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BURMA RELATED NEWS
- November 11, 2002.
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HEADLINES
------------------------------------------------------------------------ AFP - Ministerial conference opens with
pledge to defend democracy
AFP - Ministerial conference deliberates
blueprint for democracy
Reuters - Free trade deal with U.S. nears
completion
AP - Report: U.N. special envoy to Myanmar
says he might step down if reconciliation talks drag too long
AP - Suu Kyi lawyers ask court to summon
brother in property dispute
AP - South Korean president calls for
anti-poverty campaign to fight terrorism
AP - More than 150 ethnic minority rebels
surrender to Mynamar government
The Star - AirAsia to fly to regional
destinations by next year
Bkk Post - New $3.6m loan to Traders Yangon
Asian Tribune - Indian arms shipment arrives
in Rangoon
Asian Tribune - What Is Torture?
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Monday November 11, 11:31 AM
Ministerial conference opens with pledge to defend democracy (AFP) - Foreign ministers and delegates from more than 100 countries went into session here to hammer out concrete measures to promote and defend democracy at the second ministerial conference of the Community of Democracies. Two years ago in Warsaw the community met for the first time and pledged to support democracy and democratic movements beyond their own borders as well as in their own countries. This time, members are hoping to add teeth to the well-meaning rhetoric by endorsing a Seoul Plan of Action to further democratic aims throughout the world. Founded on the premise that democracy is the best answer to the world's most pressing problems, the conference will tackle the theme of "Democracy: Investing for Peace and Prosperity." The ministerial meeting at Seoul's COEX Convention Center was declared open by South Korean Foreign Minister Choi Sung-Hong. "Today there is no doubt that democratic values and principles are accepted as norms across the world," he told the opening session. "The task before us is a crucial one ... to promote, protect and prevent the reversal of democracy." South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and lifelong fighter for democracy and human rights, said the greatest achievement of the 20th century was the spread of democracy. "However, we cannot afford to be complacent about the current state of democracy across the world," he warned in a speech to the plenary session. Addressing the session through video messages of solidarity were UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Czech Republic President Vaclav Havel, Peru's President Alejandro Toldeo, and Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. A series of ministerial discussion groups will meet over two days culminating in the adoption of the action plan and a resolution condemning terrorism on Tuesday. The community is an invitation-only club established under the leadership of the administration of former US president Bill Clinton and its first meeting in Warsaw in 2000 established general principles that countries invited to attend must respect. Since then US priorities have shifted with the election of Republic President George W. Bush and the September 11 attacks on the United States that triggered the war on terrorism. More than 50 foreign ministers attended Warsaw inaugural session. Fewer are here this time and neither founding members Poland nor the United States sent their top diplomat.dip ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ministerial conference
deliberates blueprint for democracy
SEOUL, Nov 11 (AFP) - Foreign ministers and delegates from more than 100 countries were drawing up a blueprint here Monday for the future of global democracy at the second ministerial conference of the Community of Democracies. Two years ago in Warsaw the community met for the first time and pledged to support democracy and democratic movements beyond their own borders as well as in their own countries. This time, conference delegates are debating a plan of action they hope will add teeth to the well-meaning rhetoric adopted in Poland. The community "has as its explicit goal not merely to talk but to act and draw up a concrete plan for global cooperation among democratic nations," said South Korean Foreign Minister Choi Sung-Hong. Founded on the premise that democracy is the best answer to the world's most pressing problems, the conference is focusing on the theme of "Democracy: Investing for Peace and Prosperity." Declaring the conference open at Seoul's COEX Convention Center Choi said democracy was winning the war against despots and dictators. "Today there is no doubt that democratic values and principles are accepted as universal norms across the world," he said. However, South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and lifelong fighter for democracy and human rights, said that much work remained to be done. "We cannot afford to be complacent about