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BURMA RELATED NEWS - August 16,
2001.
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HEADLINES
------------------------------------------------------------------ Reuters - Myanmar warlord says he's fighting
drugs
Reuters - Thailand sees worsening problem with
speed pills
Bkk Post - A hundred
arrested in huge Swiss bust
Bkk Post - Number of countries allowed visa-free
entry to be slashed
Bkk Post - Fisheries and border
demarcation up for talks
The Nation - Living under fire
NSTP - China a powerful economic threat
NSTP - RM1.3 million to feed illegal immigrants
FEER - Russian Spy Aids Burmese Military
FEER - Border Tension Down, Trafficking Up
------------------------------------------------------------------ Thursday August 16, 8:11 PMMyanmar warlord says he's fighting drugs By Prapan Chankaew TONGKYI, Myanmar (Reuters) -
Yod Suk, commander of an ethnic militia battling the Myanmar military in remote
jungles near the Thai border, has been branded a criminal and narcotics
trafficker, but he insists he is fighting to stamp out drugs.
The Shan State Army (SSA) leader told Reuters at his headquarters in
Myanmar that his soldiers were doing their best to intercept drug convoys bound
for Thailand, where hundreds of millions of methamphetamine pills are sold every
year.
"The reason why we are focused on intercepting drugs at the moment is
because narcotics are not only affecting Thailand and the outside world. It is
directly threatening and affecting our own Shan people as well," Yod Suk said.
"If many of our people become addicted to drugs, we won't be able to
achieve the goals we are fighting for, so eradicating drugs is our priority."
Thai anti-drugs officials say the United Wa State Army (UWSA), an ethnic
army allied with the Yangon government, is the main producer of the
methamphetamine pills flooding Thailand.
Methamphetamines are increasingly supplanting heroin as the main drug
produced in the infamous Golden Triangle region where the borders of Thailand,
Myanmar and Laos converge.
The Myanmar government insists the UWSA is not involved in drug production
or trafficking, and says Yod Suk and the SSA are the main culprits. It has
accused the Thai military of siding with the SSA and of profiting from the drugs
trade.
Yod Suk was formerly part of the Mong Tai Army of drug warlord Khun Sa, who
surrendered to Myanmar troops in 1996 and now lives in Yangon under government
protection.
Yod Suk says there are some 20,000 soldiers in his army, including
thousands of new recruits. The SSA, which has been fighting for independence
from Myanmar for more than 40 years, is the most powerful anti-government
militia in the country.
Myanmar's ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has made peace
with 17 ethnic militia groups in recent years, allowing many of them, like the
UWSA, considerable autonomy in return for dropping their struggle against
Yangon.
But the SSA, as well as the Karen National Union (KNU), are still fighting
the government, saying they want independence for their people.
During recent months clashes between the SSA and soldiers of the UWSA and
Myanmar military have intensified along the mountainous border with Thailand.
Relations between two countries have soured this year, boiling over in
February when Thai and Myanmar soldiers clashed and dozens were killed. Since
then, the two countries have tried to patch up ties. Yod Suk said the detente
was unlikely to last for long.
"I see relations between Thailand and Myanmar as on and off. Whenever the
relationship has improved, it didn't last for long and was always fragile," he
said.
------------------------------------------------------------------ Thursday August 16, 9:24 PM
Thailand sees worsening problem with speed pills BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand is
expected to be flooded with over 900 million methamphetamine pills next year,
200 million more than this year, due to higher demand and new plants in Laos, a
senior security official said on Thursday.
General Pallop Pinmanee, a security adviser to Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra, told Reuters the greater popularity of the stimulant pills in
Australia and Europe had also encouraged drug factories in Myanmar and Laos to
step up production.
Methamphetamine pills are increasingly supplanting heroin as the main drug
produced in the infamous Golden Triangle region where the borders of Myanmar,
Laos and Thailand converge.
The drug, known in its crystallised form in the West as "ice", is produced
by ethnic minority militia groups in Myanmar.
Thailand says most of the pills are produced by the United Wa State Army
(UWSA), a militia allied to the Yangon government.
