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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BURMA RELATED NEWS - February 22, 2001. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HEADLINE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AP - Body Recovered From Myanmar Crash
BBC - Fresh fighting on Thai-Burma
border
Reuters - Bangkok welcomes
Myanmar olive branch after clashes
Asia Pulse - Myanmar Minister Visits Head of
Southern Indian State
Xinhua - Thai Defense Minister Blames Border
Tension on Meeting Suspension
The Times of India - Myanmar
"persists" in use of forced labour: Unions
Bkk Post - Junta readies air
and tank assaults
IRNA - Myanmar seeks peaceful resolution of dispute with Thailand
UPI - Russia may build nuclear reactor in Myanmar
OGJ - India studies pipeline routes to import Myanmar gas
Tha Nation - Chavalit blasts press coverage of Shan
attack
The Nation - EDITORIAL: Thailand and Burma need to mend fences
Thursday February 22 2:28 AM ET
Body Recovered From Myanmar Crash YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - Rescue
workers have found the body of a Cabinet minister killed when a helicopter with
29 people on board, including senior members of Myanmar's ruling junta, crashed
into a river, a government official said Thursday.
The body of Brig. General Lun Maung, a minister at the prime minister's
office, was recovered Wednesday from the Salween River, where the Russian-made
Mi-17 helicopter crashed in bad weather Monday, the official said.
Six passengers are now confirmed dead, including army chief of staff, Lt.
Gen. Tin Oo, the fourth-ranking general in the Myanmar regime. He had been
leading an official delegation to inspect a bridge in Pa-an. There were 13
survivors.
The search for 10 passengers still unaccounted for continued at the crash
site near Pa-an, 100 miles southeast of Yangon, the capital.
Full details of those missing and the survivors have not been made public
by the government, which keeps a tight grip on the media.
Authorities are expected to investigate the crash. There was no indication
it was caused by sabotage.
Among the 10 passengers still unaccounted for is Maj. Gen. Sit Maung, the
commander of southeastern military command. Along with Tin Oo, he was a member
of the 21-member ruling State Peace and Development Council, as the regime is
known.
The SPDC took power in 1988 after crushing a popular uprising for democracy
in Myanmar, also known as Burma.
BBC - Wednesday, 21 February, 2001,
17:39 GMT
Fresh fighting on Thai-Burma border Renewed clashes have broken out between Burmese troops and separatist Shan
rebels near the border area with Thailand.
The clashes come amid heightening tension at the border area near Thai town
of Mae Sai.
Ten days ago, it was the scene of bloody exchange of fire between Thai and
Burmese troops, which left five civilians dead and dozens more injured.
Thai television reports showed ethnic rebels hiding in long grass and
firing automatic weapons at a Burmese military outpost.
Some reports say 10 Burmese soldiers were killed. There has been no word
from the Burmese military government.
The Shan State Army has fought the Burmese government forces for several
decades to try to secure an autonomous Shan state.
Burma has accused Thailand of providing moral and military support to the
rebels.
Checkpoint closed
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra confirmed on Wednesday that the
fighting took place on Burmese soil, and said Thai forces would ensure the
security of Thai people along the border.
The Mae Sai checkpoint has been closed amid Thai unease over a build-up of
Burmese troops and fears of new fighting.
Thailand has also bolstered troops in the area.
Talks last week to ease the tense border failed as both sides demanded
compensation for the loss of lives and damaged property.
Burma has also insisted that a border demarcation dispute be resolved
before it withdraws any troops.
The United States has issued an advisory warning its citizens to exercise
caution in the border area.
Burmese 'threat'
A prominent Burmese dissident group has said the border skirmishes
demonstrated that the Burmese regime represented a "major threat in
destabilising the region".
"This is not only a security crisis for Thailand, but also a problem for
[the south-east Asian group] Asean as the region moves towards great
integration," said the All Burma Students' Democratic Front.
It said the junta did not respect Thai sovereignty and that conflict would
break out periodically until democracy was established.
