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-------------------------------------------------------------- HEADLINES -------------------------------------------------------------- AFP - 'We pray for Aung Sang Suu Kyi's release':
Philippine leader
AFP - Money-laundering watchdog widens control net
Reuters - Red Cross to see Myanmar
opposition
Reuters - Britain ''appalled'' by Myanmar
detention
AP - Amnesty Calls For Release Of Myanmar Opposition Leader AP - Thai Min: China Backs Proposed Asian Regional Bond
Mkt
VOA News - ICRC Delegation to Meet with Senior Burmese
Opposition Members
Bkk Post - Apology received for `misunderstanding'
Bkk Post - Six countries agree on `roadmap' links
The Nation - BURMA: Asean to push junta for reforms
The Nation - EDITORIAL: Asean on Burma: a repeat
unlikely
BBC News - Inside Burma's Insein jail
The Independent - Burma provokes 'grave
concern'
ST - Asean makes its move
Xinhuanet - Five Asian nations pledge cooperative fight
against drugs
TI - Aung San Suu Kyi's survival under
threat
Asian Tribune - A War for Democracy is the urgent
medication needed for Burma.
Asian Tribune - Burmese forces move towards the rebel
bases.
-------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday June 21, 4:38 PM'We pray for Aung Sang Suu Kyi's release': Philippine leader MANILA, June 21 (AFP) - Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has said that she prayed that Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi would soon be released from government custody. In transcripts of an interview with a local television station, Arroyo said in statements released Saturday that the Philippines had been "a leading proponent" of the recent ASEAN foreign ministers' call for Myanmar's ruling juant to release Aung San Suu Kyi. "We pray for her safe and very quick release from the custody of government forces," Arroyo said. However she did not elaborate on any further action aimed at securing the release of Myanmar's opposition leader. Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party were detained following attacks on her supporters by hundreds of what the United States called "government-affiliated thugs". The Philippines and Myanmar are members of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, along with Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Foreign ministers of ASEAN made an unprecedented call for the early release of Aung San Suu Kyi during this week's gathering of the Asian Regional Forum in Cambodia, breaking their tradition of non-interference in members' internal affairs. -------------------------------------------------------------- Friday June 20, 12:34 PM
Money-laundering watchdog widens control net
BERLIN, June 20 (AFP) - The international body to fight money laundering and terrorism financing agreed Friday to extend existing controls on banks to a much larger circle including casinos, real estate agents and jewelers. At the end of its annual meeting, the more than 30 member countries of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) approved the new guidelines in recognition of the increasingly creative means that criminals use to cover up dubious transactions. "Things in the area of money laundering and financing of terrorism change quickly and you are never sure what is to come next," said current FATF chairman Jochen Sanio, adding that a new review would be launched in five years' time. The new rules marked the second time since the FATF's creation in 1989 that it has overhauled its rules, which must be written into the lawbooks of its member nations. They would not only affect traditional financial institutions but also lawyers, notaries public, accountants and dealers in precious metals and stones -- in essence all professionals who could potentially aid criminals in covering up their money trail. The FATF also outlawed so-called "shell banks," set up purely for the secret transiting of funds, and tighter surveillance of the accounts of "politically exposed persons" such as corrupt dictators. According to various estimates, up to 1.5 trillion dollars (1.3 trillion euros) are laundered each year from industries ranging from the drug trade to arms running. Separately, the FATF praised Ukraine for progress in cleaning up its banking system but gave low marks to Indonesia and Myanmar for their continued infractions. Sanio noted that Ukraine remained on the FATF list for uncooperative countries but that the body had lifted sanctions against it in February due to its passage of major anti-money laundering measures. "The FATF is rather satisfied with the progress made by Ukraine on the basis of its legislation," Sanio said, adding that Kiev must now implement the laws and submit evidence of its progress to the organization. Sanio said Ukraine had "a very good chance" of being wiped from the offenders list within the next 12 months, after Sweden assumes the leadership of FATF from Germany for one year on July 1. FATF removed the Caribbean island state St Vincent and the Grenadines from its list of uncooperative countries. The country had been listed in June 2000 for failing to join international efforts to increase transparency on financial transactions as a means of fighting organized crime and extremist groups. The list now includes nine states and territories: the Cook Islands, Egypt, Guatemala, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nigeria, the Philippines and Ukraine. Russia and South Africa were accepted into the FATF Thursday for eliminating major irregularities and making progress in their legislation against money laundering, bringing the number of member countries to 31. "I don't want to exaggerate but my prophesy for the next presidency is that the number of countries on the blacklist will shrink drastically" by July 2004, Sanio said. Nevertheless, he strongly criticized Jakarta and Yangon for failing to tackle the problem of dirty money, and threatened "additional counter-measures" -- sanctions -- to put pressure on the two governments to introduce reforms before the next annual meeting. The FATF was created by the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to fight money laundering. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, its mandate has also included choking the flow of funds to terror groups. The task force is an independent body of officials and experts from member countries, the European Union's executive commission and the Gulf Cooperation Council. -------------------------------------------------------------- Britain ''appalled'' by Myanmar
