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BURMA RELATED NEWS
- March 16, 2002.
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HEADLINES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- AP - European Union team says Myanmar political
talks need to pick up speed
Reuters - EU Visit Sheds Little Light on Myanmar
Future
BBC - Behind Burma's 'non-coup'
BBC - Analysis: Burma's economic
crisis
Kyodo News - Reconciliation in Myanmar goes on: EU
Kyodo News - EU says
coup attempt in Myanmar won't affect dialogue
United Nation - Special Envoy Of
Secretary-general For Myanmar To Visit Yangon, 19 - 22 March
The Daily Star - Should Myanmar remain our
distant neighbour?
Independent - Beximco
Pharma holds 'Pediatric Seminar' in Myanmar
The Guardian - Ill
omens for Burma's ageing despot
Bkk Post - Agency to
set up office at checkpoint
Bkk Post - Burma's Old Man is out
ST - UN worried over
Chinese farmers growing opium in Myanmar
AP- U.N. envoy trying to promote
reconciliation talks in Myanmar will return next week
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- European Union team says Myanmar
political talks need to pick up speed
Fri Mar 15,11:22 AM ET By DAN LOVERING, Associated Press Writer BANGKOK, Thailand - Reconciliation talks between Myanmar's military junta
and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi have made some progress but the
process needs to pick up speed, an EU official said Friday.
"Some things have happened. Evidently the pace is something that can be
improved," said Rafael Conde, leader of a four-member European Union (news - web
sites) mission, after ending a three-day visit to Myanmar.
Conde, director-general of the Asia and Pacific division in the Spanish
Foreign Ministry, was speaking to reporters at Bangkok airport after arriving
from Yangon, the Myanmar capital.
He declined to say anything more about the reconciliation talks, which aim
to end a political deadlock caused by the junta's refusal to hand over power to
Suu Kyi, whose party won the 1990 general elections.
The contents of the closed-door talks have not been revealed and the only
tangible outcome thus far has been the release of more than 200 political
prisoners, including many members of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy
Party, or NLD.
The EU team also met earlier Friday with Suu Kyi, who has been under
virtual house arrest since September 2000. "She was in good health. We had a
long and fruitful meeting," Conde said, without revealing the contents of the
discussion.
Conde said junta leaders assured the EU team that recent disclosure of an
alleged coup attempt would not affect the reconciliation process. Last week, the
government arrested a son-in-law and three grandsons of former dictator Ne Win,
accusing them of plotting to overthrow the government.
A statement issued by the EU team said the visit's objectives were to
encourage progress in the reconciliation talks, urge the release of Suu Kyi and
other political prisoners and ask the junta to restore freedom of association,
assembly and _expression_.
The Myanmar government said it released five NLD members from various
prisons Friday. Also freed were 25 female detainees ? either pregnant or with
young children ? held on criminal charges, the government said.
So far, 272 female detainees have been released in recent weeks.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- EU Visit Sheds Little Light on Myanmar Future
Fri Mar 15,12:36 PM ET By Aung Hla Tun and Andrew Marshall YANGON/BANGKOK (Reuters) - European diplomats held rare talks with Myanmar
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday to gauge prospects for political
change following claims by the ruling junta it had foiled a planned coup.
But the delegation of for European Union diplomats ended a three-day visit
to Myanmar unable to offer any fresh insights into the country's immediate
future after years of repressive military rule.
The team of four diplomats met pro-democracy champion Suu Kyi at the Yangon
lakeside residence where she has been held under house arrest for the last 18
months.
The military government has been holding confidential talks with her since
October 2000, saying it wants to end the political deadlock. But no concrete
results have emerged, and the EU team shed no light on the progress of the
dialogue.
"We have to respect the confidentiality of the process," delegation leader
Rafel Conde, director general for Asia at the Spanish foreign ministry, told a
news conference in Bangkok.
"I can confirm that the talks are taking place, and that we sincerely hope
that they will mature and prosper in the shortest possible time."
The diplomats arrived in Myanmar on Wednesday with the country abuzz with
rumors and political gossip after the ruling junta announced it had arrested
relatives of elderly former dictator Ne Win for plotting to overthrow the
government.
The junta says cronies of Ne Win, who ruled the country for more than 25
years until 1988, were conspiring to install a puppet government with help from
some senior commanders and an expert in black magic hired to provide
astrological advice.
But some foreign diplomats are skeptical a coup was planned, saying the
allegations and arrests may stem from disagreements in the government over how
to deal with Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD).
POWER STRUGGLE
Analysts say a faction led by military intelligence head Lieutenant-General
Khin Nyunt favors dialogue with the opposition, but supporters of army chief
General Maung Aye are against making any concessions to Suu Kyi.
Ne Win's family is seen as close to Khin Nyunt, and some analysts say the
current purge could be a bid by hard-liners to get the upper hand and scupper
any easing of military rule.
But other observers say the crackdown on Ne Win's family may speed
political change, as the former military strongman had tried to use his
influence to block progress.
The EU diplomats met Myanmar Foreign Minister Win Aung, but a requested
meeting with Khin Nyunt was not granted. Officials said Khin Nyunt was too busy.
But Conde said he did not read anything into the failure to meet Khin Nyunt.
The European team was in Myanmar to assess the human rights and political
situation in Myanmar a month before the EU "common position" is reviewed. The
diplomats also repeated the EU's demand that Suu Kyi and all other political
prisoners be freed.
