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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BURMA RELATED NEWS - January - 10, 2001. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HEADLINE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFP - Treat Aung San Suu Kyi as leader not
"little sister," Albright warns Myanmar
AFP - UN says Aung San Suu Kyi met Myanmar junta
leader "more than once"
Reuters - Myanmar
Government, Suu Kyi in Direct Talks,
AFP - Major events since the 1988 Myanmar army
crackdown
AFP - Talks between Myanmar junta, Aung San Suu
Kyi draw kudos abroad
AP - Suu Kyi's Party,
Welcomes Talks
Reuters - Thailand arrests aide of Myanmar drug
lord Khun Sa
AP - Suu Kyi's party, foreign governments
welcome `historic' talks
AFP - New hopes for Myanmar after junta meets
with Aung San Suu Kyi
AP - US Drug Suspect Arrested in Thailand
Xinhua - Tension Along Bangladesh-Myanmar Border
Escalated
The Times of India - Mahathir praises Myanmar junta on return from visit
The Star - Green light for workers from Myanmar
and Nepal
Wednesday, January 10 3:00 AM SGT
Treat Aung San Suu Kyi as leader not "little sister," Albright warns Myanmar WASHINGTON, Jan 9 (AFP) -
Myanmar's junta must treat opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi as a political
leader not as a "little sister" when it meets her for talks, Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright warned Tuesday.
Albright told reporters that she welcomed the announcement that a secret
dialogue had been taking place since October between the opposition leader and
Nobel laureate and the core of generals that rule Myanmar, the former
Burma.
"One of the things that we have wanted to have is the establishment of such
a dialogue," she said.
"Obviously this is something that we will have to see where it leads and
whether it is a genuine dialogue."
The Secretary of State, a consistent supporter of Aung San Suu Kyi, warned
however that the military must not be allowed to submit the opposition leader to
"patronizing and cruel conversations that were evident when I was there."
"She needs to be respected as a political leader and not as, what was
explained to me, as a 'little sister' that they have to take care of by keeping
her in her house."
Albright, who visited Myanmar while US Ambassador to the United Nations in
September 1995, said she was called by United Nations Secretary General Kofi
Annan on Monday to inform her of the dialogue.
She said she believed it was "extremely useful" that UN envoy Razali Ismail
was taking an "active role" in brokering dialogue in Myanmar.
UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said Tuesday that Secretary General Kofi Annan
"reiterates his call for the two sides to seize the momentum and work for
national reconciliation."
Razali left Yangon on Tuesday after a five-day visit during which he held
talks with government officials and with Aung San Suu Kyi.
He reported that more substantial discussions between the opposition and
Aung San Suu Kyi were expected to start shortly.
The United States has been one of the most consistent supporters of Aung
San Suu Kyi, and vilifies the junta which refused to hand over power when her
National League for Democracy won a landslide election victory in 1990.
Earlier Tuesday, Razali gave the first concrete sign of an easing of
Myanmar's tortured political climate, as he arrived in Kuala Lumpur after flying
in from Yangon.
"There have been talks between Aung San Suu Kyi and the Myanmar government
which started towards the end of last year," Razali told AFP.
Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, the junta's first secretary and powerful
chief of military intelligence, met with Aung San Suu Kyi at least once last
month, diplomatic sources in Bangkok and Myanmar's capital Yangon said.
A second meeting scheduled with the Nobel peace laureate may have taken
place over the last few days.
Diplomats said the preliminary talks, which "went well," were aimed at
building the framework for a landmark dialogue, the first since 1994, that could
end a decade of political deadlock.
The breakthrough is largely credited to Razali, who Tuesday left Yangon at
the end of his third mission to the country since he was appointed in
April.
The "Razali initiative" comes at a time when the junta, despite enjoying
total control over the country, is under increasing pressure from a range of
influences from abroad.
Wednesday, January 10 3:16 AM SGT
UN says Aung San Suu Kyi met Myanmar junta leader "more than once" UNITED NATIONS, Jan 9 (AFP) -
The UN's special envoy to Myanmar reports that opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi has met the military junta leader "more than once," a UN spokesman said
Tuesday.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's envoy, Razali Ismail, left Yangon on
Tuesday after a five-day visit during which he held talks with government
officials and with Aung San Suu Kyi.
Annan's spokesman, Fred Eckhard, said Razali met separately with Aung San
Suu Kyi and with Lt. General Khin Nyunt, first secretary of the ruling State
Peace and Development Council (SPDC).
Razali confirmed that the government and the opposition "had started a
direct dialogue since last October," Eckhard said.
Stephane Dujarric, an associate spokesman, said the dialogue included a
direct meeting between Aung San Suu Kyi and General Khin.
Asked for details, he replied "we don't have dates, but they met more than
once."
