BNI Weekly News - November 3, 2003
. Singpho: Victims of Opium in North East India
. 50,000 Rohingyas poised to cross into Bangladesh
. US Embassy officials Discuss on Burmese Refugees issue
. Burma’s National Convention: A New Negotiating Forum?
. Burmese smuggled goods flood Chittagong markets a head of Eid
. Exile members of NLD pray for Aung San Suu Kyi release
. Cheaper Burmese Onions to go to Bangladesh
. Counting the paddy in Arakan
. Robbers disguised as Immigration officials loot belongings from Burmese workers
. Kachin Christians pray to get back their holly hill
. Some Refugees go back to Burma as the new relocation site seems insecure
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Singpho: Victims of Opium in North East India
By Surajit Khaund
November 2, 2003:
About 12 Singpho villages with a population of seven thousands living in the
bordering areas of the northeastern India have become victims of opium. Free
flow of opium from Burma across the international border poses a serious
threat to the Singpho community as more and more Singpho youths are getting
attracted towards the intoxicant.
These villages -Dibang, Ketetong, Pangna, Ulup, Ingthem, Mungbhon, Pangsun,
Hasak, Katha, Bisa, Namo and Kumsai - have been badly affected by opium
during the last five years. What is more alarming is that most of the
villagers have sold off their properties to meet their regular quota of
opium.
Though the opium consumption is a traditional practice for the Singpho
community, the problem began to appear more in these areas from 1995 after
liberalization of border trade between India and Burma.
And now the problem has taken a serious turn in view of unabated flow of
opium into the region taking advantage of porous international border.
"My father used to take opium. And after his death, I started taking it
daily. This is our tradition for which the Singpho community do not want to
give up opium", this was the immediate reaction of Aung Gam, a Singpho youth
from Kumsai.
He has also stopped further studies; and not willing to work in the paddy
field. He is not the lone victim. There are hundreds of Singpho youths who
are facing the same problem.
"We generally take two to three tolas daily to meet our demand (one tola is
nearly 10 gram). But sometimes we need more quota to get fast kick", Yaoong
and Song unequivocally said.
These two Singpho youths had started taking opium last year in a village of
Burma while attending a traditional function of the Burmese people. The duo
stated that one person spends minimum Rs. 200 to Rs. 300 daily to procure
opium.
When asked about their procurement strategies, they said the addicts had
regular suppliers. But they refused to name the persons involved in opium
trafficking.
According to them, Burmese people cultivate opium in some remote pockets
just opposite the international border and then they supply to the Indian
people through some villagers. These villagers belong to Tangsha community
who has been supplying opium to the northeastern states of India as per
demand of the people, they added.
Molomg Pahar, located along the border of Burma, is said to be one of major
transit points of opium smuggling through which maximum consignments of
opium come to the region.
Moreover Pangsau Pass, Nampong and Jairampur are slowly emerging as major
routes of opium smuggling across the international border.
In North East India, opium is smoked by wooden and Bamboo pots called Doba,
but some times the people row opium to get fast kick.
Of the 12 Singpho villages, Pangsun and Kumsai are worst affected in which
estimated 80 per cent of youths are addicts. Another important fact is that
due to prolong use of opium; most of the Singpho people have lost their
fertility. This can be justified by the fact that in 1950 the Singpho
population was recorded at 50,000. Now the figure has come down to 10,000
only in the whole northeast India.
Commenting on the prevailing situation, the Singpho National Council (SNC)
leader Mr. Rajesh Singpho stated that an urgent step should be initiated
considering the gravity of the situation and with the decreasing population
of Singpho community.
"Recently some opium addicts were imprisoned by the law enforcement
agencies. But they started taking it again immediately after their release.
So the concerned agencies should organize awareness camps", he added.
On the free flow of opium across the international border, the SNC leader
observed that law enforcement agencies should gear up operations to check
the menace.#
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50,000 Rohingyas poised to cross into Bangladesh;
BDR on red alert, border closed
1 November 2003:
About 50,000 Rohingyas from the Burma province of Rakhine (Arakan) have
camped across the Naf river for last couple of days with intent to cross
into Bangladesh, sending the BDR on red alert and also closing the border,
according to today’s The Daily Star.