"Democracy will not only resolve the border conflict but lead to resolution
of other key problems including drugs, refugees and illegal immigration," the
group said.
WIRE: 02/22/2001 4:54 am ET
Bangkok welcomes Myanmar olive branch
after clashes
BANGKOK, Feb 22 (Reuters) -
Thailand said on Thursday it welcomed an olive branch from Myanmar's military
government, which said this week it hoped a recent dispute over bloody border
clashes could be solved peacefully.
New Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said tensions at the border
should subside soon.
"Everything will be settled soon because Myanmar has recently shown
friendly gestures," he told reporters.
Thaksin's remarks came after Myanmar military intelligence chief
Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt was quoted by government newspapers on Tuesday as
saying Yangon wanted to resolve its border dispute with Thailand peacefully.
Khin Nyunt was quoted as saying the border problem should be solved with an
optimistic approach based on "mutual understanding, respect and magnanimity as
true good neighbours."
But Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Pradap Pibulsonggram said on Wednesday
if Yangon was serious to restore peace, its leadership should inform Bangkok
formally that it would restart bilateral border committee meetings, which it
suspended two years ago.
Tensions flared between the two countries earlier this month, with dozens
reported killed in clashes between soldiers.
Thailand said Myanmar soldiers seized one of its border outposts and then
hit the Thai frontier town of Mae Sai with stray shells during a battle against
ethnic guerrillas.
But Myanmar denied it shelled Mae Sai, and accused the Thai military of
backing ethnic Shan rebels, who Yangon says are the major drug producers and
traffickers in the region.
Fresh clashes broke out on Wednesday between Myanmar soldiers and rebel
ethnic guerrillas near the Thai border. Unlike earlier clashes the fighting
neither involved Thai soldiers nor spilled over across the border.
A source in the rebel Shan State Army (SSA) said the guerrillas had
attacked a Myanmar military outpost and killed 10 soldiers. There was no comment
from the Myanmar authorities.
"POSITIVE SIGN"
Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai on Thursday hailed Khin Nyunt's
remarks.
"This is a positive sign by the Myanmar leadership," Surakiart told
reporters.
Asked if Yangon should formally write a letter to restore talks, Surakiart
said: "The communication of a good gesture by national security leaders need not
come in a form of an official letter."
Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh blamed the local media on Thursday
for the failure of recent talks with Myanmar.
Local television stations on Wednesday showed footage of a raid by Shan
State Army (SSA) rebel ethnic guerrillas on a Myanmar military outpost near the
Thai border.
The SSA has fought Myanmar government forces for several decades to try to
secure an autonomous Shan state.
"We almost reached an agreement with them, but accidentally our media have
shown the disgusting footage of SSA soldiers, which gives us a heavier burden in
the talks," Chavalit told reporters.
Yangon accused Bangkok of giving moral and military support to the Shan
guerrillas.
Thai soldiers have said Myanmar's military was involved in the drugs trade
and accused the United Wa State Army of being behind most of the
methamphetamines flooding Thailand. The UWSA is allied with Myanmar's
military.
Wednesday February 21, 3:40 PM
Myanmar Minister Visits Head of Southern
Indian State
HYDERABAD, Feb 21 Asia Pulse -
Myanmar Deputy Science and Technology Minister U Hlaing Wing called on chief
minister of the southern Indian state Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu with a
13-member delegation.
The visiting minister expressed appreciation for various initiatives taken
up by Naidu in developing the state, an official release said.
Wing said Andhra Pradesh played a role model for any Asian country in the
field of Information Technology and Software industry.
Thai Defense Minister Blames
Border Tension on Meeting Suspension
2001.02.22 18:52:56 BANGKOK, February 22 (Xinhuanet) -- The border tension
between Thailand and Myanmar was mainly attributed to the suspension
of the meeting of joint border committees of the two neighboring
countries for more than two years, Defense Minister Gen Chavalit
Yongchaiyudh said, the Thai News Agency (TNA) reported Thursday.
