--------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday July 9, 9:47 AM
Hong Kong tops list of
freest economies
WASHINGTON, July 8 (AFP) -Hong Kong, in an uproar over plans for new
anti-subversion laws, still tops the 2003 list of the world's freest economies,
according to a study.
The former British colony was followed by Singapore
in second place and the United States in third place in the seventh annual
Economic Freedom of the World Report.
Hong Kong has been in first place
in each report since the index of economic freedom was first published in
1996.
At the bottom of the list of 123 countries was Myanmar, according
to the report published by the conservative Cato Institute, Canada's Fraser
Institute and more than 50 other institutes.
"The research is unambiguous
that freeing people economically unleashes individual drive and initiative and
puts a nation on the road to economic growth," Nobel laureate Milton Friedman
said in a statement accompanying the report.
"By freeing people from
government dependence and creating prosperity, economic freedom also helps
establish other freedoms and democracy," he said.
Hong Kong, ironically,
took first place again in economic freedom just as it strained against a
perceived threat to its democratic freedoms after six years under Chinese
sovereignty.
Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa was forced to defer
final reading of a new anti-subversion law after widespread international and
public protest that culminated in a massive July 1 demonstration.
The
freedom rankings used data for 2001, however, long before the latest upheavals
in Hong Kong, a free-wheeling capitalist society with low taxes and a minimal
social safety net.
"One measure that has suffered within Hong Kong's
rating has been the legal structure," said Ian Vasquez, director of the
Washington-based Project on Global Economic Liberty, which took part in the
project.
"But it was not enough to bring it down from the ranking of
number one overall."
The economic freedom index of the world is based on
38 criteria, such as personal choice, openness to competition, the ability to
exchange goods or travel, and protection of person and property.
Economic
freedom is considered to be restricted, for example, when governments choose to
raise taxes, boost spending or make new rules rather than leave matters in the
hands of people or the markets.
"Economic freedom is highly correlated
with per-capita income growth, economic growth and life expectancy. Increased
economic freedom does not lead to greater income inequality," the authors
argued.
"The actual income of poor people increases as nations gain in
economic freedom because of the increased wealth economic freedom generates,"
they said.
The other countries in the top 10 were New Zealand and
Britain, sharing the number-four spot, followed by Canada at six; Australia,
Ireland and Switzerland tied at seven; with the Netherlands at 10.
Among
major economies, Japan came in at 26, Germany at 20, Italy at 35, France at 44,
Mexico at 69, China at 100, India at 73, Brazil at 82 and Russia at 112, the
report said.
Most of the lower-ranking countries were African, Latin
American or former communist states.
The bottom five countries were
Guinea-Bissau (119), Zimbabwe (120), Algeria (121), the Democratic Republic of
Congo (122) and Myanmar (123).
The highest-ranking African country was
Botswana (26), which tied with eight other countries, including Japan.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Thai government struggles with Myanmar policy after Suu
Kyi detention
BANGKOK, July 9 (AFP) - Thailand's government is struggling to
adopt a coherent stance on Myanmar following its military-ruled
neighbour's detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi more than a month
ago, analysts say.
In a departure from his typical conciliatory tone,
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra joined US President George W. Bush in
issuing a strong call for Yangon to release her during a visit to Washington
last month.
But the premier's critics say he has now realised that this
facade for international consumption needs to be balanced with some quick
back-pedalling at home to keep relations with the ruling generals
intact.
As a result, he targeted 1,500 political refugees who have fled
previous crackdowns in Myanmar for sanctuary in Thailand: they must now relocate
to camps along the border already holding some 125,000
refugees.
"Thailand doesn't really have an overall policy on Burma...
They're quite pragmatic and reacting to different circumstances with different
policies," said Chulalongkorn University political analyst Panitan
Wattanyagorn.
"They have no clear policy based on clear principles but
under these circumstances this may be the only way the government thinks is
appropriate: a dual-track policy," he told AFP.
Panitan said refugee
policy was likely altered in the interests of "trying to smooth out relations
because there has been pressure by the Burmese to make sure the refugees do not
cause problems relating to the embassy and personnel in
Thailand".