The authorities of Bangladesh are trying to confirm information from the
Bangladesh-Burma border about the possible influx of the Rohingya Muslims
for fear of communal riots in Rakhine state, the paper said.
Cox’sbazar Deputy Commissioner Saifuddin Ahmed told The Daily Star by phone
last night that the border was sealed to roll back any influx of Rohingyas
from cross the river bordering between the two neighbouring countries.
“ We have mounted a watch on the border and the BDR (Bangladesh Rifles) has
been put on red alert,” the deputy commissioner said.
On the report on Burma border force, Nakasa, building up troops along the
border, the district administrator described it as unconfirmed.
BBC Radio last night quoted Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan as saying the
precautionary measure was taken to head off any intrusion.
The border unease coincided with a discussion on the issue of Burma refugees
at a meeting between the Bangladesh Disaster Management and Relief Minister
and second and third secretaries of the US embassy in Dhaka on Thursday.
From December 1991 to March 1992, between 210,000 and 250,000 Rohingyas fled
Rakhine state in west Burma to Bangladesh for fear of torture, religious
persecution and forced labour by Burmese army.
All but around 20,000 Rohigyas who fled Burma in 1991-92 returned home under
an initiative of the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The Burma military government said it would accept only 7,500 of the 21,800,
whose identities as Burma nationals were verified.
The UN body requested Bangladesh to integrate the remaining 14,000 with
local Bangladeshi, but Bangladesh did not agree to the UNHCR request.
Scattered repatriations have taken place since 1997, but mostly the process
stalled over the Refugees’ unwillingness to return and the lengthy
verification process on the Burma side. #
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US Embassy officials Discuss on Burmese Refugees issue
31 October 2003:
Two US embassy officials discussed the Burmese Refugees issue with a
minister of Bangladesh at Dhaka on 30 October, according to BSS, a local
news agency of Bangladesh.
The discussion was come out during the meeting between Second Secretary
Joseph B Mellott and Third Secretary Steptten J Wilger of American Embassy
in Dhaka and Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Chowdhury Kamal
Ibne Yusuf at latter’s office in Dhaka.
In the meeting, besides the Burmese Refugees issue, they also discussed the
bilateral aspects relating to mutual interested, especially on cooperation
to face earthquake and other natural disasters.
According to local officials sources, A total of 238,443 Burmese Muslim
refugees have so far returned home, while some 17,000 refugees awaiting
repatriation at makeshift camps at Kutupalong of Ukhia township and Nayapara
of Teknef township in Bangladesh.#
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Burma’s National Convention: A New Negotiating Forum?
By Aung Naing Oo
30 October 2003:
Burma’s ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has had its hands
full since the announcement of its roadmap to democracy on August 30. Given
the earnest preparations regarding the reconvening of the long suspended
National Convention (NC) and the finishing of the proposed constitution, the
junta’s tenacity is apparent. The NC, however, could become a negotiating
forum if the current opposition to the convention and the proposed charter
continues.
Within two months of its roadmap policy declaration, the SPDC appointed and
reappointed high-ranking military officers and top civil employees as key
members of the National Convention Convening Commission. Rangoon has also
selected a number of other senior government officials for various
Convention Working Committees. Its political wing, the Union Solidarity and
Development Association (USDA), has been busy organizing rallies across the
country. These rallies are specially designed to solicit support for the
junta's NC and the proposed roadmap.
Encouraged by their first diplomatic victory, secured at the recent
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Bali, Indonesia,
the Burmese junta has continued to promote and defend its roadmap for
democracy. In a statement issued on October 16th, the SPDC urged critics to
join hands with it on the road to democracy and reminded them that it is a
“complex and difficult endeavor, particularly in a country like Myanmar.”
Recently, the SPDC’s Labor Minister, Win Tin, defended his government’s
inability to spell out any details of the NC. He even blamed the National
League for Democracy (NLD) for the original NC’s failure, citing their
boycott in 1995, and noting that the party left the convention voluntarily.