The adjournment of the talks by the joint bodies for that long led to
the lack of good understanding and trust between the two nations, Chavalit
was quoted as saying on Wednesday.
Gen Chavalit, who is also deputy premier, said the bilateral
relations would strengthen and no conflict would occur should the joint
committees at all levels hold discussion at lease once a year.
Asked whether it is time for leaders of both countries to hold
discussion now, he said the border problem should be addressed through
talks by low-level officials first.
The minister said he believed the situation would improve soon and
the premier would visit Myanmar to discuss the problem once the
government's policy statement was delivered at Parliament.
He also blamed the border tension on ill-intent persons. They did not
want to see peace exist along the Thai and Myanmar frontier. But the Thai
government remains insistent on the need to strengthen friendship with
neighboring countries, said Chavalit.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was quoted as saying that he had
been informed of the clash between Myanmar soldiers and the Shan State
Army troops at the former's outpost opposite Mae Sai District of the
northern province of Chiang Rai.
The Thai military had been kept on alert to prevent the battle from
spilling over into the Thai territory.
Thaksin did not want the media and the public to worry too much about the
situation. The border problem would be solved sooner or later, he
said.
The Times of India - February 22,
2001.
Myanmar "persists" in use of forced
labour: Unions
BANGKOK: Myanmar "persists" in using forced labour, the International
Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) said in a report to the International
Labour Organisation (ILO).
"The junta has not taken any measures aimed at really putting an end to
forced labour," the confederation said Tuesday in a statement received
here.
"Even worse, the army and the administration tries hard to hide the extent
and nature of forced labour imposed on the population and attempts to use
propaganda, disinformation and lies to counter measures planned by the ILO,"
said the Brussells-based confederation which claims 221 unions in 148
countries.
The ILO's governing body last November called on its members -- which
includes unions and employers besides countries -- to review their ties with
Myanmar over the issue, a move which threatened to increase the sanctions load
that has already helped cripple the economy.
The issue of international sanctions against Myanmar is on the agenda for
the next session of advisors to the UN agency on March 8 in Geneva.
The unions warned against "any slackening of pressure on Myanmar".
The Japanese head of the ILO regional office here, Yasuyuki Nodera, said
recently that Myanmar is expected to make progress in eliminating forced labour
this year.
"Expect progress in Myanmar," he said, adding that one of his top
priorities would be to send ILO experts to Myanmar to help stamp out forced
labor by changing laws and bringing the perpetrators to justice. (AFP)
Bangkok Post - February 22,
2001.
BURMESE BORDER
Junta readies air and tank
assaults
Successful guerrilla raid triggers reply Post Reporters
Rangoon is preparing to send jet fighters and tanks against Shan State Army
forces who overran a Burmese army border post, killing one soldier,
yesterday.
Intelligence sources said Rangoon had deployed six Chengdu F-7 light
fighter interceptors to Kengtung, 150km north of Tachilek, opposite Mae Sai
district, Chiang Rai.
The Chengdu F-7 is a Chinese copy of Russia's multi-role MiG-21 and
equivalent to the F-5 operated by the air force.
Rangoon had also sent 50 Chinese-made light tanks to the Tachilek area, the
sources said.
Air force pilots at Wing 41 in Chiang Mai, Wing 1 in Nakhon Ratchasima and
Wing 4 in Nakhon Sawan, were placed on full alert as the build-up in the
conflict zone increased.
The Burmese soldier was killed and five wounded yesterday morning when the
Shan took the outpost opposite Ban Pha-hi, 5km southwest of Mae Sai. The scene
of the fighting is 500m from a Thai position and close to the area where Thai
and Burmese troops exchanged gunfire on Feb 11.
After 30 minutes of fighting, the outpost fell to the Shan, who set it on
fire and took one Burmese soldier prisoner.
Col Yawd Serk, chairman of the Shan State Restoration Council, said the
action was aimed at disrupting Burmese military movements.
