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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BURMA RELATED NEWS - DEC - 03, 2000. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HEADLINE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFP - Thai military turns its hand to tourism at
"boot camp for beginners"
AFP - Prominent writer who fled Myanmar now in
Bangkok
AP - Fighting Erupts Along Thailand-Myanmar
Border
Ananova - Rebels 'kill
three Myanmar soldiers'
The Times of India - No religious persecution in Myanmar: Junta
People's Daily - China, Myanmar Sign MOU on
Tourism Cooperation
Bkk Post - Rangoon-backed Wa army moves into
Shan region
Bkk Post - Commentary - Investors 'blamed' for
hostage crises
AsiaWeek - Looking
Back
Sunday, December 3 12:05 PM SGT
Thai military turns its hand to tourism at "boot camp for beginners" LOPBURI, Thailand, Dec 3 (AFP)
- Times may have changed for the Thai military since the tense days of the Cold
War, but no one ever expected its officers to be playing tour guide to
stressed-out Bangkok executives.
An initiative designed to promote the rugged and beautiful countryside, as
well as boost the army's profile, is drawing droves of weekend warriors to army
camps around the country.
Instead of putting young cadets through their paces, military trainers are
teaching tourists how to fire a machine gun, drop into the jungle by parachute
and survive on their wits in the wild.
Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy is well known to every Thai who ever
dreamed of donning a uniform.
Its latest accolade, however, is an award from the Tourism Authority of
Thailand for its successful "boot camp for tourists" in eastern Nakhon Nayok
province.
Another well known military-style holiday camp, the Special Warfare Centre
in the central town of Lopburi, is also fulfilling the dreams of urbanites who
can peel off the business suits, don fatigues, and become a soldier for the
day.
Of the 9,000 tourists who have made the two-hour trip from Bangkok to visit
the centre's museum since it opened a year ago, half have also signed up for the
boot camp.
"We are aiming to promote tourism in the areas where we operate, which will
also boost revenue for the country," said army spokesman Colonel Somkuan
Saengprataranetr.
"It also serves the purpose of strengthening the army's relations with the
Thai people," he told AFP.
To ease themselves into army life, visitors can start off with a terrifying
jump from a 34-foot-high (10 meter) tower, or a parachute descent from a balloon
hovering over the dense jungle.
But the most popular program is the three-day jungle tour package which
takes in canoeing, climbing, shooting and camping, for a fee of 2,500 baht (60
dollars) including food, tent accommodation and all equipment.
"Cadets" start off with a climbing exercise over the rocky, tree-lined
slopes around the camp, move on to mastering map and compass skills, and then
learn how to shoot rounds from a machine gun.
They are also taught how to live rough in the jungle -- hunting wild
animals such as the ferocious wild boar or setting traps for rabbits, squirrels
and birds.
Jungle cooking is also a specialty -- hungry trainees boil up rice from
improvised pots made of sections of split bamboo, and learn how to identify
water vines that carry a precious load of drinking water.
They must also cope with the deadliest animals in the forest -- inductees
are taught how to identify poisonous snakes such as the cobra and how to avoid
and treat their bites.
The idea of opening up army training to civilians was launched in 1998 by
General Surayud Chulanont when he took office as commander in chief of the
army.
The initiative came a year after the baht dived against the dollar at the
start of what was to become a regional financial meltdown.
Thais who could no longer afford to holiday overseas began exploring their
own country.
Beyond the usual destinations of the southern resort towns of Phuket and
Koh Samui, and the hiking haven of Chiang Mai in the cool north, they began to
discover ecotourism destinations further off the beaten track.
The Lopburi Special Warfare Centre and other training grounds became
popular because of their close proximity to the capital Bangkok, said Major
General Adisak Kankaew from the Thai army's tourism promotion committee.
Their weekend packages were reasonably priced compared with traditional
holiday resorts.