Likewise, the Rangoon junta lashed out at US President George Bush for his
disparaging remarks towards the junta’s roadmap during the recent Apec
meeting in Thailand.
Undoubtedly, the SPDC will continue to work to garner support on both
domestic and international fronts. The Burmese generals know that while
internal support for its roadmap is crucial, external - more precisely
regional - backing will ultimately determine the success of their blueprint
for democracy.
Unfortunately for the junta, however, no major political or ethnic groups
have expressed total support for the roadmap. Although no one rejects the
concept of holding a national convention to resolve the country’s
long-standing problems, all key political and ethnic entities have
questioned the NC process and the contents of the proposed constitution.
Khun Htun Oo, leader of the Shan National League for Democracy, which won
the second largest number of parliamentary seats in the 1990 elections, told
the Democratic Voice of Burma on September 6th that he and his group did not
want to become culprits by joining the NC in its present setup. The Shan
leader called for appropriate changes to be made to the NC. According to the
Irrawaddy magazine, even the United Wa State Army (UWSA), Rangoon’s closest
truce partner, confirmed that it would attend the NC only if certain
conditions were met. In a statement jointly signed by two other ceasefire
groups, the UWSA demanded “free choice of delegates, free discussions and
freedom of meeting among ethnic leaders” as pre-conditions for their
participation in the NC. It is highly unlikely that the SPDC will grant
these conditions.
Other key political ethnic organizations that have articulated their
positions on NC and the constitution include the Kachin Independent
Organization, the New Mon State Party, and the Committee Representing
Peoples’ Parliament. The Karen National Union, one of the few remaining
armed ethnic groups that haven't signed a truce with Rangoon, called the
roadmap “the lost road to nowhere,” in a statement issued last month. Major
ethnic alliances, including the United Nationalities League for Democracy
and the United Nationalities Alliance, have also made their opposition to
the NC known.
Given the nature of Burmese politics and the strong-armed tactics of the
Burmese junta, these organizations are subject to harassment, coercion and
other forms of unjust pressure from the SPDC for rejection of the NC. Yet,
it is likely that they will continue to insist that appropriate changes be
introduced before the NC can reconvene with their support. As all of these
organizations have seen or experienced a series of broken promises from the
Burmese generals, they have little reason to trust the junta.
Furthermore, the Burmese regime has had more than a decade to work towards
democracy and reconciliation. So far nothing has been achieved, nor has any
progress has been made. Undeniably, suspicion and distrust of regime leaders
has also grown proportionately following the Depayin ambush on the NLD and
its supporters. Despite obvious threats, the people, particularly political
and ethnic entities, are unlikely to provide support or legitimacy to the
regime’s roadmap and its pursuit of a perpetual hold on power.
Elsewhere, according to the exiled National Coalition Government of the
Union of Burma, the Australian Federal Parliament Joint Standing Committee
and the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva contend
that the NC is “designed to prolong and legitimize military rule against the
will of the people.” Likewise, the US and EU object to the restrictiveness
of the NC process, as well as the exclusion of Aung San Suu Kyi and other
key leaders.
Asean will continue to call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. Eventually,
it is likely – despite its initial support for the roadmap - that Asean will
also ask the SPDC to liberalize the NC process and give up some of its
unrealistic demands. This may happen when the regional grouping realizes the
extent of internal opposition to both the NC and the proposed constitution.
Without domestic support and from within the region, it will be extremely
difficult for the SPDC to achieve its goals. Under these circumstances, the
regime will be faced with two choices. The first is to continue to ignore
calls for NC reforms – in which case the entrenchment will continue and the
conflict in the country will persist. If the regime opts for this choice, it
is likely that the SPDC will lose what little credibility it has with
regional allies. The second is to give up some of its own demands in the
proposed charter and implement greater inclusiveness in the NC process - in
which case the NC could become a negotiating table.