Pallop, also deputy director of the country's Internal Security Operations
Command, said despite closer cooperation with Myanmar to intercept smuggled
pills, the drugs producers have shifted five to six plants from Myanmar to Laos.
Pallop said the drug was also increasingly being exported to Australia and
Europe.
"Now people all over the world have said the pills are from Thailand, which
has damaged our reputation," Pallop said.
Swiss drug busters seized almost half a million methamphetamine pills in
Geneva on Wednesday and arrested 102 people in coordinated raids across
Switzerland, the Bangkok Post reported on Thursday. Swiss officers said
smugglers shipped the pills by air freight mostly through Zurich airport, hidden
among normal looking Thai exports like canned food and stuffed toys, the
newspaper said.
------------------------------------------------------------------ A hundred arrested in huge Swiss bust
Wa smuggling pills with help of Triad
Bangkok Post, AFT - August 16,
2001.
A huge drug bust of 450,000 methamphetamine pills in Geneva early yesterday
revealed that the Wa-Chinese Triad drug cartel has begun smuggling speed
abroad.
Police arrested 102 people in co-ordinated raids across Switzerland. It was
the climax of an international effort that also included drug fighters from
Thailand, Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein.
In Bern, officers displayed the seized speed pills and described how they
were smuggled into Europe. Smugglers mostly shipped the methamphetamines by air
freight, hidden among normal-looking Thai exports like canned food, clothing or
stuffed children's toys. Most items were imported through the Zurich
airport.
It was the first major bust of Golden Triangle methamphetamines in Europe.
Police said the so-called ``Thai pills'' appeared on the illicit drug market in
Geneva and other major Swiss cities several months ago.
Thai drug experts said there was no doubt the drugs were made by the United
Wa State Army. Probably, they were smuggled to Europe by their allies in the 14K
Triad.
The groups formed an alliance last year, mainly to smuggle heroin from the
UWSA region.
The Bangkok-based experts identified the speed pills by appearance, colour
and marking. Many were marked with the distinctive ``Wy'' brand long seen on the
Thai drug scene.
``Maybe now, the world will take our drug problem a little more
seriously,'' said a member of the Thai anti-drug police. Thai officials said
they were kept informed of the Swiss police action.
Thai police helped track shipments of yaba. Smugglers used a wide range of
products to hide the pills, including sealed cans of Green Nuts which had more
than hard peas, bright yellow plush ducks supposedly meant for children, and
clothing with tiny plastic bags of drugs sewn into the seams.
The head of a regional Swiss police anti-drugs squad, Christian
Hochstaettler, said that after the drugs reached Switzerland they went to the
town of Bienne, which has rapidly become a ``breakdown point'' for storage and
distribution to street dealers.
Dieter Stussi of the federal criminal police said the Wa-14K ring was using
Switzerland as a test market. They believed they could get the pills into
Switzerland, and then distribute them to neighbouring countries, across
undefended borders.
The profits were massive. On the street, the speed was selling for 15 to 20
Swiss francs, or 400 to 530 baht per pill. That price rose by 50% this week when
police began making seizures. Officers said they had only mid- and lower-level
dealers in custody, with apparently no big fish in the net.
------------------------------------------------------------------ Bangkok Post - August 16,
2001.
Number of countries allowed visa-free
entry to be slashed
Africans and South Asians targeted
Bhanravee Tansubhapol
Drastic cuts in visa privileges are proposed for foreign nationals in a bid
to curb drug trafficking, illegal immigration and other security threats.
An inter-agency group wants the number of nationalities allowed 30-day
visa-free access to be cut to 35 from 56, and for nationalities allowed to apply
for visas on arrival, to 17 from 96, a source said.
The proposals, drawn up by the Foreign Ministry, Tourism Authority of
Thailand, Immigration Office and the National Security Council, await cabinet
approval, with sources expecting only slight changes, if any.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra called for a review of visa privileges at
a workshop on tourism in Chiang Mai in April.
Mainly to boost tourism, Thailand began granting visa privileges in 1986.
People from Algeria, Burma, Djibouti, Egypt, Fiji, Kenya, Kuwait, Mauritania,
Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Vanuatu, Western Samoa
and Yemen are among the 56 nationalities now allowed three-day visa
waivers.
