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BURMA RELATED NEWS - MAY 27,
2002.
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HEADLINES
----------------------------------------------------------------- AP - Myanmar Opposition Raises 1990 Vote
AP - Opposition party renews call for
recognition of 1990 election results
CNN - Myanmar party demands recognition of poll
win
BBC - Burma's opposition lays claim to
power
AFP - Three Thais arrested for robbing mystery
tanker
AFP - ASEAN police chiefs to answer
anti-terrorism call
Reuters - Suu Kyi appeals for Myanmar public
support
Reuters - Australia holds talks with Vietnam on
human rights
The Age - White elephant found in
Burma
AP - A second, revered white elephant caught in
Myanmar jungles
Xinhuanet - Myanmar Opposition to Reject Holding
of New Election
Xinhuanet - Myanmar Opposition Calls For
Tripartite Talks
Bkk Post - Latest Wa
assault `provocative'
Bkk Post - Attacks `were by junta allies'
Bkk Post - Editorial - Pathetic effort to cling
to power
----------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar Opposition Raises 1990 Vote Mon May 27, 9:31 AM ET YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - The
opposition National League for Democracy, reinvigorated by the release of its
leader Aung San Suu Kyi, on Monday renewed its long-standing call for the ruling
military junta to recognize the party's landslide victory in a 1990 general
election.
The NLD won 392 seats out of 485 seats in the election, but the military,
which has ruled Myanmar since 1962, never allowed parliament to convene, and
instead launched a campaign of harassment and arrest of NLD supporters.
After Suu Kyi was freed from 19 months of house arrest on May 6, there had
been speculation that the NLD might soften its position on the polls as part of
its ongoing dialogue with the junta for political reconciliation in Myanmar,
also known as Burma.
But the party restated its demand as more than 1,000 of its members,
including 70 of its elected representatives, joined Suu Kyi at the party
headquarters in Yangon to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the May 27, 1990
polls. Ambassadors from Britain, France, Italy and Germany and diplomats from
the United States, South Korea, Japan and Australia also attended.
"The only means to deal with the results of the 1990 election and the
prevailing political, economic, social, health and educational matters is a
meaningful dialogue," said an NLD statement, read out at the ceremony by Than
Htay, an elected representative from Lashio.
"Through the dialogue, a parliament with the elected representatives of the
1990 election must be convened to establish a democratic country."
Suu Kyi told a cheering crowd of her followers to be united, understanding
and politically mature, and to be prepared to face hardships.
She also thanked the international community for their unwavering support
toward the NLD's democracy movement and ethnic-based political parties for their
support.
"In life nothing is free," Suu Kyi said. "We have to pay for what we want
and we all have gone through hardship and suffering during the 12-year
period."
In reference to the closed-door talks between the ruling military and
herself which began in October 2000, she told her party members, "I will never
deceive the people and will never do anything against the interest of the
country and the people."
"I will not discuss important issues without consulting the NLD leaders and
will never make any secret deals, which is undemocratic," she vowed.
After 1990 election, the military insisted that a new constitution was
needed before it could hand over power. A constitution drafting process was
begun in 1993 but has made no progress since 1996.
Suu Kyi and the military government began their negotiations in late 2000 ?
soon after Suu Kyi had been confined for defying a government travel ban. The
talks have had few concrete results besides the release of more than 200
political prisoners. Human rights groups say about 1,500 remain in prison.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Opposition party renews call for
recognition of 1990 election results
ASSOCIATED PRESS YANGON, Myanmar, May 27 ? The opposition National League for Democracy, reinvigorated by the release of its leader Aung San Suu Kyi, on Monday renewed its long-standing call for the ruling military junta to recognize the party's landslide victory in a 1990 general election. The NLD won 392 seats out of 485 seats in the election, but the military,
which has ruled Myanmar since 1962, never allowed parliament to convene, and
instead launched a campaign of harassment and arrest of NLD supporters.
After Suu Kyi was freed from 19 months of house arrest on May 6, there had
been speculation that the NLD might soften its position on the polls as part of
its ongoing dialogue with the junta for political reconciliation in Myanmar,
also known as Burma.
But the party restated its demand as more than 1,000 of its members,
including 70 of its elected representatives, joined Suu Kyi at the party
headquarters in Yangon to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the May 27, 1990
polls. Ambassadors from Britain, France, Italy and Germany and diplomats from
the United States, South Korea, Japan and Australia also attended.