detention
LONDON, June 20 (Reuters) - Britain summoned Myanmar's ambassador on Friday to express grave concern over the detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. ''I told Ambassador Kyaw Win that I was appalled by events in Burma,'' Britain's Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien said in a statement. ''The UK does not believe the regime's claims that Aung San Suu Kyi is being held 'for her own protection'. If this were true, why could I not speak to her on her birthday?'' he asked. Suu Kyi and other opposition leaders touring the north of Myanmar were detained on May 30 after violent clashes between her supporters and pro-government groups. On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell demanded Myanmar's ''brutal rulers'' release Suu Kyi. -------------------------------------------------------------- Friday June 20, 9:37 PM
Amnesty Calls For Release Of Myanmar Opposition Leader BANGKOK (AP) -- Rights group Amnesty International on Friday reiterated calls for the release of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi after a British minister reported that she is being held at the notorious Insein prison. Amnesty said in a statement it "is particularly worried" that she is being held under a law allowing for arbitrary detention "without charge or trial, without access to legal counsel or judicial appeal." Britain's Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien said in a statement Thursday he was "appalled" to learn that Suu Kyi is being kept by the military government at the Insein prison outside the Myanmar capital Yangon. He did not say how he learned about Suu Kyi's whereabouts even though the government has refused to disclose any information. Suu Kyi, who turned 58 on Thursday, was arrested on May 30 following clashes between her supporters and a pro-junta mob. The government claims she is being held in temporary "protective custody." O'Brien said Suu Kyi is being held under "the most draconian" of Myanmar laws, the 1975 state protection law, which allows for detention without access to family or lawyers for 180 days at a time, up to a total of five years, with no prospect of appeal. The Amnesty statement said "she is being held under provisions that fail to protect her basic human rights and deem her a threat to state sovereignty and security." "We strongly reiterate calls on the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi," Amnesty said. Daw is an honorific. It also called for the release of Tin Oo, the deputy chairman of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party, and at least 130 others who it said were arrested after the May 30 incident. The junta has refused to give in despite an international outcry, and even demands from its allies and neighbors in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for Suu Kyi's release. Myanmar's military junta, which came to power in 1988, refused to step down after the NLD won elections in 1990. Since then Suu Kyi has been under house arrest several times. -------------------------------------------------------------- Friday June 20, 10:34 PM
Thai Min: China Backs Proposed Asian Regional Bond Mkt CHIANG MAI, Thailand (AP)--China supports a proposed new Asian regional bond market, Thailand's foreign minister said Friday after meeting with his Chinese counterpart. Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai and China's Li Zhaoxing were meeting ahead of an annual gathering on Sunday of 18 Asian nations, which is expected to discuss the bond market idea, proposed earlier by Thailand. Surakiart also said he and Li had reiterated that a recently signed free trade agreement between the two countries may soon be broadened. Thailand is seeking to conclude similar agreements with a number of nations, including some attending Sunday's meeting. Other details were not available, and Li did not talk to reporters after the meeting. The second Asia Cooperation Dialogue meeting is scheduled for Sunday in Bangkok. The annual meeting was initiated last year by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, partly to raise Thailand's profile in Asia by hosting the foreign ministers of countries from Qatar to South Korea. Thaksin said Thursday that countries taking part in the meeting may agree to establish new joint funds to help develop the regional bond market. The funds would be separate from the $1 billion Asian Bond Fund established on June 2 by a group of 11 regional monetary authorities in East Asia and the Pacific region. Thaksin said India and Middle Eastern countries might join if a new fund is set up. China is likely to host the meeting next year if members approve, said Surakiart, adding that Beijing supports the addition of four members to the group - Kuwait, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan and Oman. The Asia Cooperation Dialogue comprises the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan and Qatar. ASEAN's members are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. -------------------------------------------------------------- VOA News
