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BURMA RELATED NEWS - February
09, 2002.
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HEADLINES
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Reuters - Myanmar ethnic army may end drugs
output by 2005
Reuters - U.N. rights investigator to visit
Myanmar
Reuters - China blocks Tibet rights group from
U.N. meeting
AP - EU Lawmakers Fight Money
Laundering
AP - Group Decries Torch Runner
Suits
AP - Olympic Suits Draw Rights
Complaints
Bkk Post - Shan kill six Burmese troops Dawn
attack comes after heavy shelling
The Star - lllegals caught hiding in car
boot
Xinhuanet - Myanmar Strives to Bring Down
Foreign Trade Deficit
UN Press Release - SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN MYANMAR TO
VISIT THAT COUNTRY FROM 10 TO 19 FEBRUARY 2002
Bkk Post - Investigation urged into mass murder of 17
Karens
Bkk Post - Karen
refugees to be moved out of park
Bkk Post - Rangoon to
verify status of migrants
Bkk Post - Shan
gathering off over border conflict
The Nation - Fishermen win access to Burma
SHAN - Border briefs
NMG - Thai to launch
major crack down on Illegal Burmese tomorrow
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday February 8, 6:17 PM
Myanmar ethnic army may end drugs output by 2005 BANGKOK (Reuters) - Myanmar,
one of the world's biggest opium producers, has said an ethnic army based in the
country has promised to stop production of all kinds of drugs by 2005, Thai
officials said on Friday.
Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said Myanmar's military government
made the promise on behalf of the United Wa State Army (UWSA), a semi-autonomous
militia to which it is allied.
"Myanmar officials told me the Wa have promised to stop drug production,
not only opium, but all kinds including methamphetamine, by year 2005,"
Surakiart told reporters after a three-day trip to Myanmar.
Thailand has said it expects to be flooded with over 900 million
methamphetamine stimulant pills this year, 200 million more than last year, due
to higher demand and new plants in Laos.
Thai authorities say most of the pills are produced by the Wa militia
inside Myanmar.
The Thai army has said falling opium production in Afghanistan has prompted
growers in the "Golden Triangle", where the borders of Myanmar, Laos and
Thailand converge, to boost production to serve rising global demand for heroin.
Until 2000, Afghanistan was the world's main producer of poppies, which are
turned into opium and further refined into heroin. The then ruling Taliban
ordered a partial ban on poppy production in 1999, and outlawed it altogether
one year later.
Myanmar is now the world's biggest opium producer, according to
international narcotics agencies. The Myanmar government denies this.
Methamphetamine pills, also known as "Ya ba", or "crazy medicine", are
increasingly supplanting heroin as the main drug produced in the Golden Triangle
region.
Saturday February 9, 5:20 PM
U.N. rights investigator to visit Myanmar GENEVA (Reuters) - The United
Nations human rights envoy to Myanmar will visit the military-ruled country next
week and report back to the main U.N. body that investigates abuses worldwide, a
spokesman said on Friday.
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, a Brazilian lawyer, has met ministers and opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi during two previous visits since being appointed to the
independent post a year ago.
A U.N. spokesman declined to say whether Pinheiro would meet Suu Kyi during
the February 10-19 visit.
He will meet authorities in Yangon and visit Kachin province as part of the
trip, a brief statement said.
Myanmar is regarded as a pariah state by much of the international
community because of its human rights record and treatment of Suu Kyi's National
League for Democracy (NLD).
Diplomats say the Nobel laureate, who has been held under de facto house
arrest since September 2000, met the top leader of the government, General Than
Shwe, in late January -- the latest confidential meeting aimed at breaking the
political deadlock.
The NLD won the last democratic elections in 1990 by a landslide but has
never been allowed to take over power. The government says it is committed to
democracy but too fast a transition could cause anarchy.
Pinheiro will address the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, whose annual
six-week session opens in Geneva on March 18.