''The only means to deal with the results of the 1990 election and the
prevailing political, economic, social, health and educational matters is a
meaningful dialogue,'' said an NLD statement, read out at the ceremony by Than
Htay, an elected representative from Lashio.
''Through the dialogue, a parliament with the elected representatives of
the 1990 election must be convened to establish a democratic country.''
Suu Kyi told a cheering crowd of her followers to be united, understanding
and politically mature, and to be prepared to face hardships.
She also thanked the international community for their unwavering support
toward the NLD's democracy movement and ethnic-based political parties for their
support.
''In life nothing is free,'' Suu Kyi said. ''We have to pay for what we
want and we all have gone through hardship and suffering during the 12-year
period.''
In reference to the closed-door talks between the ruling military and
herself which began in October 2000, she told her party members, ''I will never
deceive the people and will never do anything against the interest of the
country and the people.''
''I will not discuss important issues without consulting the NLD leaders
and will never make any secret deals, which is undemocratic,'' she vowed.
After 1990 election, the military insisted that a new constitution was
needed before it could hand over power. A constitution drafting process was
begun in 1993 but has made no progress since 1996.
Suu Kyi and the military government began their negotiations in late 2000 ?
soon after Suu Kyi had been confined for defying a government travel ban. The
talks have had few concrete results besides the release of more than 200
political prisoners. Human rights groups say about 1,500 remain in prison.
----------------------------------------------------------------- CNN - Myanmar party demands recognition of poll
win
May 27, 2002 Posted: 9:59 PM HKT (1359 GMT) Staff and wires YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- The opposition National League for Democracy,
reinvigorated by the release of its leader Aung San Suu Kyi, has renewed its
long-standing call for the ruling military junta to recognize the party's
landslide victory in a 1990 general election.
The NLD won 392 seats out of 485 seats in the election, but the military,
which has ruled Myanmar since 1962, never allowed parliament to convene, and
instead launched a campaign of harassment and arrest of NLD supporters.
After Suu Kyi was freed from 19 months of house arrest on May 6, there had
been speculation that the NLD might soften its position on the polls as part of
its ongoing dialogue with the junta for political reconciliation in Myanmar,
also known as Burma.
But the party restated its demand Monday as more than 1,000 of its members,
including 70 of those elected in 1990, joined Suu Kyi at the party headquarters
in Yangon to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the May 27 polls. Ambassadors
from Britain, France, Italy and Germany and diplomats from the United States,
South Korea, Japan and Australia also attended.
"The only means to deal with the results of the 1990 election and the
prevailing political, economic, social, health and educational matters is a
meaningful dialogue," said an NLD statement, read out at the ceremony by Than
Htay, elected in 1990 from the town of Lashio.
"Through the dialogue, a parliament with the elected representatives of the
1990 election must be convened to establish a democratic country."
An ebullient Suu Kyi told a cheering crowd of her followers to be united,
understanding and politically mature, and to be prepared to face hardships.
She also thanked the international community for their unwavering support
toward the NLD's democracy movement and ethnic-based political parties for their
support.
Hardship
"In life nothing is free," Suu Kyi said. "We have to pay for what we want and we all have gone through hardship and suffering during the 12-year period." In reference to the closed-door talks between the ruling military and
herself which began in October 2000, she told her party members, "I will never
deceive the people and will never do anything against the interest of the
country and the people."
"I will not discuss important issues without consulting the NLD leaders and
will never make any secret deals, which is undemocratic," she vowed.
After 1990 election, the military insisted that a new constitution was
needed before it could hand over power. A constitution drafting process was
begun in 1993 but has made no progress since 1996.
Suu Kyi and the military government began their negotiations in late 2000
-- soon after Suu Kyi had been confined for defying a government travel ban. The
talks have had few concrete results besides the release of more than 200
political prisoners. Human rights groups say about 1,500 remain in prison.
Other supporters of the NLD marked the anniversary in a ceremony in the
jungle near the border with Thailand attended by about 150 people representing
several dissident and rebel groups from Myanmar.
Bo Mya, a leader of the Karen National Union -- an ethnic guerrilla group
seeking autonomy from the central government -- said Suu Kyi's release from
house arrest had changed nothing politically in Myanmar, which faces
international economic sanctions for its suppression of democracy.