Thailand said last month that Myanmar's government warned its
authorities of a possible plan by dissidents to take its diplomats in the Thai
capital hostage to demand the Aung San Suu Kyi be given her freedom.
The
democracy campaigner has been held under what the junta calls "protective
custody" since attacks on her supporters by a government-backed mob on May
30.
Thaksin's administration wants to placate Yangon for several reasons:
constructive engagement is seen as key to Thailand wielding influence with the
regime, while business interests want to protect lucrative cross-border
trade.
Several senior Thai leaders are also known to have close personal
and financial ties to the generals.
"In the short term it may get by. But
in the medium to long term it could present a conflicting stand and the
international community may see Thailand as having no common foreign policy
towards Burma," Panitan said.
Sunai Phasuk from regional rights network
Forum-Asia linked Thaksin's sudden policy change to a visit by Myanmar deputy
foreign minister Khin Maung Win to Thailand last week.
"It often happens
this way, that every time before a visit from the SPDC (ruling State Peace and
Development Council) the Thai government carries out this aggressive rhetoric
against pro-democracy groups," he said.
"The Thai government has created
a climate of fear and uncertainty which in effect stops democracy groups taking
any action to work for freeing Aung San Suu Kyi," Sunai said.
Aung Zaw,
editor of the Chiang Mai-based Irrawaddy magazine which deals with Myanmar
affairs, said the Thai government's new refugee policy was misguided and unfair
on exiles who fled their homeland in fear for their lives.
"Thailand is
trying to contain these people, but they must realise that there are problems in
Burma that have to be solved," he said.
"You can't put the blame on
these underdogs... They appreciate that they're here and it's risky for them to
go back home."
The dissident community, for whom Bangkok and Thai border
towns have become a stronghold, have used Thailand to express their anger at
Yangon before.
In October 1999 five armed rebels were involved in a
day-long siege at the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok in which nearly 100 people were
taken hostage. This was followed by another dramatic stand-off at a major
hospital.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Thailand to host regional ministerial meet on border,
trade issues
BANGKOK, July 9 (AFP) - Thailand is to host a two-day ministerial
meeting attended by Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia during which border and trade
issues are to be tackled, a Thai government spokesman said Wednesday.
The
July 31-August 1 talks in Bangkok will aim to thrash out problems such as the
movement of illegal migrant workers from Thailand's poorer neighbours into the
kingdom, government spokesman Sita Divari told reporters.
"One serious
problem (to be discussed) is that of illegal workers, which results from the
very high difference in growth and economic situations between Thailand and its
neighbours," Sita said.
Border trade and joint economic and tourism
development are also on the agenda, he added.
In April, Thai Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said the four countries planned to create an
economic quadrangle in a bid to increase overall income.
He said then
that if the four countries could coordinate to boost their agricultural
production, the problem of illegal workers could be reduced as they would be
able to find viable employment in their home countries.
Thai foreign
minister Surakiart Sathirathai and tourism minister Sonthaya Khunploem are to
host the meeting. The names of other ministers attending were not disclosed.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Philippines to host conference of ASEAN finance ministers
next
MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Southeast Asian finance ministers,
along with those from China, Japan and South Korea, will hold their annual
conference in Manila next month after it was postponed for four months due to
SARS, an official said Wednesday.
The finance ministers of the 10-member
Association of Southeast Asian Nations will meet on Aug. 6 and will be joined by
their counterparts from China, Japan and South Korea the next day, Finance
Secretary Jose Isidro Camacho said.
The meetings originally were
scheduled for April 22-26 but were postponed due to the outbreak of severe acute
respiratory syndrome in the region, which has since subsided with no new SARS
infections reported for weeks.
Camacho did not disclose the agenda for
the rescheduled meetings, although finance officials said it would be basically
the same as that planned for the April conference.
In March Camacho said
the finance ministers would review the progress of the recovery of Southeast
Asian economies from the devastating effect of the 1997 financial
crisis.