Saturday February 9, 5:04 PM
China blocks Tibet rights group from U.N. meeting By Irwin Arieff UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -
Acting at China's behest, organisers of a U.N. development conference on Friday
barred a Tibetan rights group from participating in the meeting to be held later
this year in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Delegates from U.N. member nations preparing for the World Summit on
Sustainable Development voted 93-44 to deny accreditation to the
Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet after China said the group
should be excluded because it favoured "splitting Tibet from China."
Spain, acting on behalf of the European Union, had asked delegates to allow
the group to participate.
But it was outmanoeuvred when China asked that a vote on Spain's motion be
blocked. Russia sided with China while the United States and Japan voted with
the European Union. Sixteen nations abstained.
The group had argued it supported only self-determination for Tibet's
people and should be allowed to attend the conference to address its substantive
issues.
"The international community is well aware of China's intolerance and
repression against those who support self-determination within her borders, but
this is a conference on sustainable development," said the group's director,
Bhuchung Tsering.
He told Reuters he regretted that China had relied on a technical manoeuvre
to exclude it rather than a vote on the substance of the issue, and said the
group would try to participate in the debate on sustainable development through
other channels.
Chinese troops invaded Tibet in 1950. Beijing maintains a force of several
hundred thousand troops in the devoutly Buddhist region, which is home to about
2.5 million Tibetans.
The Dalai Lama, its spiritual leader, fled into exile in 1959 after a
bloody uprising in which thousands of Tibetans died battling Chinese Communist
troops.
Beijing insists its policies have raised the standard of living in a
desperately poor and backward region, but critics say the government is bent on
eradicating Tibet's culture and its unique form of Buddhism.
The Johannesburg summit, following up on the Earth Summit held in Rio de
Janeiro a decade ago, is intended to map a path for achieving global development
goals in a way that conserves limited natural resources and respects the
environment.
More than 60,000 delegates, business leaders and activists are expected to
attend the August 26-September 4 meeting along with dozens of heads of
state.
Friday February 8, 3:46 pm Eastern
Time
EU Lawmakers Fight Money Laundering EU Lawmakers Approve Money Laundering Pact; Could Outlaw EU Businesses in Russia, Elsewhere By EMMANUEL GEORGES-PICOT Associated Press Writer PARIS (AP) -- Lawmakers from
across Europe approved a plan on Friday to clamp down on money laundering,
pledging to isolate tax havens and make financial transactions more easy to
track.
If adopted by national governments, the 30-point plan would severely
restrict business with countries appearing on an international financial
blacklist.
The list currently includes several major emerging markets, including
Russia, Nigeria and Indonesia.
``You're giving a strong political signal of our common will to fight the
blight of money laundering and institute better international financial
regulation,'' French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin told the visiting
lawmakers.
Parliamentarians from the 15-nation European Union as well as from 10
candidate countries and Russia took part in the two-day meeting at the French
National Assembly that concluded with the ``Paris Declaration,'' an action plan
to combat money laundering.
The plan must next be approved by national governments.
Included in the plan is a ban on EU companies ``opening subsidiaries,
branches or representative offices'' in countries blacklisted by the OECD's
Financial Action Task Force on money laundering, or FATF.
The EU measure would also prevent companies in blacklisted countries from
opening offices in the European Union and limit movements of money from banks in
those countries.
The blacklist currently includes 19 countries and territories: the Cook
Islands, Dominica, Egypt, Guatemala, Grenada, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel,
Lebanon, Marshall Islands, Myanmar, Nauru, Niue, Nigeria, the Philippines,
Russia, Ukraine, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Several countries have been dropped from the list in recent years after
beefing up their banking regulations and measures against money
laundering.
The lawmakers pledged to make financial transactions more traceable and
called for ``coordinated action'' against tax havens. They also pledged to
harmonize European regulations by adopting similar definitions of what
constitutes a financial crime.
``Despite recent and real advances, there is still a lot to do so that, at
the international level, it is materially impossible for funds of criminal
origin to use our financial system,'' Jospin said.
Group Decries Torch Runner
Suits
The Associated Press, Thu 7 Feb 2002 BOSTON (AP) ? Upsetting human
rights activists, the runners who carried the Olympic torch wore outfits made in
Myanmar, considered one of the world's most brutal military dictatorships.