the current state of democracy in the world," he warned. "Everywhere in the world there are outright dictatorial regimes and countries with only ostensible multi-party systems." Addressing the session through video messages of solidarity were UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Czech Republic President Vaclav Havel, Peru's President Alejandro Toldeo, and Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. A series of ministerial discussion groups are meeting over two days culminating in the adoption of the Seoul Plan of Action and a resolution condemning terrorism on Tuesday. The community is an invitation-only club established under the leadership of the administration of former US president Bill Clinton and its first meeting in Warsaw in 2000 established general principles that member countries must respect. Since then US priorities have shifted with the election of Republican President George W. Bush and the September 11 attacks on the United States that triggered the war on terrorism. The notion that democracy has been relegated was dismissed, however, by Madeleine Albright, Clinton's secretary of state who was instrumental in bringing the community into being. "It is very important to ensure that democratic values are perceived and pursued and not supplanted," she said. However, governments appear to be attaching less significance to the second ministerial meeting. More than 50 foreign ministers attended the Warsaw inaugural session. Fewer are here this time and neither founding members Poland nor the United States sent their top diplomat. International financier George Soros and a number of pro-democracy advocates meeting in Seoul in a parallel conference of non-government organizations, want the community to become more assertive. They want community members to cut off bilateral aid to non-democratic countries and to use their muscle in multilateral lending organizations to keep international funds out of the hands of dictators. "That makes membership a more crucial issue," Soros said. "It would be an incentive." The US delegation leader, Undersecretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky, said the recommendations were being taken seriously in lively debate. "There is a good dynamic and a good spirit. There is good constructive dialogue on a plan of action going on," she said. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Monday November 11, 6:12 PM
Free trade deal with U.S. nears completion By Richard Hubbard SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore hopes to wrap up a free trade agreement with the United States this week, the first ever between Washington and an Asian country, officials said. The deal has been two years in the making and is expected to open up the city state's banking and services sector to foreign competition. It comes after U.S. President George W. Bush launched an initiative to boost trade with Southeast Asian nations at last month's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Mexico. Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry George Yeo said the latest negotiations, which started on Monday, were likely to last the whole week with any last minute items wrapped up at a meeting with U.S. Trade representative Robert Zoellick on November 18. "This week, we hope to conclude substantively our FTA (free trade agreement) with the U.S.," Yeo told the American Chamber of Commerce in a luncheon speech. Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said earlier this month the city-state was ready to open its banking sector to foreign players as it moved closer to free trade pacts with the United States and Australia. The United States, in particular, has long sought access to Singapore's restrictive retail banking sector and for its professional firms, such as lawyers, engineers and architects, to operate freely. Singapore has reached free trade agreements with New Zealand, Japan, the European Free Trade Area countries -- Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein -- and Australia since last year. BLUEPRINT AGREEMENT The city state hopes the agreement with the United States will become something of a blueprint for similar deals with other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Singapore's Yeo said most ASEAN countries had now accepted the concept of bilateral free trade deals despite some early opposition. "Because it was a new idea, many countries in Southeast Asia had their reservations," he said. "But over a period time I think most, if not all, countries have come along, and even Malaysia has now stated that free trade agreements are not inconsistent with the goals and ideals of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)." At last month's APEC leaders meeting in Mexico, President Bush launched the "Enterprise for ASEAN Initiative" which held out the promise of increased access to the lucrative U.S. market in exchange for economic reform. At APEC, which was the first meeting between a U.S. president and ASEAN