|
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BURMA RELATED NEWS
- November 25, 2002.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES
------------------------------------------------------------------------ AFP - Myanmar junta says aiming to
cut opium production by half next year
AFP - Shan rebels dismiss
reports of threatened Myanmar junta offensive
AP - Myanmar opposition member
claimed arrested over symbolic hat
Bkk Post - EDITORIAL - Trying to get
by without sincerity
Xinhuanet - Crime cases in Myanmar
increase
DVB - Aung San Suu Kyi arrives Mu-se
border town, meets party members
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Monday November 25, 2:10 PM
Myanmar junta says aiming to cut opium production by half next year YANGON, Nov 25 (AFP) - Myanmar's junta says it plans to cut opium production by half next year, and rejected a prediction that a record one billion "speed" pills would be trafficked into Thailand in 2003. The United Nations says opium production in Myanmar, the world's biggest producer of the drug in 2001 when Afghan production slumped under a Taliban ban, had declined to 828 tonnes in 2002 from 1,097 tonnes in 2001. The military government's anti-narcotics spokesman Colonel Kyaw Thein said in an official information sheet that Myanmar aimed to reduce the opium crop by another 50 percent next year, down to about 400 tonnes. "We have achieved much progress by implementing a multi-pronged narcotics control program on our own with limited resources to eliminate opium production which is threatening the youth of today," he said. The junta also hit out Monday at the Thai army's comment that it was braced for the flood of methamphetamines manufactured in Myanmar laboratories to increase from about 700 million pills believed to have been trafficked in 2002. "It is not only regretful but perplexing to know how a responsible Thai institution can come up with amazing speculation on how much methamphetamine pills... came and will come across the border from Myanmar," a spokesman for the regime said in a statement. "If that institution is so effective and efficient in gathering intelligence ... why is it that Thailand managed only to catch a mere small fraction of the drugs sold inside the country," he added. The border drugs trade, which Thai and US authorities say is masterminded by the Yangon-allied United Wa State Army (UWSA), is a perennial irritant to relations between Thailand and Myanmar. Both countries trade accusations that the other supports ethnic armies accused of involvement in the trafficking business. After decades of programs to eradicate opium production in the famed "Golden Triangle" region which takes in parts of Thailand and Myanmar, heroin production has fallen off, only to be replaced by methamphetamines. The cheap and highly addictive pills are responsible for a massive addiction problem in Thailand where an estimated four percent of the population is estimated to be hooked on "yaa baa" or "crazy medicine". Myanmar has made strenuous efforts to prove that it is serious about eradicating drug production on its soil. The Washington Post reported Friday that US State Department officials were close to recommending Myanmar's removal from a list of major drugs producers, a move that would need to be reviewed by the White House. But US officials said no decisions had been taken yet on downgrading Myanmar's status, although the move was under review. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Monday November 25, 7:22 AM
Shan rebels dismiss reports of
threatened Myanmar junta offensive
CHIANG MAI, Thailand, Nov 25 (AFP) - Ethnic Shan rebels Monday dismissed reports the Myanmar junta was preparing a major offensive against its forces in the next few months. "Myanmar soldiers are moving regularly but there are no indications of preparing a major assault in the near future," said Shan State Army (SSA) spokeswoman Nam Khur Hsen. "However, we are always prepared and ready to defend our positions," she told AFP by telephone from a base camp near Thai border. The Bangkok Post on Sunday quoted Thai army task force commander Major-General Nakorn Sripetchphand as saying a massive buildup of troops and heavy weapons had begun, with the dry-season assault expected to go ahead in December or January. Nakorn reportedly expressed concern that a new round of fighting with the SSA, which Myanmar accuses Thailand of supporting, could intensify border tensions. "Any cross-border operation would be dealt with in accordance with the army's rules of engagement," he told the daily, stressing that border incursions would not be tolerated. Nam Khur Hsen said hundreds of Myanmar troops were currently deployed in Shan state, but that most were assigned as security to road-repairing projects after damage caused during the rainy season. However, 10 days ago, government soldiers attacked an SSA frontline position located opposite Thailand's Chiang Mai province, she said. "It was minor; I think just psychological warfare from Yangon." Relations between Thailand and Myanmar sank to a new low earlier this year when a Myanmar offensive against the SSA -- one of the few rebel groups still fighting Yangon's rule -- resulted in stray shells landing in Thailand. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Myanmar opposition member claimed