Travellers from several African states, members of the former Soviet Union,
and some Eastern European countries are among the 96 nationalities allowed to
apply for 15-day visas on arrival.
The proposed cuts are based on whether a particular country has managed to
send at least 10,000 tourists here each year, and on the threat it poses in
terms of drug trafficking and illegal immigration, a source said.
Nationals from some African countries and South Asia, except India, are
tipped to lose visa-free and visa-on-arrival privileges. Burmese nationals are
to be dropped from the 30-day visa-free list.
Europeans, Americans and Japanese are tipped to continue enjoying the
30-day visa waiver by virtue of the large number of tourists they provide each
year. South Koreans will still enjoy a special 90-day visa.
But the inter-agency working group failed to reach agreement on nationals
from China, India and Russia.
The NSC wanted nationals from these countries to apply for visas in
advance. But other agencies voted for their still being allowed to apply for
visas on arrival, because they come from large countries where Thai embassies or
consular offices are not widespread.
``For starters, Thailand can be confident that pre-exit screening by
governments in China and Russia will discourage illegal immigrants,'' the source
said.
The large number of Russian visitors who come to Thailand, and the large
amounts of money they spend, were strong incentives to continue allowing them
the privilege, the source said.
Cuts in visa privileges would boost the revenues of honorary Thai consular
representatives around the world, who do not receive financial support from the
Foreign Ministry, and encourage them to persuade more tourists to come to the
country, the source said.
To boost government revenue, the Foreign Ministry proposed raising tourist
visa fees to 1,000 baht from 300 baht, and transit visa fees to 800 baht from
200 baht, the source said. The existing fees bring in 1,500 million baht a
year.
------------------------------------------------------------------ Bangkok Post - August 16,
2001.
Fisheries and border demarcation up for
talks
Gen Chavalit to meet Khin Nyunt
Closer co-operation on border and economic issues will highlight next
month's meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Burma's
State Peace and Development Council First Secretary Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
Gen Sanan Kachornklam, secretary of the deputy premier's advisory team,
said Gen Chavalit was confident that Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt's trip would lead to more
economic co-operation.
``The defence minister will be directly responsible for the meeting's
agenda and measures to strengthen bilateral ties will be raised for discussion
with Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt,'' said Gen Sanan.
Gen Chavalit hoped for progress on fishery and border demarcation. So far
only 60 kms of their common border had been demarcated.
Gen Chavalit invited Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Burma's intelligence chief, during
his trip to Burma last month.
Gen Chavalit suggested that engineering and medic soldiers from both sides
should develop the border area.
------------------------------------------------------------------ The Nation - August 16,
2001.
Living under fire
Daniel Pedersen and Nelson Rand For three days they were there, hanging like shadows and watching from
ridges gilded by the mists and low clouds that mark the tropical wet season in
lands that are neither Thailand's nor Burma's.
The troops would suddenly appear, startling villagers who were searching
for food around their makeshift camp. And then the soldiers were gone, as
quickly as they came. But the Karen villagers knew what they had seen - and it
terrified them.
The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) attacked the camp. They came from
two directions in bursts of automatic machine-gunfire and rounds of rocket
propelled grenades that scorched the earth. More than 2,000 people fled for
their lives to seek refuge in Thailand.
The hour-long assault launched against Mae La Po Hta Thaw, an internally
displaced persons' camp, sparked an exodus unprecedented in recent years.
That was on July 17, just days before members of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and their dialogue partners met in Hanoi to
discuss regional security issues.
The junta's attack on Mae La Po Hta Thaw, populated by Karens, the
country's largest ethnic minority, was never discussed. In fact praise of
Burma's ruling military junta was dispensed in a joint statement after talks
were completed.
Vietnamese foreign minister Nguyen Dy Nien told the Asean Regional Forum
(ARF) that: "We appreciate the developments there [in Burma]".
Vietnam, which currently has the revolving presidency of Asean, has long
discouraged "meddling" in Burma's internal affairs.
However the European Union's representative at the talks, Belgian foreign
minister Louis Michel, viewed Burma's internal situation somewhat differently
from his Vietnamese counterpart.