ICRC Delegation to Meet with Senior Burmese
Opposition Members
Ron Corben Bangkok 21 Jun 2003, 10:49 UTC A team from the International Committee of the Red Cross was preparing to leave Rangoon to meet with senior members of Burma's opposition, who have been held in detention for the past three weeks, but they won't be allowed to meet with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is among those in government custody. The Red Cross team will leave Rangoon Sunday, after being given the go-ahead to see leaders of the democratic opposition, who have been held in an undisclosed location for the past three weeks following a violent clash with supporters of the government. The team will be able to meet with senior party members, such as National League for Democracy Vice Chairman Tin Oo, who was accompanying Aung San Suu Kyi during a political tour in northern Burma last month when their entourage was attacked. But Michael Ducreaux, the Red Cross representative in Burma, says the government has refused the team access to NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi herself. The refusal comes at a time when Burma's military government is under unprecedented international pressure to free Aung San Suu Kyi. Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and the human rights group Amnesty International are among those who have lent their voices this week to the call for her release. Philippine President Gloria Arroyo joined in the call on Saturday, saying that she was praying for Aung San Suu Kyi's early release from what she called "the custody of government forces." It is highly unusual for members of ASEAN, which groups the countries of Southeast Asia, to comment on each other's internal affairs. New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff was another calling for an end to Aung San Suu Kyi's detention. He says the release should be just one step towards broad political reform in Burma. "In addition to the release of Aung San Suu Kyi we would want to see the immediate release of the 1200 political prisoners held by the regime," he said. " We would want to see the re-opening of the NLD offices and a genuine commitment of the part of the regime to the reconciliation process and embarking on a path to the restoration of democracy." Britain and human rights groups say Aung San Suu Kyi is being held at Insein prison outside Rangoon, under a law that allows for detention without trial for up to five years. She was freed from in May of last year after 18 months of house arrest. She has been in and out of detention since 1990, after her party won national elections and the military refused to recognize the vote. Burma's government says it remains committed to restoring democracy and resuming a dialogue with the opposition. But in the past year there have been few signs of progress, and what dialogue there had been now seems to have been derailed. -------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Saturday 21 June 2003
Apology received for `misunderstanding' Wassana Nanuam The Burmese military has apologised for a misunderstanding that led to a gunfight with border troops from the Doi Saeng army base in Mae Hong Son on Wednesday. Army spokesman Col Somkhuan Saengpattaranate said the Narasuan task force had received a letter addressed to the 17th Infantry Regiment expressing regret for clash, in which two soldiers suffered bullet wounds to their arms and legs. ``It was not a conflict, but a misunderstanding on behalf of the Burmese troops, who included new recruits,'' Col Somkhuan said. ``They didn't realise Thai troops were also operating in the area.'' Both the Burmese and Thai militaries have bases at Doi Saeng, located only 500m from each other. The Burmese military said in the letter it would place the officers involved under strict supervision to avoid any repeat of the incident. -------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Saturday 21 June 2003
Six countries agree on `roadmap' links Bhanravee Tansubhapol Thailand, Laos, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam and India agreed yesterday to launch a ``road map'' to define their activities in the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC). Sorajak Kasemsuwan, assistant to Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, said after the group's third meeting here that the road map would detail the cooperation in the next few years. Tourism, transport and cultural promotion would be among the areas of cooperation. India has pledged to provide US$100,000 to assist cooperative activities in the Mekong-Ganga projects, he said. Thailand has yet to come up with a pledge. Yesterday's meeting also touched on the tourism promotion for the so-called ``Asoke road'' or Buddhism road linking India, Burma, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, Mr Sorajak said. The meeting has asked Thailand to open a website, while India would provide information technology to promote the road. The six countries agreed to jointly market and advertise a campaign using Chiang Mai as a common tourist destination. Thailand, as the next MGC chairman, has offered to host the first senior official meeting ahead of a ministerial-level meeting, he said. -------------------------------------------------------------- The Nation