leaders since 1984, Bush offered the prospect of a series of bilateral free trade agreements in return for more regulatory transparency and intellectual property protection. The ASEAN initiative comes at a time when countries in Southeast Asia are still recovering from the devastating effects of a severe financial crisis in the late 1990s, and face increased competition from China, which is growing at annual rates of seven to eight percent. Recent bombings in Indonesia and the Philippines have also increased investment jitters among multinational firms in the region. China plans to begin talks next year with ASEAN to create the world's largest regional free trade agreement in 10 years. Trade between ASEAN and the United States stood at around $120 billion in 2001, while total two way trade between Singapore and the United States was about $33 billion. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Report: U.N. special envoy to
Myanmar says he might step down if reconciliation talks drag too long
Mon Nov 11, 3:51 AM ET KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - The U.N. special envoy who helped initiate reconciliation talks between Myanmar's military government and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has suggested he might step down if discussions drag too long, a news report said Monday. "If I step down, it would be because it takes too much time, and if I think I am not going anywhere with the discussions," Razali Ismail told the Malaysiakini news Internet site ahead of his ninth visit to Myanmar. "If it just goes on and on, I may decide to step down," Razali, a former Malaysian diplomat, was quoted as saying. "It has been going on in my mind ? how long more, how long more?" Razali's secretary said he was in meetings throughout Monday and would not be available for comment before leaving Tuesday for Yangon, his first trip to Myanmar since August. A Malaysiakini journalist contacted by The Associated Press confirmed that Razali made the comments to her in an interview Friday. Razali was appointed special U.N. envoy in April 2000. His mediation helped secure Suu Kyi's release from 19 months of house arrest in May, but she has since said Myanmar's military government won't resume dialogue with her. During his visit this week, Razali is expected to meet with government leaders, Suu Kyi, senior members of her National League for Democracy party and leaders of ethnic minority groups. Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been ruled by the military since 1962. The current junta came to power in 1988 after crushing pro-democracy demonstrations. The military allowed elections in 1990, but never stepped aside when Suu Kyi's party won. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Suu Kyi lawyers ask court to
summon brother in property dispute
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) _ Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyers asked a court Monday to force her estranged brother to testify in a lawsuit he filed two years ago seeking a share of the family house where Suu Kyi lives. Neither Suu Kyi nor her brother, who lives in the United States, has appeared in court in connection with the case, which has been fought by their lawyers and representatives. Her legal team filed a petition with a district court in the capital, Yangon, arguing that Aung San Oo's presence in court would lead to a ``much fairer hearing'' because his representatives have been ``unable to give satisfactory explanations to our questions,'' said lawyer Tun Tin. Aung San Oo's lawyer, Han Toe, told the Yangon Division Court that the petition was ``meaningless,'' saying his client has been well represented by his personal agent. The hearing was adjourned until Nov. 27, when Han Toe said he would submit a formal objection to the application. Suu Kyi has been sued by Aung San Oo, who is a U.S citizen, for an ``entitled share'' of a 2-acre (0.8- hectare) property that includes a two-story lakeside house in Yangon where Suu Kyi has lived for the past 14 years. The property was given by the government to Suu Kyi's mother after her husband, independence hero Gen. Aung San, was assassinated in July 1947. Her mother died in Dec. 1988. According to Myanmar's Buddhist inheritance law, children of Buddhist parents have the right to inherit property left by their parents. But a 1987 law forbids foreigners from owning or transferring property without a special waiver by the government. An earlier lawsuit filed Aung San Oo in November 2000 seeking an equal partition of the property was dismissed in January last year on technical grounds. Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her democracy struggle, was confined to that house from September 2000 to May this year after defying a travel ban imposed by Myanmar's military regime. Her National League for Democracy party won general elections in 1990 but was barred from taking power. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ South Korean president calls
