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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BURMA RELATED NEWS - SEP 30, 2000. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HEADLINE
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Reuters - Roadblocks loom as ASEAN+3 forex plan plods
ahead
Bkk Post - Editorial - Burma must listen to Asean
appeal The Sunday Times - Briton beaten over peace sign in cell
Bkk Post - BORDER - NSC chief to put foot down
over refugees
Bkk Post - MEKONG CO-OPERATION - Neighbours
agree to rules on navigation
The Nation - Junta Denounced
The Nation - Students' year of living
quietly
WIRE:09/30/2000 21:30:00 ET
ANALYSIS-Roadblocks loom as ASEAN+3 forex plan plods ahead SINGAPORE, Oct 1 (Reuters) -
Plans for an East Asian currency safety net to counter potential speculative
attacks are gaining momentum as Tokyo pushes ahead with efforts to expand a
Southeast Asian swap scheme. But the disparate nature of the economies involved
-- ranging from the still isolated Myanmar to the powerhouse of Japan -- makes a
region-wide support pact look like a distant dream. Though broadly seen as a
positive step towards withstanding the sort of balance of payments crisis that
racked Asia in 1997, analysts say the markets will have to be convinced about
its efficacy. "When you have sudden short-term net capital outflows, this gives
you an additional avenue to stabilise markets," said Paul Alapat, regional
economist at Nomura International in Hong Kong. "But the whole issue"s more
about credibility: what exactly is the incentive for the stronger countries to
commit huge reserves to the defence of weaker currencies, especially since the
threat of contagion seems to be fading," he added. There are also real concerns
that countries like Indonesia and the Philippines, already seen as laggards on
reform, will loosen their grip even further if they have a safety net.
BOLSTERING ASEAN The proposed arrangement would build on an existing $1 billion
currency swap scheme between the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN), through bilateral pacts with Japan, China and South Korea. The
so-called ASEAN+3 group agreed on the sidelines of the International Monetary
Fund/World Bank meetings in Prague to seek a basic framework for a regional
currency safety net at a meeting in Singapore in late November. ASEAN comprises
Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia,
Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar. Most analysts see the $1 billion pact, which allows
any ASEAN member to borrow foreign reserves from its partners to absorb what it
considers unjustified selling pressure on its currency, as mainly symbolic.
"It"s not enough money to stop a severe attack on any currency. What it does
show is some of the solidarity between the members of ASEAN, which is a
positive," said Mansoor Mohi-uddin, regional currency strategist at UBS Warburg
in Singapore. The IMF has welcomed plans to expand the scheme, saying it will
boost policy dialogue and cooperation in the region. VOLUME VITAL No amount has
been set for the second set of swap arrangements because they have to be worked
out bilaterally, but analysts say these are what will give the wider scheme its
teeth. "Magnitude would be critical but that should not be too much of a problem
when you look at the size of FX reserves that are available," said Nomura"s
Alapat. "It also matters what sort of bilateral swap lines the weaker countries
are able to strike because they"re the ones who really stand to benefit. The
others have substantial reserves on their own," he added. As of end-August,
Japan"s foreign reserves stood at $344.9 billion, China"s at about $160 billion
and Korea"s at $91.4 billion. Singapore has the largest war chest within ASEAN,
with preliminary data showing end-August reserves of $77.5 billion. NO PANACEA
Finance officials are working on the framework, including rules for the duration
of the swaps, interest rates, the collateral to be used and possible linkages
with IMF programmes. But even once these are ironed out, transparency is likely
to remain an issue, and that will hardly be helped by the ASEAN policy of
non-interference in members" affairs. "It is difficult to envisage Asian
governments being forthright with regard to the appropriateness of other
members" policies," said Bijan Aghevli, director of Asia-Pacific economic and
policy research at Chase Manhattan Bank in Hong Kong. There is also the
ever-present fear of countries back-tracking on vital reforms, leaving their
financial systems weak and exposed to a speculative onslaught. While their
floating exchange rate regimes put them at far less risk than before the crisis,
even a multibillion dollar regionwide swap scheme can only go so far in fighting
a massive speculative sell-off. "A lot of the responsibility lies within
borders. At most these swap lines are temporary lifelines," said Alapat. "You
can tide over temporary balance of payments problems, but it"s no solution to
currency stability without domestic restructuring."
Bangkok Post - Oct 1,
2000.
Editorial - Burma must listen to Asean appeal Why won't Burmese leaders listen? This is the mystery behind the unfolding
tragedy and senseless conflict that is dragging the country into economic ruin,
political violence and international disrepute. The dictatorship hears and
responds angrily to every word of criticism, from this column to the US
secretary of state. But it refuses to hear appeals from neighbours and would-be
friends. The junta cannot hear the voices of loyal Burmese eager to work to lift
their country.