BURMA: Asean to push junta for reforms Rungrawee C Pinyorat Published on Jun 21, 2003 High-level visit in the works, but only after release of pro-democracy leader The Association of Southeast Asia Nations will send a high-level mission to Rangoon when Aung San Suu Kyi is released to help accelerate the pace of political reform in Burma, Philippines Foreign Minister Blas F Ople said yesterday. The proposal was put forward by Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda during a meeting of Asean foreign ministers on Tuesday. "We are actually trying to avoid a situation where Myanmar [Burma] will be completely isolated from the international community and before they are economically crippled by sanctions," Ople said. He had asked Wirajuda, as the next Asean foreign ministers' chairman, to arrange a high-level mission to Burma and offered to take part. The objectives of the mission will be to push political and constitutional reform, which are essential for the development of Burma, Ople said. The mission will want to talk to pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, members of the National League of Democracy and other opposition parties before holding discussions with the ruling junta. Burmese Foreign Minister U Win Aung - who was put under tremendous pressure at the Asean meeting in Phnom Penh during the week - said his government had no intention of prolonging Suu Kyi's detention and expressed a commitment to work toward the establishment of a civilian constitutional government. However, he asked for understanding of the complexities of Burmese society from the international community as characterised by the number of armed minority groups waging war against the government. "We believe that the Myanmar [Burmese] government will take the necessary steps to convince the international community that changes are underway to relieve the suffering of the majority of the Burmese people", he said. Ople said, "Once Aung San Suu Kyi is released, we will send a mission to Rangoon. Ideally it should be before the Asean summit in October." He said this mission would not overlap with the work of the United Nation's special envoy, Razali Ismail, who has been sent to Burma to help broker peace talks between the military government and the opposition. For the first time in Asean's 36-year history its strict principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states was broken when the grouping called for the lifting of restrictions on the movements of Suu Kyi and her supporters. The Philippines was most vociferous, saying: "it is not fair that Asean's image is being defined by the events transpiring in your country [Burma]". Meanwhile, the meeting adopted a Declaration on Human Rights, which binds all Asean members along the lines of principles espoused by the European Union, Ople said. -------------------------------------------------------------- The Nation
EDITORIAL: Asean on Burma: a repeat unlikely Published on Jun 21, 2003 While this week?s criticism was a breakthrough, it is not an indication that the grouping?s attitude has changed People should not get overly excited about the Asean joint communique that contained a now-famous paragraph criticising Burma. While it might be a breakthrough, strictly speaking, it will probably be the last time that Asean will be able to comment on the domestic affairs of a member country. From now on, Burma will make sure that such coordinated pressure will not be mounted again. The Rangoon junta leaders have learned a valuable lesson: that to blatantly arrest Aung San Suu Kyi ahead of the Asean meeting was a big slap in the face for the three-decade-old grouping. It is obvious now that it had been a huge mistake for Asean to admit Burma in the first place. Asean believed that China's influence within Burma could be countered if the country were to be included in the grouping. It was a political decision, pure and simple. And political reasons would also dictate any moves to pressure Burma into doing anything. The Asean ministerial meeting in Phnom Penh was being held in the midst of a series of conflicts that have dominated the world's media. Yet the detention of Suu Kyi has become a major event that has created an outpouring of global sympathy. That sentiment in effect forced Asean to adopt a stronger position against Burma. Burmese Foreign Minister Win Aung is aware of the growing foreign pressure and he had to put on a brave face for the junta. This is not, in fact, the first time that Asean has commented on the domestic affairs of a member country. An Asean joint communique in 1986 expressed the wish for a peaceful resolution to the Philippine political crisis. In 2002, the Asean ministers referred to the political situation in Burma. Through Indonesia's request, the situation in Aceh has been part of the communique over the past few years, with Asean supporting Indonesia's territorial integrity in regards to the troubled province. This time, Suu Kyi's detention has put Asean under the world's microscope and Asean wanted to teach its wayward member a lesson. But that does not mean Asean has suddenly changed its course or dropped its cardinal principle of non-interference. On the contrary, this year's meeting will strengthen the resolve of Burma, as well other like-minded members, to deploy preventive measures ahead of time to ensure that such an humiliating event will not occur again at an Asean meeting. Certainly, it does not mean that Burma will become more lenient or democratic . What is sad about all this is that Asean, as a group, decided to act only after US State Secretary Colin Powell stepped up pressure on Burma after his call on the grouping to do something to influence the situation there. For the past six years, Asean has ignored Suu Kyi's fate and international pressure to boot. After all, Asean admitted Burma amidst an outcry from