration said. It called for "special efforts" by
those counties, which it did not identify, to reach the
goal. WHO executive
director for communicable diseases Dr David Heyman, who was in
He told the
meeting the country was now addressing the problem of tuberculosis, the root
cause of which was HIV/AIDS. UNAIDS
estimates that up to 400,000 people among
Sunday February 9, Following
WASHINGTON,
Feb 9 (AFP) - Authoritarian regimes,
emulating The study by
scholars at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace suggests that
authoritarian and semi-authoritarian governments keep a close grip on the
Internet by limiting access or filtering content. The report,
published in a new book, expands on earlier research by the scholars on
The study
authors note that widely held beliefs that the Internet would foster democracy
by allowing the free flow of information have, so far, failed to
materialize. "Many people
believe the Internet will be a virus of freedom in authoritarian regimes," said
Shanthi Kalathil, co-author of the report. But Kalathil
said that the Internet, like the telephone or television, is simply a tool that
can be used a number of ways. "Many
authoritarian governments are developing an Internet that serves their own
goals," she told a recent forum here. The report
says that some regimes follow the Cuban model of limiting access to computers
and the Internet. Others follow the Chinese model of using technology to filter
out sites linked to dissidents, pro-democracy activists or other objectionable
content. In both
cases, she noted, the regimes may crack down on those who try to use the Web for
anti-government activities. "Users are
intimidated (about using the Internet) and are inclined to self-censor,"
Kalathil said. Still, the
study's authors acknowledge that even in countries with authoritarian rule, the
Internet can help facilitate economic growth that will help expand the
entrepreneurial class and middle class and that this could eventually lead to
democratization. "Use of the
Internet will contribute to change but not precipitate the governments'
collapse," said Kalathil. Among the
highlights of the book, "Open Networks, Closed Regimes: The Impact of the
Internet on Authoritarian Rule": - Chinese
authorities have chosen "to encourage mass Internet usage and education in an
environment that it is able to shape if not wholly
control." - In
-
-
-
- The
-
- In
-------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday February 9, At least 87 killed in first week of Thai
drugs war BANGKOK, Feb
9 (AFP) - At least 87 suspected drug
traffickers have been killed, either by police or by other dealers, in the first
seven days of
"Police
killed eight of them in self-defence," Major General Pongsapat Pongcharoen told
Thai television in an interview. "The rest were killed by drug gang
members." On February 1
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra launched a highly publicised three-month
war on drugs aimed at eliminating the scourge from the
kingdom. In the first
week of the campaign police have arrested some 9,232 people and seized 4.25
million methamphetamine pills and 150 million baht (3.5 million dollars) in
assets. The death
toll revealed by Pongsapat illuminates a disturbing trend within the ranks of
suspected drug gangs: that they are willing to kill each other to avoid the risk
of betrayal should their accomplices turn themselves in. "Police want
to arrest them alive, but drug dealers are concerned that more information will
be leaked to police (by their fellow dealers), so they decide to kill them,"
Pongsapat said. Few
additional details about the victims were revealed. The
revelations have led to worries over the possibility that authorities could be
conducting extra-judicial killings. The shooting
of drugs suspects, while not unusual in
Thaksin's
campaign is focused on the mushrooming methamphetamine
trade. Some four
percent of the Thai population is estimated to be addicted to "yaa baa" or
"crazy pills," as they are commonly known. The vast
majority of the pills flow from drugs factories in
-------------------------------------------------------------------- The funding
was targeted at basic education, training and health care projects, the
semi-official weekly said. Sasaki said
-------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday February 9, 00 Thai PM Thaksin arrives in
Thaksin was
greeted by military officers at Myitkina, capital of
"He will be
flown the rest of the way by a government-provided aircraft to Puta-o," a
snow-capped mountain resort some 322 km (200 miles) further north, where Thaksin
is to explore the possibility of helping develop tourism, an official in
Myitkina told AFP. Thai and
"The talks
will center mainly around drugs and tourism," a
The status of
illegal migrant workers, ethnic minorities and economic relations will also
figure during the official but low-key visit, Thaksin's second to the country
since taking office two years ago. Relations
between the historic enemies were strained to the limit last May when deadly
border clashes led
Thaksin has
no plans to travel to the capital Yangon, where a more formal forum would await
him and where human rights watchdog Amnesty International is concluding its
first-ever visit. Instead
Thaksin travels later Sunday to the beach resort of Ngapali on the
He returns to
-------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday February 9, 6 Thai PM Thaksin heads to talks with
Thaksin flew
to Ngapali on the He started
his 24-hour trip to
There he met
Foreign Minister Win Aung for talks on jointly developing the country's first
ski resort, the official said. Thaksin's
schedule in the north included a flight over the snow-capped Puta-o region for a
bird's eye view of Tourism and
anti-drugs cooperation top Thaksin's agenda in talks with the military leaders
in Ngapali, some 275 kilometres (170 miles) northwest of Yangon, Thai and
Myanmar authorities have said. "The talks
will centre mainly around drugs and tourism," a
Thaksin's
government on February 1 launched a three-month war on drugs hoping to eradicate
the scourge domestically, especially the trafficking of methamphetamines to
which some four percent of the Thai population is estimated to be addicted.