"There must be respect to minorities," he said, describing the ARF
statement as "rather weak". The ARF members, in a prepared statement, expressed
"appreciation" of the developments that had occurred in Burma during the past 12
months since they had last met.
During the past 10 months there have allegedly been ongoing talks between
the junta and main opposition leader, Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu
Kyi.
What has been discussed in these talks, which have been hailed by foreign
governments and the media alike as "watershed" remains a mystery. In fact when
the talks occurred, or with what frequency, has not been revealed.
And they have not involved Burma's myriad ethnic minorities, which make up
almost 40 per cent of the country's population.
During a clandestine meeting on the Thai-Burma border Mahn Sha, a leader of
the Karen National Union, the political arm of the Karens' resistance group,
dismissed the much-lauded talks as "insignificant".
"They mean nothing to us," he said.
He suggested they were merely the latest ploy by the junta in its quest for
international legitimacy.
He said things were worse than ever for the Karen. Fierce Burmese
government offensives had occurred throughout this year's wet season - in the
past decisive military thrusts have been left for the dry season.
But, with the rice crops that nourish Burma's rebels now ready for harvest,
the Burmese military is attacking Karen areas and forcing them off their lands.
The SPDC wants to stop the harvest.
"They [Burmese troops] have been ordered to destroy everything, even the
plants, so there is nothing left to sustain human life," said Mahn Sha.
Karens displaced inside Burma work against the odds to feed themselves.
Following Burmese offensives that force Karen villagers from their homes and
into the jungle, the necessities of life take over. A secluded area deemed safe
must be found where a makeshift camp can be set up and nearby land cleared to
grow rice.
Mae La Po Hta Waw was one such camp.
From a population that had swelled to almost 4,000 before the attack, 840
Karens have now returned to their rudimentary dwellings, after seeking temporary
refuge in Thailand or in the nearby jungle. Their church has been burned down,
and the 52-year-old pastor Hwe Htoo stands outside it, cursing the Burmese
soldiers who razed it to the ground. The camp's predominantly Christian
population used to gather here each Sunday. They have not yet begun to rebuild
it, for now there will only be open-air gatherings - weather permitting, as the
rainy season is at its peak.
At the camp's school, 28-year-old principal Hsa Hklo Htoo presides over his
classes. The usual chatter of schoolchildren emanates, but there is far less
noise than there used to be. Only half of the kids have returned, and their
attendance depends on the "situation".
The school has been attacked repeatedly by SPDC soldiers since it was
established in May of last year, and once completely destroyed.
Despite the danger, the kids here continue to turn out for morning roll
call. They are taught four languages - Karen, Thai, Burmese and English - as
well as mathematics, but perhaps the most important skill they learn is the
sixth sense required to survive in a war zone.
Pe Kayt is 11 years old and has lived in this camp for one-and-a half
years. She came to the camp after her home village was burned to the ground by
Burmese troops. She was among the first of 1,479 arrivals that founded this
settlement.
"I hope I can keep coming to school, but each day I must check the
situation," she says.
Principal Htoo explains: "The Karen people just want to stay on their own
land, in the future we would like [the opportunity to be asked] a quiet
question, to quietly decide our own fate, we don't want enemies." He says the
people in the camp just want the fighting to stop.
The factional split of the Karen leadership in 1995 resulted in two armies
of the same people fighting each other - the pro-Rangoon Democratic Karen
Buddhist Army and the Christian-dominated Karen National Liberation Army, the
armed wing of the Karen National Union.
This split has had dire consequences for the people. No longer is there
simply a united Karen resistance force - communities have been split as their
men take to the mountains with either side.
"We are not KNU or DKBA," says the school principal, "but there are
families of both in this camp, we don't want to be controlled by either
side."
The principal's comments suggest that, at age 11, one must forsake
childlike pursuits in Karen State, but then what does she like doing? "I like to
sing very much," she says.
And so while Pe Kayt sings traditional Karen songs about her homeland, war
continues to engulf it. As Asean praises Burma for its commitment to a
transition to democracy, the struggle of the ethnic minorities continues with no
end in sight. The plight of the minorities, like the Karen, highlights the fact
that all is not well in Burma.
