EBO BURMA NEWS 19 JULY 2003
News Summary:
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1. Burmese migrants' life and death
struggle
2. Thais propose ''road map'' for
democracy in
3. Bush slams
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Burmese migrants' life and death
struggle
BBC World News
By Christopher Gunness
BBC's East Asia Today, northern
"We can take you to where their ashes
are", said my Burmese guides, and that is
exactly what they did, even though the area is
restricted by Thai police.
Just outside the Thai town of
into the sodden rice fields. In a small bamboo
grove, my guides became more
agitated as they led me into a clearing. And there
was the evidence they had
promised - a small area, carpeted with ash, and
what appeared to be a charred
human bone and pieces of burnt tyre.
On the night of 24 May, this had been the
scene of a vicious murder.
Six Burmese workers, between the ages of
19 and 33, were beaten, shot dead
and their bodies covered with tyres and set
on fire.
The six men had been attempting to free
friends and relatives kidnapped by
a local politician. They had no money and
so incurred the wrath of the militiamen
loyal to this politician and paid with their
lives.
The incident has sent a wave of fear
through the 100,000-strong Burmese
community in Mae Sot. Like many of the one million
Burmese migrant workers
in
back home.
But once they arrive, their hopes of a
better life usually come to nothing. Most do
not have papers and are living illegally,
open to exploitation by Thai businessmen
and worse.
Moe Swe, Secretary of the Yang Chi Oo
Burmese workers Association, said that
about one migrant worker in the area is
murdered every week.
"Their bodies are usually burnt,
which makes it impossible for the police to
investigate properly."
In the case of the six murdered in May,
that certainly appears to be the case.
The local politician allegedly responsible
for ordering the attack has been
released on police bail while the investigation
continues.
But few in the Burmese community believe
that prosecution will result.
"They almost never do", said Moe
Swe.
At Mae Sot's main police station,
Lieutenant Colonel Samloerng
the police were doing what they could, but
that genuine problems were
hampering the investigations.
"Few of the Burmese speak good Thai,
which makes it hard for us to do
our work", he said.
But many believe the root of the problem
lies in
The Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, is accused of appeasing the military
government in
Last year, registration was introduced for
migrant workers. But far from offering
protection as had been promised, critics say it has
been used to clamp down,
not just on workers, but on human rights and
democracy campaigners who
One Burmese exile, who was too frightened
to give his name, said Thaksin was
sucking up to the generals in
squeezed in the middle, without legal protection.
"So for the foreseeable future, we
will live in fear of being killed. Our woman
will live in fear of being raped," he
said.
--------------------------------
Thais propose ''road map'' for
democracy in
Reuters
By Dan Eaton
change in military-run
plans to impose stiffer sanctions on its
impoverished Southeast Asian
neighbour.
Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said plans by the Bush
administration to ban imports from
for the past four decades -- would not hurt
the junta. ''
disagrees with the
hurt the government but the poor,'' Surakiart
told reporters.
''There will also be more illegal labour
flooding to
Surakiart said
democracy in
''
direction towards democracy and we have discussed
it with them,''
Surakiart said, but declined to give
details.
''Its up to
common basis for national reconciliation in
Surakiart said
when it will release Suu Kyi and when it will
have a
constitution.''
--------------------------------
Bush slams Myanmar, Iran, Cuba,
North Korea, Belarus, Zimbabwe
regimes on a
abuses in
In a proclamation issued to mark
"captive nations week" first observed in
1959 as a statement against communism,
Bush hit out at a familiar gallery of
US foes.
"Millions of people still live under
regimes that violate their citizens'
rights daily," Bush said in a statement
issued as he made a day-trip to
from his
"In countries such as
their government, speak out against oppression,
and practice their religion
freely," Bush said.
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