``Supporting the Burmese regime is antithetical to the Olympic ideals,''
said David Moore of the Boston-based American Anti-Slavery Group. Myanmar was
once known as Burma.
Now Marker Ltd. of Salt Lake City supplied the red, white and blue
Olympic-logo running suits for the 11,500 men and women who relayed the torch
13,500 miles to Salt Lake City for Friday's start of the Winter Games.
Ralph Eeson, Olympic program managing director for Marker, said the suits
were made by a subcontractor in Myanmar. He said Marker is sensitive to human
rights issues and has no reason to believe the uniforms were made under
conditions that violate international law.
Myanmar has been condemned by human rights groups and the U.S. government
for widespread human rights abuses, including forced labor, torture, summary
execution and repression of dissidents.
The International Olympic Committee referred questions about the uniforms
to the Salt Lake City Organizing Committee.
``The United States has not imposed restrictions on importing from Burma,
and the uniforms were imported in compliance with all applicable laws,'' the
SLCOC said in a statement Thursday.
Olympic Suits Draw Rights
Complaints
The Associated Press, Thu 7 Feb 2002 BOSTON (AP) ? Upsetting human
rights activists, the runners who carried the Olympic torch wore outfits made in
one of the world's most brutal military dictatorships, Myanmar.
``Supporting the Burmese regime is antithetical to the Olympic ideals,''
said David Moore of the Boston-based American Anti-Slavery Group. Myanmar was
once known as Burma.
Now Marker Ltd. of Salt Lake City supplied the red, white and blue
Olympic-logo running suits for the 11,500 men and women who relayed the torch
13,500 miles to Salt Lake City for Friday night's opening ceremony at the Winter
Games.
Ralph Eeson, Olympic program managing director for Marker, said the suits
were made by a subcontractor in Myanmar. He said Marker is sensitive to human
rights issues and has no reason to believe the uniforms were made under
conditions that violate international law.
Nonetheless, he said Marker was unlikely to sell clothes made in Myanmar
again.
The International Olympic Committee referred questions about the uniforms
to the Salt Lake City Organizing Committee.
``The United States has not imposed restrictions on importing from Burma,
and the uniforms were imported in compliance with all applicable laws,'' the
SLCOC said in a statement Thursday.
Myanmar has been condemned by human rights groups and the U.S. government
for widespread human rights abuses, including forced labor, torture, summary
execution and repression of dissidents.
Myanmar's ruling junta, the State Peace and Development Council, seized
control of the country in 1988 after crushing a democratic uprising.
In December, Wendy Letourneau carried the Olympic torch through Harvard
Square in Cambridge in memory of her 5-month-old daughter, who died of a
metabolic disorder.
Letourneau said Thursday she was disturbed her uniform had been made in
Myanmar.
``There are so many countries that could make these uniforms,'' she said.
``Why go to a country that treats their people so poorly?'' Shan kill six Burmese troops Dawn
attack comes after heavy shelling
Bangkok Post, Sat 9 Feb 2002 Subin Khuenkaew Wassana Nanuam Shan State Army fighters yesterday overran a Burmese military outpost in
Ban Mae Joke and killed six Burmese soldiers in a fierce battle.
SSA fighters from Gor Wan base, the SSA's major command, launched a
surprise assault at 6am.
Burmese troops had shelled them the day before at their base in Gor Mueng,
two kilometres north of Gor Wan.
Six Burmese troops were found dead inside the border after the SSA seized
the base.
One SSA soldier was reportedly killed during the hour-long battle.
Calling the attack a pre-emptive strike aimed to demoralise Burmese troops,
SSA fighters said massive deployment of Burmese troops in the last week was a
clear indication of Burma's keeness to destroy SSA's outposts.
SSA military commander Jao Yord Serk predicted heavy fighting between the
SSA and Burmese troops in the next few days.
Thousands of Burmese troops had been deployed in five border areas opposite
SSA bases, which held some 800 fighters.
``This year's fighting could be tough,'' said Jao Yord Serk.
The Third Army has regarded border area in Ban Pang Noon, one kilometre
south of Gor Wan, as a sensitive spot in border tensions between Thailand and
Burma, restored after a bad patch last year.
