The killings attributed to the
police were all in self-defence, he added. The police have previously said the
other drug-related killings were due to inter-gang warfare.
Pongsapat said more than 14
million pills of stimulant methamphetamine and $24 million (15 million pounds)
in assets belonging to drugs suspects had been confiscated during the campaign.
The Financial Times
US
retailers back import ban on
Burma
By Edward Alden in
Washington
Published:
April 15 2003 19:12
US clothing makers and
retailers announced on Tuesday their support for an "immediate and total ban" on
all imports from
Burma, a
decision that could cripple one of the Burmese regime's largest sources of
foreign currency earnings.
The American Apparel and
Footwear Association called on the
US government to
declare an import ban because of continued human rights violations in
Burma, and said
the issue "should be met with condemnation not only from the international
public community but from private industry as well".
The move follows decisions
over the past year by more than 40 of the largest
US clothing
sellers to end their purchases of apparel made in
Burma. May
Department Stores, which owns chains such as Hecht's and Lord & Taylor,
became the latest company to do so last month, following decisions by groups
such as Wal-Mart and Federated Department Stores, which owns Macy's and
Bloomingdales.
The actions on
Burma are the
strongest example yet of how pressure from anti-sweatshop and other human rights
activists has forced retailers to change their buying practices even while
governments have continued to encourage trade.
In 2000, the International
Labour Organisation called on countries to consider new sanctions against
Burma, urging
members to ensure that their trade with
Burma did not
"perpetuate the system of forced or compulsory labour in that
country".
But the ILO's call resulted in
no new measures against
Burma, despite a
deterioration in its human rights record. Lorne Craner, assistant secretary of
state for human rights, said in February the Burmese regime's "disregard for
human rights and democracy extends to every conceivable category of
violation".
The
US government
imposed a ban on
US investment in
Burma in 1997,
but the US
remains one of the country's five largest trading partners. From 1994 to 2000
apparel exports to the
US grew by 800
per cent, accounting for about 65 per cent of
Burma's clothing
exports. While the
US
administration says it supports sanctions against
Burma, an
outright ban on trade would probably fall foul of World Trade Organisation
rules, because
Burma remains a
WTO member.
Some members of the US
Congress have called for a ban on trade with
Burma, but the
measure has yet to be put to a vote.
Despite
Washington's reluctance, actions
by US retailers have hampered trade with
Burma. Burmese
clothing exports to the
US dropped 27
per cent, from $411m to $303m (?280m, £193m), between 2001 and 2002.
--------------------------------------------------------------
VOA News
Burma Welcomes Political
Dialogue, Encourages Suu Kyi to Travel in Country
Ron
Corben
Bangkok
15 Apr 2003, 12:04
UTC
Burma's military government says it is welcomes
meaningful political dialogue, a day after the European Union toughened
sanctions because of slow progress in talks between the generals and the
repressed democratic opposition.
Burma's leaders issued a
statement encouraging pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to keep traveling
around the country and denying she was harassed on her latest trip.
Aung San Suu Kyi went to Chin State this month to meet with
members of her National League for Democracy Party. It was part of a series of
trips around the country since May, when she was released from her latest house
arrest. She was confined for previously trying to leave the capital.
The military said it has "complete trust" in Aung San Suu Kyi's
commitment to the smooth and stable development of Burma and wants meaningful
dialogue.
The statement did not address new EU sanctions imposed on
Burma for a lack of progress in talks on the political transition from military
rule.
Those talks began behind closed doors in October 2000 with
U.N. encouragement. There has been progress in easing restrictions on the NLD,
but not much in political substance.
EU foreign ministers extended
and toughened sanctions Monday, saying they found no credible evidence why a
clear timetable for the return to democracy had failed to materialize in these
talks.
The EU measures include extending of the numbers on a visa
blacklist and freezing assets of key members of the military
government.
Political science professor Chaiyachoke Chulasiriwong,
at Thailand's Chulalongkorn University, said the sanctions have had an impact on
the Burmese government and the new sanctions will add to it.
"To
an extent I do believe so [that sanctions are effective]. Because when the
economy of Burma became very bad and it needs a lot of investment, a little help
from anywhere would be a great help to the Burmese. Therefore the sanctions in a
way can make some sort of difference," he said.
The European Union
and the United States have had tough sanctions in place for years in a bid to
force the military to give up more than 40 years of rule. Sanctions were
strengthened after the NLD won 1990 elections by a landslide, but was stopped
from taking power.
