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BURMA RELATED NEWS - July 04,
2001.
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HEADLINES
---------------------------------------------------------------- AP - Asean Members Need OK For Trade Pacts With
Nonmembers
IHT - Signs of a Thaw Puzzle Burma
Xinhuanet - Myanmar Leader Stresses Need to
Preserve Traditional Culture
Xinhuanet - Myanmar Makes Efforts in Fight
Against HIV/AIDS
Xinhuanet - Myanmar Seizes Large Amount of
Stimulant Drug in Border Town
JT - Envoy lauds aid plan to Myanmar
---------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday July 5, 6:57 PM Asean Members Need OK For Trade Pacts
With Nonmembers
KUALA LUMPUR (AP)--Members of
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations should get the group's approval
before entering into bilateral free trade agreements with outside countries,
Malaysia's trade minister said Thursday.
"We must get Asean consensus," International Trade and Industry Minister
Rafidah Aziz was quoted as saying by the national news agency, Bernama.
Thailand and Australia agreed Wednesday to start work on a possible free
trade agreement, while Australia and Singapore are expected to sign a free trade
agreement in October.
Singapore is also negotiating or has signed free trade agreements with the
United States, Japan and New Zealand.
Asean groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The group is struggling to meet
its target of free trade between all member countries.
Rafidah said that while Asean countries are free to sign bilateral
agreements with third-party countries, they must adhere to the conditions of the
Asean Free Trade Agreement.
"When it comes to bilateral agreements we have no right to question, but in
the case of free trade agreement where you bargain on tariff concessions ...
then it is going against AFTA rules and that cannot be done," Bernama quoted her
as saying.
"Whatever benefits that they might get from an FTA agreement with the
countries that they sign with, they must also offer to their fellow Asean
countries," she said.
Third-party countries such as Australia and New Zealand must not be allowed
"back door entry" to Asean countries with which they do not have bilateral trade
agreements via Asean countries with which they do, she said.
---------------------------------------------------------------- International Herald Tribune
Thursday, July 5, 2001
Signs of a Thaw Puzzle Burma
Thomas Crampton Some Prisoners Freed as Junta and Opposition Talk
The first words Kyaw Thaung heard his wife speak after his release from
1,000 days of detention were addressed to the government officials who drove him
home: "Have you brought him back for good?"
. "Yes," the officials replied. . But just about everyone in Rangoon wonders whether the concessions by Burma's military government that brought his release are genuine. Burma's military rulers are easing up on the opposition, but no one is sure why or for how long. . Kyaw Thaung is one of the many rank-and-file members of the opposition National League for Democracy who have been detained for political activities. He asked that his real name not be used in this article because he fears reprisals from a government which, according to estimates by Amnesty International, holds more than 1,800 political prisoners in Burma. . In the last few weeks more than 20 of those prisoners have been released, a sign that the military junta might be easing pressure on the political opposition. . This new tolerance is attributed to secret talks that began late last year between the government and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel peace laureate and leader of the National League for Democracy. The talks represent the first direct contact between the two sides in more than half a decade, but neither side will elaborate on them beyond acknowledging their existence. . The military government, which rarely issues visas to foreign journalists, refused to comment on the issue. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, now living under house arrest in her lakeside family compound, did not reply when contacted in writing through an intermediary. . In addition to the prisoner releases, other signs of the government's easing its position include permission for the National League for Democracy to reopen 18 Rangoon branch offices; permission for a visit by a United Nations human rights official and an invitation to a team from the International Labor Organization to investigate allegations of forced labor. . Also, the government-controlled media has stopped printing harsh political cartoons that depicted Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as a toothless hag in the pay of foreign neocolonialists. . Yet, for all these changes, many in Rangoon remain skeptical that a country run by military dictatorship for nearly 40 years has the desire, motivation or ability to make substantial concessions. . "Everyone here wants to know if these signs are cosmetic adjustments or the start of real change in government," a Rangoon-based ambassador said. "Speaking professionally, I tell my Foreign Ministry we must keep optimism alive. Personally, I must tell you I am not hopeful this will all amount to much." . Many observers expect Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to make a public statement once the government follows through on promises to release 400 political prisoners and allow the National League for Democracy to function as a political party. . Waiting to see if the talks will succeed, many of the most critical foreign governments have tempered their anti-Burma rhetoric. . The United States has made uncharacteristically few inflammatory statements about Burma's government in the last