for anti-poverty campaign to fight terrorism
Sun Nov 10,10:46 PM ET By SOO-JEONG LEE, Associated Press Writer SEOUL, South Korea - South Korean President Kim Dae-jung called on the world Monday to make more concerted efforts to ease poverty in underprivileged countries as a means of reducing the danger of terrorism. Speaking at an international forum, Kim also said democracy has made great progress in the past decades but still has a long way to go in many parts of the world. Democracy, he said, is the "most effective way" to prevent war and terrorism. "Poverty lies at the root of friction and disputes among religions, nations and cultures," Kim said. "Zealots have manipulated despair and anger resulting from poverty into religious and racial issues to incite terrorism and unrest." Citing a U.N. report, the 2000 Nobel Peace laureate said that of the 200-odd countries in the world, 140 have adopted a multiparty system and 81 have been recognized as developing as democracies. "That is significant progress," Kim said, noting that only about 30 countries were rated as democracies until the mid-1970s. Disputing the so-called "cultural gap" theory some leaders used in the 1970s to argue that Western-developed democracy could not take root in Asia and other non-Western regions, Kim said democracy can be accepted as an ideal norm everywhere in the world. "Even though the system of democracy first developed in West Europe, democratic thought and traditions had roots everywhere around the world," Kim said. "It is no accident that (South) Korea, many other Asian countries, numerous East European, Central and South American and African countries have joined the ranks of democracies," he said. The 2nd Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies in Seoul, which will continue until Tuesday, drew foreign ministers and delegates from 110 countries around the world. Those present included East Timor President Xanana Gusmao, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi and U.S. Undersecretary of State Paula Dobriansky. Dobriansky's boss, Colin Powell, had canceled his trip to South Korea because the Iraqi situation. On the sidelines of the forum, the Japanese foreign minister met her South Korean counterpart, Choi Sung-hong, on Monday to discuss North Korea. The two neighbors share concerns about the communist nation's recently disclosed nuclear weapons development program. Highlights of the forum's opening ceremony on Monday were the viewing of prerecorded messages from world leaders including Czech President Vaclav Havel, Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, U.N. Secretary-general Kofi Annan and Aung San Suu Kyi, a pro-democracy leader in Myanmar. After round-table discussions on various topics of democracy, the two-day forum plans to adopt a "Seoul action plan" on democracy and against terrorism, said South Korea's Foreign Ministry, which organized the meeting. The first democracy forum was held in Warsaw, Poland, in 2000. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ More than 150 ethnic minority
rebels surrender to Mynamar government
Mon Nov 11, 4:04 AM ET YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - More than 150 ethnic minority rebels, including two senior commanders, have surrendered to Myanmar's government, state-run media reported Monday. The Karenni National Progressive Party, which claims to have about 1,500 troops and operates along the Myanmar-Thai border, has been fighting for decades for more autonomy. Thousands of villagers displaced by the conflict are in refugee camps in Thailand. The 153 KNPP rebels turned themselves in Saturday at the Karenni state capital of Loi Kaw, 885 kilometers (550 miles) northeast of Yangon, the New Light of Myanmar newspaper said. The guerrillas were by led by KNPP central committee member Richard Kari Htoo and battalion commander Te Ne, the newspaper reported, adding that they handed over 81 weapons and some ammunition. KNPP Secretary-General Rimond Htoo said last week that the two men were part of a delegation sent to Loi Kaw at the government's invitation. He said his party had nine demands, including that the government stop uprooting Karenni villages, stop using the villagers as porters in the battlefield and stop the killing and rape of Karenni people. Htoo could not be reached for comment Monday. Other KNPP officials declined to discuss the surrender. The government's top-ranking government official in Karenni state, Col. Thein Swe, welcomed the surrender, the New Light of Myanmar said. Thein Swe said armed struggle only hindered Karenni state's development, and pledged to provide the group with assistance, the newspaper reported. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Star
Online