"The freeing of Aung San Suu Kyi is merely in the interest of the SPDC
because they are in crisis both economically and politically," he said,
referring to the junta by its official title, the State Peace and Development
Council. "The junta expects humanitarian aid from Japan and America."
----------------------------------------------------------------- BBC - Monday, 27 May, 2002, 12:05 GMT
13:05 UK
Burma's opposition lays claim to power Burma's opposition National League for Democracy has renewed its call for
the military government to recognise the results of the 1990 general election,
in which the NLD scored an overwhelming victory.
The NLD restated its demand as the party's leader, Aung San Suu Kyi,
addressed more than 1,000 members and several foreign diplomats on the 12th
anniversary of the NLD's triumph in the polls.
At the largest political NLD gathering since Aung San Suu Kyi was released
from 19 months of house arrest earlier this month, the opposition leader told a
cheering crowd to be unified and to prepare to face hardships in their struggle
for democracy.
There had been speculation that following her release from detention, the
NLD might soften its stance on the 1990 election.
But a statement released by the party read: "Through... dialogue, a
parliament with the elected representatives of the 1990 election must be
convened to establish a democratic country."
Suu Kyi's address
To chants of "long live Aung San Suu Kyi", the Nobel laureate, in a light
blue traditional dress, pledged to act with integrity in her dealings with
Burma's ruling junta, with whom she has been engaged in closed-door talks since
October 2000.
"I will never deceive the people and will never do anything against the
interest of the country and the people.
"I will not discuss important issues without consulting the NLD leaders and
will never make any secret deals, which is undemocratic," she promised.
The NLD said in the statement that those talks should now be joined by
Burma's ethnic nationalities, who are anxious for a role in any reform process.
The NLD also issued 21 resolutions explaining the party's demands in
greater detail.
The head of the BBC's Burmese section, Somchai Suwanban, says democracy
activists inside and outside the country will be scrutinising the NLD executive
committee's statements and resolutions for any hint of the party's road map to
democracy.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Tuesday May 28, 2:51 PM
Three Thais arrested for robbing mystery tanker (AFP) - Three Thai men have been charged with robbing a Taiwanese oil tanker found abandoned and almost emptied of its cargo in the Gulf of Thailand earlier this month, Thai police said. "We arrested three men yesterday. Two of them have confessed, but the other
denies his involvement," marine police deputy commander Chakthip Chaijinda told
AFP Tuesday, adding that they had been charged with robbery and police were
considering also charging them under Thailand's piracy law.
The men conspired with five other Thai and Myanmar nationals to hijack the
MT Han Wei and sell its fuel on the black market, Chakthip said.
The tanker was found on May 14 anchored among other ships five nautical
miles off Sriracha district in Chonburi province, southeast of the Thai
capital.
Taiwanese owner Bai Yuh Fishery had reported the tanker missing to the
International Maritime Bureau two days after it failed to arrive in Myanmar from
Singapore as scheduled on March 19.
The tanker had been carrying nearly two million litres (half a million
gallons) of oil.
Early searches by the Thai authorities proved fruitless, but the IMB gave
them information earlier this month suggesting where they might find the
tanker.
Chakthip said the men used automatic weapons to force their way aboard the
tanker.
"When they found their target, they approached it with the fishing boats
and boarded the vessel with M16 rifles and other arms," he said.
The group forced the crew of 11 Indonesians and two Taiwanese ashore along
the Indonesian coast, and then tried to sell the fuel on the black market in
Indonesia, Malaysia and the Thai island of Phuket, but with no success, he
said.
"It is not clear who they sold the fuel to, because the group police
arrested was in charge of hijacking the vessel only," he said.
"The mastermind is likely to be Taiwanese," he added without elaborating.
The three men were arrested in the coastal province of Ranong, 568
kilometres (353 miles) south of Bangkok.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Tuesday May 28, 3:23 PM
ASEAN police chiefs to answer anti-terrorism call (AFP) - ASEAN efforts to combat
terrorism in the wake of the September 11 strikes on the United States moved
from the ministerial ranks to local police here.
Cambodia's interior minister, Sar Kheng, warned police chiefs at the 22nd
annual ASEAN police conference Tuesday that September 11 had added a new
dimension to terrorism that dictated strengthened cooperation among member
states.
"This problem requires the international community to strengthen
cooperation to fight terrorism around the globe and to support all effective
measures to eradicate this act," he said.