The military has been pleased with the number of visitors attracted to the
camps, which are designed to be non-profit operations.
"We have several more areas we are considering promoting to tourists,
including the dog training centre," Adisak said.
Most of the clientele are Thais who visit during the weekends and on school
holidays, but some Japanese and Chinese adventure-seekers are also booking into
the camps.
"It's popular because many people wish they had become soldiers," said one
army trainer who once turned out young officers destined for careers on
Thailand's border regions abutting Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.
"We are very careful with them while they are under our care, we just want
them to have a good experience, and to be able to protect themselves should they
ever need to," he said.
Sunday, December 3 7:05 PM SGT
Prominent writer who fled Myanmar now in Bangkok BANGKOK, Dec 3 (AFP) -
Prominent Myanmar writer Tin Maung Than has fled to Thailand and is in Bangkok,
where he is planning to seek asylum in the West, sources close to the writer
said Sunday.
Friends of Tin Maung Than, a noted intellectual and social commentator,
told AFP he is in hiding in Bangkok, where he is preparing applications for
political asylum in "a western country."
Seeking to escape increasing pressure from the country's military
government, the writer left Myanmar with his family about two weeks ago,
secretly crossing the Myanmar-Thailand land border.
Tin Maung Than, a medical doctor by training, has had several brushes with
Myanmar's censors, particularly in his capacity as editor of a private magazine
entitled "Thinbawa", or "Your Life".
An article where he described the deterioration of Myanmar's education
system since the days of British colonial rule was famously completely censored
from the publication.
But his latest run-in with the junta came several months ago when he became
instrumental in releasing an explosive speech by a government minister who made
a rare public criticism of the junta's economic policies.
And when the junta this month refused him permission to travel to the
United States to begin a PhD, Tim Maung Than decided to skip the country so he
could continue his studies, his friends said.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Bangkok was not available for
comment Sunday but the office has a blanket ban on commenting on individual
applications for political asylum.
Tim Maung Than's writings include novels and educational works, but his
output dropped off in recent months as he came under increasing pressure from
the authorities.
Sunday, December 3 3:45 PM SGT
Fighting Erupts Along Thailand-Myanmar Border MAE SOT, Thailand (AP)--Fighting has flared up along the
Thailand-Myanmar border, with Karen rebels saying Sunday they have killed three
Myanmar soldiers and wounded three others.
The Myanmar army has been stepping up attacks recently against the Karen
National Union, the last major ethnic insurgency group still fighting the
central government.
A KNU spokesman in this border town said rebel troops attacked a Myanmar
light infantry column opposite the Thai province of Kanchanaburi Saturday,
inflicting the casualties and capturing three rifles, ammunition and a compass.
One Karen soldier was seriously wounded in the clash, said the spokesman,
who demanded anonymity.
The military activity stopped a group of foreign and Thai light airplane
enthusiasts from entering Myanmar, also known as Burma, across the Friendship
Bridge from Mae Sot Saturday.
The 26-member group, flying in 20 small private planes, were taking part in
the Winter Tour Rally 2000. They included Thais, Malaysians, Singaporeans,
British and Americans.
Ananova - Dec 03,
2000.
Rebels 'kill three Myanmar soldiers' Fighting has flared up along the Thai-Myanmar border, with Karen rebels
claiming to have killed three Myanmar soldiers and wounded three others.
The Myanmar (Burmase) army has been stepping up attacks recently against
the Karen National Union, the last major ethnic insurgency group still fighting
the central government.
A KNU spokesman said rebel troops attacked a Myanmar light infantry column
opposite the Thai province of Kanchanaburi, inflicting the casualties and
capturing three rifles, ammunition and a compass.
One Karen soldier was seriously wounded in the clash, said the spokesman,
who demanded anonymity.
The military activity stopped a group of foreign and Thai light airplane
enthusiasts from entering Myanmar, also known as Burma, across the Friendship
Bridge from Mae Sot.