Suu Kyi's NLD won Myanmar's last elections in 1990 by a landslide but the
military refused to hand over power. The junta says it is committed to democracy
but moving too fast risks unleashing anarchy.
Conde said Suu Kyi, 56, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, had asked
that details of her discussion with the EU delegation be kept secret.
"I can say she is in good health," he said. "She is an extraordinary lady."
The EU currently maintains a visa ban on the junta's leaders, as well as
trade and aid sanctions. Conde said the EU planned to offer $4.4 million to help
fight Myanmar's HIV (news - web sites) problem, adding more aid might be
forthcoming if there was political progress but nothing was currently on the
table.
Since the dialogue between Suu Kyi and the junta began, more than 200
political prisoners have been released. The government said it had freed another
five on Friday. But the opposition says more than 1,000 political prisoners
still languish in jail.
The EU team will now report back to member states on its assessment of the
political situation in Myanmar.
Asked about the prospects for progress, Conde said: "One can only wait and
see, and hope."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday, 16 March, 2002, 10:58 GMT
Behind Burma's 'non-coup' By BBC regional analyst Larry Jagan in Rangoon
As investigations into last week's alleged "coup" attempt in Burma
continue, there is increasing scepticism inside the country about the alleged
plot to overthrow the government.
Instead, diplomats and analysts are asking if the military government's
moves against a prominent family may signal a wider willingness for change.
More than 20 senior soldiers and police are still being questioned about
the alleged coup, according to military sources in Rangoon.
These are believed to be the people whose names appeared on a list that was
drawn up by Sandar Win, the daughter of the former military leader General Ne
Win.
Four senior officers have already been sacked, including two regional
commanders. Many more arrests and sackings are expected in the next few weeks.
Although only Ne Win's son-in-law, Aung Zaw Win, and his three sons have
been detained, privately the military have made it clear that they believe that
Sandar Win is in fact the ring leader.
Brigadier General Kyaw Win told journalists that if evidence was unearthed
which implicated her, then she would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the
law.
So far they have not hinted whether they thought General Ne Win, now in his
90s, had been involved.
Despite the government's carefully orchestrated show-down with the Ne Win
family, there is increasing scepticism in Burma surrounding the allegations of a
plot to overthrow the government.
There is no doubt that the Ne Win family were trying to re-establish some
of the power and influence the family name used to wield in Burmese politics,
and that they felt they were not getting the perks and privileges they thought
they were due.
"Over the past 18 months Sandar Win and her children have been increasingly
side-lined," said a western diplomat in Rangoon who did not want to be
identified.
"They were growing increasingly bitter and often complained that the
government had turned against them."
Sandar Win even consulted a soothsayer who told her that the Ne Win family
empire would never re-emerge. "This seems to have sent her into a mad frenzy,"
said a source close to the family.
There is also no doubt that the Ne Win off-spring then began to canvass
support among as many senior ranking soldiers as they could.
"But this is a far cry from trying to organise a physical take-over of
power," said an Asian diplomat.
Car scam
So far those who have been sacked have all been connected to the family
through business interests. One of them, Brigadier General Chit Than, the
regional commander of the Golden Triangle area which borders China and Thailand,
was axed because he allowed the family to import cars from Thailand without
import licences, according to a senior military source.
Observers in Rangoon believe that the top Generals are using the antics of
the Ne Win family as a pretext to root out some of the senior officers who are
guilty of excessive corruption.
This was a process that began last November with the sacking of two top
Generals and five government ministers.
Burma's south-east Asian neighbours have all been telling the regime it
needs to liberalise the economy and curb corruption if the country is to
develop.
This is one of the key issues the UN special envoy to Burma Razali Ismail
has been stressing to the ruling junta on his frequent visits to Rangoon.
Initially the move against the Ne Win family was seen as part of a power
struggle within the military, particularly on the issue the confidential talks
between the regime and the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
But the Generals have been at pains to say that it will not affect the
dialogue process.
In fact UN officials are encouraged by these developments and believe they
may even hasten progress in the talks.
"The Generals have now taken a totally unexpected step and done something
which most people - inside and outside the country - would never have dreamt
they would do," said a UN official who declined to be identified.
"It's a step in the direction of reform rather than a retreat to the past,"
he said.
"If they can do that, they can do anything, releasing Aung San Suu Kyi from
house arrest should be easy now."
On the streets of Rangoon, the fall of General Ne Win's family has been met
by muted euphoria.
Many people now hope that the Generals may act just as decisively on the
issue of political reform.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, 15 March, 2002, 13:47 GMT
Analysis: Burma's economic crisis By Larry Jagan BBC Burma analyst in Bangkok Burma's economic crisis continues to deepen. Unemployment is rising dramatically every month while prices of consumer
goods are spiralling out of control. And the value of the local kyat on the
informal market continues to tumble.
"People are growing more and more dissatisfied every day," says a Burmese
businessman in Rangoon who did not want to be identified.
"But if it continues like it is. It could easily reach boiling point in the
coming months."
In the past few weeks the value of the kyat has fluctuated wildly -
dropping by as much as 15% according to a Rangoon money changer. Economists and
businessmen in Rangoon predict it will sink further.
Mobile phones drive down the currency
Economic analysts in Rangoon say the run on the currency is the result of
increased domestic demand for dollars.