The three-day annual ASEAN police chiefs conference follows a meeting of
Southeast Asian security ministers in Kuala Lumpur last week which endorsed the
use of preventive laws to fight terrorism.
ASEAN countries upheld the right of individual members to "continue
pursuing practical preventive measures" to address root causes of terrorism, and
endorsed the Internal Security Act (ISA) used by Malaysia and Singapore to
detain without trial dozens of local militants.
However, member states failed to agree on a definition of terrorism due to
"practical difficulties."
Sar Kheng said transnational crime, like terrorism, posed a grave threat to
ASEAN which must find solutions to the growing menace.
This included drug trafficking, money laundering, arms trading, piracy,
cyber crime and people smuggling.
"Transnational crime is increasing through different forms and spreading to
gravely threaten security, peace and world development," Sar Kheng said.
Cambodian police have made several arrests in recent months with women and
virgins being trafficked from Vietnam through Cambodia to Malaysia, Thailand,
Taiwan and Hong Kong.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Monday May 27, 9:35 PM
Suu Kyi appeals for Myanmar public support By Aung Hla Tun YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi appealed for public support in her quest to
bring democracy to the military ruled country on Monday before her biggest
audience since she was freed from house arrest this month.
Speaking to more than 600 supporters and diplomats gathered to mark the
12th anniversary of her National League for Democracy's (NLD) sweeping victory
in Myanmar's last elections in 1990, Suu Kyi urged the public to be more active
in politics.
"Most people think they have done their duty if they have voted in the
elections," Suu Kyi said at the NLD's ramshackle headquarters in central Yangon.
"What I would like to tell them is that voting for the NLD in the election
alone does not fulfil their duty. They have to take part themselves."
"It is necessary to carry out organisational activities among the people
relentlessly as much as we can," Suu Kyi urged her supporters.
The military government's strict rule has effectively suppressed most open
forms of public support for the NLD since the party was prevented from taking
power after its 1990 election win.
While lauded abroad, eight years of house arrest since 1990 and no domestic
media coverage mean the Nobel peace laureate has faded from public view in her
country.
Suu Kyi's release on May 6 from her latest 19-month period of house arrest
was not reported in the state-run media. Diplomats say the ruling generals are
afraid the charismatic daughter of independence hero Aung San will become a
focus of public discontent over a crumbling economy.
RESTRICTIONS EASED
Suu Kyi's release was the culmination of 18-months of U.N. brokered
"confidence building" talks between the military and the NLD.
Under intense pressure from the international community, the junta also
loosened restrictions on the NLD, allowing some Yangon party offices to reopen
and freeing about 200 prisoners.
But according to Amnesty International about 1,500 political prisoners
still languish in Myanmar's prisons, including an estimated 800 NLD members.
On Monday, the NLD reiterated its commitment to talks with the ruling
junta.
"Holding meaningful dialogue is the only way to tackle the matter
concerning the results of 1990 multi-party general election and to resolve the
political, economic, social, health and education problems facing the country,"
the NLD said in a statement.
Suu Kyi's party also pledged to support a body formed by opposition elected
members of parliament to act as a forerunner to a fully fledged parliament -- a
move likely to irk the generals.
Suu Kyi has always insisted that the junta recognises the 1990 election
results, but diplomats say she could ease her position as part of any bargaining
with the generals.
The military wants Suu Kyi to endorse a National Convention which has met
intermittently since 1993 to draw up a new constitution. The NLD withdrew from
the convention in 1996 complaining it was undemocratic and biased in favour of
the military.
The NLD issued 20 other resolutions on Monday, including many past demands,
such as the immediate release of all political prisoners and a call for the
"confidence building" phase of the reconciliation talks to move into more
meaningful political dialogue.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Monday May 27, 10:24 PM
Australia holds talks with Vietnam on human rights HANOI (Reuters) - Australia
held inaugural talks with Vietnam on human rights on Monday and raised concerns
about the treatment of dissidents and Australians facing possible death
sentences in Vietnam.
The head of the Australian delegation told Reuters he had raised the case
of three Australians of Vietnamese origin who could face death sentences if
convicted on drugs charges.
Geoff Raby, a senior foreign affairs official, said his delegation also
raised Vietnam's treatment of minority groups, religious freedom and detention
of dissidents. He said Vietnam responded with questions about aboriginal land
rights.