the West back in 1997. The international community must continue its momentum against Burma to ensure that Suu Kyi will be released sooner rather than later and that the process of national reconciliation and dialogue proceeds without delay. Otherwise, the political dialogue inside Burma is back to square one. Both India and China, which are Asean dialogue partners, got off the hook because of the overwhelming focus on Burma in the context of Asean. These two Asian giants, which have been adroitly used by Burma, are strengthening Burma's growing intransigence by the day through active trade and assistance packages. Asean has to do more to advance Burma's reform efforts in politics and economics. Many members are well aware of this ultimate objective but have been rendered immobile by their own similar lack of development and resources back home. -------------------------------------------------------------- BBC News - Friday, 20 June,
2003
Inside Burma's Insein jail Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is believed to be detained in the country's notorious Insein jail. Former prisoners at the jail have told the BBC's East Asia Today programme what conditions are like: The UK foreign office has said that Aung San Suu Kyi is being held in a two-room hut in the prison, following her detention on 30 May. The block is believed to have been especially constructed for the opposition leader. Bo Kyi, a former political detainee at Insein, said that he watched the block being built, and that it had a bedroom, a visiting room and a toilet. Diplomats in Rangoon say that although the conditions in which Aung San Suu Kyi is being held are probably not as bad as in the rest of the prison, they are still extremely worried about her. "I was immediately struck by the horrible stench. There was no toilet, just a slop bucket filled with human waste and crawling with maggots Ko Aung, former Insein prisoner Ko Aung, who was held at the British-built jail as a political prisoner for more than six years, said Insein was known as the "darkest hell-hole in Burma". "When I was taken there, I had a hood over my head and tape on my eyes. I heard the guards shouting abuse at me and the sound of the prisoners in shackles. "When I realised that I was at Insein, I cried underneath my hood, because it had such a horrendous reputation," he said. The guards took Mr Aung to his cell - a concrete cubicle - about six feet by eight feet (2 metres by 2.5) where they removed his hood for the first time. "I was immediately struck by the horrible stench. There was no toilet, just a slop bucket filled with human waste and crawling with maggots," he said. "It was totally disgusting, the food was disgusting. Most of the prisoners have dysentery because of the conditions they are kept in. Many of them also have HIV." Mr Aung was held in solitary confinement for three years because he complained about the conditions. Torture During this time he was only allowed out of his cell for 10 minutes a day. He was also tortured and beaten by the guards. "They beat me in the frog position, spread-eagled on the floor," he said. The UK Foreign Minister Mike O'Brien has said that he understood Aung San Suu Kyi was still in the same clothes she was wearing when she was arrested. Mr Ko Aung said that a lack of clean clothes was part of the harsh treatment he endured. "When I was in solitary confinement, I was not allowed to have a shower or wash. They refused to allow me to change my clothes, even though it was so hot. My whole body was covered in skin diseases," he said. Intimidation tactic Debbie Stothard, from the pressure group Altsean-Burma said that holding Ms Suu Kyi at Insein was a deliberate move to frighten Burmese activists. "To put her in jail, even though it is not a conventional jail cell, would be designed to increase the anxiety and panic among the pro-democracy movement and also in the international community," she told the Agence France Presse news agency. Ms Stothard also said that the decision to imprison her was part of an orchestrated move to deflect international attention from democratic reform in Burma, forcing them instead to focus on freeing Aung San Suu Kyi. The Burmese Government has refused to set a date for her release. -------------------------------------------------------------- The Independent Digital (UK)
Burma provokes 'grave concern' By Stephen Castle 21 June 2003 European Union leaders condemned Burma last night, expressing "grave concern" over developments in the country and calling on the Burmese authorities "immediately to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi" and other members of the National League for Democracy. In April the EU renewed a visa ban, an asset freeze and an arms embargo on the regime for another year. Earlier this week EU foreign ministers increased the number of people affected by smart sanctions, which already stood at more than 150. The move by heads of government to condemn the Burmese government was pressed by Chris Patten, the European commissioner for external relations. His spokeswoman said last night: "The reaction throughout the international community has shown that the behaviour of the Burmese authorities is absolutely unacceptable. "Any 'protected custody' of Aung San Suu Kyi would be intolerable but the latest news of where she is being held only makes more urgent the need for the Burmese authorities to release her and her colleagues from the NLD. "There is also an urgent need to return to dialogue, and for an end to violence and human rights abuses." -------------------------------------------------------------- The Straits Times