"Many local people need more dollars at the moment to pay for the new batch
of mobile phones that have been released on to the market," says one financial
analyst, "while others need dollars to buy gems in the government sponsored
auction."
The fall in the kyat has also caused the cost of imported goods to rise.
Prices of meat, eggs and palm-oil are all up. Analysts in Rangoon estimate
that palm oil - essential for cooking and imported from Malaysia - has risen by
more than 50% in the last six months.
Rice price soars
Now even the price of rice is out of control. Local residents complain that
market prices have risen by more than 20% in the past month. In some rural
areas, residents report a three-fold price increase over the past three months.
"This is largely because of the government's obsession with meeting its
export target of a million tonnes by the end of next month," says a financial
consultant with a foreign investment firm in Rangoon.
In the past the ruling generals kept the price of rice relatively stable by
controlling the supply. But the last time they released stocks from the
government reserves was more than six months ago.
Even the price of bribes, such as those necessary to keep a phone line,
have risen.
Looming food crisis
But the real problem is that wages and salaries are not rising as prices
increase. Local Burmese economists estimate an average family of five needs more
than 80,000 kyat (about $110) a month to live, including food, medicine and
transport but excluding luxury goods.
The average monthly income of a professional worker - teacher, university
professor or government official - is less than 10,000 kyat ($13).
"People are really feeling the pinch," says a Western diplomat based in
Rangoon.
"Comparisons are being drawn with the situation more than a decade ago that
led to the events of 1988. The difference though, is then everyone suffered."
Many families, especially those living on the outskirts of Rangoon or in
the poorer rural districts, can only afford to eat one meal a day.
Living standards of many Burmese are declining rapidly and UN officials
fear a massive humanitarian crisis is looming.
They estimate that one child in three under the age of five is already
suffering from malnutrition. If the situation remains unchecked, they fear that
this could double within the next 12 months.
"People are getting increasingly dissatisfied with the situation," says a
Burmese economic analysts close to the military.
"They are tolerating it at present, but if the situation continues to
deteriorate over the next 12 months then there is a very real risk of massive
social unrest."
Many in the government seem to understand this, and that is one of the main
reasons the generals have started to talk secretly to the opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi.
Even the deputy foreign minister Khin Maung Win privately admits that only
political reform can save Burma from economic ruin.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reconciliation in Myanmar goes on:
EU
BANGKOK, March 15, Kyodo -
European Union officials who concluded a three-day fact-finding mission to
Myanmar said Friday last week's coup d'etat attempt in Myanmar would not affect
an ongoing dialogue between the military junta and the country's pro-democracy
movement.
Rafael Conde, director general for Asia and Pacific affairs at the Spanish
Foreign Ministry, who led a four-member delegation to Myanmar, told reporters at
Bangkok airport that Myanmar officials said the ''matter was well in control.''
''It would have no impact on the ongoing process of the national
reconciliation,'' Conde added.
Aye Zaw Win, former Myanmar leader Ne Win's son-in-law, was arrested
Thursday last week along with three of Ne Win's grandsons for allegedly plotting
a coup against the military government with the help of some military
commanders.
Conde said the EU delegation met opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and
other members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) as well as Myanmar
Foreign Minister Win Aung and ambassadors of member nations of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations during a three-day in Myanmar.
Conde said the delegation and Suu Kyi discussed a wide range of issues,
including the reported coup attempt, but declined to disclose details of the
conversation, saying the meeting was made on the condition that it will be kept
confidential.
Conde said the EU mission -- comprising senior officials from Spain and
Denmark, the present and the next chair of the EU presidency, the EU High
Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, and the European Commission --
discussed the issue of political reconciliation in talks with Win Aung.
''I can confirm the talks taking place and that we sincerely hope that they
will mature and prosper and as soon as possible,'' Conde told the news
conference at the airport.
Conde declined to comment if the EU delegation was more optimistic after
visiting Yangon, but said ''One can only wait and see and hope and expect that
the process will fulfill itself in the shortest dealing.''
Conde said the EU delegation urged Myanmar authorities to release Suu Kyi
from house arrest but Myanmar officials just noted the EU position.
''We consider the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and the rest of political
prisoners (an) objective that we pursue.'' Conde said.
Suu Kyi, who met the EU delegation at her lakeside residence in Yangon for
about two and a half hours, was in good health, Conde said.
The EU mission visited the NLD headquarters Friday morning and met with NLD
Chairman Aung Shwe and members of the party's executive committee.
The mission had scheduled a meeting with Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, leader of the
ruling State Peace and Development Council, on Friday morning but the session
was canceled. Conde said the Eu delegation ''does not read anything negative
into that.''
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- EU says coup attempt in Myanmar won't
affect dialogue
BANGKOK, March 15, Kyodo -
European Union officials who wound up a fact-finding mission to Myanmar said
Friday last week's coup d'etat attempt in Myanmar would not affect talks between
the military junta and the country's pro-democracy movement.
The officials made the comment upon arriving at the Bangkok airport
following a three-day visit to Myanmar to probe the political situation in the
country, including talks with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other
members of her National League for Democracy (NLD).
Aye Zaw Win, former Myanmar leader Ne Win's son-in-law, was arrested
Thursday last week along with his three sons for allegedly plotting a coup
against the military government with the help of some military commanders.