"We welcome that because it was a two-way process rather than a monologue
or speaking past each other," he said.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer earlier compared the
ground-breaking talks to those Australia has undertaken with China and Myanmar,
arguing that dialogue and engagement was the best way of addressing human rights
concerns.
Asked to comment on the two-day talks, Hanoi's Foreign Ministry said it
welcomed all dialogue carried out on the basis of equality, mutual respect and
non-interference.
Australia, which does not have the death penalty, will be hoping to avoid
an incident like that in April 2000, when Vietnam executed a 44-year-old
Canadian woman of Vietnamese origin for heroin trafficking.
Australians in jail in Vietnam include Nguyen Thi Kim Hieu and Le My Linh,
who were arrested in January and November and accused of trying to smuggle
heroin out of the country.
Trafficking in 600 grams (1.3 lb) or more of heroin is punishable by death
or life imprisonment in Vietnam, where 55 people were executed for drugs
offences last year. Execution is carried out by firing squad.
Vietnam routinely denies charges of rights violations.
A report by New-York based Human Rights Watch in April said torture,
arbitrary arrests and church burnings were among the weapons the communist
government had used in the past year to suppress ethnic minority dissent.
----------------------------------------------------------------- The Age
White elephant found in
Burma
May 28 2002 A rare white elephant, a traditional symbol of royalty, power and
prosperity, has been caught in the jungles of western Burma, state media has
reported.
The animal was captured in January in a dense forest in the western state
of Rakhine by the government agency charged with logging, radio and television
stations said last night.
The capture was hailed as an auspicious event that augurs well for the
country. Another white elephant was caught last year in the same region and has
been treated royally since.
White elephants, actually albinos, have for centuries been revered in
Burma, Thailand, Laos and other Asian nations. They were normally kept and
pampered by monarchs.
The reports said the latest to be captured was about 25-years-old, with a
calm disposition and endowed with characteristics of white elephants such as
pearl-coloured eyes, white hairs on the body and a light pink skin.
----------------------------------------------------------------- A second, revered white elephant
caught in Myanmar jungles
Mon May 27, 9:33 PM ET YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - A rare
white elephant, a traditional symbol of royalty, power and prosperity, has been
caught in the jungles of western Myanmar, state media has reported.
The animal was captured in January in a dense forest in the western state
of Rakhine by the government agency charged with logging, radio and television
stations said Monday night.
The capture was hailed as an auspicious event that augurs well for the
country. A another white elephant was caught last year in the same region and
has been treated royally since.
White elephants, actually albinos, have for centuries been revered in
Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and other Asian nations. They were normally kept and
pampered by monarchs.
The reports said the latest to be captured was about 25 years old, with a
calm disposition and endowed with characteristics of white elephants such as
pearl-colored eyes, white hairs on the body and a light pink skin.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar Opposition to Reject
Holding of New Election
Xinhuanet 2002-05-27 20:46:04 YANGON, May 27 (Xinhuanet) --
Myanmar opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), will reject
holding of any new future election in the country while the result of the 1990
general election is ignored.
In a 21-point resolution adopted at a meeting at its headquarters here
Monday marking the 12th anniversary of the 1990 election, the NLD said it will
not accept a state constitution "drawn up non-democratically and not in
accordance with the wishes of the people."
The resolution reiterated that until such time as parliament, elected in
the 1990 general election, is convened, the Committee Representing the People's
Parliament (CRPP), an alliance of the NLD, the Shan NLD, the Arakan Democracy
League, the Mon Democracy Party, the Zomi National Congress and individual
elected representatives, will remain in place.
The resolution decided that all political parties should be able to
exercise their full rights to function freely.
The NLD won a landslide victory in the government-sponsored 1990 general
election with 396 parliamentary seats out of 485. Despite the end of the
election, the government has not yet transferred to the winning party, the NLD
complains.
In September 1998, the NLD unilaterally formed the CRPP to workfor the
convening of the parliament.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar Opposition Calls For
Tripartite Talks
Xinhuanet 2002-05-27 18:59:06 YANGON, May 27 (Xinhuanet) --
Myanmar opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), Monday called
for striving tobring about tripartite talks as soon as possible in accordance
with the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The tripartite talks, which the NLD describes, include the government, the
NLD and the ethnic nationalities.