So far nothing concrete is known as to how the drama will unfold; the regime
has not committed to any specifics regarding the NC. The SPDC leaders may
still have a few tricks up their sleeves. But they appear to be aware of the
potential roadblocks in their roadmap. There is no way back now, as the
junta has assured its commitment to a roadmap toward democracy. Whether the
SPDC leaders choose the road of least resistance depends on their wisdom and
farsightedness. #
Aung Naing Oo is a research associate with Washington-based the Burma Fund.
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Burmese smuggled goods flood Chittagong markets a head of Eid
31 October 2003:
The markets of Chittagong, the largest port city of Bangladesh, are being
flooded with Burmese smuggled goods ahead of Eid-ul-Filtr, according to the
financial express on 28 October.
Local manufacture filled up with five smuggling syndicate are now are very
active in Chittagong, source said.
It is learnt from different source that five smuggling syndicates comprising
two related with Burma and Thailand products and other three with India
fabrics.
Most of Burmese smuggled goods arrive Bangladesh from different parts of
Chittagong costal area including Cox’sbazar and Teknaf, a border town of
Bangladesh, opposite Maung Daw, most western border town of Burma.
At present items like spices, fish, slipper, Burmese sarong, plastic
utensils, Burmese woodcarving, Cattle, Cowskin, drugs, and fishing nets are
being smuggled in directly from Sittwe, the capital of Arakan state, to
Chittagong and other parts of the country through the open unguarded high
seas, sources said.
But there are a few numbers of import goods through the Land Customs station
at Teknaf include dried fish, mango, pickles, sandals, tamarind, betel nuts,
ginger, etc, said a businessman from Teknaf.
According to a number of sources in the border a number of strong smuggling
syndicates operating on both sides of the border control the trans-border
smuggling.
Different law enforcing agencies of Bangladesh have also been asked to keep
themselves alert for conducting drive against smugglers this year in
different markets of Bangladesh during the Ramadan, reliable sources said. #
________________________________________
Exile members of NLD pray for Aung San Suu Kyi release
30 October 2003:
Exile members of NLD in Bangkok offered alms to Sanghas and prayed for the
release of Burma’s democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on the 5th month
anniversary by remembering victims of Depeyin victims, NLD member Daw Khin
San Nwe from Bangkok said.
She explained that their plan to hold a demonstration in front of Burmese
Embassy in Bangkok was canceled due to tight security of Thai officials and
only the religious ceremony was held at Wat Plote (pronounced Thai)
monastery, Ran-na-wa (pronounce Thai) in southern Bangkok.
“We made candle light prayer service for our leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who
has been under arrest for five months. We pray for our colleagues who were
the victims of Depeyin incident,” Daw Khin San Nwe said.
The religious ceremony was attended by twenty peoples since the attempt to
make demonstration in front of Embassy were supposed to attend over a
hundred activists.
As Thai police had anticipated possible anti-government demonstrations
during Thai Prime Minister visit to Burma on November 10, more police trucks
and personals were stationing in front of Burmese Embassy, Daw Khin San Nwe
explained why they had to change their plan for demonstration in front of
Embassy.
Exile NLD members had decided to submit a four-point memorandum to Burmese
Embassy in Bangkok. “In our memorandum to Embassy, we demand SPDC to 1. To
release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and allow her freedom of movement, 2. To allow
reopening of NLD offices all over the country, 3. Denouncing ‘Road Map’
proposed by Gen Khin Nyunt and 4. To re-start tripartite dialogue in the
country,” Daw Khin San Nwe told our NMG correspondent.
In Burma, NLD members have been continuously sending request letter to the
head of SPDC, Gen Than Shwe to allow reopening of NLD offices all over the
country.
During the past five months after Depayin incident, exile members of NLD in
Thailand have been trying to organize religious alms offering as well as
demonstration for their fellow members of NLD who were victimized in the
Depayin massacre amidst heavy security controls and arrests by Thai
authorities.#
__________________________________
Cheaper Burmese Onions to go to Bangladesh
29 October 2003:
The traders from the Burmese-Bangladeshi border welcome the Bangladeshi
government’s decision to reduce the tariff on onions, said a prominent
businessman in Taknef, a border town of Bangladesh close with Burma.