--------------------------------------------------------------
BBC News -
UK warns Burmese
regime
By Larry Jagan
BBC Burma
analyst
A senior British minister has
urged the Burmese regime to immediately start substantive political talks with
the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The appeal came in a statement
issued by the Foreign Office minister, Mike O'Brien, a day after the European
Union foreign ministers had agreed to increase EU sanctions against
Rangoon because of the failure of
the military government to demonstrate their commitment to the dialogue process
in the past six months.
The EU, though, has told the
generals that they are going to delay their implementation for six months to
allow Rangoon time to take some
significant steps towards national reconciliation.
Mr O'Brien has warned the
Burmese regime that the EU continues to regard rapid political, economic and
humanitarian change in the country as a high priority.
In his press statement issued
on Tuesday, he stressed the EU's decision to strengthen sanctions against
Rangoon reflects the European
Community's concern to support the dialogue process.
General Than Shwe now has a
clear choice: Either to be remembered for his role in ensuring
Burma has a
prosperous and peaceful future or collapse into ruin, he told the BBC.
Sanctions threat
The EU is now committed to
automatically increasing economic sanctions against
Rangoon if there is no substantial
progress in the dialogue process within the next six months.
These would involve extending
the visa ban against Burmese military officers and government ministers, and
broadening the scope of those members of the regime whose assets could be
frozen.
Privately, senior EU officials
say this could include key members of the pro-government organisation the USDA
(Union Solidarity Development Association), which has been in the forefront of
the harassment campaigns against the opposition leader when she has travelled
outside Rangoon.
The EU resolution also said it
will favourably consider substantial increases in financial aid to
Burma -
multi-laterally and bilaterally - for key areas like Aids, health and education
if there is political progress, though there is no mention of how much that
might be.
The EU has decided to continue
to use a forthcoming high-level visit to
Rangoon as the means of assessing
whether there has been any progress.
The EU's message to
Burma is very
clear: The community remains very concerned about developments in
Burma, and it is
now in the hands of the country's top generals if they want to avoid tougher
sanctions being implemented within the next few months if the dialogue process
remains stalled.
--------------------------------------------------------------
US
manufacturers want Burma imports ban
16/04/2003 10:21:01 |
ABC Radio Australia News
A major US
industry group has called on the government to ban clothing and footwear imports
from Burma.
The American Association of Apparel and Footwear
Manufacturers wants the ban because of over human rights
concerns.
The association counts nearly 1,000 firms on its
membership lists, including some major companies.
Burma's clothing
exports has been a key target of supporters of democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi.
A dissident group, the Free Burma Coalition welcomed the move
saying no companies, should profit from forced labour in
Burma.
More than 40 American companies, have pledged to avoid
Burmese products because of rights violations and forced labour.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Asian Tribune
Date : 2003-04-16
EU
Council Conclusions on the Common Position on
Burma
London, April 15: Forein and Commonwealth
Minister(FCO) Minister Mike O'Brien gave his strong support on 15 April for the
new EU Common Position on Burma which was announced at the EU Council of
Ministers in Luxembourg.
Commenting on the joint announcement Mike
O'Brien said:
'The EU has given the Burmese authorities every
opportunity to demonstrate their intention to undertake reform and a transition
to civilian rule in Burma. Their action taken to date has had neither the
substance nor the sense of urgency required to address Burma's many problems.
'The Burmese authorities should be in no doubt about the continued
importance the EU attaches to rapid political, economic and humanitarian change
in Burma. The EU has strengthened its Common Position. It places the onus firmly
on Senior General Than Shwe to take action now on national reconciliation,
respect for human rights and democracy in Burma. It reaffirms the European
Union's commitment to supporting a transition to civilian rule, to helping
support the ordinary people of Burma who suffer most under the current rule of
the military, and to maintaining and increasing pressure on the military regime
and those who frustrate Burma's transition to democracy. I call upon the Burmese
authorities to enter immediately into substantive dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi and the democratic parties of Burma. They should make full use of the good
offices of the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Burma, Tan
Sri Razali Ismail.
'Senior General Than Shwe faces a clear choice.
He could choose to be remembered as a person who helped move Burma towards
democracy, or he could associate himself with the failed policies of the past
that have been ruinous for the people.'
Earlier, the General
Affairs External Relations Council (GAERC) met at Luxembourg on 14
April.
The revised Common Position entails a broadening and
strengthening of the assets freeze and travel ban measures, and a further
tightening of the arms embargo. It also includes a commitment to consider
further targeted economic sanctions. The new measures will not be implemented
immediately but, if substantive progress is not made on the key issues of the
national reconciliation process, the EU will then implement the strengthened
sanctions on or before October 29, 2003.