Monday, November 11, 2002 AirAsia to fly to regional destinations by next year KUALA TERENGGANU: AirAsia, the country?s first ?no-frills? airline, plans to fly to regional destinations by the end of next year. Its chairman Datuk Pahamin A. Rajab said the destinations would include Bangkok, Yangon, Surabaya, Jakarta and Bali. ?The airline is gaining popularity with its low fares and Internet facilities and this is its next move to provide affordable service for its passengers,? he said. Pahamin said that since the inception of the airline, booking via the Internet had reached over RM25mil. ?This shows that Malaysians are no longer fearful of using online services as they are assured of their seats for designated flights,? he said, adding that more people were booking seats through the Internet as it was convenient. He said 25% of total ticket sales came from online bookings, adding that the airline had not expected to achieve that figure. He said the airline would be receiving its sixth Boeing 737-200 aircraft early next year and would include Johor Baru as its sixth destination. ?We are also working on including Kuantan, Sandakan and Sibu as our future destinations,? he said after launching AirAsia?s fifth destination and opening its sales office here on Saturday. Pahamin said the airline would increase flight frequencies to existing destinations, adding that its hub in Kota Kinabalu would start operations before the end of next year. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bangkok Post - Monday
11 November 2002
New $3.6m loan to Traders Yangon Zukerman Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Apizaco Ltd, will lend an additional US$3.6 million to Traders Yangon in Burma. The money will help Traders Yangon make payments owed by the Traders Hotel in Rangoon. The loan was approved on Thursday by the board of Shangri-La Hotel, which owns Apizaco. After the loan is made, Zukerman, which has a 22.22% interest in Traders Yangon, will have provided $12.5 million in loans to the Burmese firm. Two Shangri-La Asia Ltd subsidiaries, Successful Dragon Ltd and Siam Suite Holding Ltd, have a combined 73.61% stake in the Burmese hotel. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Asian Tribune
Date :
2002-11-11
Indian arms shipment arrives in Rangoon The Indian authorities handed over weapons and ammunition to the SPDC (State Peace and Development Council) army in Tamu on 2 November reports Democratic Voice of Burma(DVB) in its broadcast from Oslo, Norway. According to DVB A contingent led by the Indian military attache to Burma, Col S F Pibirao and the deputy commander from Imphal based Indian battalion handed over 30 truckloads of weapons and ammunition including heavy artillery shells. The weapons shipment was accepted by the SPDC army delegation led by Kalemyo based Brig-Gen Tin Maung Oo, General Staff Officer Grade-1 Lt Col Tin Aung, and Commander of No 365 Artillery Battalion Maj Aung Zin Oo and then taken to Kalemyo. Regarding the transfer of weapons and ammunition, border sources say it is not clear whether the shipment was an aid from the Indian government or whether it was purchased by the SPDC. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Asia Tribune
Date : 2002-11-11 What Is Torture? By Bo Kyi - joint secretary of Assistance Association for Political Prisoners - Burma. One of the greatest obstacles to assisting victims of torture and ending this abhorrent practice is public ignorance about the nature of the problem. Few people really understand what torture is. Since a greater awareness is essential for the prevention of future torture, I would like to explain what torture is, as well as its aims, methods and effects, drawing in particular upon the experiences of torture victims in Burma. The Tokyo declaration on torture, cited above, provides a basic definition of torture. Concerning the aims of torture, however, it mentions only the immediate reasons for inflicting torture and not the underlying purpose, which is to effectively destroy the soul of a human being. Torture is designed to break down the identity of a strong man or woman, turning a union leader, a politician, a student leader, a journalist, or a leader of an ethnic minority group into a non- entity with no connection on to the world outside of their torture chamber. The process begins with arrest, usually at night. In Burma, however, sometimes this process starts in broad day light in public places. This was the case with the arrest of Min Ko Naing, one of the most prominent student leaders of the 1988 pro-democracy uprising. Min Ko Naing, now 38 years old, is the chairman of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU). He and I were arrested in front of many people by a group of men in civilian clothes on the aft- ernoon of March 23,1989. Our arrest was violent-three policemen pulled our necks very roughly, as if we were dangerous criminals. Then we were turned over to agents of the Military Intelligence services (MI). The MI men put handcuffs on Min Ko Naing and pulled a dirty hood over his head before taking him away in a truck. I and several other people witnessed the vicious beating he received as he was being dragged away to the truck. The MI agents kicked and punched him all over his body, then took him away to