The 26-member group, flying in 20 small private planes, were taking part in
the Winter Tour Rally 2000. They included Thais, Malaysians, Singaporeans,
British and Americans.
The Times of India - Dec 03,
2000.
No religious persecution in Myanmar: Junta YANGON: A key leader has denied there is religious persecution in the
military-run country and blamed domestic and foreign groups for spreading such
accusations, state newspapers said on Saturday.
"The state is rendering assistance and protection to all in ensuring
religious freedom in the country. Religious freedom is flourishing," Gen Khin
Nyunt told a Baptist conference on Friday.
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom last July described
Myanmar, also known as Burma, as "a land lacking in religious freedom and a
country of particular concern."
Other human rights groups have reported discrimination against Christians
and Muslims in the predominantly Buddhist country which has been under harsh
military rule for nearly four decades.
"Anti-government groups within and outside the country are trying to weaken
national unity and diminish peace prospects by launching accusations that there
is religious persecution and racial discrimination in Myanmar," said the
general, who sits on the ruling State Peace and Development Council.
Khin Nyunt spoke at the 83rd annual general meeting of the Karen Baptist
Convention. He urged Karen religious leaders to achieve total peace in their
region. The rugged Thailand-Myanmar border area harbours the Karen National
Union, the last major ethnic insurgent group still fighting the government. Many
Karen are Christians.(AP)
People's Daily
Saturday, December 02, 2000, updated at 18:54(GMT+8) Business - China, Myanmar Sign MOU on Tourism Cooperation China and Myanmar reached a memorandum of understanding (MOU) Saturday,
December 2, on the implementation plan for outbound travel by Chinese citizens
to Myanmar.
The MOU between the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and the
Myanmar Ministry of Hotels and Tourism was signed by visiting Vice Chairman of
CNTA Sun Gang and Myanmar Deputy Minister of Hotels and Tourism Brigadier
General Aye Myint Kyu.
Attending the MOU signing ceremony were Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Liang
Dong and Myanmar Minister of Hotels and Tourism Major General Saw Lwin.
According to the MOU, both sides agreed that the approval of Myanmar as an
official outbound destination country for Chinese citizens travelling abroad at
their own expense by the Chinese Government is the result of the joint concern
and encouragement from the state leaders of both countries.
The relevant departments of both countries must conduct this business in a
meticulous way to ensure that the business will develop in a healthy and orderly
direction from the very beginning, the MOU said.
On the Chinese side, the business of outbound travel by Chinese citizens to
Myanmar will be handled by the 66 designated travel agencies, which have been
authorized by CNTA to conduct outbound travel by Chinese citizens, and the
Myanmar side will recommend to the Chinese side an appropriate number of law
abiding, creditable and competent travel agencies as land operators for handling
Chinese tour groups to Myanmar, the MOU stated.
The tourism administrative departments of both countries will be
responsible for the management and supervision of their respective travel
agencies, and for protecting the legal rights of tourists, and severe punishment
should be applied to travel agencies violating tourist interests, the MOU
stressed.
The cross-border travel by Chinese citizens to Myanmar will be managed
according to this MOU as of the date when the outbound travel by Chinese
citizens to Myanmar at their own expense is officially started, it added.
Sun Gang, who led a five-member China National Tourism Administration
delegation, arrived here Friday evening for a four-day visit to Myanmar.
According to official statistics, there are 492 hotels, motels and inns
with nearly 14,000 rooms in Myanmar, earning over 30 million U.S. dollars
annually.
A total of 151,970 foreign tourists visited Myanmar in the first eight
months of this year, of which 1,938 were from China.
Bangkok Post - Dec 03, 2000.
BORDER - Rangoon-backed Wa army moves into Shan region Five battalions enter area rich with opium Subin Khuenkaew and Wassana Nanuam Five battalions of the Rangoon-backed United Wa State Army have been moving
into an area under the influence of the Shan State Army opposite Chiang Mai and
Mae Hong Son provinces, a Shan source said.