The text of the EU Council
Conclusions on the Common Position is as follows:
1. The European
Union has been following events in Burma/Myanmar with careful attention and
continuing concern. The Council has previously expressed its willingness to
support a substantive process of national reconciliation, leading to the
restoration of a democratic order and greater respect for human rights in
Burma/Myanmar.
2. The European Union shares the view of a number of
international partners that the best interests of the people of Burma/Myanmar
continue to be served in current circumstances by a balanced approach of
carefully calibrated sanctions towards those responsible for obstruction of
reform and progress, together with significant humanitarian support to ensure
that the ordinary people of Burma/Myanmar suffer as little as possible as a
result of the damaging policies of their government.
3. The Council
welcomes positive developments that occurred after the last strengthening of
sanctions imposed in April 2000 such as:
- The release from de
facto house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in May 2002 and the freedom of
movement within the country enjoyed by the leader of the national league for
democracy;
- The release from prison of a number of persons
detained for political activities;
- The visits to Myanmar by the
special envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Myanmar and the special rapporteur
on the situation of human rights in Myanmar during the past year and the
cooperation extended to them by the Government of Myanmar. However, the Council
expresses concern over the serious breach of trust resulting from the placing of
listening devices the room used by the special rapporteur to interview political
prisoners;
- The continued cooperation with the international
committee of the Red Cross and the slight improvement in the conditions of
detention;
- The recent visit by an Amnesty International
delegation to Myanmar;
- The appointment of an ILO liaison
officer;
- The growing awareness of the government of the need to
combat the production of opium in Myanmar;
- The dissemination of
human rights standards for public officials and some NGOs and ethnic groups
through a series of human rights workshops, but stresses that such activities
need to lead also to concrete efforts to improve the human rights situation on
the ground.
4. At the same time the Council firmly states that
these steps are by far not sufficient to address the economic, humanitarian and
political problems that afflict the country. In particular the Council expresses
its grave concern about:
- The ongoing serious violation of human
rights, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, of the
people of Burma/Myanmar;
- The continued refusal of the government
to enter into a genuine political dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other
democratic leaders; the harassment and attempted intimidation of Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi and opposition activists by the authorities of Myanmar, supported by the
union solidarity development association (USDA);
- The practice of
extrajudicial killings; reports of rapes and other forms of sexual violence
persistently carried out by members of the armed forces; torture; renewed
instances of political arrests and continuing detentions, including of prisoners
whose sentences have expired: systematic use of child soldiers:
-
The violations of human rights suffered particularly by persons belonging to
ethnic minorities, women and children, especially in non-ceasefire
areas;
- The situation of the large number of internally displaced
persons and the flow of refugees to neighbouring countries;
- The
ever-increasing impact of the human immunodeficiency virus/ acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) on the population of Burma/Myanmar; and,
despite the beginning of an increased awareness, the still insufficient response
of the Myanmar authorities to the progressively more critical HIV/AIDS situation
in Myanmar.
5. These continuing concerns have caused the Council to
roll over the existing sanctions for 12 months. The Council also agreed to
extend the list of persons subject to the visa ban and the freeze of assets, to
further amend and strengthen the arms embargo and to implement this decision on
or before 29 October 2003, unless the Council decided otherwise.
6.
The Council can find no credible reason to account for the failure of political
will on behalf of the Burma/Myanmar authorities to agree to a definitive
timetable for the return to democracy. Many of the essential elements required
for a substantive process of national reconciliation, respect for human rights
and democracy are in place. The ceasefires agreed with many of the ethnic
insurgent groups have increased the stability of the country and the Council
notes that other insurgent groups have indicated a willingness to enter into
discussions aimed at ending the armed conflicts. The national league for
democracy and other democratic groups continue to make clear their willingness
to move forward in partnership with the authorities to tackle the economic,
humanitarian and political problems.
7. The European Union fully
supports the attempt by the United Nations Secretary-Generals' special envoy to
Burma, Tan Sri Razali Ismail, to help build confidence and cooperation with all
sections of Burmese society, including with regard to humanitarian assistance
issues. The European Union will continue to give every support and assistance to
Tan Sri Razali Ismail in this regard.
8. The Council stressed its
resolve to intensify contacts with EU dialogue partners in Asia, in particular
China, India, Japan and ASEAN, on how best to support progress on the issues of
good governance, economic reform in Burma/Myanmar.