nine months and Japan, long a proponent of active engagement, recently approved the largest aid package to the country since the crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in 1988. . But high hopes may be premature, according to many observers in Rangoon. The talks almost ended two weeks ago when it was found that the government had arrested new prisoners. . "The military releases prisoners only to mask their broad strategy of delay," a Rangoon-based businessman said. "Suu Kyi has a mortal human's lifespan while the military is an institution that can achieve immortality by placing future generations in power." . International patience for talks without progress can be expected to wear thin. The fear in Rangoon is that if the talks fail, campaigners for democracy overseas may push foreign labor unions to refuse to unload ships carrying the few exports that now keep Burma's battered economy alive. . But even that threat may not be enough to force change. International pariah status and economic sanctions have hurt Burma, but the military remains deeply entrenched and faces little fear of a broad anti-government uprising. The generals have grown comfortably rich, while the majority of the population remains mired in poverty. . "Any progress in negotiations means concessions have been made by the military," a senior foreign diplomat said. "Military men do not like to surrender." . Even if the secret talks do make progress, many in Rangoon remain skeptical the two sides could share power in any substantive way. . "There must be an unprecedented change of position and attitude on both sides," a Rangoon-based observer said. "She shouts from her house that right is might, while the generals continue to rule the country, saying might is right." . Burma's numerous ethnic minorities further complicate any possible rapprochement. Many minority groups are armed and already govern themselves with varying autonomy. Up to now, these groups have been willing to await the outcome of talks between the military government and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, but they cannot remain sidelined forever. . "Military dictatorship binds Burma together," a Rangoon-based observer said. "Remove that glue and hatred between the ethnic minorities could transform the country into Asia's answer to post-Tito Yugoslavia." . As for Kyaw Thaung, he still sees the talks as Burma's best hope for the future. . "Our main idea now is to keep a low profile so that we do not give the government any excuse to walk out of the talks," he said. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar Leader Stresses Need to
Preserve Traditional Culture
2001.07.05 12:01:35 YANGON, July 5 (Xinhuanet) --
Myanmar leader Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt has stressed the need for his
country to preserve the traditions and culture with firm conviction in
face of attempts by some big nations to dominate Myanmar politically,
economically and culturally.
Khin Nyunt, who is First Secretary of the Myanmar State Peace and
Development Council, made the remarks at a coordination meeting here on
Wednesday of holding country's 9th Annual Traditional Performing Arts
Competitions, official newspaper The New Light of Myanmar reported
Thursday.
Khin Nyunt, who is also patron of the Leading Organizing Committee of
the Competitions, charged that in the process of globalization, some big
nations, which are enjoying economic and technological advantage, are
trying to dominate the small nations politically, economically and
culturally to shape them as they wish.
"Especially, they are using their advantage in the media to
culturally dominate the developing countries," said Khin Nyunt.
He warned that in the nations where vitalization of national spirit
is weak, the traditions and culture are vanishing among the youths, saying that
the situation is becoming uncontrollable as some big nations are exporting
their ideology and social system to them.
He believed that the competitions will help Myanmar youths to love,
cherish and preserve the genuine Myanmar culture and vitalize their spirit
to safeguard the national interests.
In Myanmar's traditional performing arts competitions held annually
since 1993, more than 2,000 contestants took parts.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar Makes Efforts in Fight
Against HIV/AIDS
2001.07.05 10:08:53 YANGON, July 5 (Xinhuanet) --
HIV/AIDS, a national concern in Myanmar, is recognized by the Myanmar
Ministry of Health as one of the three priority communicable diseases --
malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB). The UNAIDS has identified Myanmar
along with Thailand and Cambodia as the priority country in Southeast
Asia where taking of urgent action is called for to prevent the
spread of the epidemic.
In face of the threat posed by HIV/AIDS, the Myanmar government is taking
various measures to prevent and halt the rapid spread of the epidemic, using all
its available resources.
In 1989, Myanmar formed a high-level and multi-sectoral National AIDS
Committee, chaired by the Minister of Health to oversee the National AIDS
Program in the country.
It also established in the year the National Health Committee (
NHC) with ministers from various government ministries as members and chaired by First Secretary of the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt. The NHC, which is the highest policy-making body in Myanmar with
respect to health, provides policy guidelines to enhance HIV/ AIDS prevention
and control activities in the country.
Myanmar began conducting active surveillance for HIV and AIDS in 1985
and bi-annual HIV sentinel surveillance in 1992 in nine sites, which was
expanded to 27 to cover all states and divisions in 2000.