The vast
majority of the pills in the country flow from drugs factories in
The status of
illegal migrant workers, ethnic minorities and economic relations will also
figure during Thaksin's official but low-key visit to
Relations
between the historic enemies were strained to the limit last May when deadly
border clashes led
Thaksin has
no plans to travel to the capital Yangon, where a more formal forum would await
him and where human rights watchdog Amnesty International is concluding its
first-ever visit. He returns to
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Thai prime minister to discuss drug trade
with Sun Feb 9, YANGON,
Myanmar (AP)- Thai Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra arrived on a two-day official visit to Myanmar Sunday and was
expected to ask the ruling military junta to help stem the deluge of illegal
drugs from Myanmar into neighboring Thailand. Thaksin, who
recently declared an all-out war on drugs in
Millions of
methamphetamine pills and large quantities of heroin are smuggled each year from
Accompanied
by a 22-member entourage, Thaksin flew into the remote town of
The Thai
leader will get a bird's eye view of the rugged mountains in Kachin State from a
military helicopter before traveling to Thandwe, a popular beach resort in
western Myanmar, where he will hold talks with Prime Minister Gen. Than Shwe.
It is
Thaksin's second visit to
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Asian
Tribune Date : 2003-02-09 Thai-Burma relation: Border Shan temple
reopening heralds passing of the abbot. The recent
reopening of a Shan monastery that straddles the disputed Thai-Burma boundary
was superseded by the decease of its well-respected monk on 3
February. The abbot,
Phra Khamtoon Inthawangso of Formerly one
of the few Shan resistance leaders who were born in Burma "proper", he had
joined the Burma Independence Army formed by the legendary "Third Comrades" led
by Aung San and served under two of its Shan members, Saw Awng and Saw Nawng
from 1941-45. He also took
part in the aborted peace talks with
Both the
temple as well as its Chedi, marajina, were declared off-limits to the clergy
and laypeople alike since the Pang Maisoong Battly, 20 May - 20 June, between
the Shan rebels and the Burmese army. The permission to reopen it was obtained
on 16 January only after a series of petitions by the local populace, almost
seven months following its closure. Before his
death, the abbot had reportedly requested both Thai and Burmese authorities to
lay aside the territorial disputes and instead recognize the boundary of the
temple grounds, which extends to both sides of the border and to make it a
demilitazed zone. His plea is yet to be considered by either.