9. In pursuit of
this approach, the EU will as a first step explain to the Burma/Myanmar
authorities that if substantive progress is not made on the key issues of the
national reconciliation process, namely the commencement of a substantive
dialogue between the authorities, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the democratic
movement, the release of political prisoners, complete freedom of action and
movement for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and a reduction of the violence and human
rights violations in Burma/Myanmar, in particular in the ethnic minority areas,
it will then implement on or before 29 October 2003 measures set out in the
common position.
10. The measures would broaden and strengthen of
the scope of the travel ban and asset freeze to include further members of the
military regime, the military and security forces, the military regime's
economic interests and other individuals, groups, undertakings or entities
associated with the military regime who formulate, implement or benefit from
policies that impede Burma/Myanmar's transition to democracy. At the time of
implementing those measures, the European Union will also consider further
targeted economic measures that may be appropriate, taking into account its
desire not to take measures which impact on the poor in
Burma/Myanmar.
11. The Council stressed the potential reversibility
of existing provisions of the common position. The European Union would react
with speed and goodwill to the irreversible commencement of a substantive
process of democratic reform in Burma/Myanmar and clear commitment to address
human rights concerns. In such a case, the European Union would be ready to
re-evaluate the measures included in the Common Position. Such a process would
make possible new and stronger links between Burma/Myanmar and the European
Union. The European Union is willing to take forward dialogue and cooperation
contributing to the opening or strengthening of any such process.
12. The Council reaffirmed its strong commitment to the
territorial integrity of Burma/Myanmar and stressed the natural role that the
armed forces will have to play in a future democracy in that
country.
13. An exception to the ban on high-level visits will be
made in the common position and a troika delegation will be sent to
Burma/Myanmar at a political level on the condition that it will meet the
appropriate leadership of the country. The troika's mission will be to explain
the view of the European Union to all sectors of Burma/Myanmar society,
including Senior General Than Shwe, the Senior Leadership of the State Peace and
Development Council, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and representatives of the ethnic
minorities, on the necessity of early action to bring about substantive
political, humanitarian and economic change.
14. The Council
reaffirmed its commitment to working with the United Nations and
non-governmental organisations to help address the humanitarian needs of the
people of Burma. To this end, it introduced a provision in the arms embargo to
allow the export of certain military rated equipment for humanitarian use by
United Nations personnel.
15. European Union humanitarian
assistance is not conditional on the political situation. It will continue to be
based on identified needs and the availability of suitable mechanisms for
ensuring that it reaches the most vulnerable part of the population in a
transparent and accountable manner, in collaboration with all interested
parties, including the NLD. European Union assistance is currently provided for
a broad range of programmes including: Child Immunisation, Basic Education,
Water and Sanitation, Reducing Drug Production, Support for Refugees and
Internally Displaced People, and for the Protection Work of the International
Committee of the Red Cross. A particular effort is currently being made to halt
the spread of HIV/AIDS in Burma/Myanmar, with significant funding being provided
for the joint plan of action for HIV/AIDS in Burma/Myanmar that is co-ordinated
by the United Nations and for related programmes being implemented by
non-governmental organisations.
16. The Council also reaffirmed its
firm commitment to supporting the efforts of the International Labour
Organisation to bring about the permanent elimination of the use of forced
labour in Burma and the implementation of the International Labour
Organisation's Article 33 measures that came into force in December 2000. The
Council expressed its concern that forced labour remains widespread and systemic
in Burma/Myanmar. The European Union will continue to attach the utmost
importance to events in Burma/Myanmar.
17. The European Union will
continually assess whether action is taken to address political and human rights
concerns as well as economic reform. In particular the European Union will
assess the extent of humanitarian access given to non-governmental organisations
and the United Nations; progress with the release of political prisoners,
especially the elderly and the sick; continued and improved cooperation with the
United Nations Secretary General's special envoy, the United Nations special
rapporteur for human rights in Burma, and the International Labour Organisation;
substantive political dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and representatives of
the other democratic groups.
18. The situation will be kept under
close and continual review. The Council stands ready to respond quickly and
proportionately to developments in Burma/Myanmar be they positive or negative.
Luxembourg: 14 April 2003 -
--------------------------------------------------------------
Asian Tribune
Date : 2003-04-16
Bumper production of opium in the periphery areas of Burma, across
the Thai border.
Bangkok, April 16: Farmers across
the Thai border have maintained that the season's output of opium from the poppy
fields of sprawling border areas of Burma was greater than any other years in
the past, despite harsh life under the Burmese military rule.