In order to lower the high prices on food items in Bangladesh, the tariff
will be reduced from 29.5% to 22.5% on imported food products.
A spokes-person from Inn Paut Wa Company, a biggest private company of
Arakan state, said that Bangladesh imported the largest amount of onions
from Burma last year, but since the rise of tariffs, the imports have
declined.
It is said that last year a large quantity of onions were imported into
Bangladesh, both legally and illegally from Burma, but this trade has almost
ceased during the year. The reasons for he ceasing is the high tariff and
the Burmese government’s enlisting of the onion to be a “restricted” item.
The retail price of onions in Bangladesh is currently 36 Takas per kilogram
(540 Burmese Kyat), and it is sold at 285 Kyats in Akyab, the capital of the
Arakan state. It can be sold at 400 Kyats in Maung Daw, the border town.
An Arakanese trader lamented to Narinjara that the onion export trade could
be huge and the price could rise in Arakan, which means that people may not
be able to afford to have onions.
A large amount of onions is expected for the border trade soon, another
businessman said.#
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Counting the paddy in Arakan
28 October 2003:
The Rakhine State Peace and Development Council is doing a census on
agricultural assets in the state, starting from this month, according to an
official from township agricultural department of Maung daw, the most
western border town of Burma, bordering Bangladesh.
The taking of the census is done through township committees, which consist
of the regional Peace and Development Council officials, Township Land
Management officials, Township Fishery and Veterinary officials, and people
from GONGOs (government organised NGOs) such as Red Cross, Fire Volunteer
Department, and the infamous Union Solidarity and Development Association
(USDA), (the USDA is believed to have organised the attack on the Democracy
Leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on May 30).
These Committee members have attended training courses in data collection.
With the help of about 60 literate soldiers, every local military deputy
commander is assisting the Agricultural Census Committees, according to a
report from Maung Daw.
In the census, paddies, prawn hatcheries, gardens, palm and coconut farms
are counted over a period of 45 days.
In the villages of southern Maung Daw; namely Alaee Thann Gyaw, Thann Darr,
Warr Cha, Chainn Karlee, Zaw Ma Ta, Tha Ree Kont Dan, Kan Pu, Ka Nyee dan,
Oo Down, Gaw Ra Kar lee, Tha Baee Daw, Myant Lutt, Kyauk Pan Dun, Thonne Baw
Kai, Ine Din, Tha Wonn Chaung, 26 high officials under the leadership of
Major Tun Zaw Oo from Nasaka, the border security force, and 50 departmental
officials are working on the census.
Farmers with land and fishery owners have to pay to accommodate and foods
the visiting officials during their stay at the villages, said a village
chairman in the area. #
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Robbers disguised as Immigration officials loot belongings from Burmese workers
24 October 2003
Robbers who pretended themselves as Immigration officials looted estimated
amount of Baht 9,000 and some gold from Burmese workers.
The accident took place at workers residential areas of U-Thai city, Ayudaya
district, Burmese worker Maung Zaw(41) who was victim of robbery case said.
At 2 am on October 24, Four peoples in civilian dress disguised as
immigration officials entered the residential areas where over eighty
Burmese construction workers were staying, and knocked the door and looted
cash, gold and work-permit cards from two rooms.
“Three peoples pretended as immigration officials came to my room around 2
am and knocked the door. They said they are immigration officials and asked
to show work-permit. After that they took gold and Thai Baht 8,000 from my
wife by force,” Maung Zaw depicted the case.
The victimized couple have been working in Thailand for three years in order
to ordain their son (16) in the Buddhist order. The robbers also took Baht
1500 from their neighboring room.
Though the victims cried for help on that night, the neighbors were not
available due to the fear of consequences.
Later the case was brought to the police station with the help of employer
and to reinstate work-permit for the victims.
The looters took away O-mine (37) and Maung Min Htun Aung (16) along with
them as hostages with a car and dropped after beating them near 7 km away
from residence of victims.