The conference would also discuss a financial roadmap that ASEAN
ministers have been working on with officials from China, Japan and South Korea.
The plan details various aspects of financial cooperation throughout the region,
Camacho said.
It also envisions the establishment of a common Asian bonds
market.
The effects of terrorism and other security concerns on regional
financial stability could also be discussed on the sidelines of the meetings, he
said.
ASEAN, established in 1967, groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia,
Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Vietnam.
Since 1999, ASEAN leaders have met annually with the leaders of
China, Japan and South Korea to expand regional cooperation.
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Independent - Bangladesh
Editorial - Ties with
Myanmar
09-07-2003.
Bangladesh does not interfere in
the internal affairs of a neighbouring country, or any country. As a poor
country overburdened with problems it cannot afford to do so anyway. But as we
are struggling for strengthening and consolidating democracy in our own country
we remain keenly interested in the democratic movement everywhere, especially in
developing countries.
There are reasons why our relations with Myanmar
(formerly Burma) should have been closer than they are. Till 68 years ago
Myanmar had been part of British India. Myanmar was always a resourceful country
and is potentially rich. Time was when Myanmar absorbed immigrant labour from
our part of the subcontinent. It had been a major exporter of rice and timber.
In the early days of its independence the erstwhile Burma also had a
democracy.
Something went wrong for some reason and Myanmar overthrew its
democracy and installed a military junta. This was nothing new for a third world
country of those days; what set Myanmar apart from the rest was the fact that
the country became completely isolationist. Consequent upon this policy
Bangladesh and Myanmar became distant, if not estranged, neighbours as a matter
of course, without either country specially bringing this about. For decades
Myanmar had very limited intercourse with the wider world.
Happily, this
is changing. Gradually Myanmar is opening up. It should open up, as fast as
possible. We shall also be happy to see the military junta loosening its hold
and enabling the people to participate in the government through their elected
representatives.
Myanmar's Foreign Minister U Win Aung during his visit
to this country as special envoy apprised the Bangladesh government of recent
domestic developments in his country. His visit came in the context of growing
international criticism of highhandedness of junta rule. The envoy was reassured
that Bangladesh does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries
and that it will not allow its land to be used against Myanmar. The envoy on his
part reiterated his government's commitment to restore democracy in his country.
We trust the democratic system with private enterprise will be able to unlock
the vast economic potentials of that country. Democracy is also an important
factor in regional peace.
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Star
Myanmar economy a slippery target for
sanctions by West
Wednesday, July 09, 2003
BANGKOK,
Thailand (AP) - With Myanmar's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi again under
arrest, the United States is preparing tough economic sanctions against the
ruling military junta to make it change its course.
But history and
politics argue that such moves may have little effect.
Myanmar, also
known as Burma, has come under intense international criticism since arresting
Nobel Prize winner Suu Kyi on May 30. Japan, Myanmar's largest aid donor, has
announced plans not to extend new development assistance.
Now an
imminent U.S. ban on imports from Myanmar could cut its export earnings by
one-quarter to one-third. The country's exports to the United States totaled
about US$356 million in 2002, mostly in garments.
The import ban is part
of a package of measures the U.S. Congress assembled to punish the ruling junta
for its fresh crackdown on the country's pro-democracy movement.
A bill
passed by the Senate is awaiting House approval, and U.S. President George W.
Bush is expected to quickly sign it into law.
Lawmakers were angry at
the apparent violent provocation by Myanmar's military which triggered the
crackdown and has put Suu Kyi in detention for an indefinite period.
Never convicted of a crime, the 1991 Nobel Peace laureate was previously
held under house arrest in 1989-95 and again in 2000-02.
"The message
that we are sending to the ruling junta in Burma is clear: Its behavior is
outrageous,'' said Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont.
Proposed European
Union trade barriers would also chip away at export earnings.
But
Myanmar, long ruled by generals, has a long history of economic isolation giving
it a certain immunity against sanctions.
The late military dictator Gen.
Ne Win, who ruled from 1962 to 1988, espoused a "Burmese Road to Socialism''
banning most foreign investment which turned one of Southeast Asia's most
prosperous economies into a basket case.