"Even
during Khun Sa days, the total harvest was much less than this year," was the
view held by a native of Namarkti, a village between Homong and Mongton. "There
are 14 villages between the Maekun (in the west) and Soppart (in the east).
Everyone of them has poppy fields, some right at their doorsteps. And all of
them cultivate two crops an year."
According to the villagers,
there are about 30 Chinese bosses, "70% of them Kokang Chinese from Mongton and
30% from Thailand", while the farm hands are Pa-O, Shan and Lisaw. "We have
become so dependent on these pawliangs (bosses) that some of us have already
borrowed money from them to be repaid in the next season," said a villager from
Kiukaw.
One reason for the dependence on these pawliangs (bosses),
was pointed out by another farmer as drug addiction, especially to
methamphetamines. "Many of the villagers use Yaw (methamphetamine) to stimulate
themselves, while working in the poppy fields," he
explained.
According to him, 40% of the local people are addicted
to drugs. The ratio of male and female users is believed to be about three is to
one - 3:1.
The output estimates range from 9-18 tons for the whole
area between the border with Karenni (Kayah) and Mongton, once known as Free
Shan Territory under warlord Khun Sa until he surrendered in 1996. A villager
close to a pawliang said, "Each household produce at least 6 viss (1 viss=1.6
kg), but some as much as 20 viss."
Both Burmese and Wa units in
the area appear to be tolerant to the villagers' drug activities by all
accounts. "On 18 February, a patrol form IB 226 arrived in Kiukaw," told a
farmer, "and we treated them to a generous feast and paid them Baht 18,000 and
4.5 viss of opium as tax. Two days later, they got to Htamwo, where they
received Baht 20,000 and 4 viss of opium. Apart from these two villages, they
let the local militia of Yang Erh from Kawng Teevee to take care of the tax
collection on their behalf."
There are some 30 soldiers from
Infantry Battalion 226 stationed at Sanklarng and about 50 fighters from the
United Wa State Army's 171st Military Region at the nearby Sanzu, both opposite
Maehongson's Pang Mapha District.
Rangoon vowed to cut down the
output of opium by 50% to 400 tons this year. But border observers have noted
that the dramatic decrease of production in the northern Shan State has been
offset by the sharp increase in the south and east.
- Shanland.org
-
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Guardian
BAT hit by Clarke gaffes over
Burma
Terry
Macalister
Wednesday April 16,
2003
Kenneth Clarke, former
chancellor of the exchequer and deputy chairman of British American Tobacco,
yesterday embarrassed the company over
Burma once
again
when he described corporate
partners there as "unattractive" and admitted he could not identify the deputy
managing director.
The gaffes were made at BAT's
annual general meeting in London
where shareholders connected with a Burmese human rights group challenged Mr
Clarke to explain how he could square his company's continued involvement there
with his own views, expressed in a private letter, that it was run by an
"extremely unpleasant regime".
The former chancellor insisted
the quote had been taken out of all context but in a rambling answer to
shareholders effectively repeated the criticism.
"I share the views of the
Burma Action Group that Burma is not one of the most attractive governments in
the world," he said of the regime, which is a 40% part-owner of BAT's Burma
subsidiary, Rothmans of Pall Mall Myanmar.
But he argued that BAT should
not withdraw from
Burma because it
would mean making 500 people redundant, "throwing them and their family into a
state of destitution".
John Jackson, a shareholder
and director of the Burma Campaign in
Britain, then
asked Mr Clarke whether he had investigated the record of the
Burma
government-appointed deputy managing director of BAT's local subsidiary there,
Colonel Aung San.
A heated exchange followed as
Mr Clarke insisted he was only a non-executive director of BAT and could not be
expected to know the names of all the company's staff.
Mr Jackson pointed out that Mr
Clarke, who earned £125,000 from BAT last year for his part-time job, along with
a further £25,000 from British American Racing, was head of the group's
corporate social responsibility committee so might be expected to be on top of
such issues.
The fundamental strategy of
BAT towards
Burma was
spelled out in great detail during an opening speech to shareholders by chairman
Martin Broughton.
"If we tried to judge the
moral acceptability of governments as criteria for doing business, we would
almost certainly find moral objections to a great many countries," he said.
"Our investments are judged on
our proper criteria, balancing all our responsibilities, and not on misdirected
demands by campaign groups."
Mr Broughton earlier said that
2003 would be a "challenging year" for BAT given the
Iraq war,
exchange rate fluctuations and the downbeat state of the economy.
--------------------------------------------------------------