Burma Related News-May 11, 2000.

[TIN KYI <tinkyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thursday May 11, 3:26 am Eastern Time
UPDATE 1-UK's Premier finds oil off Indonesia
(Adds details, background throughout)

 

LONDON, May 11 (Reuters) - UK oil and gas exploration company Premier Oil Plc said on Thursday it had discovered oil in the North West Natuna Block 1 offshore Indonesia.

 

``We are very pleased with this encouraging result which follows our two recent Natuna Sea gas discoveries.... Appraisal of the prospect will follow in the near future,'' Chief Executive Charles Jamieson said in a statement.

 

Last month, Premier announced it had found more natural gas in West Natuna -- one of the group's key developments along with its Yetagun gas project in Myanmar.

 

The Ande Ande Lumut-1 exploration well, the first drilled in North West Natuna Block 1, reached a total depth of 4,186 feet.

 

Premier is operator with a 50 percent interest in the North West Natuna Block 1 production-sharing contract. Gulf Indonesia Resources Ltd (NYSE:GRL - news) holds 30 percent while Dana Petroleum Plc (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: DNX.L) 20 percent.

 

Premier Oil, whose key areas of operation are the UK and Pakistan as well as Myanmar and Indonesia, formed a strategic alliance last November to strengthen its gas position in Asia with Malaysian state oil company Petronas and its biggest shareholder Amerada Hess Corp (NYSE:AHC - news).

 

Under that deal, which strengthened its financial base with a 136 million pound cash injection, Petronas took a 25 percent stake in the group, while Hess took new equity to retain its 25 percent stake.

 

Thursday, May 11 8:57 PM SGT

Thailand Refutes Myanmar Claim It Profits From Refugees

BANGKOK (AP)--_ In a brief war of words underlying fragile bilateral relations, Thailand has denounced a claim in a state-run Myanmar newspaper accusing Thailand of profiting from sheltering refugees from Myanmar.

"We are taking care of these people because they need help. Thailand has made no gain from doing this," Oum Maolanon, the Thai Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman, said today.

On Tuesday the New Light of Myanmar newspaper, a mouthpiece for Myanmar's ruling military regime, accused Thailand of welcoming refugees for political gain and to make profits from black market trade, not humanitarian reasons.

Oum retorted that Thailand had faced a big burden in taking care of the refugees who had been driven from their homes by 15 years of political and economic crisis inside Myanmar.

Thailand shares a long border of over 2,000 kilometers with Myanmar, also known as Burma. More than 120,000 refugees, mostly ethnic Karen who have fled years of fighting between Myanmar government troops and ethnic rebels, are encamped in five Thai border provinces.

"It might be difficult for newspapers such as the New Light of Myanmar to understand about the human rights and the responsibilities towards international community," the Thai deputy spokesman said.

Despite difficulties along their common border, Myanmar and Thailand have maintained generally cordial relations in recent years.

But ties have been strained after anti-Yangon rebels stormed the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok in October. Thailand set the rebels free to secure the safe release of hostages, angering Yangon.

China Times-May 11, 2000.

Myanmar Freedom Fighter Unable to Attend Chen's Inauguration

Taipei, May 10 (CNA) Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has regretfully turned down an invitation from President-elect Chen Shui-bian to attend his May 20 inauguration ceremony, said Chen's office on Wednesday.

In a letter released by Chen's office on Wednesday, the long-time leader of Myanmar's democracy movement said that it is presently impossible for her to leave Burma, also known as Myanmar.

Praising the election of Chen as a victory of "a brave and persevering opposition over a long entrenched government," Aung San Suu Kyi expressed her sincere and warm congratulations to Chen, and wished the people of Taiwan happiness and prosperity.

Chen's staff said the letter, dated May 5, was relayed to Chen through a "special channel." Chen has often styled himself as a champion for freedom and democracy in Taiwan. During the presidential campaign, he tried to cast his image in the mold of foreign freedom fighters such as Aung San Suu Kyi, in order to boost his popularity before the March 18 election.

Chen also tried to identify himself in the voters' minds with dissidents-turned-state heads, especially former South African President Nelson Mandela and South Korean President Kim Dae Jung.

WIRE:05/10/2000 11:45:00 ET
Myanmar says opium output falls again

 

YANGON, Myanmar (Reuters) - Myanmar said Wednesday the  country's opium output would show a further fall in the growing  season just finished and reiterated a call for international  assistance to stamp out the drugs menace. 
Colonel Kyaw Thein, the country's top drug fighter, told  police chiefs from the Association of South East Asian Nations  the output fall was due to peace agreements the military  government has signed with various ethnic groups in opium  growing areas. 

 

"Some accuse us of turning a blind eye to the activities of  them," he said. "What I would like to explain to you clearly  and candidly is that we have never been lenient or turned a  blind eye to activities related to drug trafficking." 

 

He said a joint survey carried out with U.S. experts had  shown opium production had fallen again in the September 1999 to  March 2000 growing season. 

 

"According to what we saw in the field with our own eyes,  we can assure you poppy production will also be down this  year." 

 

A joint survey last year showed opium poppy cultivation fell  more than 30 percent the previous growing season and estimated  opium production fell from 1,750 tons the season before that to  1,090 tons. 

 

However, the U.S. State Department angered Yangon by saying  the fall was mainly due to drought and that the military  government was not cooperating in the fight against drugs. 

 

Kyaw Thein declined to give the exact whereabouts of Khun  Sa, Myanmar's most notorious drug lord, who surrendered to the  government in 1996 and is now living free under its protection. 

 

Referring to the tide of amphetamine tablets flooding out of  military-ruled Myanmar and around the region, Kyaw Thein said  Yangon needed help to combat the trade.

 

Malaysian National News Agency

May 10 , 2000 18:44PM  

MYANMAR: ASEAN POLICE TO COOPERATE AGAINST DRUGS 
 
YANGON, May 10 (Oana-Kyodo-Bernama) -- Delegates to the 20th ASEAN Police Chiefs' Conference, May 8-10 in Yangon, agreed to intensify collaboration, including exchanging information and operational cooperation, to counter growing drug-related crimes in the region.

 

Thailand and Myanmar are also to enhance exchange of intelligence on illegal drug refineries, according to a joint communique issued at the end of the meeting.

 

The conference covered a wide range of topics, including drug trafficking, commercial crimes, bank offenses, credit card fraud and exchange of personnel and training among Association of Southeast Nations police forces.

 

Police chiefs from the 10 ASEAN countries -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- attended the conference.

 

-- Oana-Kyodo-Bernama

 

Bangkok Post - May 11, 2000.

Lignite power plant fuels fears in Mae Sai
Burmese promise clean technology

 

Thirawat Khamthita in Chiang Rai

 

A lignite-fired power plant is being built near the border in Tachilek, Burma, giving rise to pollution fears in neighbouring Mae Sai district.

 

Thanin Supasaen, the dictrict chief, said Burmese authorities had invited him to attend the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the new power plant in Ban San Sai Tai, Tachilek, about 5km from the Mae Sai border checkpoint, on Tuesday.

 

Though many people fear the plant could pollute border areas of Mae Sai, Thai authorities could do nothing as it was a Burmese internal affair, he said.

 

Even so, local people had the right to gather information and exchange opinions, he said.

 

No official information has been provided, however it was reported Burmese authorities had told Thai officials it should not cause pollution as it would use modern technology and lignite powder as fuel.

 

The plant is being built on a 20-rai plot by Golden Triangle Hydropower Co. Installation of machinery will be monitored by engineers from China.

 

The plant is scheduled to begin operating on Jan 1, 2001, and expected to supply power to an industrial estate, government offices, military units and houses in Tachilek, as well as a planned cement factory, the reports said.

 

Siva Xumsai na Ayutthaya, manager of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand's Mae Sai district branch, said soot from the burning of lignite by the new power plant could pollute nearby areas.

 

It would probably have capacity to generate no more than two megawatts of electricity considering its one-year construction period, he said.

 

A Thai military source said the Burmese needed a power source in the area, but if the plant emits dust, soot or noxious fumes it could pollute nearby towns in Chiang Rai. State-to-state talks were necessary to discuss this, he said. Suwadee Thanubamrungsart, a representative of the Hill Area Development Foundation voiced concern at the possible effects.

 

Information would be gathered and forwarded to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, she said.

 

Somporn Khemphet, 28, of Mae Sai, said local people should be given information so they could prepare for possible pollution. Rangoon might not be as concerned about health and environmental problems as the governments of developed countries.

 

Burma monthly presently pays about two million baht a year for power supplied to Tachilek by the Egat plant in Mae Sai.

 

The Nation - May 12, 2000.

Thailand reacts with anger to charge it profits from Burma’s refugees

THAILAND yesterday reacted angrily to a charge by a Burmese staterun newspaper that its humanitarian policy of receiving Karen refugees was a smokescreen for seeking political and economic gain.

Contrary to the charge, Thailand has been the one suffering the most from the 15 years of political and economic chaos in Burma, Deputy Foreign Ministry spokesman Oum Maolanon said.

At present, he said, there are about 102,000 Burmese refugees, mostly of Karen origin, scattered in a string of camps along the ThaiBurmese border. There are also close to 100,000 illegal migrant workers and exiled Burmese dissidents in the Kingdom.

All these problems stem from the deteriorating economic and political situation inside Burma, the Foreign Ministry said.

Oum said that the majority of the Burmese refugees are children, women and elderly who sought refuge from bloody fighting between Burmese troops and opposition groups and who cannot even look after themselves.

“Therefore, it is impossible in whatever way that Thailand will benefit from these people especially in economic terms. On the contrary, Thailand has to shoulder this burden and continue to absorb its adverse effects.”

The Burmese staterun paper New Light of Myanmar on Monday published a scathing editorial saying that Thailand had benefited economically and politically from taking in Burmese refugees, especially the Karens. It claimed that black market trade, not humanitarian principles, was the real reason for Thailand’s refugee policy.

Oum said that the only reason Thailand continues to open its arms to these people is for humanitarian concerns and the effort to show that it is a responsible member of the international community.

Thailand’s treatment of Cambodian refugees 20 years ago is a good example of the kingdom’s unwavering humanitarianism and sincerity, he said.

The ministry’s statement said it might be hard for a paper like New Light of Myanmar to understand “humanitarian” and “international responsibility”.

Oum reiterated Thailand’s wish for sustainable development and peace in every neighbouring country and hoped that the refugees would one day be able to return with dignity and safety to help reconstruct the country.

The Nation