arrested over symbolic hat MAE SOT, Thailand (AP) _ A Myanmar activist has been arrested for making a symbolic gold-plated hat meant as a reminder of the opposition's unrecognized 1990 election victory, travelers arriving at the Thai border said Monday. Shwe Maung of the National League for Democracy party from Mandalay in central Myanmar was arrested Nov. 7 for making the hat, which was to be sent to opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, said travelers from the city who asked not to be identified. The hat, known as 'kha mauk' in Burmese, is a symbol of the National League for Democracy party. The party won a landslide general election victory in 1990, but Myanmar's military rulers never allowed the winning candidates to take office. The traditional kha mauk is made of bamboo, and used for protection against the sun by farmers. But Shwe Maung and other party activists from the Mandalay suburb of Htun Done were making a kha mauk out of copper with gold plating as a gift of support for party leader Suu Kyi. Despite Shwe Maung's arrest, other party members vowed to continue the project, the travelers said. A tape recording said to be from Shwe Maung and other activists, recorded shortly before his arrest, said the symbolic hat was meant to remind people that the NLD won the 1990 general election, and to exhort the military to transfer power to the party. The military refused to allow Parliament to convene after the election, and instead harassed and arrested winning NLD candidates and other party members. Since then the country has been in a political deadlock, and only in late 2000 did the junta start reconciliation talks with Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel peace laureate. However, the military has been reluctant to continue the dialogue, with the talks stalling this year. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bangkok Post -
Monday 25 November 2002
EDITORIAL - Trying to get by without sincerity The military junta ruling Burma is stuck in a particularly cruel and vicious circle. We saw another example of this last week. The United Nations envoy stepped up diplomatic pressure on Rangoon to keep its promises to negotiate for democracy. The generals reached into a literally bottomless supply of political prisoners and released another 115 of these hapless people. This process has been going on for 11 years now. The regime is clearly never going to run out of such prisoners. The current military dictatorship seized control of Burma in 1988 in one of Asia's worst bloodbaths. After killing thousands of Burmese in August of 1988, the regime locked up thousands more. Since then, an unaccountable system has continued to jail peaceful opponents of the regime, and then release them to pacify sensitive but conventional diplomats. This process began in early 1992. After officially lifting martial law, the regime released 500 political prisoners. Because the Rangoon regime refuses to account for its activities to its citizens, no one knows how many prisoners the generals hold on strictly political charges. The world does know however that the junta lies about it and counts on the short memories of the diplomats charged by the United Nations with replacing its harsh regime. Rangoon said last week's promise to release 115 prisoners was the biggest ever. But in the 1992 release, 500 were supposedly set free. The size of such releases is one of many tactics the Rangoon dictators use to avoid discussing their responsibility to the world body _ to negotiate a regime change with democracy leaders. The UN has wisely refrained from setting any preconditions on what form of government Burma should have after the dictatorship. That is up to the Burmese. What a shame the generals refuse to allow them to choose. It is appalling in this year 2002 that Burma holds any political prisoners. Many of those still locked up are members of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy. Their crime was to win election to parliament in 1990. That occurred in stunningly honest elections run by the generals in order to identify their political enemies, and to deal with them. But it is not difficult to go to jail for political reasons in Burma. Three weeks ago, law student Thet Naung Soe received a 14-year prison sentence for _ ironically? _ calling publicly and peacefully for the release of political prisoners. The promise last week to release 115 political prisoners represents little. It digs only casually into the vast store of people to release. By the lowest of estimates by the UN, Burma holds 1,200 to 1,500 such unfortunate people. Amnesty International believes there are 1,500 to 2,000. Ms Suu Kyi believes more than 2,000 are held, including many locked into their homes, as she was on three different occasions. The Burmese regime has many responsibilities it fails to meet. It has taken no discernible action to stop its drug trafficking Wa allies from soiling and eviscerating Thai youths and ethics. It cows its people rather than protect them, and fosters a huge, seething unrest that threatens major internal violence once again. Burma has most spectacularly, and most importantly, failed its promises and responsibility to be a civilised and responsible member of the world community. The United Nations has charged a special envoy and a human rights office with convincing Rangoon to negotiate a peaceful change of political system. Burma promised to participate and broke its promise. Rangoon's actions threaten regional and world instability. Last month, Europe promised to punish Asean economically if Burma refuses to negotiate with democratic forces next year. Thailand must join the world in putting forceful diplomatic pressure on Burma to act responsibly or pay the price of other recalcitrant, unsociable regimes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crime cases in Myanmar
