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BURMA RELATED NEWS
- December 03, 2002.
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HEADLINES
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Reuters - Thai museum catalogues
opium dreams and nightmares
Asia Pulse - Indonesia Helps Control
75% of World Rubber Output: Association
AFP - Russia may be seeking full
dialogue role in ASEAN security forum
Asian Tribune - Investigation
on Licence to Rape ? A ploy crumbles under the very feet of the Army
Generals.
Mizzima - Changes in the
military reigned Myanmar
Bkk Post - Rangoon agrees
to join in Salween dam
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday December 3, 11:31 AM Thai museum catalogues opium dreams and nightmares By Chris Johnson CHIANG SAEN, Thailand (Reuters) - First reactions to Thailand's giant new opium museum in the Golden Triangle are confused: pleasant surprise at cool air after the intense tropical heat, but then disorientation, shock, even fear. Visitors enter the 40-hectare complex through a long, dark, mist-filled tunnel, which winds into the base of a hill past bas-reliefs of distorted human figures before emerging suddenly into bright sunlight in front of a field of poppies. "This is the mystery, the contradiction of opium," says Charles Mehl, head of research for the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, which has just completed the $10 million museum. "Opium is one of the very best drugs we have for treating chronic pain and bringing relief from suffering. But it can also be one of the worst, destroying lives if it is used for recreation or exploited for commercial gain." Built into a hillside by the Mekong River on the northern tip of Thailand, the museum lies at the heart of the Golden Triangle. Chiang Saen town is about 750 km north of Bangkok, overlooking the junction of the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. The Golden Triangle is a largely lawless region that last year produced more opium and heroin than Afghanistan and more synthetic stimulant pills than all the rest of the laboratories in Southeast Asia put together, drugs agencies say. TRIPPERS Western backpackers and busloads of other day-trippers pour daily into the picturesque Chiang Saen district, in Chiang Rai province, to buy souvenirs on the Mekong's banks. Some try illicit puffs on opium pipes in nearby villages. The museum, which will open officially early next year, aims to exploit this tourist business, luring the curious with the promise of entertainment and impressive audio-visual displays in English and Thai. But as visitors progress down the labyrinthine corridors that stretch across three floors, the warnings against narcotic abuse gradually become more powerful. "People think at first they know what they will see -- a quaint presentation about hilltribes growing opium. But that's only a small part of the story," said Mehl. Mae Fah Luang has fought a 15-year battle against drug-taking and addiction in Chiang Rai province, establishing what the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says is probably the best anti-drugs crop-substitution programme in Asia. Lessons from that programme, which has succeeded in the nearby Thai mountains of Doi Tung in part by offering farmers of opium poppies a better income from alternative crops such as coffee and macadamia nuts, are built into the museum. But it also offers a thorough lesson in the history of opium, its derivatives such as heroin and laudanum, and explains how the drugs trade has helped change the world for hundreds of years. TRAGEDY AND TRAUMA Thought to have been used first along the coast of the Mediterranean, archaeologists say the earliest evidence of opium was found in Switzerland dating from the Neolithic period. It was a popular sedative in ancient Egypt and Greece before spreading to northern Europe and Asia and becoming a key commodity that was exchanged for Chinese tea and other spices by the British and Dutch. With 360-degree special effects, the museum traces the 19th century opium wars between Britain and China before looking at prohibition in the 20th century and official efforts, often spectacularly unsuccessful, to stop the use of illegal drugs. The museum asks visitors to decide themselves what could be the best approach to narcotics -- prohibition, drug eradication schemes, decriminalisation or legalisation -- but it pulls no punches on the tragedy and trauma inflicted by drugs on abusers. A final, heart-wrenching gallery recounts the powerful true stories of victims of drug abuse around the world through intimate video testimonies by their families. "The feelings which develop through a visit to the museum change towards the very end when there is evidence of the death and suffering that drug abuse produces," said Antonio Maria Costa, executive director of the Vienna-based UNODC. "The end message is very strong, namely that use of drugs should be fought. Society has to use all its instruments, which means law enforcement for sure, but not only law enforcement. Prevention and treatment are equally important." ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday December 2, 1:50 PM