Tuesday January 9 4:02 PM ET
Myanmar Government, Suu Kyi in Direct Talks, By Irwin Arieff UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -
Myanmar's military government and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi have
held initial direct talks and are expected to soon open more substantive
discussions, a U.N. spokesman said on Tuesday.
Word of the direct dialogue was a major step forward for Suu Kyi, a Nobel
prize winner who has undergone years of isolation and harassment for her
pro-democracy activism.
The U.N. announcement was made shortly after U.N. special envoy to Myanmar
Razali Ismail ended a five-day visit to Myanmar, formerly known as Burma,
telling diplomats he was optimistic that the political deadlock between the
military government and pro-democracy opposition could thaw.
U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said Secretary-General Kofi Annan (news - web
sites) had been encouraged to learn that Razali during his visit ''was able to
confirm that the two sides had started a direct dialogue since last October and
that they were satisfied with the results achieved so far in the area of
confidence building.''
``The two sides are expected to start more substantive discussions
shortly,'' Eckhard added.
Another U.N. spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, later said Suu Kyi's talks to
date had been with Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt, a top member of the ruling
State Peace and Development Council.
Razali, a Malaysian diplomat appointed as Annan's special representative,
met Suu Kyi twice during his visit. He also held talks with Nyunt and Myanmar
Foreign Minister Win Aung. His mission coincided with a week-long visit to
Myanmar by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
First Contact In Three Months
``The secretary-general reiterates his call for the two sides to seize the
momentum and work to achieve national reconciliation in Myanmar at an early
date. He also appeals to the international community to continue to support the
ongoing process of dialogue,'' Eckhard said.
Razali's meetings with Suu Kyi were her first contact with an outside
visitor in nearly three months.
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won elections in 1990 by a
landslide but the party has never been allowed to govern.
Myanmar's government has faced international condemnation for its treatment
of Suu Kyi and the NLD.
But Malaysia has been one of its strongest allies, insisting that Myanmar
should be left to resolve the political deadlock without external
intervention.
In a controversial move, Myanmar was admitted to the Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1997.
Some ASEAN countries, in particular Thailand, are increasingly frustrated
with the political isolation that Myanmar's membership has imposed on the bloc,
and are pressing for outside mediation.
But Malaysia has been a staunch defender of ASEAN's code of
non-interference in the internal affairs of other members.
Wednesday, January 10 1:24 PM SGT
Major events since the 1988 Myanmar army crackdown YANGON, Jan 10 (AFP) -
Following are the major events in the history of Myanmar's pro-democracy
movement since the military crackdown 10 years ago:
1988
Aug 8: Mass demonstrations demanding an end to the military dictatorship in
place since 1962 are staged across the country after months of turmoil. Troops
open fire on the crowds, leaving hundreds or thousands dead according to
different estimates. Violence spreads over five days, with security forces also
coming under attack in some areas.
Aug 12: Confronted by the mounting chaos, General Sein Lwin quits the
leadership after just 18 days in his post, to be replaced by lawyer and writer
Maung Maung. Protests continue.
Sept 18: Military takes charge with the creation of the State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC), which authorises the creation of opposition parties
after 26 years of monopoly rule by the Burma Socialist Programme party.
Sept 30: National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi,
daughter of independence hero Aung San, is formed.
1989
July 20: Aung San Suu Kyi is placed under house arrest.
1990
May 27: NLD bags 392 out of 485 seats in parliamentary elections. Junta
refuses to recognise the results and hand over power.
1991
Sept 15: Government in exile formed at Mannerplaw on the Thai border.
Oct 14: Aung San Suu Kyi wins Nobel Peace Prize.
1992
April 23: General Saw Maung resigns as head of SLORC and is replaced by
General Than Shwe. In succeeding months, the junta frees some 500 political
prisoners.
Aug 24: Universities closed since the protests reopen.
Sept 26: Martial law in force since 1988 is lifted.
1993
Jan 9: National convention for drafting a new constitution opens.
1994
Sept/Oct: Talks held between Aung San Suu Kyi and junta number one and
three, Senior General Than Shwe and Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt.
1995
July 10: Aung San Suu Kyi is released after six years under house
arrest.
Nov 28: The NLD refuses to take part in a new session of the national
convention.
1996
May 25: Some 10,000 supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi march in Rangoon in the
biggest demonstration since 1990.
June 7: Junta declares opposition rallies "illegal."
Dec 9: Student demonstrators demand setting up of unions and freeing of
detained comrades.
1997
April 22: The United States bans all new investment in Myanmar. On April
29, The European Union extends sanctions.
May 27: Hundreds of police prevent the holding of an NLD congress at Aung
San Suu Kyi's home.
July 23: Myanmar admitted into the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations.
Nov 15: The junta announces SLORC has been replaced by the State Peace and
Development Council.
1998
June 24: Aung San Suu Kyi gives an ultimatum to the junta demanding that
the parliament elected in 1990 -- which has never met -- be convened by Aug
21.
July 24-30: The junta prevents Aung San Suu Kyi from visiting NLD members.
Her car is blocked 26 kilometres (nine miles) from Yangon, forcing her to return
home.
July 30: Aung San Suu Kyi declares she would keep defying the authorities
and encourages her supporters to keep up resistance.
Aug 8: The anniversary of the 1988 unrest passes without incident. The
following day, 18 foreigners are arrested in Yangon for distributing
pro-democracy pamphlets and are later deported.
Sept 16: NLD sets up the Committee Representing Peoples Parliament,
resulting in a renewed crackdown on dissent by the junta.
1999
Sept 9: Efforts by exiled dissidents to spark another uprising, dubbed the
"Four Nines Movement," after the day, month and year, meet with little
success.
Oct 1: Dissident gunmen take over Myanmar embassy in Bangkok, taking nearly
40 hostages. The crisis ends 24-hours later, after Thai authorities bow to
demands for a helicopter to the Thai-Myanmar border.
2000:
April: Malaysian diplomat Razali Ismail named new UN envoy to Myanmar,
charged with reinvigorating efforts to achieve national reconciliation.
Aug 24: Aung San Suu Kyi faces off military authorities in a town outside
Yangon. She sparked the stand-off when she left Yangon for a meeting with the
party's youth wing in the outlying town of Kawhmu, in defiance of an order which
confines her to the capital.
Sept 2: Military authorities announce that Aung San Suu Kyi had been
"escorted" home and raid the NLD headquarters, placing senior members under
house arrest.
Sept 22: Aung San Suu Kyi placed under house arrest again after attempting
to travel to the northern city of Mandalay on party business with senior NLD
members.
2001:
Jan 9: Myanmar's junta has held secret top-level talks with Aung San Suu
Kyi, UN envoy Razali Ismail says as sources tell AFP the two sides are poised to
begin an historic dialogue.
Wednesday, January 10 1:18 PM SGT
Talks between Myanmar junta, Aung San Suu Kyi draw kudos abroad BANGKOK, Jan 10 (AFP) - The
international community Wednesday welcomed the start of historic contacts
between Myanmar's junta and the opposition led by Aung San Suu Kyi, and urged
both sides to work towards national reconciliation.
The United Nations confirmed that Aung San Suu Kyi has held several
meetings with a top junta general, as signs emerged that they were poised to
begin an official dialogue that could end a decade of political stalemate.
"There have been talks between Aung San Suu Kyi and the Myanmar government
which started towards the end of last year," UN envoy Razali Ismail, the broker
of the secret talks, told AFP.
Razali left Yangon Tuesday at the end of his third mission to Myanmar where
he had been striving to bring the bitter adversaries together for the first time
since 1994.
UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said Secretary General Kofi Annan was "encouraged
to learn that during his mission, Mr Razali was able to confirm that the two
sides had started a direct dialogue since last October."
Annan "reiterates his call for the two sides to seize the momentum and work
for national reconciliation."
Eckhard said Razali had reported "they were satisfied with the results
achieved so far in the area of confidence-building."
"The two sides are expected to start more substantive discussions
shortly."
During his five-day visit Razali met with top government officials and was
twice permitted to see Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest since
September 22.
Eckard said the meetings were the Nobel laureate's first contact with an
outside visitor in nearly three months.
US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright welcomed news of the secret
meetings and applauded the role played by Razali, a veteran Malaysian diplomat
who has won the confidence of both sides on Myanmar's political divide.
"One of the things that we have wanted to have is the establishment of such
a dialogue," she said.
"Obviously this is something that we will have to see where it leads and
whether it is a genuine dialogue."
Albright warned the generals must treat Aung San Suu Kyi as a political
leader when they finally meet with her and not as a "little sister" -- one of
their many derogatory terms for the Nobel peace laureate.
The Secretary of State, a consistent supporter of Aung San Suu Kyi, said
the military must not be allowed to submit the opposition leader to "patronizing
and cruel conversations that were evident when I was there."
Albright, who visited Myanmar while serving as US Ambassador to the United
Nations in September 1995, said she believed it was "extremely useful" that
Razali was taking an "active role" in brokering dialogue in Myanmar.
The "Razali initiative" comes at a time when the junta, despite enjoying
total control over the country, is under increasing pressure from a range of
influences.
As the generals' rule stretches into a second decade, it is becoming harder
to justify their continuing grip on power and assertions their "temporary"
regime will one day hand over to a democratic government.
Pressure is also being brought to bear by the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations, which Myanmar joined in 1997 with the sponsorship of
Malaysia.
As the weight of sanctions and poor economic management threaten to bring
the country to its knees, many observers believe the junta may at last be
willing to countenance some sort of change.
Diplomats in Bangkok and Yangon said the secret meetings, which "went
well," were aimed at building the framework for a landmark official dialogue
which is expected to touch on a range of political and economic issues.
"They are discussing the subjects that they will develop," one source said
of the contacts between the opposition National League for Democracy and the
ruling State Peace and Development Council.
Wednesday January 10 6:50 AM ET
Suu Kyi's Party, Welcomes Talks YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -
Opposition and human rights groups on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of
face-to-face reconciliation talks between pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi
and Myanmar's military rulers.
A senior Suu Kyi colleague said both sides must avoid provocations that
could harm the dialogue. The United Nations on Tuesday revealed the existence of
the talks, which had been going on in secret since October.
The talks are a major development in the bitter relation between the
opposition and the junta, which took power in 1988. Suu Kyi's National League
for Democracy was formed two weeks later, and she won the Nobel Peace Prize in
1991.
In 1990, the NLD won in a landslide in general elections, but the military
refused to acknowledge the results and yield power. The regime routinely arrests
and harasses NLD members.
From 1989-1995, Suu Kyi was under house arrest, and her movements were
heavily restricted thereafter. Junta leaders last met with her in late 1994. She
has been forced to stay in her Yangon home since Sept. 22, after she tried to
travel outside the city on party business.
U.N. officials announced the talks were going on after U.N. envoy Razali
Ismail concluded a five-day mission to Myanmar, also known as Burma, to meet
both sides.
U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said Razali reported that the sides are
``satisfied with the results achieved so far in the area of confidence
building'' and are expected to start more substantive discussions soon.
``This is what we have been working for and since it has begun, the
responsibility now is bigger on both sides,'' said U Lwin, an NLD executive
committee member. ``Both sides have to be careful not to do anything to derail
the process of confidence building.''
He said the NLD has noted that there have been no provocative articles in
government newspapers in recent days. Therefore, ``we decided not to do anything
to irritate the authorities,'' he said.
Suu Kyi took part in some of the talks with Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, Secretary
One of the State Peace and Development Council, as the junta is known, U.N.
spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
``It's a historic breakthrough,'' Sonny Mahinder of the Thailand-based
dissident group, the All Burma Students' Democratic Front, told The Associated
Press in Bangkok.
Chaiyachoke Chulasirwongs, an expert on Myanmar at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn
University, said the generals were likely motivated by the prospect of more
foreign aid if they started a dialogue with Suu Kyi - a condition sought by key
donors such as Japan.
The news was also hailed by foreign governments, including neighboring
Thailand and Singapore, the largest foreign investor in Myanmar.
But the United States urged caution. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
said in Washington that Suu Kyi must be respected by the regime as a political
leader, not a ``little sister'' under their guard.
WIRE
Thailand arrests aide of Myanmar drug lord Khun Sa BANGKOK, Jan 10 (Reuters) -
Thai police said on Wednesday they had detained a close aide of Golden Triangle
drug baron Khun Sa six years after the United States issued a request for his
extradition.
Yang Wan-Hsuan, better known as Lao Tai, was arrested by anti-narcotics
police officers in the northern province of Chiang Rai on Tuesday, police said
in a statement. Lao Tai was charged by a New York City court with conspiracy to
traffic drugs to the United States, the statement said.
National police chief Pornsak Durongkaviboon told a news conference Lao Tai
was one of the 20 members of Khun Sa"s drug syndicate which the United States
had issued extradition requests for in late 1994. Pornsak said a Thai court
would decide on the U.S. government extradition request. Pornsak said the police
so far had arrested 13 of the 20 and were still searching for the other seven,
including Khun Sa.
Khun Sa was for years based in a remote region on the Myanmar side of the
Thai-Myanmar border. He surrendered to the Myanmar government at the end of 1995
and has been living in the capital Yangon. Khun Sa was reported to have given up
the drugs trade after his surrender but Thai narcotics suppression agencies have
said there were signs he might have returned to the business.
Myanmar is one of the world"s biggest producers of opium, and its refined
form heroin. Its military rulers have been accused by the United States of
turning a blind eye to the drug trade.
The Thai police statement alleged Lao Tai was responsible for Khun Sa"s
financial affairs, including heroin trafficking and logging along the
Thai-Myanmar border before Khun Sa"s surrender. Lao Tai, believed to have both
Myanmar and Chinese nationality, had kept in touch with Khun Sa, said William
Snipes, a U.S. anti-narcotics official based at the U.S. embassy in Bangkok. "He
is a very important person in the Khun Sa organisation," Snipes told reporters.
Snipes said the arrest of members of Khun Sa"s organisation had helped cut the
flow of heroin from Southeast Asia to the United States. He did not give
figures.
WIRE
Suu Kyi's party, foreign governments welcome `historic' talks YANGON, Myanmar (AP) _
Opposition and human rights groups on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of
face-to-face reconciliation talks between pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi
and Myanmar"s military rulers.
A senior Suu Kyi colleague said both sides must avoid provocations that
could harm the dialogue. The United Nations on Tuesday revealed the existence of
the talks, which had been going on in secret since October.
The talks are a major development in the bitter relation between the
opposition and the junta, which took power in 1988. Suu Kyi"s National League
for Democracy was formed two weeks later, and she won the Nobel Peace Prize in
1991. In 1990, the NLD won in a landslide in general elections, but the military
refused to acknowledge the results and yield power.
The regime routinely arrests and harasses NLD members. From 1989-1995, Suu
Kyi was under house arrest, and her movements were heavily restricted
thereafter. Junta leaders last met with her in late 1994. She has been forced to
stay in her Yangon home since Sept. 22, after she tried to travel outside the
city on party business.
U.N. officials announced the talks were going on after U.N. envoy Razali
Ismail concluded a five-day mission to Myanmar, also known as Burma, to meet
both sides. U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said Razali reported that the sides are
"satisfied with the results achieved so far in the area of confidence building"
and are expected to start more substantive discussions soon.
"This is what we have been working for and since it has begun, the
responsibility now is bigger on both sides," said U Lwin, an NLD executive
committee member. "Both sides have to be careful not to do anything to derail
the process of confidence building." He said the NLD has noted that there have
been no provocative articles in government newspapers in recent days. Therefore,
"we decided not to do anything to irritate the authorities," he said. Suu Kyi
took part in some of the talks with Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, Secretary One of the
State Peace and Development Council, as the junta is known, U.N. spokesman
Stephane Dujarric said.
"It"s a historic breakthrough," Sonny Mahinder of the Thailand-based
dissident group, the All Burma Students" Democratic Front, told The Associated
Press in Bangkok. Chaiyachoke Chulasirwongs, an expert on Myanmar at Bangkok"s
Chulalongkorn University, said the generals were likely motivated by the
prospect of more foreign aid if they started a dialogue with Suu Kyi _ a
condition sought by key donors such as Japan.
The news was also hailed by foreign governments, including neighboring
Thailand and Singapore, the largest foreign investor in Myanmar. But the United
States urged caution. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said in Washington
that Suu Kyi must be respected by the regime as a political leader, not a
"little sister" under their guard.
Wednesday, January 10 4:04 PM SGT
New hopes for Myanmar after junta meets with Aung San Suu Kyi BANGKOK, Jan 10 (AFP) - As
Myanmar's generals and their nemesis Aung San Suu Kyi sketch out plans for a
landmark dialogue, observers are cautiously optimistic that the process of
national reconciliation has now begun.
However, they caution that doubts remain over the sincerity of the brutal
regime, and the views of its formidable opponent who has been under house arrest
and out of touch with the outside world since September 22.
News that the opposition leader has held secret meetings with the junta's
powerful number three Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt, paving the way for the
start of an historic dialogue, raised hopes the Nobel peace laureate would soon
be freed.
But observers, who marvelled at the military's ability to keep the process
under wraps until now, said the military was unlikely to jeopardise it at such a
delicate stage by throwing it open to international scrutiny.
"This is the first time they've been in direct contact with her for an
exended period about political changes. I think they very much want it to
continue," one diplomat said.
On the other hand, they may come under pressure to relax the restrictions
as a gesture of goodwill and a sign that it is serious about embarking on a
substantive dialogue for the first time since 1994.
"These talks are long overdue, we look upon them with optimism," said
Debbie Stothard, spokeswoman for the umbrella rights group Altsean-Burma.
"But further negotiations will be hampered by the fact that most of the NLD
(National League for Democracy) leadership remains in detention, either under
house arrest or in military camps.
"One would normally expect effective talks to take place when the key
players are free to meet and discuss the issues."
Sources close to the talks have told AFP the regime's leading critics among
the international community were asked to exercise discretion as United Nations
envoy Razali Ismail went about brokering the secret talks.
Observers in the capital Yangon say the official media's vicious daily
attacks and personal insults aimed at the opposition leader have also tailed off
in recent months.
The initiatives were believed to be part of Razali's strategy to ease the
bitter mistrust between the two sides, in a confidence building process that has
apparently met with success.
Razali, who was appointed UN special envoy to Myanmar in April, left Yangon
Tuesday after a five-day mission where he met with Aung San Suu Kyi and top
members of the junta.
"There have been talks between Aung San Suu Kyi and the Myanmar government
which started towards the end of last year," the veteran Malaysian diplomat told
AFP after arriving home to Kuala Lumpur.
As the international community, led by UN chief Kofi Annan and US Secretary
of State Madeleine Albright, welcomed the contacts and urged both sides to work
towards national reconciliation, the junta remained silent Wednesday.
However, observers said that all the factions within the ruling State Peace
and Development Council (SPDC) appeared to be on board for the process, as were
the bulk of the National League for Democracy.