In the
meanwhile, the temples' adherents are quietly organizing the funeral of Phra
Khamtoon to be held on 10 February under the watchful eyes of both Thai and
Burmese army units nearby. - SHAN - -------------------------------------------------------------------- Asian
Tribune Date : 2003-02-09 Shan National day jointly
observed The day
leaders of the former Shan States - today's
The 56th
anniversary of Shan State's National Day at the Shan State Army "South"
headquarters of Loi Taileng, opposite Maehongson's Pang Mapha District, was
participated by delegates from Lahu Democratic Front, Palaung State Liberation
Front, Pa-O People's Liberation Organization and Wa National Organization, as
well as local people from the surrounding area totalling a thousand in all,
according to a SHAN source. This was the
first time the groups have met since the Shan State Nationalities Solidarity
Committee, the off-shoot of the United Nationalities Shan State Army (1997), was
formed on "We need to
be strong to achieve freedom for our people", said Col Yawdserk, leader of the
SSA. "And to be strong, we need to be flexible towards each
other." The outcome
of the Committee's meeting that was held after the ceremony is yet to be
announced. The National
Coalition Government of the Union of Burma of Dr Sein Win also sent a well-wish
message to the people of Altogether 14
groups, including the United Wa State Army, have entered peace treaties with
- SHAN -
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Asian
Tribune Date : 2003-02-09 Illegal Entry: Thai woman, infant freed
from Burmese prison after 8 months A Thai woman
and her 14-month-old child have been freed after serving eight months in a
Burmese prison on charges of illegal entry, the Foreign Ministry said
yesterday. Wandee
Pailee, 26, and her child were released from Insein Prison in
Wandee was
convicted on charges of illegal entry in July last year. She was arrested in
- The Nation - -------------------------------------------------------------------- Asian
Tribune Date : 2003-02-09 Govt orders crackdown on Karen
refugees Mae Hong Son,
Feb. 08, (TNA): ? The government yesterday ordered Mae Hong Son officials to
expel Karen refugees who were crossing the border in increasing numbers,
claiming that there was no fighting currently taking place in the border regions
and accusing the refugees of creating a host of problems for
Speaking
after inspecting the transfer of refugees from Baan Nai Soi to a new refugee
shelter in Baan Pang Tractor, the deputy permanent secretary of the Interior
Ministry said that he had ordered local officials to expel any Karen refugees
trying to cross over into the province. Claiming that
there was no fighting in the border regions of
He said that
unless local officials dealt severely with them by ensuring their immediate
expulsion, more Karens would cross the border thinking that they would get an
easy ride in
Complaining
that the government had to spend a huge amount of money on taking care of
refugees, he accused them of causing problems. The Baan Pang
Tractor centre currently holds over 17,000 refugees. Mr Thirawatra called on
foreign NGOs to ensure better cleanliness in the centre, and ensure that the
refugees practiced contraception. --------------------------------------------------------------------
BBC - Thaksin targets
By
Jonathan Head BBC South East Asia correspondent in
The Prime
Minister of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, has gone to neighbouring
The Thai
authorities have launched a tough campaign against drug dealers, which has seen
more than 80 people shot dead in the past week. Since he came
to office two years ago, Mr Thaksin has tried to build a more co-operative
relationship with
A former
telecoms tycoon, Mr Thaksin likes to present himself as a man of action - so he
has given his government until the end of April to rid
No surprise
then, that drugs are at the top of his agenda during this visit to
But in
keeping with his emphasis on co-operation and not confrontation, Mr Thaksin will
also be offering his Burmese counterparts help in developing their tourist
industry. Rebel control
It is
doubtful, though, whether the Thai prime minister will come home with anything
more than the promises of action which have been given many times before by
Soldiers in
the United Wa State Army Most of the
drugs coming into
The Wa army
still operates factories which churn out hundreds of millions of highly
addictive methamphetamine pills - most of which end up in
An added
complication is that senior Thai officials are also believed to be involved in
the drugs trafficking. The
high-profile anti-drugs campaign launched last week by Mr Thaksin has already
resulted in the deaths of more than 80 alleged drug dealers - most of them shot
in fights with police or rival gangs. But the
powerful figures who really run this lucrative trade may remain untouched. --------------------------------------------------------------------
The
Nation SIDELINES: Go West, young man, and stop
the drugs Sopon
Onkgara Published on Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra flies off today for informal negotiations with top
Burmese junta leaders at their northern snow-covered mountain resort. High on
the agenda are narcotics problems, but the visitor will also seek to discuss
illegal Burmese workers entering
The talks
follow active suppression campaigns against narcotics traders, chiefly the
dealers of the so-called ?mad drug? ? amphetamine pills ? which have been
spreading all over the country like an epidemic in the past
decade. The drug
busting has led to many police acts of ?justifiable homicide? in self-defence.
More than 100 drug-related killings have taken place since the anti-drug crusade
was launched on February 1. These are expected to mount with an even quicker
tempo until the deadline on April 30. The chief
executive?s stern command for the suppression drive was ?an eye for an eye? and
police took it as a blessing in disguise for the termination of all drug
dealers. He also told
the public not to care much about the livelihoods of drug dealers who have been
breeding the seeds of evil in society. ?You should
all beware that one day your children could fall victim to drug peddling,?