Indonesia Helps Control 75% of World Rubber Output: Association BENGKULU, Dec 2 Asia Pulse - Indonesia along with Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and Vietnam controlled some 75 per cent of the world's rubber output. "We will continue boosting our rubber production and the planting of high-quality rubber seedlings such as the result of cloning from the latex research centre in four areas in Indonesia," general chairman of the Indonesian Rubber Producers Association (Gabkindo) H. Asril Sutan Amir said at the weekend. According to Amir, rubber is one of Indonesia's leading export commodities now and in the future, and contributed a great deal of foreign exchange revenue to the state's coffers. While the current price of the commodity stands at only 80 US cents per kg, the rubber producing countries will try to raise the price to US$1 per kg. He said Indonesia's rubber output reached 1.5 million metric tons per year, 1.4 million metric tons exported to various countries which produce Pirelli, Good Year and Michelin tyres. He also said that while Indonesia is one of the world's leading rubber producers, the life of the rubber growers is still deplorable as the result of their lack of knowledge and skills in rubber production. Indonesian rubber, especially that produced by the farmers, is still low in quality, forcing the factories to operate somewhat longer which caused a lower price of the commodity. "Gabkindo will try to improve the rubber growers' knowledge and skills, especially under partnership programs, in the hope it will enable them to promote the quality and quantity of the rubber they are supplying to the mills," he said. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russia may be seeking full
dialogue role in ASEAN security forum
BEIJING, Dec 3 (AFP) - China and Russia were seeking closer ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a Chinese official said Tuesday, in a possible effort to seek a full dialogue role for Moscow in the ASEAN regional forum (ARF). China and Russia "restated a willingness to maintain close consultations within the ASEAN Regional Forum framework," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said. "China is willing to give the necessary assistance to Russia in establishing communication with this mechanism in areas of common concern." Liu was responding to questions concerning a joint Sino-Russian declaration signed Monday by presidents Vladimir Putin and Jiang Zemin which specifically cited the ARF's importance to security in the Asian Pacific region. The forum is a "10 plus three" mechanism that refers to an ongoing security dialogue between the 10 ASEAN members plus China, Japan and South Korea. "Russia also recognized the importance of the mechanism of the 10 plus three," Liu said when asked if China supported Russian participation in the grouping. He refused to say that Russia was seeking a full role in ARF or to clarify what kind of assistance China was prepared to offer. "I have nothing to add on this at present," Liu said. ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. In Monday's declaration, Moscow and Beijing said ASEAN "has played a constructive role in establishing a new form of state-to-state relationship in the Asian Pacific region and believe that the ARF is an effective mechanism for political dialogue on regional issues." ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asian Tribune
Date : 2002-12-03 Investigation on Licence to Rape ? A ploy crumbles under the very feet of the Army Generals. by K.T. Rajasingham Bangkok, Dec. 03: The Burmese (Myanmar) Governments propaganda ploy on the allegation of the investigation of rape charges in the Shan state has fizzled out. In the height of the criticism pouring in against those barbaric acts of the Burmese soldiers for mercilessly raping women in the Shan state, the military government was forced to make amends by ordering some form of investigation. But their move failed miserably. When this writer made a field survey of this most heart-wrenching issue of rape and destruction of women, the results clearly showed that the Burmese Generals? ploy has crumbled into pieces under their very own feet. "As far as I know, the State and Peace Development Council (SPDC) is very eager to get the support from a credible international organisation proving the claims of rapes are not true. They have invited Professor Sergio Pinheiro to investigate this, but got denial of him based on many reasons. Then, they claimed that a International Committee fro Red Cross (ICRC) delegation came and already left for Shan State to make inquiry on this issue. But ICRC rejected this claim saying it do not have the mandate to do so,? wrote Sann Aung, Minister of the Prime Minister?s Office (East) in the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB ? a government in exile), to an e-mail inquiry of this writer. Earlier, this writer wrote to Sann Aung, ?Asian Tribune understand that the Burmese Government in Rangoon has arranged and dispatched a Red Cross delegation to the North-Eastern Shan State, to investigate allegations that, Burmese soldiers raped local women to retaliate against Shan insurgents. I wish to have your comment.? In reply to the inquiry, Sann Aung wrote back: ?Earlier, SPDC said they have some misunderstanding on the ICRC visit to Shan State saying what they said before is not true.? The e-mail communication continues: ?In the month of August and September, the SPDC formed and sent three investigation teams to Shan state for these rape cases and all reported back that all the claims were only lies with the intention of defaming the Military? Sann Aung added: ?But they found out they cannot get the international recognition of these reports. So, not they are trying restlessly to get recognition from credible international organisations such as UN or ICRC to support their claims. > He emphasized in his letter: ?We believed that in the current situation of no rule of law, there can be no proper investigation done by any organisation on these claims of rapes (I mean inside Burma). No one will dare enough to testify against the military.?,br> San Aung recalled another tragic incident: ?Here, I remembered in 2000, about ten Shan people were executed by military for their refusal to provide forced labor saying there was already an order by SPDC not to use forced labor. The ILO raised the