The Shan had been aware of an imminent assault on their border bases and
had to take the initiative, he said.
Third Army commander Lt-Gen Wattanachai Chaimuenwong said he was not
optimistic about the chances of a new round of border talks. It was up to Burma
to call a meeting.
Thailand would not push for talks since the latest round of clashes had not
stemmed from the Thai side, he said.
An estimated 200 Burmese troops had entered Ban Pang Noon, Mae Fah Luang
district, on Feb 9, to assault a Shan base along the border area.
"This is an issue of national integrity," he said. "Since we did not start
the conflict and have not done anything wrong, we will not initiate such a
move."Lt-Gen Wattanachai jointly chairs the Thai-Burma regional border
committee, which has not met to discuss the border for two years.
A first round of talks on the conflict was held last week in Tachilek and
Mae Sai, but ended in deadlock.
The Foreign Ministry said Burma should formally propose a meeting to settle
the dispute rather than talk about its wishes for a peaceful solution, he
said.
Pradap Pibulsonggram, the ministry spokesman, urged Burmese authorities to
submit in writing a proposal for talks. Thailand was concerned that it would
again be affected by renewed tension on the Burmese side of the border, he
said.
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, secretary one of the ruling State Peace and Development
Council, on Monday said Burma was not aggressive in its foreign relations and
wanted to resolve its border dispute peacefully. thr
009
Myanmar-Thailand /WRD/ Myanmar seeks peaceful resolution of dispute with Thailand Kuala Lumpur, Feb 21, IRNA -- Myanmar's military regime was
not "aggressive" in its foreign relations and wanted to resolve its border
dispute with Thailand peacefully, a top Myanmarese general was quoted as saying
on Tuesday.
"The current (Myanmarese)-Thai border problem should be solved with an
optimistic approach based on mutual understanding, respect and magnanimity
as true good neighbors," Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt, fourth highest
official in the state hierarchy, was quoted as saying by the Thai daily,
The
Nation.
Earlier this month Myanmarese and Thai troops clashed when fighting
between Myanmarese and rebel Shan State Army (SSA) forces spilt over into
Thailand's Chiang Rai province. At least five civilians were killed on both
sides of the border, driving relations to their lowest point in several
years. Border checkpoints in the region have been closed for more than a
week.
Thailand launched a heavy artillery attack to drive out Myanmarese
forces that the army said intruded onto Chiang Rai's Ban Pang Noon hill to
attack the SSA. Myanmar, meanwhile, accused Thailand of aiding the Shan
rebels.
Khin Nyunt said the SSA and "a misunderstanding by some Thai authorities
who had relied on false information from lower-level Thai officials" had been to
blame for the
dispute.
"Although our government is a military government, we have
no aggressive attitude. We promote friendly relations with every country
and abide by international rules and regulations," Khin Nyunt said at a
ceremony to mark the end of a teacher-training course on Tuesday at Phaunggyi,
60 kilometers north of Yangoon
(Rangoon).
But in an apparent jab at Thailand for allegedly supporting the Shan
rebels, Khin Nyunt said Myanmar had never allowed another group to endanger
other countries from its territory or used such groups for its own
ends.
That claim would be contested by Thailand, which has expressed growing
frustration at the activities of another Myanmarese ethnic army, the United
Wa State Army, that produces illegal drugs in the border area adjoining
Thailand.
The drug trade is regarded as socially divisive and a major cause of
violent crime in Thailand. But the Wa army has reached a cease-fire agreement
with Myanmar and enjoys virtual autonomy in areas of Shan State in eastern
Myanmar.
Thai Third Army Commander, Lieutenant-General Wattanachai Chaimuanwong,
said on Tuesday that tension on the northern border would be reduced if Thai and
Myanmarese officials could hold a high-level meeting, but Myanmar would
have to initiate this.
"We would lose face if we went up to them and asked for one. We didn't
do anything wrong. Besides, it's their turn to call a meeting," the commander
said.