increase
YANGON, Nov. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- The number of crime cases in Myanmar, especially the international-organized ones, has increased, said the local weekly Myanmar Times Monday. Quoting a high-ranking Myanmar police officer, the report said the Myanmar authorities exposed 84 human trafficking cases, involving 248 women and 23 children, from 1999 to the end of October this year. These cases had brought about the conviction of 120 traffickers receiving prison terms of ranging from three years to the maximum penalty of 14 years. According to the report, there was a sharp rise in human trafficking cases from eight in 1999 to 37 in the first ten months of this year. The report added that there were many more unexposed cases involving job seekers who were being exploited in neighboring countries. According to the police sources, 5,722 Myanmar illegal workers including 2,156 women had returned from Thailand in the nine months to the end of October this year. In February this year, Myanmar formed a leading committee, headed by the first secretary of the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council, General Khin Nyunt, on receiving illegal Myanmar workers in Thailand. It opened a reception camp in its border town of Myawaddy then for the returnees. It was reported that there are 140,000 Myanmar refugees and more than 400,000 Myanmar illegal immigrants in Thailand. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Democratic Voice of
Burma
Aung San Suu Kyi arrives Mu-se
border town, meets party members
Text of report by Burmese opposition radio on 24 November It has been learned that Burma's democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, NLD [National League for Democracy] Vice-Chairman U Tin Oo, and NLD members have arrived at Mu-se, a China-Burma border town, today. On the way from Lashio to Mu-se they stopped for a while at Kutkai. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her entourage arrived Kutkai about 1100 [0430 gmt] where she met and held talks with Kutkai Township NLD members and the local people. According to Chinese border sources, they arrived at Mu-se around 1300 and held talks with township NLD members. Regarding Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's trip NLD spokesperson U Lwin told the following to DVB [Democratic Voice of Burma]. [U Lwin - recording] They [Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and party] departed Lashio this morning and of course they had to pass Hsenwi and Kutkai. They did not stop there but proceeded straight through to Mu-se. They had already had their lunch at Mu-se. They are resting and would leave in the afternoon.They would come back to Lashio and would stay the night there. [End of recording] Although Daw Aung San Suu Kyi met only with the township NLD members in Kutkai and Mu-se, she delivered an address to the multitude of people that warmly welcomed her in Lashio. Since the youth cordially greeted Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, she pegged her speech to the education of the youth. U Lwin explained Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's speech in Lashio targeted towards the youth. [U Lwin - recording] She said she came to meet the people and remarked that she would only know the true situation when she sees them. She said it is time for all the national races to be united. She said since she saw the youth she wanted to talk a little about youth education. It is definite the youth must pursue education but when you talk about education it must be of high standard, it must be widespread among the people, and it should be affordable. The economy will become high grade only when education is of a high standard. Politics means the people should know about their country. Not other countries but your own country. Only when you know the condition of your country then only you can shape its future. She said in such a case you should have courage and you need to have courage. Fear means your own mind is frightening you. [End of recording] According to unconfirmed reports, prior to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and party's arrival Kutkai Township NLD members erected a welcoming banner and the NLD township office signboard. Since the authorities ordered them to take down the banner and signboard, they had to take them down before Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's arrival. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and party will arrived back at Lashio tonight and will proceed to Hsipaw tomorrow. They will stay overnight at Maymyo on their return from Hsipaw. The following morning, Tuesday [26 November], Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will go to Mandalay and she is expected to pay homage to renowned journalist Ludu Daw Ahmar. Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 24 Nov 02 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
|