"A genuine democratic Union of Burma (Myanmar) cannot be built without the
participation of the ethnic nationalities," stressed aNLD statement issued on
the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the government-sponsored 1990 general
election, in which the NLD won a landslide victory with 396 parliamentary seats
out of 485.
The statement said the release of Aung San Suu Kyi on May 6 signals the end
of the confidence building phase between the NLD and the government, calling the
government to move on to a meaningful dialogue without undue delay.
Through such dialogues, the country's political, economic, social and other
problems can be resolved, the statement said, urging the government to convene
National Assembly (Parliament) inaccordance with the 1990 election law.
"Until such time as a substantive political dialogue is in place, major
policy decisions of the NLD on such matters as the election of 1990, the
National Convention, the drawing up of a state constitution, foreign investment,
tourism and economic and foreign aid will remain unchanged," the statement
maintained.
The statement pointed out that in addition to the majority of the
parliamentary seats won by the NLD in the 1990 election, most of the remaining
seats were won by ethnic nationality parties.
However, the statement said "the authorities ignored the election law they
themselves had promulgated and refused to convene parliament."
"The failure to convene the elected parliament has led to many political,
economic and social problems in Burma (Myanmar)," the statement blamed,
reiterating NLD's firm belief that such problemscan only be overcome through
dialogue and negotiations. "The NLD has been consistently pragmatic and flexible
in its approach," thestatement added.
Meanwhile, the NLD held a ceremony at its headquarters here marking the
country's election anniversary with Aung San Suu Kyi delivering a speech.
The event was attended by NLD Chairman U Aung Shwe, Vice-Chairman U Tin Oo,
Secretary U Lwin and other Central Executive Committee members as well as
foreign diplomats from the United States, Britain, Italy, France, Japan and so
on.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Tuesday 28 May 2002
Latest Wa assault `provocative'
Surayud stresses self-defence rules
Wassana Nanuam
The UWSA's assault on two Thai outposts in Chiang Mai's Chiang Dao district
will only worsen the already tense border situation with Burma, army chief
Surayud Chulanont said yesterday.
``This incident was intended to provoke tensions,'' Gen Surayud said.
The United Wa State Army, considered the biggest drug traffickers in the
Golden Triangle, could be retaliating for the serious disruption to business
caused by Thai troops' drive against border smuggling in the area, he
said.
An estimated 30 Wa troops attacked two Thai outposts in Chiang Dao's Ban
Muang Na early on Sunday. The positions were 700 metres inside Thailand and
manned by paramilitary forces.
The attacks could also be linked to the rumour that Thai border forces
provided support for last week's attacks by the Shan State Army on Burmese and
UWSA forces opposite Chiang Mai's Wiang Haeng and Chiang Dao districts, the army
chief said.
Gen Surayud said the army had never made an assault across the border. This
would be an act of aggression against Burma.
The army chief had instructed border troops to follow ``rules of border
engagement'', whenever there was fighting at the border area.
``We have to closely follow these rules,'' he said. ``Our border forces
will respond in accordance with the situation.''
It was necessary to be realistic in dealing with the border situation since
the fighting was in a remote area. ``It would be much too late if our border
forces had to wait for orders from their more senior commanders.
``They can react and counter swiftly if there is intentional
provocation.''
Gen Surayud indicated he disagreed with Defence Minister Chavalit
Yongchaiyudh's order to cut short a military exercise along the border last
week.
The Surasi 143 military exercise was 80% completed when Gen Chavalit issued
the order, he said. The army pulled back the troops as ordered but would conduct
new exercises when needed.
``We had to conduct our exercises. We cannot stop exercising just because
it may upset some countries,'' said Gen Surayud, apparently referring to
Burma.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Tuesday 28 May 2002
Attacks `were by junta allies' Rangoon wanted to frame us, says KNU Supamart Kasem Cheewin Satha The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army was responsible for last week's attacks
on Thai military bases and border villages, claims a rival group, the Karen
National Union.
Gen Bo Mya, the military leader of the anti-Rangoon KNU, said the attacks
were made by the pro-Rangoon DKBA with the aim of framing his group.
After Burma closed its border with Thailand as a result of the border
tension, the DKBA also tried to stir up more trouble in a bid to stop Thailand's
drugs suppression in border areas, he said.
Gen Bo Mya also alleged that Rangoon was still co-operating with its
``proxy forces'' to produce and sell drugs in order to raise money to run the
country.
