[burmanet2-l] Burma Related News - Jan 13, 2003.

["TIN KYI" <tinkyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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BURMA RELATED NEWS - January  13, 2003.
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HEADLINES
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AP - Bangkok police arrest 13, seize 1.5 million speed pills
AP - Myanmar increases fuel rations for private cars and taxis
AP - Conservation body says Mekong plans could wipe out giant catfish
IB - Myanmar gas export to Kolkata thru' Bangladesh proposed
Bkk Post - Thammarak asks junta to bury hatchet
The Nation - PHUKET SUMMIT: Goh backs PM's budget airline plan
Mizzima - Delhi Looks to Yangon as Dhaka alternative
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Bangkok police arrest 13, seize 1.5 million speed pills

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) _ Police in Bangkok arrested 13 Thais and seized
nearly 1.5 million methamphetamine tablets worth about 30 million baht
(US$678,997) in weekend drug raids, officials said Monday.

Police raided a suspected drug den in a run-down hotel in the outskirts of
Bangkok on Sunday, seizing 500,000 speed pills, a .22 caliber gun, a pipe
containing 0.45 kilograms (1 pound) of C4 plastic explosive and two
detonators, and a car police, Gen. Sant Sarutanond said in a statement.

They arrested four unidentified men and Wutthipong Chuahongkaew, 40, an
alleged stolen vehicle trafficker known for trading cars for drugs in
neighboring Cambodia, he said.

Sant said the raid was planned using information from a previous arrest in
northern Thailand. ``It's a vast network,'' he said.

In another raid, police on Saturday stormed a house in suburban Bangkok,
arresting a couple and confiscating nearly 1 million methamphetamine
tablets.

Separately, three suspected drug dealers were killed Thursday in a shootout
with undercover police in northern Thailand.

The bullet-ridden bodies of Sekan Saelee, Sutham Laoyeepa and a third
unidentified man were found at the scene along with 100,000 methamphetamine
pills, two pistols and a hand grenade, police said.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has vowed to take tough action to root out
drug traffickers, and King Bhumibol Adulyadej reminded the government
recently that methamphetamines pose a serious threat to Thai society.

Thai anti-drug agencies have accused the United Wa State Army, a former
rebel group now allied with the Myanmar government, of flooding Thailand
with methamphetamines.

The Thai military has estimated that at least 1 billion speed tablets will
be smuggled into Thailand from neighboring Myanmar, also known as Burma, in
2003.
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Myanmar increases fuel rations for private cars and taxis

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) _ In an apparent move to curb black-marketeering, the
government has increased the gasoline ration for private cars and taxis,
according to an official announcement posted Monday at gas stations.

Due to limited domestic oil production and tight foreign exchange reserves,
Myanmar suffers from a constant fuel shortage, and gasoline has been sold
under a rationing system in Yangon since 1980. Each car has a ration book to
purchase gasoline at prescribed gas stations.

Operators of both private cars and government cars who do not use their full
quota sell their excess fuel to black market gasoline sellers, from whom
people who need more than their quota buy it at inflated prices.

The situation became more extreme in May 2001, when the quota for private
cars was reduced from three gallons a day to two gallons.

A gallon of gasoline which is bought under the quota system at 180 kyats
(US$0.17 at the free-market rate of exchange, or US$30.00 at the official
rate) can fetch 900 kyats (US$0.83 at the free market exchange rate) on the
black market.

The black market price fell to 800 kyats (US$0.74 at the free market
exchange rate) as news of the ration increase spread.

Under the new regulations _ which according to the official notice took
effect Jan. 6 _ private car owners can purchase 10 extra gallons a month at
700 kyats (US$0.65 at the free market exchange rate) per gallon, in addition
to their 60 gallon monthly quota at the official rate of 180 kyats (US$0.17
at the free market exchange rate) per gallon.

Taxis can draw an extra 20 gallons per month at the higher price in addition
to their normally priced 60 gallon quota.

As has become customary, the increase in the ration wasn't announced in the
official media. Many car owners found out about the increase only when they
went to fill their tanks at their local gas stations.

The reason for the increase was not made known but observers assume it is
intended to curb black market gasoline sales and bring down taxi fares.

Myanmar, once one of the region's important oil producers, produced 32,000
barrels of crude per day in 1979, but production has declined to
approximately 13,000 barrels per day while domestic fuel consumption has
increased.

According to the latest available official figures, there were 107,284 cars
in Yangon in December 1998, three times the total 10 years earlier.