Moreover, behavioral surveillance was introduced in the country in 1997
with these sites covering all urban areas and some border areas considered
to be high risk.
Meanwhile, under limited international assistance, Myanmar has
implemented a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS prevention and control
program with health education as priority, which was geared towards
behavioral change, care and compassion for persons with the
disease.
Besides, prevention of mother to child transmission (PMCT) was
implemented in 1998.
A school basic healthy living and AIDS prevention education, which is
a co-curriculum for school children from 4th to 9th grade, has also been
introduced, covering 1.5 million students and over 7, 000 school teachers in 50
townships.
Moreover, a pilot 100-percent condom use among targeted population
program has been launched in the focus townships.
In late 2000, Myanmar's 8th National AIDS Committee meeting
established the multi-sectoral Special Strategic Committee to enhance and
upgrade countrywide HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities.
In early 2001, Myanmar's National AIDS Program and the UNAIDS drafted
a joint action plan for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in Myanmar,
reflecting the cultural characteristics and the priorities of the
country.
The plan contains technically sound strategies and is comprehensive
in nature, covering preventive, curative and rehabilitative
aspects.
A report said that sentinel surveillance figures indicated prevalence
rate among sex workers in Mandalay, the second largest city of the
country, rose from 4 percent in 1992 to 57 percent in 1999, while that in
male conscripts in Yangon and Mandalay went up from 0.4 percent in
1993 to nearly 2 percent in 1999.
The report said that 30 percent of officially reported HIV cases in
the country are attributed to intravenous drug use and 68 percent to
heterosexual transmission.
Estimation, jointly made by the UNAIDS and the World Health
Organization in 1999, shows as high as 530,000 HIV positive cases in
Myanmar.
With regard to financial resources in Myanmar's HIV/AIDS prevention
and control efforts, the U.N. system in the country is the only principal
source of external funding in the absence of other significant bilateral
aid.
Until 2001, the combined budget of the Myanmar government, U.N. system,
local and international NGOs was estimated to amount to about 3 million
U.S. dollars annually.
Currently, the Myanmar-UNAIDS joint plan of action to prevent and
control HIV/AIDS in Myanmar is reportedly being implemented on a small scale as
only 28 percent of the funding is so far available. It is said that there
requires a total of 16 million dollars over a two-year period to undertake
all the activities contained in the plan.
The country has expressed its most willingness to collaborate and
cooperate nationally, regionally and internationally with partners to find
the best ways of halting the spread of the epidemic and reversing
it.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar Seizes Large Amount of
Stimulant Drug in Border Town
2001.07.05 10:34:00 YANGON, July 5 (Xinhuanet) --
The Myanmar authorities seized 1.65 million tablets of stimulant drug in
Tachilek, eastern Shan state of the country, last month, according to
Myanmar's Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control Thursday.
The seizure was made by a combined team comprising local intelligence
unit and the police force when they searched a vessel anchored at the Wampon
Jetty in the area on June 10.
In June, the Myanmar authorities also confiscated 541,600 more
tablets of stimulant drug in the state, according to an earlier official
report.
Official statistics show that in 2000, the Myanmar authorities
confiscated 26.6 million tablets of stimulant drug along with 1.52 tons of
opium, 158 kilograms of heroin and 590 kilograms of marijuana.
Besides, during the first four months of this year, the authorities
exposed a total of 1,017 drug-related cases, seizing 391.7 kilograms of
opium and 23 kilograms of heroin and punishing 1,435 drug offenders, the
statistics show.
---------------------------------------------------------------- The Japan Times: July 6,
2001
Envoy lauds aid plan to Myanmar
Tan Sri Razali, the visiting U.N. special envoy for Myanmar, praised
Japan's planned aid for renovation of a hydroelectric power plant in Myanmar,
saying it would help improve the country's economy.
In talks with Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka, Razali said the Japanese
project is gaining more international understanding, against some criticism of
Japan's aid for the military regime, which is accused of human rights
violations.
Tanaka replied that the aid is humanitarian in nature, a Foreign Ministry
official said.
Japan is planning to offer some 3 billion yen to repair the Baluchaung
power plant, which was built by Japan in east Myanmar in 1960.
It is feared that leaving it unrepaired could lead to a serious accident,
according to the ministry.
Tokyo's stance is that it offers economic assistance to engage the military
regime in dialogue and improve the human rights situation.
Razali also said the recent release of political prisoners is a positive
move and an important step for enhancing dialogue between the military regime
and democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the official said.
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