issue with SPDC, which rejected that the accusation is groundless. This writer interviewed several ordinary Burmese in Thailand about the possibility of conducting any investigation regarding the charges of rape against the Burmese soldiers in the Shan state. Al most all in unanimity told that, this is something practically impossible. A Burmese as well as a Shan, who is recognised as a refugee with the UNHCR office in Bangkok said, ? How can the innocent rape victims, the Shan women and girls come forward to give witness where there is no protection for them? Already most of the Shan women are in the hiding. It may be possible only in a third country and not inside Burma, where the Army rule the roost.? A former political prisoner and a writer Zin Linn, in his communication wrote: ?According to my point of view, none of the enquiry into '' Licence to Rape '' cannot find the truth under the military regime. All victims convinced that if they try to expose the truth, the army will not allow them to breathe freely any longer, nor their relatives. So the fundamental question is lack of democracy, freedom and justice. He added: ?If there is freedom of press to some extent, then the truth might appear through a narrow corner. But the press had been completely cracked down for the past 40 years. Then, it is common thing in Burma that no one dares to whisper the abuse of power by the soldiers. That?s why Burmese people seriously hope for political reforms and the restoration of the democratic form of government. To unfold the rape cases of Shan women, there must be a genuine Constitution where basic human freedom enshrined, which should guarantee safe and security for every citizen. And the Constitution, the supreme law of the land must guarantee that no one is above the law. Earlier, Burmese Government in one of its propaganda ploy announced in the first week of November that, a delegation of the International Red Cross Committee has gone to Shan state to investigate allegations that Burmese soldiers raped local women to retaliate against Shan insurgents. The news item was reported under the headlines ?Red Cross in Burma to probe rape claims? and was dated 6 November According to this Reuter agency news item: The red Cross delegation left Rangoon on Saturday at the invitation of the Government to report fully on the humanitarian situation and allegation of systematic rape, said government statement issued late on Monday. ? Violence against women is not now, nor has its ever been a policy or practice of our government,? the statement quoted government spokesman Hla Min as saying. The news item added: ?This is written into laws of our country, and it applies equally to all members of the defence forces? Hla Min said. The statement said that the invitation to the International Committee Red Cross was extended in response to a suggestion by a UN human rights envoy who ended a 12-day visit to the country last month to assess the situation. The envoy Sergio Pinheiro had turned down a government invitation to visit Shan state to investigate the allegations saying he did not have enough time for a through probe. However he urged the junta to allow Red Cross teams access to all conflict areas to dispel suspicions about the Government conduct. "We will ensure the ICRC team has the resources and the cooperation they need for a through investigation to allegation we know to be false,? the Junta statement said. The rape allegations were made in a June 2002, report by two Thai based Shan human rights groups, which claimed to document 173 cases of rape and sexual violence against Shan girls and women by Burmese troops - Licence to Rape: An Earth Shattering Revelation - Exclusive Interview The report received widespread publicity in July when the US Department of State said it took the allegation seriously. The Shan are one of the several ethnic minorities seeking autonomy from Burma?s central government. Armed Shan guerilla frequently battle government troops. In the meanwhile International Committee of the Red Cross Myanmar : Expansion of ICRC activities The ICRIC news report dated 8-Nov-2002, is as follows: With the government's consent, the head of the ICRC delegation in Myanmar is currently touring the border areas of Shan state in order to meet with the local authorities and the civilian population and to discuss with them the possibility of expanding ICRC protection and assistance activities in those areas. "The ICRC delegation in Myanmar has been carrying out regular visits to detainees since 1999. Over the years, it has engaged in constructive dialogue designed to build up a relationship of trust with the authorities, and it is now seeking to expand its activities to include other target groups. With this in mind, it has asked for permission to increase its presence in the country so that it can assess the overall humanitarian situation. If its request is granted, it will regularly report its findings to the authorities on a confidential basis with a view to working out appropriate measures to ensure the protection and security of the civilian population. It should be noted that, by virtue of its mandate, the ICRC cannot investigate the allegations recently made in the report License to Rape. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Changes in the military
reigned Myanmar