The four-member EU mission led by Rafael Conde, director general for Asia
and Pacific Affairs at the Spanish Foreign Ministry, confirmed that they met
with Suu Kyi for two and a half hours at her lakeside residence in Yangon on
Friday.
The mission visited the NLD headquarters Friday morning for talks with the
party's executive committee members led by chairman Aung Shwe.
The delegation arrived in the Myanmar capital Wednesday to probe the
political situation in Myanmar, the first such EU mission since January 2001.
The EU officials also met with Myanmar Foreign Minister Win Aung and
ambassadors of member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The mission had scheduled a meeting with Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, leader of the
ruling State Peace and Development Council, on Friday morning but the session
was reportedly canceled. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Special Envoy Of Secretary-general
For Myanmar To Visit Yangon, 19 - 22 March
United Nations, Fri 15 Mar 2002 SPECIAL ENVOY OF SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR MYANMAR TO VISIT YANGON, 19 - 22
MARCH
The following statement on Myanmar was issued today by the Spokesman for
Secretary-General Kofi Annan:
Mr. Razali Ismail, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Myanmar,
will visit Yangon from 19 to 22 March 2002, to continue his effort to help
facilitate the national reconciliation process in Myanmar.
During his four-day visit, Mr. Razali is expected to meet with Government
leaders, including Senior General Than Shwe, Prime Minister and Chairman of the
State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), as well as with senior members of
the National League for Democracy (NLD), including its General Secretary, Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi.
The Secretary-General hopes that Mr. Razali?s mission will provide the
process with a fresh momentum to assist the two sides to develop their
confidence-building talks into a more substantive dialogue in the near
future. This will be Mr. Razali?s seventh mission since he was appointed
as the Special Envoy in April 2000.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Daily Star - Sat. March 16, 2002
Should Myanmar remain our distant
neighbour?
M Anwarul Haq
Bangladesh has a potential for tapping into the consumer market of Myanmar
by exporting pharmaceuticals, toiletries, newsprint, fertilizer, ceramic
products, bottled juice, leather goods and tobacco. Myanmar too could benefit
from export of timber, rice, maize, pulses, gems and precious stones. Besides
there are ample opportunities of expanding border trade, reviving old sea links
and opening up road communications.
The train was on its way to Bahadurabad. Ambassadors of two European Union countries who were taking a group of reporters to show some of their funded projects more than a year back were chatting with them. At one point, the topic turned to the border clashes that Bangladesh border
forces, the BDR had with the Myanmar forces, the Nasaka. Some one asked the
ambassadors what would be the position of their countries, if it erupted into a
major conflict.
Both the envoys said, "There is no doubt we would support Bangladesh in its
fight against Burma."
One added, "Bangladesh will become a frontline state in a battle for
democracy."
There is no doubt that both the diplomats, who were known for their love
for Bangladesh meant it sincerely.
Burma, as many western countries, particularly the US, still prefer to call
by its old name, has been in remarkable isolation---first by its own choosing
and later by its crackdown on democratic forces after Aung San Suu Kyi won the
elections.
The ire and concern of western countries, of human rights activists and all
democracy loving people including our own over delay in restoration of democracy
in Myanmar is understandable.
But should internal conditions of a country prevent others from trading or
dealing with that nation on the economic plane? One need not go further but look
at the record of the United States dealing with countries with minimal human
rights record. They know that internal democracy is one thing while bilateral
diplomacy is a different ball game altogether.
For Bangladesh, there are only two neighbours. But the fact remains that
our people led by the policy planners have been thinking only of India as THE
NEIGHBOUR. In the process we are unwittingly pushing our only other neigbbour
Myanmar away. By following such a policy we are depriving ourselves the many
advantages that we could reap by building a bridge of friendship with
neigbouring Myanmar with whom we have a 317 kilometre land boundary.
Even our THE NEIGHBOUR-- India -- has long abandoned its policy of speaking
openly in support of pro-democracy movement led by the SLORC in Myanmar. At one
time Delhi even used to run a regular propaganda service by the All-India Radio
lambasting the Burmese military regime, but that too has been disbanded.
The fact is that in the realm of foreign affairs, India has been pragmatic
enough to follow a policy of better neighbourliness with Myanmar. Today it has
many agreements in place with Yangon and is constructing highway networks to
connect its north-eastern states. There is definite indication that not only in
roads but the two countries are willing to enter into the sector of energy
cooperation by building gas pipeline.
Why did India decide to woo Myanmar while Bangladesh keeps sitting with its
BDR trained across the Naaf river? India could understand that a policy of
isolation would drive Myanmar into the Chinese fold completely. China has
already connected Myanmar with good surface links and is working on a deep sea
port, a likely naval base deep south known as Coco's island. India, perhaps in
response, has focussed recently on its Andaman and Nicobar Islands defence
establishments and upgraded them into another command. The naval developments
pose a peril for neighbours like Bangladesh, as it could become a potential
flashpoint.
It is the turn of Bangladesh to be bypassed by Myanmar if we fail to act
and now. While we have a per capita income of less than 200 dollars, Myanmar's
is 1200 dollars. Even in military strength, although exact figures are not
available, Myanmar has a large if not larger land force and a much bigger air
force than ours.
Should we look at the European Union for our Burma policy?
Investment of several European Union countries, besides China, Japan,
Thailand and Singapore's in Myanmar, despite its lack of democracy, is simply
phenomenal.