Fifty to eighty Burmese soldiers were killed in a fierce border fight with
the Third Army at Ban Pang Noon last year, after Burmese troops briefly seized
the village, located 500 metres from the border area, and used it as a launchpad
for an assault on Gor Wan.
``It will be hard for them to seize our base (Gor Wan) unless they make
another assault from the Thai side,'' said Jao Yord Serk.
Army commander-in-chief Gen Surayud Chulanont said the army would not allow
foreign troops to use Thai territory as a springboard for attacks on rebel
bases.
The Star
Saturday, February 9, 2002
lllegals caught hiding in car boot By IAN MCINTYRE
KANGAR: The lure of a better life in Malaysia forced three Myanmar citizens
to hide in a locked car boot for several hours on Wednesday.
However, their attempt was in vain as the boot was forced open by a state
Customs enforcement team during a routine anti-smuggling check in Taman Seri
Intan, a residential area about 15km from here.
Four Myanmar passengers who were sitting in the back seat of the vehicle,
were also detained and surrendered to the immigration officials.
The driver and his female companion who were both holding Malaysian
identity cards were later detained on suspicion of attempting to smuggle
foreigners in.
Perlis Immigration Department director Rosli Mahmud told reporters that the
three male Myanmar stowaways, who crawled out dazed, were shocked to have been
nabbed.
The seven paid RM120 each to the driver to bring them in through the Padang
Besar border crossing, Rosli said.
He said the 23-year-old driver and his 25-year-old companion were residing
in Langkawi and Perlis respectively and the immigration department had obtained
a remand order to further investigate the case.
Rosli said initial investigations revealed that the Penang-registered
vehicle was heading towards the southern part of the country.
In a related case, an immigration enforcement unit detained 15 foreigners
for working without valid documents at two construction sites on Thursday.
Five were from Myanmar, six from Thailand and four were Indonesians. They
were caught in construction sites behind Taman Sena Permai and Bohor Pulai here.
A Malaysian worker was also detained for harbouring illegal immigrants,
Rosli said.
He added that a major operation, codenamed Ops Kutip, would be launched
soon for a major sweep of illegal workers in Perlis.
Myanmar Strives to Bring Down
Foreign Trade Deficit
Xinhuanet 2002-02-08 10:38:25 YANGON, February 8 (Xinhuanet)
-- The Myanmar has made great efforts to bring down foreign trade deficit in
recent years, a major economic problem puzzling the government for a longed
period, and scored achievements.
According to the latest figures published by the country's Central
Statistical Organization, in the first 10 months of 2001, Myanmar's foreign
trade totaled 4,306 million U.S. dollars, of which imports amounted to 2,416.7
million, while exports were valued at 1,889.3 million with the trade deficit
standing at 527.4 million, 20.57 percent less than the same period of
2000.
The government has taken measures in this respect -- the adoption of the
"sell more, buy less" and "export more, import less" strategies to encourage
people to use home-made goods, use less foreign ones and substitute imported
goods with domestic products as much as possible.
Besides, it greatly supported enterprises engaged in producing export
goods, providing privileges in accordance with its policy.
It added more border trade points, simplifying related formalities,
appropriately adjusting its standard of charge collection and strictly
controlling the import of high-grade consumers goods and luxuries.
Moreover, it strove for the promotion of production, ensured goods supply
and tackled the phenomena of shortage of locally manufactured commodities.
The main cause of Myanmar's foreign trade deficit for consecutive years
could be attributed to the fact that Myanmar is an agricultural country with the
majority of its required capital goods and technology depending on import.
In the first 10 months of 2001, Myanmar imported capital goods worth of 810
million dollars, accounting for 33.54 percent of the country's total
imports.
Besides relying on import of capital goods, Myanmar still has to spend much
foreign exchange annually, importing a large quantity of consumers goods.
In the first 10 months of 2001, Myanmar's import vale of consumers goods
were valued at 641 million dollars, taking up 26.52 percent of the country's
total import.
Myanmar's main export goods are primary products such as agricultural and
marine products and timber.