Asean makes its move JUNE 21, 2003 SAT ARGUABLY the best thing that happened at this week's Asean ministerial meetings in Phnom Penh was the unequivocal message sent to Myanmar's military regime: It must stop its crackdown on dissidents and get on with reconciliation to end the crisis. The problem has festered long enough, hurting Asean interests. That is why the grouping's foreign ministers made an unprecedented move by departing from their long-held principle of non-interference in each other's domestic affairs. It was a small step away from non-interference, but significant nonetheless. The ministers have finally reached a comfort level sufficient for them to shed their inhibitions to 'tell it like it is' to a fellow member-state that it is headed in the wrong direction. Asean had no choice but to act within the diplomatic constraints because its credibility was at stake. It could not ignore the international outcry against Myanmar's tactics against the democratic opposition and pretend that it was none of its business. Asean has 'urged' Yangon's generals to do the right thing: Release from detention Ms Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of the National League for Democracy. Then restart the stalled talks with her, and stay on course with United Nations mediation. After all, the NLD had won a landslide victory in the 1990 general election which the junta refused to honour. This is why the regime has earned international opprobrium. Despite the problems, democratic change can come peacefully. The efforts of UN special envoy Razali Ismail to facilitate contact should continue. In a real way, Asean has come of age. Even the United States, a strong critic of the Yangon regime, has described the Asean statement on Myanmar as 'good'. Asean's polite remarks in public urging Myanmar's generals to change course belie the straight-talking behind closed doors. Its solidarity necessitates a degree of circumspection. But the message was sufficiently pointed: Ms Suu Kyi's rearrest was a setback not just for the reconciliation process but also for Asean, whose international image has taken a beating because of its passivity over Myanmar. That it took Asean a long time to do what it just did has puzzled critics who argue that constructive engagement with Yangon has yielded nothing to promote democratic change. The uninitiated have trouble appreciating the non-interference principle. To them, polite remonstrations with the generals smack of timidity. But this is Asean's style of quiet diplomacy. Foreign Minister S. Jayakumar pointed out that Asean countries had now reached a comfort level where sensitive issues could be discussed. This was not possible a decade ago. Those who are critical of Asean reticence should remember this. But even as Asean inches away from strict non-interference, there will be no public flaying of another member-state. Nor will there be public confrontation. It still sets great store by constructive engagement in dealings with Myanmar. This is a sound policy if it does not become an excuse for doing nothing. Asean opposed Washington's call to take a tough line. But there is merit in US Secretary of State Colin Powell's point that it must speak up when things go wrong in the region. It was time it moved beyond the restrictions of the past, he argued. Indeed, for its own credibility and for it to be a more effective voice in world affairs, it should not shy away from sensitive issues that affect its collective interests. It needs to be proactive to foster the growth of a more robust grouping. This will be good for it in the long run. -------------------------------------------------------------- Five Asian nations pledge cooperative fight
against drugs
Xinhuanet 2003-06-21 22:44:08 CHIANG MAI, Thailand, June 21 (Xinhuanet) -- Ministers from China,Thailand, India, Myanmar and Laos on Saturday expressed here their determination to jointly solve the drug problems in the area. The five nations will send their ministers responsible for the anti-drug issues to attend a meeting to be held next month in Thailand to discuss specific cooperative measures which were aimed at making the region free of drug, Thai Foreign Minister Surakiat Sathirathai said at a news briefing. The five ministers reviewed the region's drug problem on a sideline meeting of the Second Ministerial Meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue which is being held between Saturday and Sunday in northern Thailand province Chiang Mai, some 600 kilometers north of Bangkok. The ministers agreed that the whole region now was faced with severe challenge posed by the large-scale production of amphetamine pill while the production of heroin was gradually going down with the crop replacement project initiated by Thailandand China. The ministers also called for efforts to create a favorable context to solve the drug problems, which were closely related to terrorism, human trafficking and money laundry etc. The five-country cooperation would be an effective and important part of the international anti-drug efforts including related projects of the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said Surakiat. He noted that police have arrested many drug dealers and seizeda great number of amphetamine pills in India and Myanmar through the information exchange system between the five countries. He also revealed that Myanmar and Laos planned to eradicate poppy plantation in the year of 2004 and 2005 respectively. The Chinese government is ready to contribute to the anti-drug cooperation between the five nations so as to fight against poppy plantation and drug trafficking in the border region, said ChineseForeign Minister Li Zhaoxing. -------------------------------------------------------------- SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2003