Burmese workers are working at Muban Taede construction site in U-Thai city,
100 km to the north of Bangkok.#
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Kachin Christians pray to get back their holy hill
24 October 2003:
Kachin ethnic christians organized numerous prayer meetings in Kachin State
to get back their holy hill on October 18 and 19 in Daw-Phu-Yan township
near China-Burma border.
The holy place was recently occupied by Burmese army, peoples from this
area said.
The villagers from Liza which is under control of KIO told NMG that Baptist
Religious leaders organized to hold several prayer sessions in
Dawt-Phone-Yan and five Church dioceses in more than fifty villages hold
prayer meetings for their holy hill at the same time.
“Under the guidance of five Churches, the villagers from over fifty villages
prayed for getting back of their holy hill,” a Daw-Phu-Yan resident who
does not want to be identified said.
Daw-Phu-Yan, situated in Ba-Maw district and became a township recently, is
constructing several government offices and new army posts have been
stationed in its township.
Khan-Kai Hill (alias) Prayer Hill that celebrated the 75th anniversary of
Christian religion in Kachin State is also known as Jubilee Hill was
occupied by Burmese Army on September 15, 2003. Northern Regional Commander
Gen. Maung Maung Swe told Church Leaders that the hill was occupied
"According to Central Plan" and will be controlled by LIB 427 as an Army
property.
Daw-Phu-Yan Baptist Church leaders tried to appeal Religious Affairs Minster
to hand over the Holy Hill back, the Ministry responded to follow the order
of Northern Division Command.
Although the religious leaders also sent an appeal message to Ba-Maw
District Peace and Development Council on 9th October, no official response
are yet to received.
In the appeal message to All Baptist Christian, it is said that there will
be district-wide prayer sessions in Ba-Maw district unless there is no
changes after current prayer sessions.#
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Some Refugees go back to Burma as the new relocation site seems insecure
21 October 2003:
Some ethnic Karen refugees from Mae-khong-khar camp are going back into
Burma for security reason as the government troops stations at Bawy Baw Lu,
the new site for relocation which is situated just opposite to former
strong-hold of KNU Headquarters, Manaeplaw, some refugees from camp said.
Although there was no detail number of refugees who returned to Burma, a
number refugees are returning back into Burma, said the refugees.
“I don’t know exactly how many refugees returned to Burma. I saw Thai border
security guards and Thai villagers. The refugees leave the camp only at
night time to hide in darkness. When we hear dog barks, we could see
refugees are leaving the camp along with their belongings and their
children.
These refugees told me that they used to live Bway-Baw-Lu and left there
because it was not a safe place. As authorities are forcing us to relocate
Bway-Baw-Lu we have no option but to go back to Burma,” one of the remaining
refugees from the camp said.
Refugees are still worrying about recent attacks by government and DKBA
troops to their camp and rising fear of their new camp might be attacked
again.
As monsoon already ended, the Thaung-Yin river can no longer be barrier
between new camp and Manaeplaw, the government troops can easily cross the
river and may attack the new camp. Though Thai authorities says no need to
panic on attack of Burmese army, the refugees in the new camp are not
relying on it.
One refugee said “When DKBA attacked Mae-La-Mu, they (Thai border security
guards) also had to run away in fear along with refugees. In reality, they
could not protect and don’t want to die for us because they are Thai.”
While some refugees are returning Burma, remainders amidst their worries,
are waiting to relocate new camp by arrangement of Thai authorities.
On 5 October, Thai authorities issued an order to relocate Mae-Khong-Khar
refugee camp to Bway-Baw-Lu.
New location of Bway-Baw-Lu refugee camp situates four kilometera away from
former stronghold of KNU Headquarters, Manaeplaw on Thai-Burma border, where
Burmese troops are stationed.#
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Burma News International (BNI) is a network of six Independent Burma Media
organizations: The Mizzima News, The Narinjara News, the Kaladan Press
Network, the Khonumthung News Group, the Network Media Group and the
Independent Mon News Agency.#