Thaksin said. Trigger-happy
police have taken the chief?s directive close to their hearts and actively
pursued drug dealers who have been fleeing for their lives. There have been many
murders daily, and police simply conclude that the dealers are trying to cut off
links to them by killing the people in their own networks. Human rights
groups have cried bloody murder. Strangely enough, the police have never found
the murderers in the killing spree now taking place. In many cases, husbands and
wives have died together in questionable kangaroo court-style circumstances. For
the first time, the murder of drug dealers has almost been made
legal! Of course, a
lot of people are downright happy about the untimely departures of drug traders,
who are regarded as extremely dangerous to the country. They just don?t want to
admit it openly. Murder is an
effective weapon because many dealers and local pushers have given themselves
up. Drug addicts have also turned themselves in for fear of sudden
death. Will this
dark justice system work well enough to stem the flow of mad drugs from
Thaksin
believes so because results of the suppression campaign in the first week were
beyond expectations ? including the number of deaths, one
presumes. The figures
look impressive ? 5,700 arrested with over 317 big-timers with their networks,
329 key traders, 24 producers, 3.8 million pills, and a blacklist of 39,000
traders nationwide. Yet Thaksin?s
mission remains unaccomplished, and he intends to carry it out by getting the
cooperation of the Burmese junta leaders in the talks today and tomorrow. He is
expected to bring with him details of the operations to convince the Burmese
that it?s time for them to stop the Red Wa?s lucrative
business. The Burmese
understand very well what would be the consequences if Thai traders and pushers
became too afraid of death to risk their lives in the dangerous business,
despite the handsome returns. The Red Wa ethnic minority tribe could become
difficult to deal with if they no longer enjoyed a good flow of cash from
The Red Wa
have been prospering in narcotics production simply because the Burmese have
turned a blind eye to what has been going on in Maung Yon, just across the
border from Chiang Mai province. To get
results, Thaksin can either schmooze or talk tough, like he did with Prime
Minister Hun Sen of
The Burmese
have to be convinced by all possible means. Success or
failure in the drug-busting campaign partly depends on Burmese cooperation.
Thaksin knows that success in the crusade and killing drug dealers is not
enough. The problem
must be tackled at the root causes. The place for that is the negotiation table
with the Burmese. Let?s hope that Thaksin?s personal charm and manners work wonders this time, for he has been so unfamiliar with failure ? lately. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Shan Herald Agency for
News Politics: Shan politician
detained The No. 2 man
of Sai Nood
a.k.a. Sai Nyunt Lwin, 52, General Secretary of Shan Nationalities League for
Democracy, the party that won the most seats in Shan State, was "sent for"
through a phone call at noon on Thursday (6 February), while he was working at
his Zalatnee Printing Press in Rangoon, according to the sources. "His family
was worried when he failed to show up," said one. His wife said
the reason for the invitation and subsequent internment was not clear. "But he
did send word not to worry", said Nang Ohn Tint. "An MI officer also assured us
they were doing their best to see all of this came to a happy end." Khun Toon Oo,
president of the NLD, his immediate boss, close friend and neighbor, was not
immediately available for comment.
Sai Nood is
one of the few Shan politicians who are natives of
-------------------------------------------------------------------- Shan Herald Agency for
News War:
Since the
battle of Pang Maisoong fought near the border between the Shan rebels and Burma
Army last May, the latter's battle readiness has doubly improved, said a Thai
border security official.
"We would
consider its preparedness at 80% now," said the officer, who declined to be
identified, drawing attention to reports of
"Its manpower
has also increased noticeably," he continued. "In the past, each battalion
barely managed 100-frontline troops, Now each of them can field at least 250.
For instance, before Pang Maisoong, the total strength of Infantry Battalion #43
of Mongpiang was less than 300. Now it has 430 and can deploy 270 for the front
line anytime."
Shan State
Army officers, however, pointed out that more child soldiers were being
identified. Of three of the soldiers who defected to the SSA last month, one of
them, San Min Oo, was only 17. Thai soldiers in Chiangmai's Wianghaeng District
also confirmed seeing several boy soldiers on the Burmese side. "It is doubtful
how high their morale is," said one.
|