Burma Related News - July 05, 2001.

[David Arnott <darnott@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

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BURMA RELATED NEWS -
July 05, 2001.
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HEADLINES
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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 
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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.
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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. 
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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.
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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. 
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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.   
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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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