I do not have the latest figures of foreign investment in Myanmar, nor does
our Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But what I learnt from Myanmar foreign minister
U Win Aung during an exclusive interview two years back in Dhaka, I am
stating:
"We tried to build the economy without foreign participation. This policy
has now been abandoned.
"Presently we have foreign investments of over seven billion US dollars,
most of those in the oil and gas sector and the rest in hotel and tourism
industry. Earlier we had one hotel; now we have 700 hotel rooms.
"Myanmar," the foreign minister said, "never received one cent of
international assistance. (Now) we would like to get international assistance
but without any strings attached."
What is even more significant is that the western countries as well as
China and India since some time now are re-inventing the strategic importance of
Myanmar.
Myanmar's geographic location is most strategic. Whoever controls Myanmar,
controls the gateway to Asia. It has long borders with China, Thailand, India
and of course Bangladesh. Due to its geo-strategic location it is essential that
Myanmar is kept non-aligned with any single power. This perhaps the western
countries are now realizing quickly.
Bangladesh, as anyone knows, has a major irritant with Myanmar. We had been
swamped by the influx of Rohingya refugees. However, protracted negotiations
have almost solved this problem. Myanmar has taken back 2,30,000 Rohingyas out
of some 2,51,000 since the refugees began crossing the border way back in
December, 1991. According to last week's figure there are some 21,627 Myanmar
refugees, taking into account new born babies and split families. The trickle
back is slow for these residual numbers but Myanmar watchers feel that this
problem would have been solved long back had the visit of Senior General Than
Shwe, who is the prime minister, materialised, more than a year back. Not only
the problem of refugees would have been solved but also the entire trade regime
of Bangladesh and Myanmar opened up on a grand scale.
Although, Than Shwe's illness was attributed to a last minute cancellation
of the visit, it is time now to send a fresh invitation for the visit to
Bangladesh of a neighbouring Prime Minister. This could be preceded by trips of
our Foreign Secretary and Foreign Minister besides having the stalled BDR-Nasaka
talks completed at the earliest.
Cross border problems with neighbours are not uncommon. What is uncommon is
not to have any irritants among neighbours. Problems of border demarcation and
refugees no longer stand in the way of developing bilateral ties, particularly
on an economic plane. China and India despite their long dispute over border
demarcation are going ahead in building economic relations. Chinese Premier Zhu
Rongji recently went on a lengthy trip of India after touring Bangladesh.
What is interesting to note is that another neighbour of Yangon -- Thailand
-- has more than one hundred thousand illegal Myanmarese refugees living in
camps in its country. Despite the problem, the two neighbours maintain
harmonious economic relationship.
Myanmar, contrary to the old school of thought is no longer living in
isolation. Thousands of western visitors flock to the country. It has succeeded
in becoming a part of the South East Asian economy by successfully joining the
ASEAN bandwagon. Even it decided to join what started as BISTEC -- comprising of
Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand -- the four-nation forum for economic
cooperation. Mooted primarily by Dhaka, Yangon through its insistence became the
fifth member to join the grouping now called BIMSTEC with the M for Myanmar
added.
Bangladesh has a potential for tapping into the consumer market of Myanmar
by exporting pharmaceuticals, toiletries, newsprint, fertilizer, ceramic
products, bottled juice, leather goods and tobacco.
Myanmar too could benefit from the export of timber, rice, maize, pulses,
gems and precious stones. Besides there are ample opportunities of expanding
border trade, reviving old sea links and opening up road communications.
Bangladesh has worked out a weeklong marketing extravaganza in Yangon
beginning March 26 where it will promote its culture and cuisine and also parade
its traditional and non-traditional wares. During the promotional blitz,
visiting members from Bangladesh delegation will play golf with locals while a
team from the defence services will play hockey.
A new beginning in Bangladesh-Myanmar relationship is being attempted. But
the two countries will have to engage themselves in more constructive diplomacy,
golf wise and business wise for their mutual benefit. Otherwise they would
continue to remain distant and remote neighbours.
Let Bangladesh Tee off by putting the ball in Myanmar's court.
M Anwarul Haq is Diplomatic and Defence Correspondent of The Daily
Star
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Independent
(Bangladesh)
15 March 2002.
Beximco Pharma holds 'Pediatric Seminar'
in Myanmar
by Economic Reporter
Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd, the leading pharmaceutical manufacturer of
Bangladesh has been continuing its efforts to extend the business activities in
the international arena, says a press release.
As a part of its ongoing quest to reinforce its overseas presence, Beximco
Pharma organised an impressive 'Pediatric Seminar' at Yangon, capital of Myanmar
recently. The programme was inaugurated by Professor Myo Myint, President of
Myanmar Medical Association. Nazmul Hassan, Director, Marketing and Commercial
of Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd, delivered the address of welcome in the
programme. He also gave a 'Corporate Presentation on Beximco Pharma' by
colourful multimedia projection. In his presentation, Nazmul Hassan informed the
house that apart from its existing product portfolio, Beximco Pharma is going to
introduce another 20 exciting new products in
Myanmar which will also include five new pediatric formulations.
Professor Thein Thein Myint, Head of Yangon Children Hospital was the
chairperson of the scientific seminar. Renowned pediatrician of Bangladesh
Professor Salim Shakur, Academic Director and Senior Consultant of Bangladesh
Institute of Child Health, Dhaka Shishu Hospital presented his paper on "ARI
associated with low zinc status in malnourished children'. Professor San San
Myint, noted consultant Neonatologist, Central Women Hospital, Yangon presented
her paper on "Feeding issues of Preterm Infants".