The country has gone without
much bilateral aid and no new aid from the World Bank and the International
Monetary Fund since 1988 when the military brutally crushed a pro-democracy
uprising. Washington banned new investment by U.S. companies in 1997.
"People have mixed feelings about sanctions,'' said U Saw, a
businessman. "They know there is a need, but it affects the people.''
People are used to hardship, U Saw said. "Forty years ago we are
suffering. Today we are suffering,'' he said.
Global maneuvering may
lessen the impact of sanctions.
As Western nations ostracized the
military regime, China seized the opportunity to become Myanmar's closest
political ally, main military supplier, and, in essence, banker of last resort.
Senior Gen. Than Shwe reaped a US$200 million loan in a trip to China
along with agreements on health, technical and economic cooperation and the
prospects for new industrial projects.
Playing the China card has also
pulled India - once an outspoken friend of Myanmar's pro-democracy movement -
into Yangon's corner.
India has agreements with Myanmar to develop road
and port facilities, and to explore for offshore and onshore petroleum and gas.
Gas and mineral investment by many countries already promise future
income for the junta. Still, Western nations are committed to imposing
sanctions, although their effectiveness as a form of political leverage is
sharply debated.
Proponents claim sanctions forced South Africa to
abandon its racist apartheid system. Opponents cite Cuba's survival through four
decades of financial ostracism by Washington.
"The proposed new
sanctions will bring about neither freedom, nor democracy to the Burmese
people,'' said Bill Reinsch, president of the National Foreign Trade Council and
co-chairman of USA Engage, a group which opposes economic sanctions.
Sanctions, he said, will hurt the Burmese people because many depend on
the export market to earn a living.
But the nonpartisan New York-based
Council on Foreign Relations said in a June study that sanctions can make an
impact.
"Economic sanctions against the Burmese regime adversely affect
industries that directly benefit the military and deprive it of an important
source of revenue,'' says the report.
Repression has driven many of the
country's best and brightest abroad, including some notably gifted economists,
while the economy is close to dysfunctional.
"Pervasive corruption and
continuing economic mismanagement by the regime have hurt the Burmese people
even more than sanctions,'' says the Council on Foreign Relations report. - AP
--------------------------------------------------------------
Bangkok Post - Wednesday 09 July 2003
COMMENTARY - Burmese witnesses must be heard
Kanjana Spindler
Two eyewitnesses to
the massacre that occurred at Depayin in northern Burma on May 30 gave sworn
testimony on Friday to Senator Kraisak Choonhavan, chairman of the Senate
Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. Neither the military junta in Rangoon nor
the administration of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra were particularly happy.
They will probably be even more unhappy when these two eyewitnesses start to
speak out in Europe and the United States.
It's strange and more than a
little disconcerting that in a country that purports to be a functioning
democracy substantial official pressure was directed at the eyewitnesses and at
the chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs to silence the
witnesses. Fortunately, their testimony is now available on the public
record.
Khin Zaw, one of the eyewitnesses, gives us this account of the
massacre in which at least 70 people were killed by thugs hired by the military
dictatorship:
``... Then the people with weapons jumped down from the
trucks and started attacking the villagers, who were welcoming Daw [Aung San]
Suu [Kyi]... I think these Buddhist monks were fake monks.... We saw them taking
out red cloths and wrapping them around their arms down to the elbow level.
Accordingly, it was clear that they had planned in advance for the attack. I
think wrapping the red cloth around the arm was an arrangement to prevent
mistaken attack and to make them distinct from the monks who had accompanied
us.
``While the commotion was thus taking place, the thugs who had hidden
in the bushes in advance came to join forces with those who had come in trucks.
They were also armed with iron bars, pointed iron rods, bamboo sticks and wooden
bats. They numbered about 3,000... It was a time when everyone had to run for
his life.
``At first, I did think about helping our leaders and our NLD
members. On second thoughts, I realised that I would surely die before I got to
my leaders... because I had first to pass through the killing ground. It was
frightening even to imagine.