For a long period, the structure of Myanmar's export goods has been unitary
and commodities available for export have also been much limited.
Total settlement of the deficit problem could not be brought about
overnight. The realization of the target is up to the adjustment of the
structure of Myanmar's export goods, improvement of products in quality as well
as the uplifting of the degree of industrialization and level of science and
technology.
UNITED NATIONS
Press Release
SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON SITUATION OF HUMAN
RIGHTS IN MYANMAR TO VISIT THAT COUNTRY FROM 10 TO 19 FEBRUARY
2002
8 February 2002
Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights in Myanmar, will visit that country at the invitation of the Government
from 10 to 19 February 2002.
During this visit, Mr. Pinheiro's third to Myanmar, the Special Rapporteur
will hold meetings with representatives of the Government, judicial authorities,
religious dignitaries, as well as with members of different social organizations
and civil society.
In Yangon, he will also meet with heads of diplomatic missions accredited
to Myanmar and representatives of the United Nations system in the country and
international non-governmental organizations.
The Special Rapporteur will also visit Kachin province where he will
examine first hand the situation of human rights.
At the fifty-eighth session of the Commission on Human Rights, which will
be held from 18 March to 26 April 2002, the Special Rapporteur will present his
annual report. He will make an oral presentation on his upcoming visit to
Myanmar, giving only his preliminary observations.
Bangkok Post - February 09,
2002.
Investigation urged into mass murder of
17 Karens
The network of foreign labour rights groups has urged the National Human
Rights Committee to look into the mass murder of 17 Karens found dead in a
stream in Tak province last week.
Fourteen local groups under the network of NGOs working for foreign workers
and families in Thailand yesterday publicised an open letter demanding the
National Human Rights Committee's probe the deaths of the 17 Karens whose bodies
were found in a stream of Mae Ramat district on Feb 2-3.
The letter claimed attempts were made to make the public believe the Karens
were murdered in Burma although their bodies were found afloat in a Mae Ramat
stream flowing into the Moei river.
The groups were annoyed by press statements made by some border patrol
police officers who said it was common for illegal immigrants to be killed in
such a manner.
The network urged the authorities to take serious action and bring the
culprits to justice under international laws on civic and political rights,
children's rights, and anti-discrimination against women.
Bangkok Post - February - 09,
2002.
Karen refugees to be moved out of park
Over 14,000 Karen refugees will be moved out of Salween National Park in
Mae Sariang district in a bid to curb deforestation, the National Security
Council chief said.
Kachadpai Burusphat said the relocation was urgent even though the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees promised to ensure no log poaching by the
refugees.
The NSC would repatriate illegal immigrants who had just entered to prevent
more from crossing the border.
The head of Ban Mae Kong Kha-Ban Tha Sala refugee shelter urged the
authorities not to push the refugees back home until their safety could be
assured.
Bangkok Post - February 09,
2002.
Rangoon to verify status of migrants
Wants list of names before repatriation
Bhanravee Tansubhapol
Rangoon wants Thailand to submit a list of illegal migrant workers to be
sent back to Burma so their nationality can be verified first, the foreign
minister said yesterday.
Surakiart Sathirathai said after a three-day visit to Rangoon that Burma
was ready to admit repatriated Burmese migrants to a holding centre in its
border town of Myawaddy.
But Thailand must first submit their names, home addresses in Burma, as
well as photos and identity cards for verification by Burmese authorities, Mr
Surakiart said.
A source said the verification process should not take too long.
The ministry's permanent secretary, Tej Bunnag, said the two governments
would co-ordinate procedures in Mae Sot district, Tak province, and illegal
Burmese workers would be sent back in groups of 200-300 .
``If all of them hold Burmese nationality, they should have house
registration documents. But if they are ethnic minorities, they will be
investigated and reports will be sent to Burma,'' Mr Tej said.
Burmese officials have been instructed not to subject returnees to
punishment for having left Burma illegally, said Mr Tej, who co-chairs a joint
task force on repatriation of illegal Burmese workers.
Authorities would resume rounding up illegal workers tomorrow, he
said.