There was no indication, Wattanachai said, that the
Myanmarese government would reconvene the Regional Border Committee (RBC)
set up to settle border disputes between the two countries. But
Thailand believed Myanmar should be the one to call the meeting as it
was Myanmar which "violated our sovereignty and territorial
integrity."
The RBC has not met for two years.Wattanachai said Thai troops would stand
firm on the border, at least until there was an indication that the Myanmarese
would
pull back. BN/LS/KS End
irna 10:25
Russia may build nuclear reactor
in Myanmar
Wednesday, 21 February 2001 17:18 (ET) MOSCOW, Feb. 21 (UPI) --
In a development that may alarm Washington, officials at Russia's Atomic Energy
Ministry said Wednesday plans are afoot to build a research reactor in Myanmar,
the impoverished, secretive Southeast Asian state formerly known as
Burma.
The reactor in Myanmar would be the first step in a plan to boost
construction of reactors in the region, according to the official
Itar-Tass news agency.
Washington is already upset by Russia's close cooperation with Iran,
where it is building a nuclear power plant in Bushehr.
Ignoring Western concerns over possible transfer of sensitive technologies
that could be used by Iran to bolster its military programs, Deputy Atomic
Energy Minister Yevgeny Reshetnikov announced Wednesday that the Bushehr
construction was going full steam ahead.
Reshetnikov said the turbine and equipment for the reactor would be
built and delivered to Iran this year, with construction of the plant scheduled
for completion in 2003.
He said 780 Russian specialists were now working at the construction
site.
Russia has announced its intention to earn more than $1.5 billion
this year from export of equipment and expertise in construction of nuclear
reactors. Russia has already reached lucrative agreements to export technology
and equipment to India and China, and last year earned some $1.4 billion.
Oil & Gas Journal
India studies pipeline routes to
import Myanmar gas
By an OGJ Online Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Feb. 20—In a bid to diversify its energy supplies, India is sending a delegation to Myanmar to identify possible gas pipeline routes. Jaswant Singh, India's External Affairs Minister, recently visited Myanmar
to discuss cooperation in the gas sector.
Two pipeline routes from Myanmar are under consideration. One would run up
the Kaladan River valley to the Mizoram sector of India. It would continue via
Assam and Meghalaya to link with the national grid.
The other option is an offshore pipeline from Sittwee, on the mouth of the
Kaladan River, across the Bay of Bengal to land in India at West Bengal.
Bangladesh, which is between India and Myanmar, is debating whether to
allow gas exports to India.
The Nation - February 22,
2001.
Chavalit blasts press coverage of Shan
attack
DEFENCE Minister General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh yesterday criticised the
press for coverage of the clashes between the Shan State Army (SSA) and Burmese
government troops, claiming the publicity has jeopardised negotiations between
Bangkok and Rangoon.
"The reality is that we were having a dialogue. But you guys [media] went
and photographed the SSA attacking the Burmese camp. This is very ugly," said
the defence minister, who has often claimed that his close ties with Burmese
generals could help solve bilateral problems.
Chavalit was the first top foreign official to visit Burma after the
military took power in the crushing of a popular uprising for democracy in 1988.
He has been instrumental in the regime's participation in the international
community.
"We have to be careful," Chavalit said yesterday. "We have to help each
other, one hand, two hands, for the sake of the nation. Because, essentially,
it's good to have friends."
In an effort to patch ties with the Burmese army, Chavalit has sent his
personal aides, General Pat Akkhanibut and General Sanan Kajornglam, to attend
funeral ceremonies for Burma's General Tin Oo and other senior army and cabinet
offices, who died in a helicopter crash on Monday.
Both Pat and Sanan, retired officers, were Chavalit's close aides
overseeing Burma policy when Chavalit was army chief and supreme commander. The
Thai government welcomed statements on Wednesday by Burma's Lt Gen Khin Nyunt
that Burma wanted to peacefully resolve the border conflict.
"I believe the problem can be settled with negotiations," Foreign Minister
Surakiart Sathirathai said.
