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Monday, June 12 3:22 PM SGT
Thailand to back International
Criminal Court
BANGKOK, June 12 (AFP) - Thailand will sign the UN's Rome Statute on setting up an International
Criminal Court (ICC) by the end of this year, making it the first Southeast
Asian country to do so, the deputy foreign minister said Monday.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had so far failed to coordinate on the issue of
a permanent court, but Thailand would lead by example.
"The question of the merit of the Rome Statute is undebatable as far as we
are concerned," Sukhumbhand said in a keynote speech opening the first Asian
workshop to promote the ICC attended by some 60 civil servants and NGO members
from around the region.
Sukhumbhand said Thailand would sign before the closing date set by the UN
at 31 December. "We would have to sign by the 31st of December, 2000. We will
sign it," he said.
"We need to get our own house in order where the Rome Statute is concerned
before we can think of encouraging others."
Just four countries from Asia out of more than 90 world-wide have signed
onto the 1998 Rome Statute: South Korea, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan and
Tajikistan.
Only 10 nations -- Tajikistan the only one from Asia -- have so far
ratified the statute.
At least 60 nations must ratify it for the statute to take effect.
"Unfortunately there has not been much coordination among the ASEAN
countries on this matter. At present it seems to be a matter of national
conscience," Sukhumbhand said.
He said that nations in the region must realise that globalisation has made
the issue of national sovereignty an invalid excuse for blocking the formation
of an international court.
"The ICC is seen by many as a threat to national sovereignty ... but I
believe that such a perception is no longer valid," he said.
Sukhumbhand quoted United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan saying: "No
government has the right to hide behind national sovereignty in order to violate
the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people."
He said Thailand bore a tremendous burden in terms of refugees from turmoil
in neighbouring states.
"With traditional responsibilities in shouldering refugees and displaced
persons from neighbouring countries, Thailand seeks the end of the human
tragedies in this region and elsewhere," he said.
Thailand is home to more than 100,000 displaced persons who have fled
oppression and fighting in neighbouring Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.
"The task is tremendous, but the most difficult part about this is to bear
witness to the decline of the human spirit of those people who have been forced
to live away from their homes and their loved ones."
"In the 1970s the world witnessed the genocide committed by the Khmer
Rouge, the legacy of which still leaves traces in that society ... Never again
do we wish to see such atrocities."
After a year-long stalemate, Cambodia and the UN last month reached an
agreement to hold a joint trial of surviving Khmer Rouge leaders blamed for the
deaths of nearly two million people.
Two adhoc international war crime tribunals are already operating -- one
based in the Netherlands and focusing on atrocities committed in Bosnia and a
similar one in Tanzania focussing on the Rwandan genocide.
The ICC seeks jurisdiction over citizens of all countries, not just parties
to the treaty. The idea has been opposed by the United States, along with China,
Libya, Iraq and Israel.
The Straits Times - June 12,
2000.
Myanmar rebel twins devote themselves to
Christianity
Htoo brothers, on the run since their base fell to Myanmar forces in
January, are hiding in a Karen village
BANGKOK -- The 12-year-old twin boys from Myanmar, who command a mystical
insurgent group called God's Army, have laid down their arms temporarily and are
devoting themselves to Christianity.
Johnny and Luther Htoo have been on the run since late January, when their
headquarters at Ka Mar Pa Law, just across the border from Thailand, fell to
Myanmar government forces.
The Bangkok Post reported yesterday that the boys are now living in a
Christian Karen village about 35 km inside Myanmar, opposite Thailand's
Kanchanaburi province.
It said they had shaved their heads to try to avoid being recognised and
traded in their uniforms for traditional Karen garb.
They were said to have promised the village headman they would lay down
their weapons and devote themselves to Christianity during their stay.
The newspaper quoted the chain-smoking Luther as vowing to continue the
struggle against the military government of Myanmar.
""I clearly remember how Burmese soldiers killed my men and pregnant
women,'' he said. ""I will seek revenge.''
When their base was overrun, the twins fled with 10 armed rebels and stayed
in a Thai village for a week, even though they were being sought as avidly by
the Thai authorities as those in Myanmar.
Myanmar has been ruled by the military since 1962. The Karen minority has
been fighting for more autonomy since 1949, but has been losing ground steadily
over the past decade.
Other ethnic groups have also opposed the government, but most have agreed
to ceasefires. --AP
The People's Daily
Monday, June 12, 2000, updated at 10:07(GMT+8) China HK Chief Executive Meets General Maung Aye of Myanmar Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Tung Chee
Hwa had a meeting with Deputy Chairman of the State Peace and Development
Council of the Union of Myanmar, General Maung Aye, at Government House Sunday.
General Maung Aye was in Hong Kong following a recent visit to China's
mainland.
Tung briefed General Maung Aye on the latest developments in Hong Kong,
including the progress of economic recovery following the Asian financial
crisis.
Tung looked forward to the further development of trade and economic
relations between Hong Kong and Myanmar, particularly the promotion of tourism
and investment between the two economies.
Other Hong Kong government officials including the Administrative Secretary
Anson Chan also attended the meeting.