Rangoon also agreed to open more joint holding centres in Kawthaung and
Pyathongzu, opposite Kanchanaburi.
The minister told Lt-Gen Maung Aye, deputy chairman of Burma's ruling State
Peace and Development Council, that HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn would
pay a 10-day state visit to Burma in late October, the first by a member of the
royal family in 10 years.
Lt-Gen Maung Aye would visit Bangkok in April as a guest of Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra.
On the fishery front, Mr Surakiart quoted Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, first
secretary of the SPDC, as saying he would submit an official document to confirm
the easing of conditions for fishing in Burmese waters.
Rangoon agreed Thai private fishing operators wishing to engage in joint
ventures with Burma would have to secure prior approval from both governments to
avoid problems.
Bangkok and Rangoon would soon sign a memorandum of understanding on
importing agricultural goods.
Thailand, Burma and India agreed to discuss road links at a meeting in
Mandalay on April 8-10. The Asian Development Bank would be asked to assist in
financing
Rangoon agreed to borrow the Thai currency to fund the construction of a
road linking Mae Sot-Mywaddy-Pa-an, and to use a Thai construction firm.
Mr Surakiart was told Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt would oversee a Thai plan to
promote the two countries as one tourist destination.
Mr Surakiart said the Burmese side welcomed co-operation with foreign
countries to secure markets for crops grown as substitutes for opium.
The Wa minority reached an agreement with Rangoon to stop producing illegal
drugs by 2005.
Thailand and Burma also signed an agreement to avoid double taxation.
Bangkok Post - February 09,
2002.
Shan gathering off over border conflict
Achara Ashayagachat
The National Security Council has banned a reunion meeting of Shan
immigrants in Chiang Mai to appease Rangoon amid fresh fighting between Burmese
troops and Shan State Army forces near the border.
About a thousand Thai-Shan ethnic people were to meet at a Chiang Mai hotel
on Thursday to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the independent Shan
State.
The security agency linked the reunion organiser to the Shan State Army,
which hosts an annual solidarity meeting of its armed forces in Doi Tai Lang,
opposite Mae Hong Son.
Fresh clashes resumed this week between ethnic SSA forces and Rangoon
troops while efforts by Shan people living in Thailand to intensify solidarity
on Thai soil were impeded.
Merit making at Wat Pa Pao would go ahead from today until Monday.
The Nation, Rangoon
Fishermen win access to Burma Marisa Chimprabha Published on Feb 9, 2002 Burma will reopen its waters for Thai trawlers next month after both
countries agreed to resume fishing joint ventures following three years of
suspension caused by conflicts.
Any fishery license has to be approved by both governments, according to
Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai.
Burma agreed to a new fishing pact during this week?s talks, Surakiart told
The Nation during his visit in Rangoon.
?The written document from Rangoon [confirming the agreement] is expected
to come to us this month. And next month, Thai fishing firms would be able to
apply to authorities of both sides for a fishing license,? he said.
?The new rules require that a fishing company has to get approval from both
governments so that they could be screened to prevent any further transgressions
like in the past,? Surakiart said.
Burma terminated the ThaiBurmese fishing accord three years ago after a
series of rows that mostly saw Thai fishing companies ignore the terms of their
license. Incidents that led to the closure of the Burmese seas included the
brutal killing of Burmese deckhands by their Thai captain and the seizure of the
Burmese Embassy in Bangkok after which the dissidents who took over the building
were allowed to go free. The foreign minister returned home yesterday after a
twoday official visit during which he held talks with LtGeneral Khin Nyunt,
secretarygeneral Burma?s State, Peace and Development Council, and General Maung
Aye, the council?s vice chairman. Surakiart informed both generals that Thailand
would start an intensive crackdown tomorrow on illegal foreign migrant workers
with the aim of sending hundreds of thousands of them back home.
?The Burmese side told me that it is ready to accept the [illegally
working] Burmese and would set up a holding centre in Myawaddy province to
shelter them before sending them back to their hometowns. Burmese Prime Minister
General Than Shwe has already given assurances that those Burmese would not be
punished,? Surakiart said.