But there are those in the international community who condemn Asean's
diplomacy and do not accept the junta's pledges that it is working towards
peace.
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions secretary-general Bill
Jordan, at an international conference in Bangkok on July 24, described Burma as
the world's "biggest labour camp".
"Any serious investigation would show that the pronounced initiatives are
cosmetic measures for international consumption and have not touched the people
of Burma," he said.
The KNU's Mahn Sha also dismissed any pretence of progress in Burma.
"We do not see any significant development ... they [the junta's talks with
Suu Kyi] are for publicity's sake, to convince foreign countries that things are
going okay."
EU external affairs commissioner Chris Patten said the use of forced labour
should worry all countries.
"What is important to us is that there be a dialogue with National League
for Democracy (Suu Kyi's party) and ethnic minorities," he said.
Mahn Sha said the talks have not touched any of the ethnic minorities; the
Karen haven't officially talked to Burmese government representatives since
November 1996.
The Burmese junta has made clear it will not talk with the Karen unless
they enter the "legal fold".
But Mahn Sha interprets the "legal fold" very differently from the junta,
which he considers an illegal force anyway.
"If the SPDC respects the law, they would have accepted the 1990 election
results," he said. Aung San Su Kyi's National League for Democracy Party won the
elections by a landslide, but the military never allowed parliament to
convene.
"The constitution has been demolished, they are ruling by martial law - how
can you submit to a military dictatorship? We feel responsible for our people",
said Mahn Sha.
Forced labour remains a widespread practice in Burma and is used by the
Burmese army to help fight its war against the ethnic minorities. Mahn Sha said
that on July 12, fifteen porters carrying ammunition and supplies for SPDC
troops in Northern Karen State escaped to KNLA controlled territory. Among them
was a monk, who told of beatings and summary executions of porters by SPDC
troops if they were too exhausted to walk on. He saw one man bayoneted to
death.
Such use of forced labour in Burma has been described as "pervasive" by the
International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Both the ILO and the European Union have placed sanctions on Burma and
urged all countries to do the same. The KNU's Mahn Sha stresses that these
sanctions work, and that any foreign investment into Burma puts money directly
in the hands of the military. And with that money the military buys weapons to
wage war against the minorities.
"We ask that countries at least be neutral", he said.
Mahn Sha criticised Asean and Australia's policy of "constructive
engagement", saying that any engagement with the SPDC does nothing to help the
people of Burma.
Australia annually sponsors human rights workshops in Burma aimed at
middle-ranking bureaucrats. At the recent Asean regional forum in Hanoi,
Australia maintained that any engagement with the SPDC was better than none at
all - a stance not supported by EU external affairs commissioner Chris Patten.
"I don't think we have always seen entirely eye to eye (win Australia) on Burma
in general", he said.
As the international community continues to bicker about the best way to
handle Burma, the people of the country go about their everyday lives. Several
hundred thousand of them, according to the IDFTU, are subjected to forced labour
every day. Mahn Sha estimates that 300,000 Karens are currently internally
displaced. At Mae La Po Hta Thaw, children continue their schooling despite the
ever-present threat of government attacks.
And 11-year-old adults sing traditional Karen songs about their
homeland. ------------------------------------------------------------------ The New Straits Times Press
August 16, 2001.
China a powerful economic
threat
By V. Sivapalan Strategic policy changes a necessity I just returned from Australia and I
must say that it opened my eyes to the real threat posed by the emergence of the
powerful Chinese economic machine. China is no longer an emerging economy, it is
in fact the single largest threat to the economies of Southeast Asia, especially
Malaysia.
I remember in previous overseas trips from Europe to America to Australia,
Malaysian-made products were available in many shopping centres. Now, everything
is made in China. I could not find a single Malaysian-made consumer item in any
of the shopping centres in Australia.
The threat of China is not only as a low cost producer. Vietnam, Myanmar,
Indonesia and India are also low cost producers, yet there are very few products
from these nations on sale. Other than being a low cost producer, China is also
savvy at marketing its products.