``Before my own eyes, people were being
beaten savagely. I was hearing the wounded, dying victims moaning and wailing in
pain, shrieking in agony, and crying out for help. At that time, as the
attackers from the Dyna trucks were shouting unspeakable abuses it was just like
hell boiling over. I saw with my own eyes the attackers striking down the
victims with all their force and stabbing with pointed iron rods. Truly, it was
a murderous attack. The beating was done until the victims died.''
The
second eyewitness, Wunna Maung, was close to Mrs Suu Kyi's car during the
attack:
``When the glass was broken, they jabbed into the car with the
rods they were carrying... Daw Suu escaped beating because she did not get out
of the car. If she did, the attackers would have beaten her to death, because
the attackers were totally drunk. They did not look like they were drunk on
liquor but they looked as if they were high on drugs...''
While the rest
of the world has condemned the attack and the continuing detention of Nobel
Laureate Suu Kyi in the strongest possible terms, Asean, and Thailand in
particular, has essentially acquiesced to the military dictatorship in
Rangoon.
This is not good for Thailand or the Burmese. One day, sooner
rather than later, Burma will be free and today's Burmese freedom fighters will
look around to see who their true friends have been. Thailand will not be found
to be one of them and may suffer accordingly.
- Kanjana Spindler
is Assistant Editor, Editorial Pages, Bangkok Post.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Bangkok Post - Wednesday 09 July 2003
POSTBAG - End draws nigh for junta's
rule
Karl J. Kraus
PM Thaksin Shinawatra's policy with
regard to the Burmese refugee problem is shortsighted and will backfire in the
long run. Political change in Burma is unavoidable. The military junta ruling by
force of the gun will end sooner or later. The political and economic pressure
from the world powers _ America, the EU and Japan _ together with the widespread
and popular internal resistance to the regime will in the end decide the future
of Burma.
Thailand's PM is wrong to address the Burmese refugee problem
with stern warnings of what he is going to do with the refugees. Instead of
trying to please the Burmese junta, whose regime will end very soon, he should
use Thailand's influence to lighten the burden of the refugees.
The
excuse that a large number of refugees are economic refugees is correct only as
far as Burma is a military repressed nation and a free enterprise economy is not
tolerated. There is a close ideological relationship between political and
economic refugees from Burma. Who is to say that if military vandals destroy
your legitimate business that you're not counted as a refugee?
Beside the
humanitarian aspect of giving help to refugees, Thailand does little. It would
be statesman-like to make a neighbourly gesture to the future government of Aung
San Suu Kyi. The coming government of Suu Kyi will remember its friends, and
Thailand currently is not one of them.
There are too many retired but
still influential generals who have close and valuable friendships with the
Burma military junta. Their influence is still felt and PM Thaksin should steer
clear of them for the sake of good ties with Suu Kyi's coming government.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Bangkok Post - Wednesday 09 July 2003
Refugees face further dislocation
Thousands upon
thousands have fled Burma to Thailand over recent decades in the hope of finding
refuge. Most have, and in many cases much more. But their new lives are not
always full of bliss.
KULTIDA SAMABUDDHI
Ban
Mae Kong Kha-Sala is located in Salween National Park, a tranquil and beautiful
place surrounded by verdant forests and constantly shrouded in a light mist. A
glittering creek snakes through the valley, which is dotted with hundreds of
small bamboo shacks.
Visitors, though, barely notice the scenery. Fear,
sorrow and the suffering of 16,855 Karen refugees permeate every square inch of
this valley.
The refugees fled Burma in 1995 following the defeat of
Karen National Union forces at the hands of Burmese government troops. Their
homes were demolished and members of their families were slaughtered. Many Karen
women were reportedly raped by Burmese soldiers.
Ban Mae Kong Kha-Sala,
covering 5,000 rai, is located 20km from the Burmese border in Mae Sariang
district and 26km from the Salween National Park headquarters.