THE TIMES OF INDIA Aung San Suu Kyi's survival under threat HARVEY STOCKWIN TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2003 10:23:57 AM ] HONG KONG: The Burmese military junta has reacted to growing international disquiet over its current crackdown on duly-elected Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD) by telling lies which increase fears for her personal survival. Suu Kyi and the NLD won the last general election in Burma in 1990 but the junta has never honoured that result. International anxiety arose initially from the ambush of Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters when they were travelling in northern Burma on May 30th. Varied international reactions were observable last week at the week-long Asean conferences in Phnom Penh. Amidst other pressing issues, the May 30th ambush attack has aroused varying degrees of anger and outrage in the United States, Britain and the European Union, varying degrees of concern for Aung San Suu Kyi in Asean, India and Japan, and concern for "Myanmar's stability" in Beijing. Faced with these reactions, the Burmese military regime has been both defiant and intransigent, as can be clearly seen from the stream of falsehoods issuing forth from Rangoon, some of which were repeated by the Foreign Minister in Phnom Penh. First, the junta has tried to maintain that the NLD started the May 30th clash, which flies in the face of all that is known about the incident, as well as Aung San Suu Kyi's longtime insistence on non-violence. This lie helps to explain, amidst the junta's tight media control within Burma, why NLD supporters are now being arrested, detained and jailed, and why NLD offices all over the nation, newly reopened in the last 12 months by Aung San Suu Kyi, are now being closed down again. American diplomats who investigated the attack concluded that there it was a premeditated ambush conducted by "government-affiliated thugs". The few journalists who have managed to get to the area have confirmed this assessment. The world's sole superpower has been the only nation to mount an on-the-spot enquiry. As far as can be seen no Asian nation has sought to find out for itself what actually happened. In China's controlled media the May 30th Incident has been seldom, if ever, reported. There is still no certainty as to how many NLD officials or supporters were killed by the thugs, although guesstimates hover between 70 and 100. The estimated number of thugs varies between 500 and 1,000. Secondly, the junta says that the police are conducting an enquiry into the affair. Given Myanmar reality, there is no way that the Burmese police can actually do that, except by supporting the government's lies, and carefully following the junta's party line. Thirdly, the junta's assertion that Aung San Suu Kyi is under "protective custody" has been rebutted by British deputy Foreign Minister Mike O'Brien who says she is under indefinite detention. O'Brien issued a trenchant statement on June 19th saying "I am appalled to learn today, on her 58th birthday, that Aung San Suu Kyi is being held in the notorious Insein Jail on the outskirts of Rangoon.....and continues to wear the clothes in which she was arrested (on May 30th)......she is being held under Section 10(a) of the 1975 State Protection Law. This is the most draconian of the Burmese military regime's laws which allows for detention, without access to family or lawyers, for 180 days at a time up to a total of five years, with no prospect of appeal." So far, the junta has not denied these charges. The fourth falsehood is to assert that the reconciliation process between the junta and the NLD continues. In reality, it has not continued ever since Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest 13 months ago, even though she was in favour of it. Obviously, reconciliation is that much more difficult after the violence of May 30th since there is now so much more to be reconciled. Fifth, the regime maintains that the only thing holding up a return to democracy is the need to rewrite the constitution. In fact, the junta has been rewriting the constitution for many years now, in part because it needs to invalidate the 1990 election which the NLD won in a landslide. It has also been trying to insert a clause which disqualifies Aung San Suu Kyi from holding office -- either because she once married a foreigner, or resided abroad, or whatever. Most worrying of all, the sixth junta lie asserts that Aung San Suu Kyi is now being protected from a threat posed to her life by anonymous "assassins". Any thought that freelance assassins roam in Burma out to get Aung San Suu Kyi is utterly ludicrous. The only assassins in Burma would be those hired by the military, and acting on military orders, which is why this lie is frightening. It suggests that top General Than Shwe and his associates may be thinking of doing to Aung San Suu Kyi what the Marcos regime in the Philippines did in 1983 to Senator Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino at Manila International Airport. -------------------------------------------------------------- Asian Tribune