The programme was attended by about 150 renowned pediatricians of Myanmar,
comprising of professors, associate professors, senior consultants, consultants
etc. Among others, the Bangladesh ambassador in Myanmar, Defence Attaché of
Bangladesh in Myanmar, First Secretary of Bangladesh Embassy, representatives
from UNICEF, high officials and people from Media were also present in the
seminar. The programme as well as the quality and aesthetic packaging of the
products of Beximco Pharma was highly appreciated by the distinguished doctors
who attended the programme.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Guardian
Ill omens for Burma's ageing despot
General Ne Win and his coterie, including his
astrologer, may be under detention but it does not mean the coming of democracy,
writes John Aglionby
Friday March 15, 2002
Tantalising whiffs of change have begun circulating in military-controlled
Burma, but with the boundaries between fact, fiction, desire and desperation
extremely difficult to determine in this nation that defines the term "closed
society", it is still anybody's guess in which direction they are blowing.
The only thing that can be said with any degree of certainty is that General Ne Win's four-decades long grip on power appears to be declining as rapidly as his 92-year-old, bed-ridden frame. Last Thursday the junta, of which the strongman who led the first army coup
in 1962 is now not officially a part but until last week was thought to exert
tremendous influence over, arrested Ne Win's son-in-law, Aye Zaw Win, and his
three sons, four senior generals - including the heads of the air force and
police - and a bevy of other officers and associates. Ne Win himself is now
under effective house arrest along with his daughter, Aye Zaw Win's wife, Sandar
Win.
They are accused of plotting a coup. The triumvirate at the apex of the
State Peace and Development Council - a more Orwellian euphemism for a brutal
regime is unlikely to be invented - General Than Shwe, the army chief, Maung
Aye, and the intelligence boss, Lieut. Gen. Khin Nyunt, were allegedly to be
summoned to Ne Win's house and incarcerated until they agreed to a new
leadership.
Among the most interesting of the alleged evidence condemning the plotters
were voodoo-like dolls of the three senior generals found at Ne Win's house. Ne
Win's astrologer, Aung Pwint Khang, was reportedly also arrested.
Superstition has also played a prominent role in Ne Win's life - soon after
being told his lucky number was nine he cannibalised the currency and made the
Kyat divisible by nine rather than 10 - and striking at this aspect of his life
shows how serious the generals are.
But at present it is almost irrelevant whether the allegations - a) that
the coup attempt was genuine and b) that the family acted out of desperation
over the erosion of their economic privileges - are true or not.
What is significant is that the generals acted against the "first family",
a clan whose business interests are almost on a par with those of the Suhartos
in Indonesia. Even six months ago such action would have been considered
unthinkable
Fathoming why they did it is where one enters the realm of tea-leaf
reading. If everything is as the army describes then their action is
understandable.
But that is highly doubtful. Much more likely is that the long-time fissure
between the junta hardliners, led by Maung Aye, and the moderates (a relative
term in Burma), led by Khin Nyunt, can no longer be papered over.
A growing body of opinion is tending towards the view that Maung Aye is
gaining the upper hand over Khin Nyunt. Evidence for this is admittedly
circumstantial but there is nothing to suggest the opposite.
For starters Khin Nyunt is Ne Win's protege and analysts find it hard to
explain why he approved the strike against his mentor unless he had to shore up
his own position within the junta. Then, yesterday, he failed to attend an
arranged meeting with a delegation of four senior visiting European diplomats
who are in the capital, Rangoon, to assess the state of the country ahead of an
EU meeting to decide whether to extend the sanctions on the regime.
However, it is interesting that the visitors did get to see Aung San Suu
Kyi, the leader of Burma's opposition, the National League for Democracy - which
overwhelmingly won the last general election, in 1990, but was never allowed to
take office. Ms Suu Kyi has been under house arrest since October 2000. No
details of their meeting earlier today were released.
Ms Suu Kyi has been in closed-door talks with Khin Nyunt for well over a
year about the future of the increasingly destitute country but little concrete
progress has been made. A few hundred political prisoners have been released but
well over 1,000 remain behind bars. A fresh general election still remains a
distant dream.
The legions of Burma activists who have predicted for years that Ne Win's
demise would be the catalyst required for change are almost certain to be proved
correct. But the signs are not encouraging that developments will follow the
course they had hoped.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Saturday 16 March 2002
Agency to set up office at checkpoint
Suspected vehicles to face X-ray checks
Wassayos Ngamkham and Manop Thip-osod
The Narcotics Suppression Bureau plans to set up an office at the Mae Sai
checkpoint to intercept vehicles suspected of smuggling illicit drugs from
Burma.
The setting up of the anti-narcotics suppression office has been
necessitated by information that large quantities of illicit drugs were being
smuggled into the country via the Mae Sai checkpoint in Chiang Rai.
Pol Lt-Gen Priewpan Damapong, the NSB commissioner, said around 4,000
vehicles, mostly pick-up trucks, were making their way through the checkpoint
every month, adding there were only immigration and customs officials manning
the checkpoint at the moment.
The NSB chief said he has already discussed its establishment with Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Under the plan, officers manning the office would be carrying special X-ray
equipment to run detection checks on suspected vehicles.