a secret destination where he was kept for several weeks and brutally tortured. His family was not permitted to visit him for nearly three years. They saw at once that he was suffering from physical and psychological trauma. Now, 11 years after his arrest, Min Ko Naing still languishes in Sittwe prison, far from his family in Rangoon. In Burma, under the present military regime, various physical torture methods are being used, including systematic beatings (aimed at inflicting permanent injury), unsystematic beatings (using rifle butts, truncheons, etc.), electric torture (applying electrodes to sensitive parts of the body, such as the gums, ears, fingertips, and sexual organs) and "moe dewa", or water torture (drops of water fall onto the victim's head until, after a number of hours, they feel like a pounding hammer). Another common practice is burning victims with cigarettes. In the case of unsystematic beating, permanent damage may occur, even if that was not the intention. Thura Soe, a former political prisoner who was released in 1999, described being kicked and beaten by a group of men while being held at an interrogation center. The beatings started even before he was asked any questions. Both of his ears were hit during this in discriminate beating, leaving his hearing permanently damaged. Later, his right leg, which had not healed from a previous injury, was repeatedly jumped on. Moe Aye, another former Burmese student political prisoner, described his experience of systematic torture in his book, Ten Years On: "Sit down, MI ordered, 'and stretch out your legs." "Then one of my legs was pulled up, and I felt terrified. Both of my legs were placed on a piece of hard wood, and I then felt something like another piece of wood being place on top and I heard the sounds of iron chains. It was extremely painful and I cried out loud." After being brutally tortured, the tissue damage and structural and functional consequences are the same as after assaults, accidents and sports injuries. In other cases, victims suspended by their wrists and with their arms above their heads, a common posture during interrogation by MI agents, complain of long-term joint pain, and some have difficulty standing or sitting for long periods of time. The physical forms of torture are very severe, but the worst form of torture is psychological. Mostly, psychological torture starts upon arrest. As soon as one is arrested, a dirty hood is placed over the head. One immediately looses allcontact with the outside world. Then one is put into isolation in a small cell, which is kept either very dark or very bright. While under interrogation, one is not allowed to sleep, eat or drink for at least 36 hours. The victim loses all sense of time. Torture victims are not allowed to bathe for many days and are kept in very unsanitary conditions. When the detainee requests a visit to the toilet, the authorities turn a deaf ear. Under such circumstances, the torture victim may become abnormal, sometimes resulting in suicide. Tin Tin Nyo, 26, a well-known female student leader, was detained and interrogated by MI in 1990. While she was in the interrogation center, she was kicked in her supra pubic region by MI agents wearing jungle boots. Further details of her torture are not known, because she refused to discuss them with anyone. Finally, on December 31, 1993, she succeeded in killing herself. Physical and psychological forms of torture are often closely linked, leaving scars that are difficult to detect. Many victims will not dare to reveal their experiences of having their sexual organs violated as it is closely linked to shame and guilt and the fear of a social stigma when they are released. Many victims suffer from insomnia and nightmares long after experiencing torture. Severe depre- ssion is another common problem, often so debilitating that it becomes extremely difficult for the victim to return to normal life. Public awareness can help prevent the future torture of unfortunate victims, as well as the nearly 2,500 political prisoners still inside Burmese prisons. Let's think how we can help the torture victims. About the Author: Bo Kyi became involved in politics during the 1988 popular uprising in Burma. He is a former excutive committee member of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU). He was arrested together with Min Ko Naing, chairperson of the ABFSU, on March 23,1989, but was later released. On March 16, 1990, he was arrested again for taking part in a demonstration demanding the release of all student prisoners, and was sentenced to three years with hard labour. He was released from prison in 1993 but was detained again on July 17, 1994 and sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labor. He was released on October 2,1998 from Tharawaddy prison and he left Burma a year after his release. He is a joint secretary of Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)(AAPP) and lives in Thailand. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |