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BURMA RELATED NEWS - February - 17, 2001. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HEADLINE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bkk Post - Postbag - Asean must
change its Burma policy
The Australian online - Thai-Burmese border clashes heat up Bkk Post - Surin: It's all Burma's fault Bkk Post - Chuan urges restraint,
talks
Xinhua - Five Drug Dealers Arrested
on Sino-Myanmar Border
Kyodo News - Thai king appoints
cabinet, to deal with Myanmar issue
IHT - Burma Warms to Indian's
Visit
Bangkok Post - February 17, 2001. Postbag - Asean must change its Burma
policy
It is time for Asean to rethink Burma's continued
membership. The new prime minister of Thailand should also fulfil his party's
slogan of "Think new, act new" by proposing an initiative to make Burma an
outcast both regionally and internationally.
Thaksin Shinawatra should not visit Burma, nor should his
defence minister, Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who was equally notorious for
alleged logging concession dealings with the Burmese Slorc (State Law and Order
Restoration Council).
The recent border skirmishes that saw three innocent Thai
citizens killed by Burmese mortars, may be just a testing of Thai waters under
the new government.
Or is it the junta's way of telling their good old chum to
come visit and pay his dues?Undeniably, the Burmese military is notorious the
world over for its drug trade. Thailand, the chief proposer that the pariah
state be admitted into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has learned
several expensive and painful lessons from its nave diplomacy towards
Burma.
Granting membership to a rogue Burmese Slorc has proven
that Asean's "constructive engagement" policy is futile. Even its modified
"flexible engagement" has not succeeded in bringing Burma up acceptable
standards, certainly not on a par with three other new members: Vietnam, Laos
and Cambodia.
While all the rest of the member nations have been trying
to build regional economic strength to raise Asean's negotiating power on the
world stage, the Burmese leech has been sucking Asean's blood for too
long.
Thailand, in particular, has been most severely affected
by the Burmese drug trade. The already impoverished state of the Thai economy
has been exacerbated by the infiltration of all forms of drugs produced inside
Burma.
Rangoon must suppress the production of drugs and
trafficking in its territory; stop violating human rights and silencing
political dissidents.
If Slorc fails to do so-with the repetitive excuse that it
cannot absolutely control the territories dominated by its ethnic
minorities-then we should all help arm these minorities to fight for their
independence and selectively admit individual states as free members of the
world community.
Sean Miguel Esagtawski
The Australian
online
Thai-Burmese border
clashes heat up
By Peter Alford, South-East Asia correspondent 17feb01 THE last poppies of the season are being tapped in dusty
forest clearings in south-eastern Shan state and thousands of piles of 1.5kg
opium "balls" are drying throughout the 100km strip abutting the Thai
border.
"In contrast to the past two this has been a good season,
perhaps a very good one," says Francis Christophe, a Paris-based expert on
Burma's narcotics industry.
Also this dry season, Tatmadaw (the Burmese armed forces) is waging a particularly vicious campaign against ethnic separatists that has driven – as intended – about 300,000 ethnic-Thai Shans into northern Thailand. Tatmadaw battalions are operating alongside the United Wa
State Army (UWSA), an industrial-scale supplier of the world's heroin and
methamphetamines habits.
Now Tatmadaw's tactic of border-hopping to attack
guerillas from behind, plus the Thai army's relatively new-found loathing of
Burma's drug lords has triggered the most dangerous confrontation in a decade
between the neighbours.
A Thai post was overrun last week and recovered by heavy
force and on Sunday Burmese soldiers around Tachilek and the Thais in Mae Sai
exchanged lethal barrages. At least 20 died and tension remains
razor-sharp.
The confrontation has shattered hopes for new Thai Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's softer "forward engagement" policy to
Rangoon.
While Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh fostered cosy
cross-border relations when he was Third Army commander, General Wattanachai
Chaimuanwong is running a "zero tolerance" policy on border security and
drugs.
Wattanchai's impossible task is stopping an estimated 10
tonnes-per-year of Wa methamphetamines moving into Thailand and he believes the
fighting springs from Tatmadaw complicity in the trade. "My opinion is that all
Burmese unit commanders who caused the conflict should be put before a firing
squad."
Like Wattanachai, Francis Christophe mocks the optimism of
Interpol and UN agencies that Rangoon's generals are finally waging a war on
drugs. "Everybody knows the Burmese army – at least at regional levels – are in
the business," says Christophe. "They own most of the refineries."
Little of Burma's 2000-01 opium crop has yet to hit the
market but Christophe notes Shan reports of a 15 per drop already in border
prices for semi-refined heroin – a sure sign of something big in the pipeline.
"Shan market information is always pretty accurate," says
Christophe.
As it should be. Doubling as drug lords, Shan commanders
used to dominate the trade.
Khun Sa pioneered the "narco-army" concept before he
swapped the Shan cause in 1996 for a truce – a nice Rangoon compound and
allegedly legitimate business.
The armed struggle – and, many believe, a slice of Khun
Sa's old trade – has been continued by Colonel Yawd Serk's Shan State Army
(SSA). But over the past two years the relocation from the northern hills of
150,000 Red Wa, with the UWSA in the vanguard, has utterly changed the scene in
south-eastern Shan state.
The UWSA's 20,000 fighters vastly outnumber the SSA and
are lavishly equipped with the proceeds of the world's biggest single narcotics
manufacturing business.
They even have anti-aircraft guns, although not aimed at
Tatmadaw. The UWSA has been a "ceasefire group" for a decade.
As if to advertise their impunity, the Wa have turned Mong
Yawn, a sleepy village overlooked by a Thai hilltop post, into a town of
mansions, warehouses, paved roads and satellite dishes.
But the SSA has taken to attacking Wa drug facilities to
dramatise Yawd Serk's claims to be clean.
Thai military elements are widely suspected of assisting
him since the Wa responded to the recent opium downturn by massively boosting
their methamphetamines production. Unlike Wa heroin, which has a small, stable
market in Thailand, Wa speed is fuelling devastating Thai social problems. That
and sympathy for the Shans help explain why Wattanachai became something of a
Thai national hero this week.
Bangkok Post -
February 17, 2001.
BURMESE BORDER
Surin: It's all
Burma's fault
False claims made just to shift blame Post Reporters
Border tensions stem from Burma's internal problems, not
covert Thai attempts to help rebel fighters, says Foreign Minister Surin
Pitsuwan.
In the wake of last week's border clashes, Burma has
accused Thailand of obstructing its drug suppression drive, and helping Shan
State Army rebels. The government rejects the claims.
Burma was trying to "divert the focus of attention in
order to cause misunderstanding that Thailand was to blame," the minister
said.
Thailand had responded to the violation of its
sovereignty, and what was happening now "derives from Burma's internal
problems", he said.
There were "no grounds" for accusing Thailand of
obstructing Burma's drug efforts as the world knew well that Thailand actively
supported drug clampdowns, he said.
He also rejected Burma's bid to attribute the problems to
border disputes.
Thailand, he said, had proposed terms of reference for
border demarcation to the highest authority, the Joint Boundary Committee, but
Burma refused to agree or even talk about the matter.
Township border committee meetings in Tachilek and Mae Sai
were neighbourly events that should have taken place in the past, he
said.
"Neighbours should get together rather than use violent
means to settle problems," he said.
As a follow-up, the minister hoped the regional border
committee, which is chaired by regional military commanders, would meet in the
next few weeks.
But Thailand could not allow Burma to enter Thai territory
at Ban Pang Noon, in Mae Fah Luang district of Chiang Rai, in order to hit Shan
rebels from the rear, he said, referring to a Burmese request at border
meetings.
"Thai territory is Thai sovereignty," he said. Thailand
had never let anyone use its territory.
The Democrat-led government, he said, had sustained unity
in its conduct of foreign policy by ensuring co-ordination between all
agencies-Foreign Ministry, National Security Council, Interior Ministry and the
army.
"What is being done now is right, and reflects a firm Thai
position. The effectiveness and unity being demonstrated now is the result of
three years of co-ordination," he said.
"This is the way to solve border problems. Independent
efforts [by separate agencies] are not the way," he said.
If fighting escalates and there is an influx of refugees,
Thailand would receive them. "But we reserve the right to repatriate them or
not," he said.
The closure of border checkpoints was for the protection
of national sovereignty which could not be exchanged for economic gain, he
said.
Meanwhile, exiled Burmese students said the incursion by
Burmese troops into Thailand was a threat to the region as a whole and stemmed
from the military dictatorship in Rangoon.
"This is not only a security crisis for Thailand, but also
a problem for Asean as the region moves towards greater integration," the All
Burma Students' Democratic Front said.
"The Thai government and Asean need to see the
dictatorship, the absence of democracy and the absence of law and order as the
root cause of the conflict," said Sonny Mahinder, the group's secretary for
foreign affairs.
"Burma is a lawless country. The government seriously
breaches international as well as domestic law," he said.
"Border meetings and personal relationships between
generals may help in the short term but the threat of violence will always exist
as long as the SPDC remains in power," he said, referring to Burma's State Peace
and Development Council.
- Thailand should use Burma's unfavourable human rights
record as a bargaining chip in trade talks, says the chairman of the Senate
committee on foreign affairs.
Kraisak Choonhavan said human rights were Burma's weak
point and should be exploited in trade talks to give Thailand an upper
hand.
He said the country should not be soft on Burma. Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, tipped to be the
defence minister, plan a visit to Burma soon.
The pair will work on solving the border dispute which has
escalated into a stand-off in Chiang Rai.
Mr Kraisak, however, doubted the visit would be fruitful,
saying the government had not followed the issue closely enough.
Narcotics production had grown hugely with Burma making a
lot of money from the drug industry.
Bangkok Post -
February 17, 2001.
BURMESE BORDER
Chuan urges restraint,
talks
Yuwadee Tunyasiri and Wassana Nanuam Outgoing Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has urged restraint
and continuing negotiations with Burma to avoid further clashes or
confrontation.
Forces should remain on full alert, but must strictly
follow instructions given by their commanders, said Mr Chuan, who is also
caretaker defence minister.
Thailand and Burma failed to reach any agreement in talks
on Thursday, leaving the border situation tense.
Mr Chuan said he knew from the beginning that talks would
not easily bear fruit, but at least they could avert more clashes.
Talks must continue with patience, from local up to
policy-making levels, even though Burma had come up with unacceptable proposals,
he said.
Meanwhile, the price of goods in Tachilek, opposite Mae
Sai in Chiang Rai, is reported to have soared as a result of the indefinite
closure of border checkpoints in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
provinces.
The closure is to prevent supplies from reaching Burmese
troops now on an offensive drive against Shan State Army rebels.
A villager who returned from Burma yesterday said the
price of an egg in Tachilek had gone up to 10 baht and petrol, which is being
reserved for the military, to 70 baht a litre. Residents had been evacuated 40km
from the town.
A Pha Muang Force source said commodities like petrol,
rice, medicine, cars and motorcycles were not being allowed through the customs
checkpoint in Chiang Saen district at the Golden Triangle.
Five Drug Dealers
Arrested on Sino-Myanmar Border
2001.02.16 15:27:21 KUNMING, February 16（Xinhuanet）—Border guards in Lincang,
southwest China 's Yunnan Province, cracked two drug smuggling cases
during February 12-13, confiscating 3.97 kilograms of heroin and arresting
five suspects.
On February 12, a group of border guards were
preparing to have something to eat when one of them found a passerby quite
suspicious.
So, he stepped forward to question the passerby, who
pretended not to know the Chinese language and then ran away with a
travelling bag. The guards chased the suspect until catching him. He
confiscated from the bag 3.97 kilograms of refined heroin.
The suspect confessed that he is a native of
Longling in Yunnan Province. He crossed the border illegally and
lived in a village in Myanmar. For years he helped some Myanmese plant
drug crops. This is the first time that he carried drugs to Baoshan for
other people. The drug trafficker promised to pay him 30,000 yuan
upon delivery of the drugs.
On February 13, border guards in Lincang ferreted
out a piece of heroin weighing 120 grams and captured four suspects as
they inspected sleepers on a train running from Gengma County to
Kunming.
Thai king appoints cabinet,
to deal with Myanmar issue
BANGKOK Feb. 17 Kyodo - Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Saturday
formally appointed Thaksin Shinawatra's cabinet, to be sworn in Sunday, which is
expected to immediately address the current border conflict with Myanmar.
The king's approval of the prime minister and cabinet nominees is required by law, as he is Thailand's head of state. Among those appointed were former Prime Minister Chavalit
Yongchaiyudh, of the New Aspiration Party, as defense minister and one of the
five deputy prime ministers, Somkid Chatusripitak as finance minister and
Surakiat Sathirathai as foreign minister.
Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai Party won 248 seats in the Jan. 6
general election, just short of a majority in the 500-member House of
Representatives. He was then elected as prime minister by the legislature Feb.
9.
On Feb. 10, the Thai Rak Thai party decided to allow 14
members of the Seritham Party to join it, bringing the total number of current
Thai Rak Thai members in the legislature to 262. The merger of the two parties
gave Thaksin a majority in the chamber.
Thaksin presented his list of nominees to the king at the
Klai Kangwol Palace in southern Thailand for his endorsement and appointment.
The new cabinet is expected to hold its first meeting Monday.
Thaksin said the new cabinet will consider how to resolve
the current border conflict between Thailand and Myanmar.
Thaksin and Chavalit had earlier indicated that Myanmar
would be the first country they would visit after assuming office.
Chavalit, 68, a former army chief, has repeatedly said he
is a ''good friend'' of the top military leaders in Myanmar.
Thaksin, 51, through his telecom and satellite business
empire, is also believed to have amicable ties with the Yangon military
government.
Thailand and Myanmar have reinforced troops stationed
along their northern border following a clash Feb. 10.
International Herald
Tribune
Burma Warms to Indian's
Visit
Celia W. Dugger New York Times Service Saturday, February 17, 2001
NEW DELHI Burma, ruled by one of the world's most
repressive military governments, welcomed a high-level Indian cabinet minister
this week - the first to visit Burma since its generals set aside results of
elections there in 1990 and crushed a democracy movement.
. India has continued diplomatic and trade relations with Burma during the past decade, but the last important official to venture to Burma was Rajiv Gandhi, who went there in 1987 when he was prime minister. . But the chill between the two countries turned into a warm embrace this week. . Throughout his three-day visit, which ended Thursday, India's foreign minister, Jaswant Singh, spoke about a growing partnership between the two countries with an enthusiasm that was clearly a welcome change for a government that has often faced international scorn. . India, the dominant power in South Asia and the world's largest democracy, has a border with Burma, also known as Myanmar, that is more than 1,540 kilometers (960 miles) long. . On Thursday, Mr. Singh inaugurated the "Myanmar-India Friendship Center for Remote Sensing and Data Processing," developed with Indian technical expertise and designed to help the Burmese generate weather forecasts as well as crop and groundwater surveys. . On Tuesday, at a ceremony to mark the opening of a road that India built for Burma, Mr. Singh said it was a privilege for India to be a partner in Burma's development. . Mr. Singh made no public calls during his visit for the generals to restore democracy or release the leader of the country's democratic opposition, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for much of the past decade. Rather, he said he hoped India could encourage a return to democracy through engagement with Burma and said India had raised such questions at an "appropriate time." NEW DELHI Burma, ruled by one of the world's most repressive military governments, welcomed a high-level Indian cabinet minister this week - the first to visit Burma since its generals set aside results of elections there in 1990 and crushed a democracy movement. . India has continued diplomatic and trade relations with Burma during the past decade, but the last important official to venture to Burma was Rajiv Gandhi, who went there in 1987 when he was prime minister. . But the chill between the two countries turned into a warm embrace this week. . Throughout his three-day visit, which ended Thursday, India's foreign minister, Jaswant Singh, spoke about a growing partnership between the two countries with an enthusiasm that was clearly a welcome change for a government that has often faced international scorn. . India, the dominant power in South Asia and the world's largest democracy, has a border with Burma, also known as Myanmar, that is more than 1,540 kilometers (960 miles) long. . On Thursday, Mr. Singh inaugurated the "Myanmar-India Friendship Center for Remote Sensing and Data Processing," developed with Indian technical expertise and designed to help the Burmese generate weather forecasts as well as crop and groundwater surveys. . On Tuesday, at a ceremony to mark the opening of a road that India built for Burma, Mr. Singh said it was a privilege for India to be a partner in Burma's development. . Mr. Singh made no public calls during his visit for the generals to restore democracy or release the leader of the country's democratic opposition, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for much of the past decade. Rather, he said he hoped India could encourage a return to democracy through engagement with Burma and said India had raised such questions at an "appropriate time." |