In other economic news, the government announced price increases of 200
percent and more on train and plane fares beginning Jan. 1.

The train fare from the capital of Yangon to Mandalay, the country's second
largest city, was increased to 4,500 kyats from 1,500 kyats (US$4.17 from
$1.39 at the free market exchange rate).

The air fare for the same route was hiked to about 18,000 kyats from 3,000
kyats (US$16.67 from $2.78 at the free market exchange rate).
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Conservation body says Mekong plans could wipe out giant catfish

GLAND, Switzerland (AP) _ Plans by China and other Asian countries to open
the upper Mekong River to large shipping could damage the environment and
even drive a giant catfish species into extinction, the 72-nation World
Conservation Union said Monday.

``The Mekong is home to an estimated 1,200 species and is only surpassed in
richness by the Amazon and Congo rivers,'' said Dr. Jean-Christophe Vie,
deputy coordinator of the species program at the union.

Other environmental organizations have already been campaigning for a halt
to the three-year project and a thorough study of what the consequences
would be if it is realized.

Chinese authorities say the impact will be minimal and even beneficial,
fostering regional trade and helping alleviate poverty.

The union, known as IUCN, is unsure how many species would be affected by
the blasting of rapids, shoals and reefs in opening the river to 500-ton
vessels, Vie said.

But, he added, ``the case of the giant catfish is particularly worrying.''

Vie noted that IUCN has already included the giant catfish as endangered on
its widely published ``red list'' of species threatened with extinction.

``The proposed blasting of its only known spawning site will detrimentally
affect it,'' Vie said. ``There is a serious risk of driving this
extraordinary fish to extinction.''

The catfish may grow to 3 meters (10 feet) in length and weigh up to 250
kilograms (550 pounds).

The agency said it does not oppose using rivers for transportation, but that
the China, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand should conduct a comprehensive study
of the environmental impact before they do any more blasting.

Opponents of the project have rejected as ``fundamentally flawed'' and
speculative a six-month environmental impact study by a group of experts
from the four countries.

An IUCN statement said, ``Taking out the proposed rock outcrops could reduce
water flows in the river during the dry season and significantly affect
downstream fisheries and biodiversity.''

IUCN offered to help the four nations in seeking the best solution in making
the Mekong more navigable.

The countries signed an agreement in 2000 to set up the Mekong Navigation
Channel Improvement Project, running from China's Yunnan province to Luang
Prabang in Laos.
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Independent-Bangladesh, 13 Jan 2003.
Myanmar gas export to Kolkata thru' Bangladesh proposed
UNB, Dhaka

The government plans to privatise the petroleum sector gradually, excepting
the Eastern Refinery, for effective management as its scope of operations is
expanding with newer gas find in the country.

A proposal in this regard has been sent to Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia
for her nod of approval, as she is also the Minister for Energy and Mineral
Resources, said State Minister AKM Mosharraf Hossain.

He disclosed the plan while addressing a regular weekly meeting of Rotary
Club of Metropolitan Dhaka (RCMD) at a city hotel Sunday evening.

Addressing the latest situation about gas export, the State Minister for
Energy and Mineral Resources said a proposal for export of gas by Myanmar
through cross-border Tripura-Bangladesh pipeline to Kolkata was sent to the
Prime Minister just yesterday.

Replying a query from a senior journalist on quick decision on the
much-talked-about gas-export issue, Mosharraf said the matter would be
tabled in the upcoming parliament session, commencing January 26.

About giving the petroleum sector to private management, he said before
1971, the petroleum was in private sector. "We have already privatised mobil
while diesel will be privatised soon," he told the meet.

Rotary Club of Metropolitan Dhaka President Mir Mokshed Ali chaired the
meeting.
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Bangkok Post - Monday 13 January 2003
Thammarak asks junta to bury hatchet

Defence Minister Thammarak Isarangkura na Ayudhya said yesterday Thailand
and Burma should bury the hatchet and seek to rebuild a sincere, long-term
relationship.

Gen Thammarak said he had told Burmese State Peace and Development Council
first secretary Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt the government was sorry about past
conflicts between the two countries, many of which had stemmed from
misunderstandings.

``If we don't forget the past, we will not be able to open a new chapter for
our relations,'' he said.

Gen Thammarak said he believed personal ties and frank discussions could
help solve many bilateral issues.