About 1500 troops of the 171st Wa Regiment under Wei Hseuh-kang left Mong
Yawn on 45 trucks on Nov 29 for the border area opposite Wiang Haeng district of
Chiang Mai and Pai district of Mae Hong Son.
The Pha Muang Task Force of the Third Army has kept the movement under
watch. It is believed the Wa army wants to expand its influence into the
Shan-controlled area including Mong Pan, Mong Tha and Mong Ton, opposite Chiang
Mai's Wiang Haeng district, which are full of opium plantations.
The Wa army wanted to take the area without fighting, the source
said.
During the past year the Shan army had tried to show that it did not want
to get involved in production of narcotic drugs. Troops had even attacked drug
production plants of the Muser and Wa tribes, annoying the Wa army. On Nov 20
Shan troops raided a methamphetamine storage area, arrested six Muser and
Burmese troops and seized 200,000 speed pills.
Burma believed it was the work of Thai soldiers and a clash between troops
of the 359th Battalion and Thailand's Third Cavalry Battalion at Ban Pasang
Na-ngern ensued in which two Thai rangers were wounded and a Burmese soldier
killed.
The tension eased after Lt-Col Myo Chit, commander of the 359th Battalion,
apologised for the misunderstanding.
Meanwhile, the Third Army Region commander said Burma's resettlement of
drug-producing Wa tribespeople along border areas increases the drug threat to
Thailand.
Lt-Gen Wattanachai Chaimuanwong said Burma had resettled the tribespeople
under the United Wa State Army in areas taken over from minority rebels in the
annual dry-season offensive.
He said this would make it more difficult to prevent drug smuggling,
especially into Tak, Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son provinces.
Lt-Gen Wattanachai said Burma plans to replace minority groups along the
border with Burmese troops and Wa tribespeople to beef up border security.
A source said problems affecting relations between Thailand and Burma had
forced the postponement of the Thai-Burmese Regional Border Committee meetings
scheduled for April last year and this year.
The meeting is usually co-chaired by Thailand's commander of the Third Army
Region and Burma's commander of the Southwest Army Region.
In another development, the army recently conducted an opinion poll among
people in the Phop Phra, Mae Ramat, Muang and Sam Ngao districts of Tak.
Most of those polled wanted the military to help stem the spread of drugs
across the border as it was reported two or three more methamphetamine plants
had been set up in Myawaddy, opposite Mae Sot district of Tak.
Bangkok Post - Dec 03,
2000.
Commentary - Investors 'blamed' for hostage crises Thongbai Thongpao The long-standing problem of illegitimate foreign labour in Thailand became
even more alarming when nine Burmese inmates took a number of officials of Samut
Sakhon jail hostage in a desperate bid to escape to the Burmese border. The
prisoners were eventually ambushed by a Thai commando team and all of them were
killed. One hostage, a chaplain, also lost his life while the jail commander was
critically injured.
This is the third serious crime caused by Burmese in a couple of years, the
others being the hostage crisis at the Burmese embassy in Bangkok and the
seizure of Ratchaburi Hospital.
Normally, Thailand is regarded as the most peaceful country in Southeast
Asia. Thus, people from less settled countries often take refuge here.
When the Vietnamese fought for independence from France and during the war
with America, many of them took refuge in Thailand.
Some became Thai citizens while others eventually returned or moved on.
Likewise when the Laotians and Cambodians fought for independence from
France.
Apart from these, there were also refugees from the North, such as
hilltribesmen, Shans and Kuomintang soldiers in Thailand. Meanwhile, Chinese
terrorists from Malaysia caused trouble in the south.
Unrest caused by refugees usually ends when calm is restored in their own
countries and they can return home.
At present, the only problem is in the provinces along the Thai-Burmese
border.