He said Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has no immediate plans to visit
Burma and will wait before making a final decision on when to go.
Thai and Burmese troops two weeks ago engaged in cross-border shelling
after fighting between Rangoon's troops and SSA rebels spilled over into
Thailand. Border checkpoints have been closed, while more troops from both sides
have been mobilised to the area.
Burma's state-run press has accused the Thai military of aiding the Shan
rebels, while Thai officers said Rangoon has mobilised of soldiers from the
United Wa State Army to the areas opposite Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai provinces.
Yesterday, the New Light of Myanmar said Thailand had not been a "good
neighbour" in helping Burma fight rebels and that Thailand was aiding drug
traffickers.
"Instead of lending us a helping hand in this task [of defeating the
rebels], they are assisting the drug traffickers . . . which threaten the human
race," the newspaper said.
The border situation remained tense yesterday as armed rebels of the Karen
National Union and Burmese troops clashed inside Burma opposite Tak province's
Mae Sot district and Tha Song Yang district.
Burmese troops positioned opposite Chiang Rai's Doi Tung district returned
to their Balang Luang camp, which was overrun and later abandoned by Shan
soldiers on Wednesday.
General Tein Sein, the Burmese commander for the region, reportedly
directed about 200 troops from Tachilek into position 1 kilometre from Palang
Luang camp in preparation for a possible offensive by Shan soldiers.
The Nation - February 22,
2001.
EDITORIAL: Thailand and Burma need to
mend fences
DIPLOMATS from Thailand and Burma are working quietly to ensure that the
tense border situation will ease soon. Defence Minister General Chavalit
Yongchaiyudh has already dispatched a close aide to Rangoon to attend the
funeral of Lt-General Tin Oo, secretary number two of the ruling State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC) and chief of staff of the army, who was killed in a
helicopter accident several days ago. The funeral will also provide a fresh
opportunity for the two sides to discuss their problems.
If the situation along the Thai-Burma border at Chiang Rai's Ban Pha Hee
remains calm following the overrun of a Burmese military base by the Shan State
Army on Wednesday, there is a good chance that both sides will make further
progress over the tension. If the Burmese troops decide to retake the base from
the SSA, it will need extra troops and artillery shells. With such forces, the
conflict can certainly spill over to Thai territory again. The Third Army Region
already has troops in position and is ready for any renewed attack by the
Burmese troops. So far, the situation has been calm.
The Thai Foreign Ministry and security officials and leaders are closely
monitoring the change of attitude by the leaders of the SPDC. They are certainly
taking seriously comments by Lt-General Khin Nyunt. The Burmese military
intelligence chief said that the current Thai-Burmese border issue should be
resolved with an optimistic approach based on mutual understanding, respect and
magnanimity as true good neighbours.
At this juncture, Thailand wants to make sure that there are no longer any
more violations of its territory. If the violations stop, Thai-Burmese relations
are bound to improve. Then, bilateral issues will need to be addressed according
to the four existing frameworks.
Burma's softer approach comes amid worsening economic difficulties. The
closure of the Thai border has forced the price of necessary commodities up
several fold. The kyat's value has also plummeted from 430 to the US dollar two
months ago to 545 as of yesterday.
The swirling inflation has already caused panic among ordinary people,
including government officials. The junta leaders have promised to increase the
officials' salaries fourfold, following another recent increase. That promise
has also driven up consumer prices across the board.
The resumption of Thai-Burmese border trade should go some way to easing
market conditions inside Burma. But trade between the two countries has already
decreased because the purchasing power of the Burmese people is getting smaller
by the day.
Thai-Burmese relations need to improve before the Asean foreign ministers
arrive in Rangoon for a retreat in April. Burma intends to use this retreat as a
showcase that it is part of the Asean community. Otherwise the border issue
could spill over again and damage the planning meeting. This is the first
gathering of Asean foreign ministers in Burma, so it is imperative that the
retreat starts and ends on a friendly note.
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