"I think the SPDC is behind this, it's the whole government that is
involved," said one diplomat, striking down suggestions that Khin Nyunt's only
interest was to promote himself ahead of a succession battle in Myanmar.
The other crucial element in the mix will be the support of the nation's
fractious ethnic groups, some of which are still fighting government troops in a
decades-old civil conflict.
The dissident All Burma Students' Democratic Front said Wednesday that
rights for ethnic minorities ranked with lack of democracy as pressing issues in
Myanmar.
"This is truly an historic breakthrough after 12 years of struggle," said
spokesman Sonny Mahinder. "We're very optimistic. It has been a long
conflict."
The response from the regime's critics has been warm, largely dispelling
suggestions the process is a completely cynical attempt to get the international
community off the government's back.
"The question now is how sincere they are, will they give credible
guarantees -- are they playing for time or are they genuine," one diplomatic
source.
But they noted the talks so far have been of "excellent quality", leading
the diplomatic community in Yangon to be "cautiously optimistic" about the
chances of success.
It was not yet clear what form the dialogue would take, but it was believed
Aung San Suu Kyi and the junta would broach political issues while other topics,
such as the economy and health care, are addressed on the sidelines.
Sources said Razali would now to travel to China, in a sign he wants to
bring Myanmar's major international backer into the reconciliation
process.
The "Razali initiative" comes at a time when the junta, despite enjoying
total control over the country, is under increasing pressure from a range of
influences.
As the generals' rule stretches into a second decade, it is becoming harder
to justify their continuing grip on power.
Pressure is also being brought to bear by the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN), which Myanmar joined in 1997. The appalling state of the
economy, which has been strangled by sanctions and mismanagement, may have
forced some elements in the junta to countenance change.
Meanwhile, after a decade of intimidation, repression and arrests, the NLD
is an extremely weak state with little but the fame of its charismatic leader to
sustain it as its membership shrinks.
Diplomats say some within the party believe it is high time Aung San Suu
Kyi began doing business with her enemy, much like South African leader Nelson
Mandela with whom she is frequently compared.
Wednesday January 10 10:40 AM ET
US Drug Suspect Arrested in Thailand By UAMDAO NOIKORN, Associated Press Writer
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Thai
police said Wednesday that they have arrested a suspected drug trafficker sought
by the U.S. government, which charges that he was the accountant for what used
to be the world's largest heroin smuggling syndicate.
Yang Wan-Hsuan - for whom the U.S. government has offered a $2 million
reward - was arrested Tuesday night in Chiang Mai, 360 miles north of Bangkok,
Thai narcotics police told a news conference.
Police Gen. Pornsak Durongphibul told reporters that Yang is wanted in
Thailand for illegally entering the country and on suspicion of smuggling heroin
and amphetamine into Thailand. He will be handed over to the United States only
after the Thai investigations are over, Pornsak said. Thai authorities hope to
arrest more members of his gang.
Yang was indicted in 1994 in a New York federal court for attempted
conspiracy to import heroin into the United States and distribution of heroin.
According to the U.S. State Department, he was the accountant for the heroin
smuggling syndicate known as the Shan United Army. The State Department said his
nationality is Chinese.
Yang's arrest was part of an ongoing joint Thai-U.S. operation launched in
1994 that targeted top members of the Shan United Army, formerly headed by Khun
Sa. According to the State Department, Yang used to be Khun Sa's confidential
secretary.
Khun Sa was once the biggest heroin trafficker in the Golden Triangle, the
opium and heroin-producing region where the borders of Thailand, Laos and
Myanmar meet. More than a dozen top members of his ring have been arrested, and
many extradited to stand trial in the United States.
Khun Sa remains at large in Myanmar, also known as Burma. The country is
the world's second largest producer of heroin after Afghanistan.
Tension Along Bangladesh-Myanmar
Border Escalated
2001.01.10 13:46:22 DHAKA, January 10 (Xinhuanet) -- An exchange of fire for
several hours on Monday between the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and
Myanmar's border forces Nasaka has escalated tension along the Naf
river border , some 480 kilometers southeast of Dhaka.
Myanmar reportedly has started deploying regular troops along the
southeastern border of Bangladesh since Tuesday morning. Myanmar army have
moved to forward positions within one and a half kilometers off the frontier on
the river Naf, which separates the two countries.
Nasaka who traded fire with BDR on Monday, have also called in
reinforcement.
Following movements across the border, BDR have called in additional
reinforcements from Cox's Bazar, 415 kilometers southeast of Dhaka.
Bangladesh Army, however, have not made any move yet.
The incident had been brewing since early this month when BDR forces
noted that Myanmar had unilaterally resumed construction of an embankment on the
river Naf. This embankment, if built, would alter the course of the Naf
river, causing flooding and erosion in Bangladesh, damaging large areas
dedicated to shrimp farming.