The
cabinet last week approved a plan to move the camp from the Salween forest
within the next two months. Suvit Khunkitti, a deputy prime minister, said the
hilltribe refugees would be relocated to a degraded forest area in Ban Mae La Un
in Mae Hong Son's Sop Moei district. The National Security Council, Interior
Ministry, National Parks Department and the army would combine forces to
relocate the refugees.
Ban Mae Kong Kha-Sala camp is one of nine refugee
camps in Mae Hong Son, Tak, Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi, which together shelter
140,000 Burmese refugees. It attracts considerable media attention mainly
because it is located in the Salween National Park, home to large tracts of the
valuable teak which attracts illegal loggers.
Plodprasop Suraswadi,
permanent secretary for natural resources and the environment and a former
forestry department chief, has repeatedly complained of the threat the refugee
camp poses to the ecology of the Salween forest. He claims Karen refugees fell
teak trees in the park for illegal logging outfits and at times clear-cut areas
for cultivation.
Relocation of the refugees captured the government's
attention following a severe flash flood last September that left 16 people
dead, 26 missing and destroyed over 200 shacks. Senior forestry officers claimed
the tragedy was partly due to the refugees' involvement in illegal
logging.
The way of life of the refugees became further imperilled
earlier this year when Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra revived inquiries into
the Salween logging scandal.
Following things up, Deputy Agriculture
Minister Newin Chidchob found in April that teak logs seized some years ago from
illegal loggers had been smuggled out of the Salween forest and some freshly-cut
teak had been found. The cabinet thus decided to move the refugees out of the
national park.
The relocation of Burmese refugee camps, for one reason or
another, has occupied the thoughts of some government officers for many years.
There have been relocations over the past five years to boost security along the
border.
The authorities decided in 1998 to merge Mae Kong Kha-Sala
refugee camp into Mae La Ma Laung Camp in Sop Moei district, but did not go
ahead with the move because of resistance from the camps'
residents.
``Rumours about the [new] relocation are spreading fast.''
Than Khe, chairman of the All Burma Students' Democratic Front, said recently.
``People are afraid and worried because they don't want to be
moved.
``Mae Kong Kha-Sala camp is quite far from Burma. We feel safe
here. Refugees like us don't have the right to choose where to stay in your
country, but we would like to ask the Thai government to take more interest in
our security.''
Than Khe said the move would require the authorities to
prepare a new camp site, invest in basic infrastructure, and set up a security
system.
Naw Kay, a former leader of Karen refugees at Mae Kong Kha-Sala
camp, denied the refugees were involved in illegal logging and deforestation.
She said the camp's residents would not dare to break Thailand's laws as they
were under the watchful eye of forest rangers and soldiers.
Mrs Naw Kay
said the 2,750 refugee families received sufficient foodstuffs and materials to
build and repair their shelters from the government and non-government
organisations. They had no need to collect materials such as vegetables or
timber from the wild.
Claims that Karen refugees were harming the Salween
forest were groundless, said a former teacher from Burma who asked not to be
named. ``We've been living at Mae Kong Kha-Sala for eight years,'' she said, her
voice trembling. ``We don't want to be relocated. We don't want to be refugees
in Thailand. But as long as the political situation in Burma does not improve,
we can't go back.
``We are waiting for democracy and peace to be
restored to our country so we can go back to our native land as soon as
possible.''
Prakasit Mahasingh, the district chief of Mae Sariang and
supervisor of Mae Kong Kha-Sala camp, listed four reasons the camp should be
moved.
First, it was located in an area prone to flooding.
Second, it was hard to access and this made it difficult for state
officers to control and provide security for the refugees. He said the district
had proposed cutting a road to the camp but this had been rejected by the
Forestry Department for fear it would cause ecological harm.
Third, as
long as the refugees live in the national park, they would be accused of illegal
logging and deforestation. Whether the Karen were involved or not, their
presence would be seen as posing a threat to the forests.
The fourth
reason, said Mr Prakasit, was that officials was worried the refugee population
was growing _ by around 3%, or 1,000 people, in the past eight years _ and this
would place too great a strain on the ecology.
Prayoon Thongsirikul, head
of the Salween National Park, said illegal logging had been brought under
control through tougher action by forest rangers. However, he wanted the
refugees out of the park so there was not a repeat of refugees working with
loggers should the rangers drop their guard.