Chinese companies now dominate the garments industry and if one studies
historical trends, most nations, including Malaysia, moved from garments to
higher value products in 10 to 20 years. This time span is even shorter today.
China has also started moving into electronics and higher value products.
What does this have to do with the New Economy? Consider Singapore. It has
been moving aggressively into high end manufacturing especially electronics over
the last 10 to 15 years. Today it is a successful electronics manufacturing
centre for American and European multinationals. It is also in technical
recession due to the slump in electronics. The first response of all these
multinationals? Close down the plants and move to low cost nations, preferably
China.
Even the tax and financial incentives offered to these MNCs are never
enough to keep them if labour and operational costs make the difference between
profitability and liquidation.
The ultimate goal of all nations is to increase the per capita income of
its citizens and keep GDP growing at reasonable rates. The time will come when
labour and operational costs are too high and companies move along.
It is happening in Singapore, soon it will happen in Malaysia. We are
fortunate to have lower costs than Singapore, but the message of Datuk Craig
Barret, CEO of Intel, is clear. At present he is satisfied that the benefits of
Penang and its lower costs still justify continuity of the Intel facility in
Malaysia. However, the hidden message is that if there is a more compelling
reason to move then he will do it. The corporate mantra of MNCs is maintaining
profitability. The bottom line is all that matters.
We must learn the Singapore lesson. Too much dependence on a single
industry can be crippling especially if that industry can be easily replicated
elsewhere. Manufacturing and assembly can be done anywhere by anyone. Malaysia
too is very similar to Singapore. Most of the companies in Penang are assembly
plants. Statistics prove that we import most of the key components from overseas
like Japan and Taiwan and merely reassemble them here for re-export. This is a
dangerous situation to be in.
Malaysia is the lucky country. Just when electronics are in a slump, higher
crude oil and palm oil prices will save the nation. When palm oil was down,
manufacturing saved the day. How long can we depend on luck and the grace of the
Almighty? It is time for a rethink of overall policy.
We are already a key electronics manufacturing (or more likely assembly)
centre with large multinationals like Intel, Dell, Sony and Samsung. However, to
ensure that they do not move the facilities elsewhere, we must devise new
policies and new businesses. The New Economy is also about new technologies and
designs. Malaysia must move away from assembly to design and development. Intel
has started this by announcing that it will set up a Design and Development
(D&D) centre in Malaysia to complement its facility in Penang.
Assembly can be done by anyone even in countries with low education levels.
However for D&D there is a requirement for higher levels of education
especially in electronics and engineering. Malaysia has among the highest
literacy rates in Asia, yet the number of high quality engineers and science
graduates is very low.
Malaysia needs to emphasise policies and incentives to move higher up the
value chain. Although the Government has been talking about this, nothing
concrete has been done and foreign direct investment has still been in
manufacturing and assembly plants.
Government grants too need to be reviewed. The current grant process
emphasises smaller scale R&D and not on the scale required to be a major
player in D&D. The Government must take the lead here and set up special
R&D and D&D centres in major universities like Universiti Sains Malaysia
and the Multimedia University specialising in fields like chip design, robotics,
electronics and photonics.
We also need to create training and education with greater emphasis on
R&D and D&D. The training must encompass not only university students
but also employees of MNCs and other major corporations.
We need to work closely with major universities like the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Oxford and other European and Japanese universities
that specialise in R&D and D&D. The current foreign universities in
Malaysia concentrate on the usual IT and business courses and this is a dire
waste of the resources of these universities.
The Government must take the lead to invite the major researchbased
universities to Malaysia and set up special departments and faculties solely
based on research. Funds must be provided for research and this will attract
talent from overseas to move their research to Malaysia. Research funding is a
major concern of all researchers and if the Malaysian Government is willing to
fund high-level research based on our needs then we can attract the best brains
to Malaysia. The spillover effect of this is the education of the Malaysian
population.
Malaysia is an attractive place to work and do research in but we must be
focused and targeted in the type of research being done. Semiconductor
technology is the key to keeping the massive electronics industry in Malaysia
and we should work towards producing high value chips, not merely assembling
them.
In the future we must move from semiconductors to other electronic
products.