An agreement has been in place since 1966, and also renewed in 1980,
specifically preventing construction work on the dam.
After noting that construction work on the dam had been resumed, the
BDR made several requests to hold flag and battalion- level meetings. But the
Nasaka reportedly ignored the messages and instead opened fire on the BDR
outpost. The BDR responded with its own fire.
Some villagers of border areas of the country already fled their
homes following Monday's skirmishes.
A cease fire came into effect after a flag meeting on Monday evening
at which the Myanmar forces agreed to suspend work on the dam. In Dhaka,
the Foreign Office summoned and handed over a protest note to the Myanmar
ambassador.
Politicians here held the view that this whole episode has been
unnecessary and avoidable. They urged all parties to exercise restraint.
Meanwhile, a high-ranking official of the Myanmar Embassy here, when asked
about the incident, said that " the incident in the border is not a
big deal, and it is a common event involving any international
border."
The incident will be settled shortly, he said, adding the BDR and Nasaka will hopefully solve it by having more flag meetings. The Times of India - January 10,
2001.
Mahathir praises Myanmar junta on return from visit KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad returned Tuesday
from a week-long visit to Myanmar and praised the military junta's development
efforts.
Mahathir, quoted by Bernama news agency, said the purpose of his visit was
to obtain first-hand information on the situation there.
"There were reports which we had obtained from other sources which showed
that things were seemingly bad," he said.
In fact, he said, the Myanmar government was trying to develop the country
and its people, especially rural residents.
The United States and European Union have imposed economic sanctions on
Myanmar in protest at its human rights record.
Mahathir said Myanmar has invited more Malaysian investment.
"They would like Malaysia to study the possibility of investing in Myanmar
for the processing of raw materials, including fisheries," he told a press
conference.
The country, he said, offered much investment potential and Malaysia could
buy a variety of agricultural produce.
Mahathir's visit coincided with one by the UN special envoy to Myanmar,
Razali Ismail, who is a former Malaysian diplomat.
The two trips, while not officially linked, raised suggestions that
Malaysia could play a key role in breaking the political deadlock between the
junta and the oppostion.
Mahathir gave no indication Tuesday that he had played any political role
during his visit.
Razali confirmed that the junta has held secret talks with opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi. (AFP)
The Star
Wednesday, January 10, 2001 Green light for workers from Myanmar and Nepal By Joseph Raj PETALING JAYA: Employers in the manufacturing, construction and plantation
sectors can now recruit workers from Myanmar and Nepal.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung yesterday confirmed the move.
"The Government has decided to allow employers to recruit workers from both
these countries,'' he said when contacted.
Immigration Department director-general Datuk Aseh Che Mat said he was
informed of the move about two weeks ago.
"The hiring of workers from Myanmar and Nepal will be implemented very
soon, perhaps even within the next week or so.
"Workers from these two countries will, however, only be allowed to be
recruited for the manufacturing, construction and plantation sectors.
"We have been told for example that workers from Myanmar are good for the
manufacturing sector,'' he said.
Aseh said employers intending to recruit workers from the two countries
would have to adhere to current regulations on the hiring of foreign workers.
"Employers will have to apply to the Home Ministry if they want to hire
workers from Myanmar and Nepal just like they do now with workers from
Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and other countries. No workers' agencies will be
allowed to do so on their behalf.
"Once an application has been approved, employers will then have to come to
the Immigration Department for the payment of levy and others,'' said Aseh,
adding that the number of workers which would be allowed to be recruited from
the two countries had not been decided yet.
Among the other conditions employers have to satisfy now are that they
would only be allowed to recruit foreign workers if their numbers do not exceed
the number of local employees.
For the manufacturing sector, only those producing goods for export would
be considered.
The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) welcomed the move. Its executive
director Shamsuddin Bardan said the government's decision would help alleviate
the shortage of workers in the country.
But he cautioned that employers would not be jumping into hiring workers
from Myanmar and Nepal straight away.
"Basically we do not know about the quality of workers from these two
countries. Employers will probably take a cautious approach of first testing how
workers from these two countries perform in the jobs they are hired for.
"There is also the question of the skills level of workers from these
countries as we do not know much about them compared to those from Bangladesh
for example.
"Employers will take some time to get used to them,'' said Shamsuddin.
The United Nations
Annan calls for both sides in Myanmar conflict to work towards reconciliation 9 January – Secretary-General Kofi Annan today reiterated his call for the
two sides in Myanmar to seize the momentum generated through their direct
dialogues over the past few months and work to achieve national reconciliation.
A spokesman for Mr. Annan said in a statement that the Secretary-General
also appealed to the international community to continue to support the ongoing
process of dialogue.
Mr. Annan's call came just as his Special Envoy for Myanmar, Razali Ismail,
concluded a five-day mission to the country. During his stay in Yangon, Mr.