LtGeneral Luan Parnrodthip, deputy national police commission general, said
the roundup would pressure employers of the illegal Burmese workers to register
them with authorities.
?The government will reopen registration for illegal foreigners working
here. It will run from February 24 to March 24, so we expect that employers will
agree to register their workers,? Luan told The Nation.
Burmese found without identifying documents would be interviewed by a team
of Thai and Burmese officials, said Luan, who accompanied Surakiart to Burma.
After the Burmese finish the interview and get an identity card, they will be
sent to the Myawaddy centre. Authorities were well aware that the interviews
would take time and the Burmese holding proper documents could be repatriated
through other border channels, he said.
Shan Herald Agency for News, No: 02 -
08:
9 February 2002 Border briefs H.R.H. Princess meets Wa
Thai TV channels reported yesterday of HRH Princess Mahachakri Sirindhorn attending a meeting in Mae Fa Luang district, Chiangrai, with MR Disanadda Dissakul, director of the royally initiated Doi Tung development program on the crop replacement project in Yawngkha, known by the displaced locals as Nayao (Long Paddy). Two representatives from Burma, one Wa and the other Burmese, were also shown.Her Royal Highness, as usual, took extensive notes. Fighting
Meanwhile another clash between a patrol of Shan State Army and the Burmese army was reported. "Our men ran into an ambush near Loilam (north of Doi Maemaw facing Shan positions along the border) at 17:00. Two of us were wounded but the rest were unharmed," said the SSA source this morning. "The Burmese then shelled our retiring patrol for nearly an hour." Refugees
More people displaced by the Wa relocations in Nayao and the surrounding areas have also arrived during the past few days thereby increasing the present population of the internally displaced people's village of Piangfah, opposite Mae Maw, Mae Fa Luang district, to more than 1,000, according to a Shan relief worker in Mae Sai. "Does the Thai project for the Wa have any plans to assist the original
natives who have been driven out of their homes and fields also?" said the
social worker who requested his name be withheld.
In Maesai
The Burmese army has been buying up so much dry foodstuffs and especially motor fuel that local people fear that another closure of the border crossing between Tachilek and Maesai is imminent, reports S.H.A.N. correspondent, Moengzay. The Burmese side of the Maesai is also heavily guarded and patrolled.
Sources told S.H.A.N. there were rumors that a combined force of Shan-Karen
troops would stage an attack on the city.
Porters are also being levied in Tachilek, although 300-500 prisoners
building roads up in the Nayao area are reported to be still present
there.
Network Media Group
Thai to launch major crack down on
Illegal Burmese tomorrow
Chiang Mai, February 9, 2002
Thai authorities are going to launch a three-month long crack down on
illegal Burmese living in Thailand starting tomorrow, February 10, according to
a Thai NGO staff member working with Burmese migrant worker and refugee issues.
"This time, the people arrested will be sent to the Myawaddy detention
center and the Thai authorities are aiming to send back 300,000 illegal Burmese
in this operation", she said.
Thai authorities will use the budget for this operation to arrest and send
back illegal Burmese from the registration fees collected from previous foreign
worker registration programs last August and September. Baht 450 from each
registration will be used for sending back the illegal workers, at that time
more than 560,000 workers were registered. So, the Thai government has more than
255 million Baht to use for sending back the illegal workers, mentioned in
February 8 issue of "Matichon" Thai language newspaper.
A leader from a workers' organization based in Mae Sod said "About one
third of the Burmese workers in Mae Sod have not registered because they could
not pay or they arrived after the registration".
An agreement was reached between Thai and Burmese foreign ministers during
a meeting in early January held in Phuket, Thailand. The agreement stated
that Burma was to open centers at the borders to accept illegal workers who are
sent back from Thailand. But, if illegal workers who are sent back will be
punished or not, is not mentioned in the agreement.
Thai foreign minister Surakiat Sathiathai made a statement in yesterday's
press conference just after coming back from Rangoon, that he got the promise
from Burmese counterparts that sent back workers will not be punished if they
can prove they are Burmese citizens. But, how to prove Burmese citizenship was
not mentioned.
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