Last week, hundreds of Burmese police again rushed to surround and seize
the petite woman who threatens to make Burma into a respectable nation again.
This time, Aung San Suu Kyi was trying to take a train up country, specifically
to Mandalay. That, thundered the military council, threatened the state.
Earlier this month, Mrs Suu Kyi got in her car to try to drive a few
kilometres south of Rangoon-roughly equivalent to a drive to Samut Prakan from
Bangkok. Again, the battalions of police, secret police and troops rushed to
block this "sinister" trip. Again, the dictatorship alleged that Mrs Suu Kyi was
threatening stability in Burma and must be prevented. And in the past five days,
hundreds of security agents have ensured the Nobel Prize winner could not
publicly celebrate the 12th anniversary of her political party.
The consuming paranoia with Mrs Suu Kyi is not the cause of Burma's
problems, but a symptom. The dictators refuse to take any views into account but
their own. It is 10 years since Burmese voters told the military that they
preferred to have a civilian regime. Historic elections returned Mrs Suu Kyi's
National League for Democracy by an overwhelming majority. That did not meet the
military's views, so the election was ignored.
Burma has the nastiest mouth of any regional government, an unpleasant fact
alluded to last week by our own Deputy Foreign Minister. M.R. Sukhumbhand
Paribatra was visiting Washington when the subject came up. Thailand and Asean,
he noted, have only sweet words to use in dealing with the dictatorship. Thai
policy has consistently been to deal with neighbours with words. One should
never use a big stick with neighbours, he said.
Those sweet words are fine, and true. The problem is that Burma has not
been amenable in any manner to such tactics. Thai officials have tried countless
times to negotiate serious problems with Rangoon, both bilateral and regional.
So long as Burma gets what it wants, there is not problem. But when there is a
difference of opinion, Burma only turns nasty.
When Thai authorities freed the Burmese hostages and embassy without a
casualty, Burma cancelled economic contracts and criticised Thailand. When Thai
officials tried to suggest that Asean could help to mediate the dispute that
Burmese dictators have with Mrs Suu Kyi, the cries of "meddling" were loud.
Burma's response to numerous Thai requests for help against Burma-based drug
dealers has been particularly nasty. The head of the military junta embraced the
head of the amphetamines cartel publicly.
It is time for Burma to listen to offers of help. How Burma develops is the
affair of its citizens. But the point is that all citizens should have a voice.
At the moment, patriotic and well-meaning Burmese are jailed, tortured or put
under house arrest for making suggestions of change. That includes Mrs Suu Kyi
and her pro-democracy supporters. It also includes thousands of other concerned
Burmese.
It is Asean's business how Burma develops its international affairs. The
regional group has a mechanism to address egregious behaviour-such as
threatening security by supporting drug trafficking. It is up to Vietnam to put
that mechanism into action. But all Asean members should press Burma to listen
to reason.
The Sunday Times
October 1 2000 FAR EAST Briton beaten over peace sign in cell Peter Conradi THE British human rights campaigner who was sentenced to 17 years in a
Burmese prison for handing out pro-democracy leaflets has described how he was
severely beaten by his guards last weekend for writing "peace" on the wall of
his rat-infested cell.
James Mawdsley, 27, from London, dipped his finger in water and used it to
draw the word metta - peace - and a Christian cross. As the letters faded, the
guards burst in and blows began to rain down.
By the time they left, Mawdsley was lying face down on the floor, covered
in blood. His nose was badly broken and he had two black eyes.
The assault in Keng Tung, 400 miles northeast of Rangoon, the capital, was
the culmination of three days of mistreatment endured by Mawdsley, who was
jailed in August 1999 for distributing "anti-government literature" and entering
the country without a visa, charges he denies.
He is a passionate supporter of Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the
opposition National League for Democracy, who won a landslide victory in 1990
elections but has never been allowed to govern.
Mawdsley told a British diplomat who visited last week that he had been
beaten three times on successive days and handcuffed for 24 hours after
protesting that he had spent more than a year in solitary confinement. His sleep
was also interrupted repeatedly by loud- speakers placed outside his cell.
Last Sunday, after the third assault, a prison officer came to apologise.
"He said I could have whatever I wanted if I said it was an accident," Mawdsley
told Karen Williams, the British vice-consul. "Of course, I refused."
The guards had then started boiling his food, adding so much salt that it
was virtually inedible. Mawdsley claimed he could also taste disinfectant.
Williams said his resolve appeared unbroken despite his ordeal. "It was a
shock to see how badly he was beaten up, but otherwise he was in excellent
spirits," she said. "He's very strong. He's totally committed to the plight of
the Burmese."
Mawdsley was forced to talk to her from inside a glass box built for him in
the corner of the jail's main interview room. He said his first beating came at
9.30am on September 21. Angry that he had been denied a radio and contact with
fellow prisoners, he wrote "solitary confinement is inhumane" and "release all
political prisoners" on the walls. Then he rattled the door of his cell.
Less than a minute later, about 15 guards and other men burst in, he said.
Five were armed with 3ft wooden clubs, one of which was bound with rubber.
"Before a word was spoken, one of them laid into me," he said. "I stayed on
my feet. I was only a bit sore afterwards, but I wondered briefly whether my
left arm was broken."
The next day, undeterred, he wrote more messages on the wall and again
banged on his door. Again, he was beaten. The guards also confiscated his books
and set up loudspeakers, which began blaring music at 4am.
The third attack was the most damaging. "I was hit on the head, then
smashed forward on the face," Mawdsley said. "There was a lot of blood but they
kept beating me."
Ten minutes later a medical orderly brought a bucket of water so he could
clean himself up. He was denied his hour of daily exercise and handcuffed.
The Foreign Office has complained to Burma over what Robin Cook, the
foreign secretary, called an "outrageous violation of his human rights".
This weekend the United Nations Commission on Human Rights added its voice.
The UN's working group on arbitrary detention told the Burmese government that
Mawdsley had been subjected to 10 violations of international law. Its
intervention came after an appeal organised by the Jubilee Campaign, a British
group working for his release.
The British embassy is helping to organise a "final special appeal" against
Mawdsley's conviction. Two earlier appeals have been rejected.
His mother, Diana Mawdsley, a nurse from Durham who last saw him in
November - travelled to Keng Tung last month for a visit. However, her son was
unwilling to meet her unless the prison authorities allowed him to leave the
glass box. They refused.
After hearing of the beating, she said she was prepared to meet him "under
whatever terms". But her visa runs out on Tuesday and it was not clear yesterday
whether the regime would extend it.
A recent intensification of the Burmese government's campaign against Suu
Kyi has added to her fears. "I try to keep my tears to myself," she said. "It's
better to keep a bit of starch on the upper lip. I'm not at all confident any
longer about James's release."
Bangkok Post - Oct 1,
2000.
BORDER - NSC chief to put foot down over refugees Plans to ask UNHCR to pressure Burma Yuwadee Tunyasiri Thailand is to raise the long-standing problem of Burmese refugees during a
meeting of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva next
week, the National Security Council chief said yesterday.
Kachadpai Burusapatana said he would raise the problem of Burmese refugees
along the western border.
He said he would also take the opportunity to appeal to the UNHCR and Burma
in particular to work closely with Thailand in solving the problem.
The number of Burmese refugees along the western border, in particular, has
increased to about 106,000.
The NSC has made it official policy to send as many refugees as possible
back to their homeland over the next three years, because of security and
economic problems they have caused Thailand for 15 years.
The NSC chief said he was positive Burma and the world community would
address the problem.
"I believe it is time for the parties concerned to act. It is not fair to
Thailand. Even though Burma is not a democratic country, it is not the reason
why these people can't return home. Western countries shouldn't make such a
condition," he said.
Mr Kachadpai was expected to leave Thailand for Geneva last night.
Representatives from 150 countries are to attend the meeting scheduled for
Oct 2-7.
The Maneeloy holding centre in Ratchaburi is to be closed down as soon as
all the Burmese residents are resettled.
There are about 1,800 students in the centre.
Mr Kachadpai said the NSC would co-operate with agencies to ensure they
receive lawful rights and benefits.
The NSC also agreed to grant citizenship to 22,116 descendants of
Vietnamese refugees and legal immigrant status to 1,807 Vietnamese refugees.
Bangkok Post - Oct 1,
2000.
MEKONG CO-OPERATION - Neighbours agree to rules on navigation Trade, tourism to get much-needed boost Bhanravee Tansubhapol Thailand, Burma, Laos and China have agreed to common navigation rules
along the Mekong river, in a move seen as a step closer to promoting trade and
tourism in the region.
Officials from the four nations met in China two weeks ago and agreed to
the draft regulations, which they would present to their respective governments
for approval, a source said.
If agreed, the four would sign a memorandum of understanding in Beijing in
November allowing trade and tourism vessels to cruise freely along the river
from China's Yunnan province, to Burma, Laos and Thailand.
The rules cover six areas: safe navigation, water level management for
cruising, navigation administration, procedures on accident investigation,
search and rescue, and vessel monitoring processes.
Commercial navigation is a component of co-operation under the Quadrangle
Economic Development scheme involving the four countries.
They signed a framework on the issue in Burma in April and assigned
officials to work on detailed plans. It calls for the navigation agreement to be
implemented one year after the signing.
In all 13 ports will be opened along the river-Simao, Jinghong, Menghan and
Guanlei in China; Ban Sai, Xiengkok, Mouangmom, Houaysai and Luang Prabang in
Laos; Wang Jeng and Wang Pong in Burma; and Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong in
Chiang Rai.
The source said China wanted to dig more water navigation channels but the
other three were concerned about environmental damage to their boundaries. The
Chinese proposal could cause flooding in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, the
source added.
Burma and Laos also cited financial difficulties even though a technical
working group would be set up to look into financing.
Thailand and China would get the most benefit from the agreement, but all
upper Mekong countries would benefit in terms of tourism. China also agreed on a
tourism package with Thailand.
Currently, Thailand exports shrimp, animals, jewellery, rubber, machinery,
electrical appliances and car rubber to Yunnan , and imports transmission
shafts, prepared glues, machinery, cigarettes, cut flowers and flower buds.
The Nation - Oct 1,
2000.
Junta Denounced A BURMESE students' group yesterday denounced the harassment of opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi and called for an urgent, meaningful dialogue to pull
the country out of crisis.
The All Burma Students' Democratic Front said it ended its central
committee congress along the Thai-Burmese border last week determined to
continue the struggle against the military dictatorship.
The group pledged support to Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy and
the Committee Representing the People's Parliament, which is pushing for
national reconciliation and democracy.
The group also vowed to mobilise support from local as well as external
forces.
It called on the ruling junta to liftrestrictions on the movements of Suu
Kyi and other NLD leaders.
A tripartite dialogue between the NLD, the ethnic opposition and the junta
is "the only means to end the country's prolonged crisis", the group said. Its
leaders also resolved to develop an independent political organisation, which
would focus on political activities while the group maintains its alliance with
ethnic armed-resistance forces. It also decided to become actively involved in
the anti-drug campaign.
Newly elected chairperson Sai Myint Thu said he is very optimistic about
the group's future as the internal factional and ideological conflicts that had
plagued it have been resolved.
The Nation, Associated Press
The Nation - Oct 1,
2000.
Students' year of living quietly BY JEERAPORN CHAISRI KNOWN for their vocal presence in the Kingdom, Burmese student activists
have been unusually quiet over the past year.
Previously, they could be seen regularly rallying in front of the Burmese
embassy or the United Nations office to mark Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday or
Burma's national day.
But many dissident students have been lying low since a group of Burmese
from the Maneeloy holding centre took 38 people hostage at the embassy in
Bangkok last October - an incident that triggered a Thai clampdown on the
students' activities.
Even the latest harassment of Aung San Suu Kyi, who was physically forced
to return home recently after being prevented from travelling to a party
meeting, has not managed to get Burmese students out onto the streets of
Bangkok.
Have they given up hope for democracy? Soe Aung, foreign affairs director
of the All Burma Students Democratic Front, said the group's activities continue
as usual and nothing has changed.
However, student networks in Burma have recently been meeting near the
Thai-Burma border to seek strategies for a new direction.
"We will not use violent means to fight for democracy," she said, referring
to the embassy incident and an armed hostage-taking at the Ratchaburi regional
hospital by God's Army rebels in January.
"We just want [Burma's military] to talk to the National League of
Democracy's leader. We will never give up," Soe Aung said.
Debbie Stothard, co-ordinator of the Alternative Asean Network on Burma,
said the reason many of the Burmese students' goals cannot be accomplished is
that activists are arrested before they even carry out their protests.
The restrictions on their freedom by Thai authorities have been especially
severe since last October.
At Maneeloy, Burmese students cannot conduct political activities without
running the risk of being sent to the Immigration Detention Centre.
Thai authorities, on the other hand, say their job has become more
difficult since last October, arguing they have had to work harder to maintain
national security and peace.
They say they would like to see the Burmese students either return home
voluntarily or migrate to a third country.
A high-ranking police officer said the authorities do not strictly follow
all of the activities of the Burmese students but focus on the more violent
student groups stationed along the border.
In addition, he said, most Burmese students see a better future in a third
country and do not want to be considered a political risk when they are
screened.
Preecha Raungchan, deputy governor of Ratchaburi province and supervisor of
the Maneeloy centre, said refugees are allowed to conduct any activity except
organise politically. Those who do, he said, will be detained at the Immigration
Detention Centre.
"We have never sent anyone to jail for no reason. If they broke the rules,
they deserved it. Sometimes we can compromise, but they should understand that
Thailand can not be used as a stage to fight for democracy in Burma," said
Preecha.
At the moment, fewer than 1,300 refugees live in the camp and all have
applied for third country asylum. On October 24, about 50 Burmese will be sent
to New Zealand.
The camp might close down soon afterward, if the government and United
Nations High Commission for Refugees continue their policy of sending student
refugees to a third country.
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