The minister said he had known Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt since they were both
colonels.
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The Nation
PHUKET SUMMIT: Goh backs PM's budget airline plan
Published on Jan 13, 2003

S'pore 'welcomes' iniative to turn Chiang Mai into hub; invites THAI to play
role

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday won support from his Singaporean
counterpart Goh Chok Tong to set up a budget airline operating from Chiang
Mai and establishing the northern province as an aviation hub.

"Singapore welcomes the idea because if we can play a role in opening up the
Greater Mekong subregion and turn Chiang Mai into a northern aviation hub,
that will be useful," Goh said.

The two countries are exploring all possibilities in establishing the new
airline, he said, but added that investment and ownership details have not
yet been concluded.

Thaksin said the budget airline would promote tourism in the Mekong basin,
which comprises China's Yunnan province, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and
Vietnam.

"I offered Chiang Mai as a hub to support regional tourism," Thaksin said.

Thaksin needed assistance from Singapore to turn his hometown of Chiang Mai
into an international aviation hub after the national flag carrier Thai
Airways showed no signs of expanding on its own.

Thaksin said Singapore offered Thai Airways the option to jointly invest in
a new budget carrier, which would probably run in the red for three to four
years.

Deputy Secretary of the National Economic and Social Development Board
Pornchai Ruchiprapa said a study indicated that Chiang Mai could become a
hub with an investment of only a few billion baht if the government offered
access to a number of carriers.

Thai Airways, which would not enjoy the privileges of a state-run carrier
anymore, must increase its efficiency and upgrade competitiveness, Pornchai
said.

Thaksin and Goh met in Phuket over the weekend to broaden economic
cooperation and exchange views on a wide range of regional issues, including
North Korea's withdrawal from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Thaksin said Singapore also supported his idea to launch an Asian bond
scheme, which will be unveiled in June.

Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said the Bank of Thailand is studying
the details of the plan. Following this, the plan would go to a joint
working group of officials under the framework of Asean plus China, Japan
and South Korea.

The scheme would take one or two years to materialise, Somkid said.
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Mizzima News
Delhi Looks to Yangon as Dhaka alternative
Telegraph
January 13, 2003
By Pranay Sharma

New Delhi Jan. 12: With Bangladesh not too keen on developing economic ties
with India, Myanmar is fast turning into a viable alternative for Delhi to
reach out to Southeast Asian nations for strengthening its trade and
commercial links.

Myanmar's foreign minister U Win Aung will be arriving on January 28 for a
two-days official visit to discuss bilateral and regional issues with the
Indian leadership. His main meeting will be with foreign minister Yashwant
Sinha but he will also hold talks with other senior leaders and officials.

Relation between India and Bangladesh have soured over the past few months
with Delhi accusing Dhaka of doing little to check activities of the ISI and
the Northeast rebels in Bangladesh. The charges were made in public by
deputy Prime Minister LK Advani and then by Sinha.

Dhaka has alleged that Delhi joined the International bandwagon following
reports in the western media about Qaida presence in the country.

Indian officials believe that it will be difficult for Delhi to win Dhaka's
cooperation on economy. Even if attempts are made to normalise ties, it will
take time to iron out differences.

Myanmar has gained importance in this backdrop. However,  Delhi had set
sights on Yangon a few years ago though it was still under military rule.
The junta, which  call itself the State Development and Peace Committee,
also showed interest in developing ties with Delhi at a time when it was
totally isolated by key western powers in protest against the treatment
meted out to Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi by the army rulers.

But the situation is diffident now. Myanmar is part of Asean, one of the
biggest economic groups in Asia, and a number of important countries like
Japan have begun engaging with it. With the army regime also starting
informal talks with Suu Kyi to come to a political settlement in Myanmar,
things have become easier for democratic India.

India has begun constructing the Moreh-Tamu-Kalaymyo road as part of its
programme to develop infrastructure in Myanmar. But Delhi has other
ambitious plans like building a multi-modal communication system in Myanmar
in collaboration with Thailand. The system will give India freer access to
Myanmar's ports that will make it easier for Indian goods to reach Southeast
Asia and also allow investment from that region into the Northeast.

The looming presence of China in Myanmar might be another factor that
spurred the Indian leadership to build ties with Yangon. Not only has
Beijing invested heavily in the country, it has also reportedly set up a
surveillance system in Coco Island to keep track of India's missile testing
at Chandipur.

India also needs Myanmar's cooperation to deal with Northeast rebels as the
militants have found a safe haven there for years. Only recently did Yangon
decide to help Delhi check their activities on its soil.
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