As Burma does not have democratic rule, the people are suppressed and their
human rights violated. The minorities, be they Hmong, Karen or Shans, are often
exploited and mistreated by the ruling junta. This suppression and disrespect
for human rights has led to sporadic fighting against the tyrants. Cruel
suppression, coupled with failure to solve economic problems, has caused
unemployment and hunger, forcing the people to enter Thailand. By the same
token, as Thailand industrialises, it is in dire need of cheap labour.
Many investors especially prefer Burmese workers because, apart from being
cheap, they are usually easy to control. Also, there are no welfare costs and
the workers dare not protest about conditions for fear of being deported.
As such, there have been repeated calls for relaxations in the law which
have sometimes been successful.
According to news reports, Burmese workers have caused a lot of trouble and
commit a lot of crimes. They kill among themselves, and sometimes their
employers. The three incidents only highlight this long-standing problem.
In the most recent incidents, the police used full force against the
terrorists to set an example but they did not win any praise from the
international community.
After the latest incident, many parties called on the authorities to review
their policy on foreign labour. But in my view, the problem cannot be solved
unilaterally because its root is Burma itself. As long as the country violates
human rights, ignores democracy, and fails to solve its economic problems, its
people will have no choice but to run away to Thailand.
The most effective solution to this problem lies in the hands of Burma. If
its problems are solved, the Burmese people will not run away from their country
and those who have already done so will return.
In the meantime, investors must stop relying on this cheap, illegitimate
labour, especially since it might be used as an excuse for non-tariff trade
barriers against Thai exports in the future.
Above all, politicians must not embrace the use of these illegitimate
labourers even if their supporters, the businessmen, are the very same people
who benefit from the situation.
I plead with the politicians and businessmen to forsake their benefits for
once and act in the best interests of the country to maintain peace and
order.
ASIAWEEK
DECEMBER 8 , 2000 VOL. 26 NO. 46 | Looking Back A Democracy Stillborn: RANGOON, SEPTEMBER 1988 The accidental tourist was horrified. Arriving in Burma in April to visit
her dying mother, London-based academic Aung San Suu Kyi was confronted by a
country in turmoil. Fed up with the iron rule of 26-year-long dictator Ne Win,
who had helped transform a democratic and prosperous nation into a Stalinesque
economic basketcase, students had begun to fight back. Minor uprisings over the
years had been forcefully put down. But this time monks and even government
workers joined the students. Suddenly, the entire country was on the verge of
anarchy.
As demonstrations spread, the government seemed to bend to the public will.
In July Ne Win stepped down, but then installed a hated deputy, Sein Lwin. He
imposed martial law the next month, but unrest merely multiplied. On 8/8/88 —
now known as Burma's version of the Chinese crackdown on student protesters in
Tiananmen Square — a general strike ended just before midnight when soldiers
fired on thousands of unarmed protesters. Days later, they killed nurses and
doctors treating the wounded. In the confusion, Sein Lwin resigned and was
replaced by a civilian, Maung Maung.
Meanwhile, a loose collection of pro-democracy leaders had emerged, among
them Suu Kyi. Mindful of her father's role as Burma's independence leader
(students hold his photograph, left), Suu Kyi addressed her first gathering of
up to 500,000 protesters. But the new hope she fostered died quickly. By Sept.
18, when army chief Gen. Saw Maung declared a military coup and the birth of the
State Law and Order Res-toration Council (SLORC), about 8,000 Burmese had been
murdered by the state.
Promised multiparty elections finally were held in 1990. Suu Kyi's National
League for Democracy won 80% of the vote, despite the fact that she had been
placed under house arrest in1989 and disqualified from standing. No matter. The
SLORC continued to rule anyway.
The accidental tourist, awarded the Nobel peace prize in 1991, is still in
the country of her birth. Determined that her poll victory be recognized, she
has rarely been free of house arrest. Burma has been renamed Myanmar. The SLORC
has become the State Peace and Development Council. But the generals still
rule. |