Mizzima News December 3, 2002: A new way of life is emerging for those willing/able to tolerate the ruling military regime in Myanmar (Burma), State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). I use the term emerging because, in the eyes of a foreign visitor, life in the central SPDC controlled regions has an entirely new face compared with just 6 years ago. In 1996 tourism in Burma became one of a multitude of new priorities for the SPDC. 1996 was ?Visit Myanmar Year?; it was also the year Daw Aung Sang Su Kyi was, for a short time, ?released? from house arrest. A wave of Chinese business and influence swept in on the heels of various cease-fire agreements, most notably from the KIA, which formerly controlled and protected much of the Sino-Burma border. The repercussions these decisions made are glaringly apparent in the new face of life. No longer are Burma?s central cities buzzing quietly with bicycles and ox carts; they are roaring with second-hand Japanese and Chinese imports. Rangoon's buildings are not the majestic colonial buildings or small houses and apartment blocks, but screeching concrete monoliths already stained and faded by pollution and ill-repair. More consumer goods are available and pants are taking the place of the ubiquitous longie on a tiny, but significant few, urbanites. Even satellite TV, including world news, is available if you can afford the US$ 200 per month (even NLD member can enjoy this luxury). As far as freedom of speech is concerned it seems that, while opposition to the SPDC mandate is not officially accepted, people are less intimidated compared with six years ago. In the past it was difficult to elicit a negative word about the government or their policies, which, in the areas I visited, consisted of forced relocation and forced labor without compensation. In what seem like a significant change in attitude people voiced grievances about the SPDC and their policies. For instance, in the Bagan Township the majority of people were relocated without compensation for their previous homes in two moves ordered by the SPDC, a policy many people seemed to disagree with. However, in 1996 I heard only one whispered comment about the free labor that each family had to provide once each month in the government fields. This is not to say that freedom reigns in today's Burma, only that relative to some six years ago the fear of retaliation by SPDC had subsided. The old hand painted propaganda billboards stating "The People's Desire" still conspicuously dot the roadsides and insides of government offices and the "New Light of Burma" still spouts the same ridiculously one sided news, but a new kind of roadside sign has made its mark. Big red and white signs now mark the presence of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) offices, many of which have reopened in the past few years. According to some NLD members, arrests of especially vocal activists are still occurring, even though some democracy activists are being released from imprisonment. It is also tacitly understood that the NLD township offices cannot recruit new members or accept public donations. Small scale parades and feasts by the small number of official NLD members, however, are tolerated. In comparison to the Bagan township office, secrecy is still tantamount at the NLD headquarters in Rangoon as access is somewhat restricted to outsiders and members were very guarded in their conduct with outsiders. Great changes have occurred, some good some bad (depending on your definition of "good"), but the important thing is that substantial changes have occurred. And changes in a historically intractable situation are sure to shake things up; where they come down has yet to been seen. (The author is a foreign tourist who visited Burma twice: in 1996 and in 2002.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bangkok Post - Tuesday 03 December
2002
Rangoon agrees to join in Salween dam But site location remains thorny issue Post reporters Burma has agreed in principle to join Thailand in a US$5.5-billion hydro-power dam on the Salween River, but opinions remain split over the location of the project. Energy Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana said he had instructed Sitthiporn Rattanopas, governor of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), to study the possibility of constructing the power plant on the Thai side. Once a site was found, the minister said he might visit his Burmese counterparts to further discuss the possible joint investment in the project. Mr Sitthiporn, who discussed the proposal with a senior Burmese official during his recent trip to the country, said Rangoon wanted the 3,000-megawatt power plant to be built in Tha Sang district in Burma. However, Egat wanted the plant to be built on the Thai side, in Mae Sariang district of Mae Hong Son. The authority argued it would be easier to negotiate for loans and persuade investors if the project was on Thai soil. He said the final decision on the project would hinge on discussions between the leaders of the two countries. Mr Sitthiporn said he had also proposed the possibility of Rangoon hiring Egat to generate power using natural gas from the Yadana and Yetagun fields off the coast of Burma, to be delivered through PTT Plc's pipeline. Burma would benefit from the proposal, as the country could consume power at lower prices because fuel costs would be negligible and Rangoon did not need to invest in a power plant. ``Although there remains a difference over the suitable location of the hydro-power project, it should be regarded a good starting point for the two countries to make use of natural resources by jointly generating power.'' Egat officials plan to visit China on Thursday to observe hydro-power generation from the country's largest dam. They will gather information from the study tour and apply it to the Salween project. Egat expected the Salween power project, if built on the Thai side, would enable the country to enjoy a lower price of power, at 0.80 satang per unit, compared with a unit price of 1.60 satang for power purchased from two hydro-power plants in Laos. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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