The Independent - June 12, 2000.
Yangon for coordinated efforts for Rohingya repatriation Envoy says camps in Myanmar scaled down Myanmar has suggested strong coordinated efforts by officials of Dhaka
Yangon and UNHCR to speed up repatriation of the Rohingya refugees now staying
in camps in Cox's Bazar, reports UNB.
"If coordination and cooperation among the three parties are not in
harmony, the process of repatriation cannot be speeded up... then there will be
delays," said Myanmar Ambassador in Dhaka Ohn Thwin.
In an interview with UNB, the Ambassador said his country has already
accepted more than 230,000 people and camps were scaled down.
He said that out of the 7,000 cleared people, more than 1,500 were
repatriated and another 5,500 are in the process of scrutiny for receiving them
back.
Thwin, however, refused to discuss at the moment the other Rohingya
refugees staying in the camps in Bangladesh.
According to Bangladesh officials, about 250,877 Rohingyas entered the
country in 1991 and of them about 20,964 are still awaiting repatriation.
In reply to a question, the envoy referred to the agreed discussions among
the three parties in September 1998 about repatriation. He said, "The people to
be repatriated must be voluntary at their own will. It must not be a split
family."
Thwin said that in the cases of death or birth, the concerned authorities
must endorse in proper order to avoid "untoward allegations" by persons who are
likely to reenter into Bangladesh to create problems.
He said regarding the split family case, there were instances that some
people illegally came back to Bangladesh to meet family members left behind.
Due to these reasons, he said, Myanmar authorities were making the
repatriation process in accordance with the norms agreed among the three
parties.
The ambassador indicated that some organisations or parties might benefit
for "personal gain out of refugee problem."
The issue of repatriation of Rohingya refugees was expected to come up
during the Myanmar Prime Minister Than Shwe's planned visit to Dhaka on May 29.
The visit was postponed because of what young said his indisposition.
Asked about any chance of rescheduling the visit sometime this year, the
Ambassador said the Chairman of State Peace and Development Council of Myanmar
will visit Bangladesh at a time mutually convenient to both sides.
Asked about the possible areas of cooperation between the two neighbours,
Thwin said Dhaka and Yangon may have cooperation in politics, economy, health,
exchange of know-how and conservation of environment.
"In the process of globalisation, it is my view that as developing Third
World countries, we must think global but act local, he said.
About the General Trade Agreement signed between the two countries on
August 3, 1973, he agreed that although bilateral trade is growing, it is not
very fast. He said private entrepreneurs are trying to enhance the trade volume.
Myanmar used to import cement, fertilisers and pharmaceuticals from
Bangladesh. Now Myanmar produces these items for domestic consumption and those
imports are being cut down.
It is not feasible under the prevailing circumstances to equalise trade
with Bangladesh, the Ambassador said.
In reply to a question about Land Boundary Treaty signed in November 1998,
he said it was a necessity between the two close neighbours. He hoped that land
dispute would not arise after this boundary treaty.
Asked about the Asian Highway, which Dhaka gives much importance, the envoy
said Myanmar on its part had taken up measures in developing highway road links
inside its territory to get linked with the Asian Highway provided that the
concept is beneficial to this region.
Bangkok Post- June 12, 2000.
NARCOTICS More border closures
mulled
Authorities fighting a losing battle Post Reporters Drug suppression agencies will meet today to discuss the closure of more
border checkpoints and border passes in the North to thwart border drug
smuggling.
Sorasit Saengprasert, secretary-general of the Narcotics Control Board,
said that anti-drug agencies would discuss whether to close more border
crossings or increase border patrols.
So far, four temporary border checkpoints have already been closed, said Mr
Sorasit.
The NCB chief admitted authorities were fighting a losing battle against
narcotics.
Commenting on Burma's planned relocation of Wa tribes to the southern part
of Shan state, where they would be encouraged to grow substitute crops instead
of opium, the NCB secretary-general predicted problems.
Burma recently announced it would relocate more than 100,000 ethnic Wa from
areas of northern Shan state, controlled by the United Wa State Army, to a
special administrative area in the south and promote substitute cropping.
Meanwhile, a Mae Hong Son MP voiced disagreement with the planned closure
of more temporary border checkpoints in the North, saying it would affect
cross-border trade of goods between Thailand and Burma.
Democrat Panya Jeenakham said the closure of border crossings would not
stop drug smuggling.
Meanwhile, National Security Council Secretary-General Kachadpai Burusaphat
said illicit drug trading is rampant in 14 border villages in three northern
provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son.
He said the trade is dominated by minorities, including the Kuomintang
(KMT), formerly 93rd division of the Chinese Army.
He added that remnants of the KMT had been involved in illicit drug trading
with the Wa army.
As part of measures to combat this, the NSC has joined forces with the
Third Army Region.
Infantrymen have already been placed on full alert at all temporary and
permanent border checkpoints in Mae Hong Son.
More checkpoints have also been set up along the Mae Hong Son-Chiang Mai
highway to search vehicles suspected of carrying illicit goods across the
border.
Bangkok Post - June 12,
2000.
In Brief
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