He added that when Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh blamed the recent
border skirmishes on ``third parties'', he was referring to ethnic minority
groups in Burma including the KNU.
Gen Mo Bya said KNU forces stormed DKBA and Burmese military strongholds
opposite Tak's Mae Sot district on May 15 following a tip-off that 14 million
speed pills were kept there for smuggling into Thailand. An unidentified group
attacked the 113th Infantry Division's Ban Morker checkpoint in Phop Phra
district on May 24 and left behind helmets and scarves carrying the KNU
symbol.
uA new round of border fighting is looming near Ban Lak Taeng pass in
Wiang Haeng district after a massive Burmese troop build-up, said Third Army
commander Lt-Gen Udomchai Ongkhasingh.
Troops were on full alert while preparations were under way to evacuate
local Thais from the border area.
The Shan State Army overran two Burmese border outposts at Pang Mai Soon
and Pang Kham Kor last week. Heavy fighting could be expected if Burmese troops
tried to recapture the outposts, Lt-Gen Udomchai said. Intelligence sources said
nine Burmese battalions had been moved to the border area near Ban Lak Taeng.
Seventeen Burmese soldiers are thought to have been killed and 42 wounded in
last week's surprise attack. Thirteen others were captured.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Tuesday 28 May
2002
Editorial - Pathetic effort to cling to power The border dispute cooked up last week by Burma against Thailand is a sham
and shameful. The Rangoon generals, claiming great anger over Thai military
manoeuvres along the northern frontier, replayed their 2001 tantrum and closed
the border. All the way from Chiang Rai to Ranong, the Burmese barricaded trade
and immigration posts, stranding thousands of their own and Thai citizens. It
had the elements of farce, but sank Burma's international performance to yet
another low point.
The Burmese dictatorship gave no warning it would close legal checkpoints.
The generals provided no explanation at all. This is entirely in keeping with
the anti-democratic principles of the military regime. And that is the point.
The Burmese people and the world have put the military junta on the hot seat and
demanded that the generals account for their actions. Right at the point they
must begin to change the 40-year military dictatorship or face the consequences,
the generals have tried to find a way out of demands, and to hold on to
power.
This fake conflict with Thailand holds no water. Most people realise that.
Burma has simply protested that Thai troops conducted military exercises, inside
Thailand. Last year, Thai and Burmese troops actually clashed, in a region where
the border is unclear. This time, neither the official protest nor the
propaganda statements by government media mouthpieces have claimed Thai troops
entered Burma. The most serious act mentioned by Burma was the firing of
``artillery'' by Thai troops _ in fact, mortar rounds are a common occurrence
when Burmese ethnic groups clash along the border.
Rangoon may hope the sham fight with Thailand will stall two important
duties. The first is its promise to talk seriously with its country's democrats
about turning over power from the military to an accountable civilian-run
regime. The second is the promise to deal with the drug traffickers flooding
Thailand, southern China and the world with methamphetamine drugs and heroin.
Despite recent promises to Thailand, to the United Nations and to Burmese
citizens, the generals have not moved on these commitments.
Burma has freed Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize winner. The UN and
the diplomatic community have expressed guarded optimism but correctly withheld
their applause. Mrs Suu Kyi said last week talks must begin soon on substantive
matters. Otherwise, all hopes for a democratic regime will again fade. Freeing
Mrs Suu Kyi is no more helpful than holding elections in 1990 and ignoring the
result.
Members of the ruling junta have also made careful but real promises to
take steps to halt the drug trade. The regime has claimed it will start
destroying opium fields this year. Generals have openly courted parts of the
United Wa State Army which are not under the control of drug kingpin Wei
Hsueh-kang.
Promises from Burma are good to hear. As Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
is learning once again, the verbal assurances from Rangoon are no better than
the paper they are not written on. Mr Thaksin thought his personal diplomacy
with the likes of General Maung Aye and Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt were
protection against bloody-minded actions by those generals. He was wrong.
The generals owe their citizens a change from 40 years of brutal military
dictatorship. They also owe their neighbours. They cannot continue to run their
country on empty promises and erratic violence. Burma had a dozen diplomatic
channels to raise any problems it perceived with local, military or national
officials in Thailand. Clearly, another agenda was at work. Burma will, of
course, halt its drug trafficking against Thailand. The question is when, and
how much pain it will cause the Burmese people.
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