Ismail held talks with representatives of the Government, including Lt. Gen.
Khin Nyunt, Secretary of the State Peace and Development Council and Foreign
Minister Win Aung, spokesman Fred Eckhard said.
Mr. Razali also held two meetings with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, General
Secretary of the opposition National League for Democracy. The Special Envoy's
meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was the first contact by an outside visitor in
nearly three months, Mr. Eckhard said.
According to the spokesman, the Secretary-General was "encouraged to learn
that during his mission, Mr. Razali was able to confirm that the two sides had
started a direct dialogue since last October and that they were satisfied with
the results achieved so far in the area of confidence-building." The two sides
are expected to start more substantive discussions shortly.
The Nation - January 10,
2001.
Talks welcomed THAILAND welcomes the secret dialogue between Burma's military junta and
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Rattakit
Manathat said yesterday.
The talks were a positive development which it was hoped would lead to the
national reconciliation within Burma that Thailand and the international
community wished to see, he added. "The Thai government would like to praise the
tireless efforts of the UN secretary-general and his special envoy, and hopes
that they will continue pursuing this matter," Rattakit said.
The secret talks between Lt General Khin Nyunt - No 3 in the Burmese junta
- and Aung San Suu Kyi were revealed this week by UN special envoy Razali
Ismail, who visited Burma last week and held talks with both sides.
BBC -Wednesday, 10 January, 2001, 18:47 GMT
What's behind the Burmese talks? By regional analyst Larry Jagan The international community has cautiously welcomed the news that Burma's
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has met the country's military leaders.
This was the first such face-to-face meeting for more than six years and
therefore must be significant.
At least the two sides appear to be talking to each other - that's
something that hasn't happened since before Aung San Suu Kyi's release from
house arrest in mid-1995.
But many people of course remain sceptical that a real dialogue has
actually begun.
Burma's military rulers have in the past tried to exploit developments for
their own purposes.
At present it is certainly in their interests to show they are being more
conciliatory towards the opposition leader.
Sanctions
Burma's military rulers are worried about the potential impact of the
International Labour Organisation's decision late last year to urge their
members to step up pressure on Rangoon to end forced labour and improve its
human rights record.
They fear that many countries might consider imposing economic sanctions
against Burma.
At the same time it's quite clear that the other South East Asia leaders
have been telling the Burmese Government privately that they should be more
conciliatory towards Aung San Suu Kyi.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, a long-time supporter of Burma,
has led the way in this.
The UN envoy Razali Ismail said Mr Mahathir's visit to Burma last week had
been important in helping break the country's political deadlock.
It is probably no coincidence that immediately on his return from Rangoon,
Mr Mahathir announced plans to bring in workers from Burma for the construction,
manufacturing and plantation industries.
This will earn much needed foreign currency for Burma.
Family visit
Sources in the opposition National League for Democracy say their position
has always been clear; Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD have consistently appealed
to the generals to enter a dialogue.
The problem has always been the military's reluctance to do so. But it does
appear that Aung San Suu Kyi has been more conciliatory towards the military
recently.
This certainly seems to have been the case during the recent visit of her
son Kim, his partner and her grandson, when Aung San Suu Kyi allowed the
military to make the travel arrangements.
Some Rangoon residents are now speculating Aung San Suu Kyi has been
mellowed by the time she spent with her grandson in December.
Asean
But the major problem for Aung San Suu Kyi now is where can this dialogue
process go.
Only in December, at the EU-Asean meeting in Laos, the Burmese foreign
minister said the government was happy to talk to Aung San Suu Kyi provided she
admitted she was wrong.
While talks may be under way there is no evidence Burma's military rulers
are considering giving up power or even sharing it.
They have increased the strength of the army and are busy building an
organisational structure to support them.
The United Solidarity Development Association or USDA - the government's
so-called grassroots civilian organisation - is growing and boasts more than 10
million members.
The military is also building hospitals and schools for its own use,
opening medical colleges and technical institutes.
But the army knows there are still major issues it hasn't been able to
tackle such as the country's massive Aids epidemic, the crisis in education with
most universities still effectively closed, and a rapidly deteriorating economy.
The military rulers may feel these are issues which they can discuss with
Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD without compromising their hold on power.
China
The UN envoy Mr Razali seems to have finally helped start a dialogue of
sorts between the two sides.
Although there are few details of what he discussed with both parties, he
says he's keen to find ways of strengthening the process.
He says he's also prepared to travel anywhere in the region if it will help
maintain the momentum. UN sources say he's planning to visit China shortly.
Beijing has been one of Burma's most ardent supporters since the military
coup in 1988 brought the current crop of generals to power.
While it's obviously good the generals and Aung San Suu Kyi are talking,
the international community will also expect early signs of concrete results.
Releasing the opposition leader from virtual house arrest and freeing other
NLD leaders who are currently detained would seem like a good place to start.
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