Pol Lt-Gen Priewpan admitted that drug gangs were using more sophisticated
ways these days to conceal their shipments. He will seek some 200 million baht
from the Royal Thai Police Office to purchase the X-ray equipment for the
job.
Meanwhile, five people were arrested in two separate raids in which more
than 400,000 methamphetamine pills were seized yesterday.
In the first raid, anti-narcotics police arrested two men at a petrol
station in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai after they found 446,000 speed pills
hidden in their car.
The suspects were identified as Yapa Yaeso, 24, and Somsak Napacharee, 41,
both Chiang Rai natives.
In the second raid, two men and a woman were taken into custody after
police found 16,000 speed pills hidden in their car at a parking lot of Tesco
Lotus superstore in Samut Sakhon.
The trio were Yuthana Narongsak, 36, a native of Lampang ; Miss Thongsawan
Chumnum, 21, of Mukdahan; and Joy Thanomsak, 27, of Chiang Rai.
On Thursday night, two Chinese Haw men were shot dead during a brief
gunfight with city police and some 16,000 speed pills were seized from them in
the Thung Khru area.
The two were about to deliver pills to a dealer when they were spotted by
police.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Saturday 16 March 2002
Burma's Old Man is
out
Is Rangoon ready for a post-Ne Win era?
AUNG ZAW
Burma's military leaders have again stunned the world, not by massacring
thousands of innocent democracy protesters as was the case in 1988, but by
arresting Burma's untouchable elite: the family of former Burmese strongman,
General Ne Win.
Rangoon authorities arrested four members of the ex-dictator's family on
March 7, including Ne Win's son-in-law Aye Zaw Win and three of his grandsons,
after the military allegedly uncovered a plan designed by the group to overthrow
the government.
Since the country's ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) began
arresting members of Burma's most powerful family, it has been like watching a
puzzling magic show. The puppets who were once controlled by the magician have
suddenly turned on their former boss, Ne Win.
Paradoxically, the junta's latest press briefings have even contained some
credible information, although many continue to be sceptical.
Ne Win, who ruled Burma for 26 years, has yet to be charged but as
authorities continue to pry information out of his arrested kin, the future may
not be so bright for Burma's most feared dictator.
Nevertheless, it is too early to predict what will happen to the Old Man _
as he is known in Burma _ but surely it is safe to say that the Ne Win era is
over.
It is quite ironic, however, that almost 40 years to the day after Ne Win
himself staged a coup in Burma, his inner circle has found themselves behind
bars for the same action.
The real question here is how an ailing, bed-ridden 92-year-old could
engineer such a plan? Numerous questions remain unanswered. If Ne Win's family
members were serious about taking state power, they grossly miscalculated the
strength of Burma's pervasive intelligence system as well as the power of
Burma's armed forces.
Did Ne Win not give them the proper consultation? Or were these individuals
simply in denial regarding the power of these bodies?
It is safe to say that Ne Win and his cronies are getting what they deserve
after guiding Burma into an absolutely dire economic and humanitarian state. Ne
Win, after all, gave the shoot-to-kill orders in August 1988 that brought many
to an early and unnecessary grave. The former dictator also sent thousands of
people to prison during his reign for opposing his totalitarian ideals.
These new developments have been a boon for Burma's military leaders. Not
only have they foiled outside speculation that Ne Win continued to exert
tremendous strength on the government, but they also squashed an attempted coup
while strengthening their own grip on power.
Moreover, this move has won the hearts and minds of many ordinary Burmese
in Rangoon, as Ne Win's grandsons committed a long list of offences while
holding court in the capital _ much like the family of former Indonesian
dictator General Suharto who have been accused of murder, drug abuse, cronyism
and widespread corruption. These same charges have been the hallmark of Ne Win's
family in Rangoon. For years the authorities turned a blind eye until they felt
their own power was at stake, as the Ne Win camp tried to establish a state
within the state _ a state where they not only called the shots but lived above
the law.
It was widely known that Ne Win's family had recently become displeased
with their situation in Burma. They had not been receiving the privileges and
economic concessions that were once guaranteed them. This was, of course, the
impetus for the planned coup.
The bottom line here is that there are new kids in town. There are now
dozens of Sandar Wins in Rangoon. (Sandar Win is Ne Win's favoured daughter and
wife of Aye Zaw Win. They are the parents of Ne Win's three arrested
grandsons.)
With a growing military elite, SPDC members have been looking to get their
piece of the pie. Collision and conflict was inevitable in a society built on
nepotism, as families looked to expand their own business empires.
As the new era of economic elite came to roost in Rangoon, the Ne Win clan
began boiling with jealousy and greed as they saw their silver spoon being taken
away. With Burma's remaining resources being tapped at an alarming rate, Sandar
and company wanted a continued stake after being rewarded with special business
concessions for so long. There is no doubt that Ne Win's family came to resent
the new blood of Burma.
The last straw perhaps was the conflict over a US$144 million cellular
phone deal in Burma that was initially acquired by Sandar Win's family, but for
unknown reasons has never been launched.
It can be said that the crackdown on Ne Win's clan has more to do with
business conflict than politics. Critics in Rangoon said the crushing of Ne
Win's empire was a necessary step for these new syndicates if they were to ever
truly control the country's business sector. Rangoon has also used this occasion
to reassert its commitment to the ongoing reconciliation talks with opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in hopes of gaining favour with other international
governments.
Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, the deputy chief of intelligence, told reporters that Ne
Win's family was not happy with the government's political and economic reforms.
If that is the case, many Burmese would agree with Ne Win _ not because they are
against reform but because there has been a lack of it.
Ne Win is known to hold a grudge against Suu Kyi, who criticised him in
public when she entered politics 12 years ago. Many Burmese felt that change
would come only after the Old Man bites the dust.
Now that the Ne Win era is over, the question becomes: Is Burma ready for a
post-Ne Win era? Analysts have noted that the economic crisis in Burma is
deepening and the country could face serious social unrest in the months ahead,
as high inflation and skyrocketing prices could spark looting and protests in
Burma.
In the political arena, UN special envoy to Burma, Razali Ismail, is
returning to Burma for the seventh time. Though Razali maintains his optimism,
many at home and abroad are showing increased impatience and scepticism, as the
reconciliation talks have now hit their 18th month with no tangible results,
while nearly 2,000 political prisoners remain incarcerated in Burma.
Burma needs leaders who can feel the country's sense of urgency. Now that
Ne Win's reign has ended, the ball is in the junta's court. Courageous decisions
are urgently needed in Burma if it is ever to get back on track. We will all
know in a few months if Maj-Gen Kyaw Win and the regime are telling the
truth.
- Aung Zaw is the editor of Irrawaddy magazine.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Straits Times - MARCH 16, 2002
SAT
UN worried over Chinese farmers growing
opium in Myanmar
Migrants from Yunnan province have sown fields after crossing the border,
says a UN drug official, who fears it will tempt the locals
MONG PAWK (Myanmar) - A new trend of Chinese farmers crossing the border
into eastern Myanmar to grow opium poppies is alarming anti-drug officials, a UN
official said.
In the past year, 20 migrants from China's Yunnan province have sown fields
in the Mong Pawk area, said the official, Mr Xavier Bouan.
He said officials feared it would tempt local people to go back to poppy
cultivation, endangering a United Nations-sponsored project to persuade the
tribal peasants to give up drug farming.
'It sends the wrong signal to the local farmers,' said Mr Bouan, a UN Drug
Control Programme (UNDCP) coordinator of a project to replace poppy fields with
legal crops in the Mong Pawk area of the Shan state.
'They say 'See, it isn't forbidden to grow poppies, these people are doing
it'. It has set the alarm bells ringing,' he said during a government-arranged
trip to the remote area for diplomats and journalists this week.
With the help of the UNDCP, Myanmar is trying to implement
crop-substitution schemes to eliminate opium production in parts of Shan state
rife with poppy fields and make it a drug-free zone by 2005.
The UN claims a 30 per cent reduction in poppy cultivation area in the last
four years in Mong Pawk, where one of the projects covers a 2,000-sq-km
area.
It is not known whether the trend of Chinese farmers coming to Myanmar is
being repeated elsewhere along the 2,185-km China-Myanmar border where Chinese
influence is pervasive.
Many areas use Chinese currency and Chinese language is widely spoken.
UNDCP officials have met Chinese officials from Yunnan province and the
Chinese ambassador to Myanmar to voice their concern.
They say the response was 'positive'.
The Myanmar government says it is powerless to take action against the
migrants.
The area is a Special Region, an autonomous zone run entirely by the Wa
ethnic group under a peace agreement with the government that ended years of
fighting in 1989.
'There's nothing we can do. The Wa have to sort it out themselves,' said
police Colonel Hkam Awng of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control.
According to a recent US State Department report, Myanmar is the world's
largest producer of illicit opium, and most of it comes from Shan state.
China, Myanmar's northern neighbour, is a major transit point for smuggling
the drug, and southern China itself has a huge drug-addiction problem. --AP
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.N. envoy trying to promote
reconciliation talks in Myanmar will return next week
ASSOCIATED PRESS UNITED NATIONS, March 15 ? A U.N. envoy trying to promote reconciliation talks between the ruling military regime and the pro-democracy opposition in Myanmar will return to the southeast Asian nation next week for a new round of meetings, the United Nations announced Friday. After a weeklong visit in late November, Razali Ismail said he was hopeful
that ''significant progress'' could be made in the near future on reconciliation
talks.
During his four day visit from March 19-22, Razali is scheduled to hold
talks with Senior Gen. Than Shwe, the chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council as the ruling junta calls itself, and detained opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi and senior members of her National League for Democracy.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan hopes Razali's upcoming mission ''will provide
the process with a fresh momentum to assist the two sides to develop their
confidence-building talks into a more substantive dialogue in the near future,''
U.N. spokeswoman Marie Okabe said.
Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been ruled by the military since 1962.
The current group of generals came to power in 1988 after leading a bloody
crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations.
The junta called elections in 1990 but refused to honor the results when
the National League for Democracy won an overwhelming victory. Instead hundreds
of National League activists were jailed. Suu Kyi has been under house detention
for over a year.
Razali, a former Malaysian diplomat, facilitated face-to-face talks between
the junta and Suu Kyi, which started in October 2000. The contents of the talks
have been kept secret.
This will be his seventh visit to Myanmar since his appointment in April
2000.
When Razali left in late November he also urged the government to release
political prisoners.
At the end of a 10-day visit to Myanmar last month, the U.N. investigator
on human rights in the country, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, urged the military to
release all political prisoners and allow Suu Kyi to resume ''normal political
activities.''
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