``It would be a great relief
if they were moved out of the Salween forest,'' he said. ``We could devote our
budget and manpower to developing tourism in the park.''
Jharas Boonrak,
a coordinator with the Friends without Borders NGO working on refugee aid, said
the impact on the environment of the refugee camps had increased because of the
government policy of merging small refugee camps into bigger
settlements.
``It is better to limit the camp size to minimise the
ecological damage,'' he said. ``Karen refugees would also be happier living in
small communities than being congested in crowded camps.''
Mr Jharas said
attempts to relocate refugee camps were initiated mainly by local authorities.
This latest attempt spearheaded by the cabinet was likely to prove more serious
and devastating to the Karen refugees.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Bangkok Post - Wednesday 09 July 2003
Four nations meeting in Chiang Rai to prevent smuggling along Mekong
river
Focus on results of seven-day survey
Subin
Khuenkaew
Drug fighters from Burma, China, Laos and Thailand
will meet in Chiang Rai today to work out joint measures to combat smuggling
along the Mekong river.
Chartchai Suthikrom, deputy secretary-general of
the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, said the meeting would discuss
information gained from a seven-day Mekong survey just completed by 16 anti-drug
officials from the four countries.
The survey, launched on July 1,
focused on major ports along the river from China down to Burma, Laos and
Thailand found three ports in China, three ports in Burma, four ports in Laos
and two ports in Thailand _ Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong _ needed close
attention.
The meeting would work out measures to curb the smuggling of
illicit drugs and chemical precursors.
Topics to be raised included how
the four countries could help one another in fighting drugs and how to seek
support from the United Nations.
They would also consider how best to
plug loopholes which had allowed the river to become a major smuggling
route.
Mr Chartchai said Laos and Thailand had already launched joint
patrols on the Mekong river, with support from UN vessels.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Asian Tribune
Date :
2003-07-09
Forced Labour Still Continuing in the Arakan State of
Western Burma.
Buthidaung July, 09: Forced labour is
still continuing in Arakan State of Western Burma. As part of State Peace and
Development Council?s (SPDC?s) design, the Commander of the Battalion No.565 of
Burma Army in Buthidaung Township ordered the Rohingya villagers of Nan Ra Gon,
San Nyin Way (Lambarbil-East) and Quendaung villages to construct a bridge on
the ?Dabruchaung River?, according to our correspondent.
On 12th June
2003, the said army battalion commander called a meeting with the villagers,
including VPDC Chairmen and Secretaries. In the meeting, he asked the
participants, who had to affix their signatures and thumb impressions on blank
paper sheets, to provide labour for the construction of the bridge, said a local
VPDC member.
The commander warned the villagers of serious action in case
of non-compliance. Accordingly, since 20th June this year, a total of 150
laborers, that is, 50 from each village, are daily working on the construction
site, he further said.
The bridge is 90 feet long and 12 feet wide.
Besides forced labour, the villagers have to provide a total of 24 pillars, in
the size of 13?x 3?, 10?x 3 and 7?x 3?, for the construction of the bridge, a
source further added.
This forced labour is making the poor villagers
more hapless and exhausted while forcing them to live without food almost on
starvation, the source continued.
The poor villagers are engaged in the
construction of the bridge, day in day out. The army is further threatening the
villagers either to serve them or leave the country It is still not known how
long the forced labour will be continuing in future, the source further
said.
- Kaladan News -
--------------------------------------------------------------
Asian Tribune
Date : 2003-07-09
Begging Diplomacy: The
Burmese Foreign Minister?s Whirlwind Trip
Countries in the Asian region should forcefully ignore Burma?s request to
reject the pressure from United Nations, United States and European Union
calling for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
National Council of the
Union of Burma (NCUB) in a statement released to the press, also decried that
Burma?s Foreign Minister and his deputy are on begging diplomatic mission the
Asian region.
The NCUB urged that the countries in the region should
reject all the covert attempt by General Than Shwe through his ministers to
justify the abduction and detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
The full
text of the statement released by the National Council of the Union of Burma is
given below:
Burma?s Foreign Minister and Deputy Foreign Minister are
currently traveling around Asia peddling photos of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and a
letter by General Than Shwe in a last-ditch attempt to justify Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi?s detention. While inside Burma, the military junta has launched spiteful
new attacks on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the mostly western and ASEAN diplomatic
community based in Rangoon, accusing them of meddling with the country?s
internal affairs.
?The junta is using photos in a kind of begging
diplomacy to lobby Asian countries such as China, Japan, India, Bangladesh,
Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore to reject pressure from the United Nations,
United States and the European Union to call for the release of Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi. This is an act of a desperate regime that has nothing else to offer. We
hope that these countries will reject Burma?s latest diplomatic folly,? said
NCUB.
In the meantime, the junta?s chief of military intelligence, Gen.
Khin Nyunt, said on July 5, 2003 at the closing ceremony for a special refresher
course No. 18 in Phaunggyi that the imposition of international sanctions to
press Myanmar to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is a bullying act and a violation
of international law. Moreover, he said ?preventative measures will have to be
taken to avoid the recurrence of the incidents in which people were in a
terrible state and of the ordeal of the 1988 unrest,? referring to the
nation-wide democracy uprising suppressed by the military fifteen years
ago.
?Gen. Khin Nyunt?s provocative comments and the SPDC?s absurd
attempt at diplomacy suggest that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi?s release will not come
soon. We want the SPDC to know that begging and ranting won?t overcome the
current crisis in Burma. And if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is not released soon, the
SPDC will face greater-than-ever threats from the devastated people of Burma and
an outraged international community?, said NCUB.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Asian Tribune
Date : 2003-07-09
Torture or death sentence?
- Queries Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma
)
An elected Member of Parliament has been hospitalized
for urgent medical treatment after being tortured in an State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC) interrogation center.
Soe Win, 58, was
arrested after the May 30 massacre in middle Burma. He was detained and
interrogated between June 5 and June 29. During his interrogation, he was
reportedly tortured. As a result, he received injuries to his head and eyes. On
June 29, military authorities sent Soe Win to his home, where he was unable to
walk or speak and had very low blood pressure.
Since 1988, more than 90
political prisoners have died as a result of torture and ill-treatment in
prison. We, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, are concerned
about the condition of Soe Win while under surveillance in hospital and other
activists who remain in custody.
Assistance Association for Political
Prisoners (Burma ) (AAPP ? Burma) in its statement raised concern by stating:
?Moreover, we are worried about the condition of political prisoners, as Burma?s
political climate has rapidly deteriorated over the past weeks.
AAPP ?
Burma said to be an authoritative organization regarding the welfare of the
Burmese prisoners, further add: ?We want the international community, especially
southeast Asian countries, to know that the Burmese regime is trying to kill
opposition politicians, including Soe Win, an MP elect.
Furthermore AAPP
? Burma points out, ?Democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi also narrow escaped from
the brutal killings on May 30. Some 70 people were reportedly killed in that
slaughter. We want the world to know that the people of Burma urgently need a
democratic government which respects human rights. ?
In conclusion the
organization that looks after the welfare of the Burmese prisoners urged: ?While
some countries insist that the current crisis in Burma is an internal affair, we
would like remind the international community that a country?s destructive
?internal affairs? can easily disturb the peace and tranquility of the
world.?
Biographical data of Soe Win
Soe Win, son
of U Kyin Syne, was born on August 7, 1945. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Economics and a degree in Industrial Production. During the 1988 peoples
uprising, he was a bodyguard for Aung San Suu Kyi. He was elected in Pegu
constituency (1) in the May 1990 general election. His organization, the Party
for National Democracy (PND) was banned on Dec 20, 1990. He has been working for
the National League for Democracy (NLD) since it was founded. He is a recent
member of the Committee Representing the People?s Parliament (CRPP) which was
founded in 1998. He has been arrested and detained several times for his
peaceful political activities.
--------------------------------------------------------------