Date : 2003-06-21 A War for Democracy is the urgent medication needed for Burma. Media continues to receive authenticated eyewitness accounts of the 3oth May Massacre. So far Burmese junta did not come forward to either contradict or deny these eyewitness accounts so far published in the Asian Tribune. This goes to prove that it was the Burmese army generals of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) who are solely responsible for the May 30th massacre. Fortunately or unfortunately, people all over the world are confident that it was the work of the SPDC and they all urge action against the SPDC. But still the international community is wasting time on sanctions and warnings. Unfortunately the SPDC is not in a position to understand these languages. They should be told in the language they understand. The SPDC believes in threats and intimidation. This is the language the army generals of the SPDC understand. Therefore, world leaders should come forward to restore democracy in Burma and it has to be done by a War for Democracy and today this is the only urgent medication needed for Burma. Given below is Eyewitness account given by a NLD female youth member of the 30th May massacre. As we were approaching Depayin, the motorcade was brought to a halt. A crowd of people suddenly appeared on the scene. Where they came from I don?t know. They made us get out of the cars and started thrashing all of us. I was riding in a Dina truck car. This crowd continued beating us all up non stop. I witnessed with my very own eyes, how they continuously beat Ko Thein Toe Aye (Mandalay South West region), another man and the driver of our vehicle whose names I don?t know. This happened right in front of me. They died then and there. I also fell to the ground with a broken head. I saw many fallen bodies with injuries. One lady cried out: ?Don?t beat us. Just take our money.? One of the attackers shouted ? ?If you don?t want to be beaten, just die ? pretend to be dead. If you move we will just have to continue beating you.? The elderly lady surrendered all the money she had on her. I also saw them removing necklaces and bracelets from the fallen bodies. We remained rigid, pretending to be dead. After quite some time when all was quiet and the sounds of voices and beatings ceased, we crept away quietly into the nearby paddy fields and arrived at a village. The villagers and the monk of the monastery helped us, attended to our wounds. Stitches to my injured head were done by a private doctor. The authorities must have ordered the attackers to beat us all to death. I dare not return to my home. Those who escaped like me are still being arrested. Therefore, please understand why I cannot disclose my identity. List of Mandalay South West township NLD members who were traveling with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in her motorcade on the fateful day: . 1. Ko Zaw Zaw Aung 2.Ko Ye Min Zaw 3. Ko Min Thein 4. Ko Aung Aung 5. Ko Zayya Tun 6. Ko Thein Toe Aye 7. Ko Kyaw Myo Thu 8. Ko Hla Soe Win 9. Ko Myo Tint 10. Ko Zaw Win Tun 11. U Khin Maung Thaung 12. U Tin Maung U 13. U Tun Win 14. Daw Tin Myint 15. Daw Toe 16. Daw Tin Myint 17. Daw Khin Mya Win 18. Daw Kyi Kyi Myint 19. Daw Wunna. -------------------------------------------------------------- Asian Tribune
Date : 2003-06-21 Burmese forces move towards the rebel bases. Heavy concentrations of Burmese troops near Chiangrai's Mae Fa Luang District opposite rebel forces in Loi Kawwan have been reported since June 19th., by both Thai military and Shan sources. Freedom News, Shan State Army's (SSA?s) publication, reported that, as many as 14 infantry battalions with heavy weapons were being deployed and believed to be preparing to launch an attack against the SSA stronghold soon. Lt-Col Kawnzuen, Commander of the Loi Kawwan-based Kengtung Force, Shan State Army, told S.H.A.N. this morning at least 16 infantry and light infantry battalions were identified. "Previously, most of the Burmese units kept themselves north of the Monghsat-Tachilek road", he said. "But since the end of May, they are seen moving south of the road. And we are seeing at least ten 120 mm mortars pointing at us." No Wa units appeared to be involved in the operation so far, he noted. During the action against the SSA last year, thousands of Wa fighters had participated in the Burmese assault operation against Pang Maisoong (opposite Chiangmai) and Loi Kawwan (opposite Chiangrai) targets. Thai security officers, who had since last year predicted "an imminent offensive" against the Shans twice only to be "fooled" by subsequent inaction of the Burmese, have cautiously placed the prospects of hostilities at 75 percent. "In terms of manpower, training, arms and ammunitions and supplies, they are battle-ready, as they were last year," commented one. One observer in Chiangmai told S.H.A.N., Rangoon is unhappy since the news break that Thailand is sought as a possible new base for US forces. But, how it is connected to the present operation against Shans, however was not explained. Earlier the attack on Loi Kawwan by the Burma Army had ended in humiliating fiasco. The base is located south of the Thai-initiated Yawngkha crop-substitution project site in Monghsat Township. In the meanwhile, no Burmese movements, are reported opposite SSA's other border strongholds> Battalions identified by SSA 1. Infantry Battalion 227 (Mongkhark) 2. Infantry Battalion 244 (Kengtung) 3. Light Infantry Battalion 221 (Monghpyak) 4. Light Infantry Battalion 311 (Mongyawng) 5. Light Infantry Battalion 327 (Mongkhark) 6. Light Infantry Battalion 331 (Tachilek) 7. Light Infantry Battalion 334 (Mongyawng) 8. Light Infantry Battalion 335 (Mongphayak) 9. Light Infantry Battalion 359 (Tachilek) 10. Light Infantry Battalion 360 (Mongpiang) 11. Light Infantry Battalion 526 (Tachilek) 12. Light Infantry Battalion 553 (Monghsat) 13. Light Infantry Battalion 554 (Monghsat) 14. Light Infantry Battalion 570 (Monghpyak) 15. Light Infantry Battalion 579 (Mongkok) 16. Light Infantry Battalion 580 (Mongkok) The estimated strength of each battalion is around an average of 200. - Shan Herald Agency for News: SHAN - -------------------------------------------------------------- |