It is time for us to take the lead in research before nations like
Singapore and India attract the best to them. As we speak, these nations are
plotting their future strategy. We should not be left behind and we should not
be followers. We can and must be leaders.
------------------------------------------------------------------ The New Straits Times Press
August 16, 2001.
BUKIT KAYU HITAM
RM1.3 million to feed illegal immigrants By Sharanjit Singh The Government spends a minimum of RM1.3 million per month to feed some
11,000 illegal immigrants under detention.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung said a majority of the illegal
immigrants were Indonesians followed by Myanmar nationals and those from
Bangladesh and Thailand.
He said the Government hoped to deport the illegals quickly but was faced
with numerous technical problems.
"It is costing us about RM4 per person a day just to feed the illegals...we
want to send them back fast but there are many procedural technicalities that
must be overcome first," he said.
Chor said among hurdles faced in the deportation process was the calling of
tenders for shipping the illegals back to their countries.
He said this took time as the illegals originated from different
countries.
"The fastest way an illegal can be deported is if he can finance the cost
of his ticket back home.
"However, most illegals cannot afford to pay and the burden falls back on
the Government," he said.
Chor said this at a Press conference after handing over 262 Thai nationals
to the neighbouring country's immigration authorities.
The Thai nationals were detained for various immigration related offences
and some had also violated their entry passes by engaging in vice
activities.
This is the fourth time the Government has conducted such handing over of
Thai nationals as a gesture of goodwill between the two Governments.
Also present was Immigration Department director-general Datuk Mohd Kamal
Kamdi while Thailand was represented by Minister in the Prime Minister's
Department Somsak That Sukhing.
------------------------------------------------------------------ Far Eastern Economic
Review
Russian Spy Aids Burmese
Military
Issue cover-dated August 23, 2001 Burma is gaining a new military partner: Russia. Following the recent deal
to purchase 10 MiG-29s, Mikhail Dmitriyev, deputy defence minister and chairman
of the Russian committee on military-technical cooperation with foreign
countries, visited Burma in early August. While in Rangoon, Dmitriyev held
meetings with Lt.-Gen. Tin Hla, minister of military affairs and deputy prime
minister, to discuss military cooperation and the sale of Russian arms to Burma,
Western diplomats in the Burmese capital say. While the arms deals may be
commercially motivated, Russia's partnership with Burma is coming at a time when
Moscow is establishing closer relationships with other Asian countries that are
critical of the United States and the West, such as China and North Korea.
Western intelligence sources note that Dmitriyev is a former hardline operative
of the KGB's First Chief Directorate, which was in charged of foreign
intelligence. Cold War-veteran Dmitriyev served in East Germany before German
reunification. Burma's military rulers may have good reason to want to deploy
the advanced Russian-made jet fighters as soon as possible. Some Western
diplomats in Bangkok believe two Thai American-made F-16 fighters sent to buzz
Burmese troops who strayed over the Thai-Burmese border in June may, in fact,
have dropped two bombs. The Burmese claimed at the time that they were bombed,
while the Thais said the flights were only reconnaissance missions. Either way,
the Burmese withdrew.
------------------------------------------------------------------ Far Eastern Economic
Review
Border Tension Down, Trafficking
Up
Issue cover-dated August 23, 2001 The previously tense relations between Thailand and Burma may have improved
considerably following visits to the Burmese capital by Thai Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra in late June and Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh in
July. But, according to Western narcotics officials based in Thailand, drug
traffickers appear to be taking advantage of the now more relaxed situation
along the Thai-Burma border. The former Thai policy of getting tough along the
border was obviously working as many traffickers felt the squeeze and were
unable to move their wares. Since June, however, traffickers in the Burmese
sector of the Golden Triangle have been successfully making more deals involving
not only methamphetamines but increasingly also heroin. Burma's heroin
production is up again after a few years in the doldrums due to the El Nino
weather phenomenon. Reports from drug trafficking centres inside Burma indicate
that business is brisk. Meanwhile, Thai authorities have seized more heroin than
earlier this year: In the latest bust, on August 8, they seized 37 kilograms of
pure No. 4 heroin from a car on its way from Chiang Mai to Bangkok.
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