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The BurmaNet News: March 11, 1999



------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
 "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: March 11, 1999
Issue #1225

HEADLINES:
==========
THE NATION: JUNTA GAINS FROM THAI HOSPITALITY 
SCMP: BURMA MUST PROVE SINCERITY 
THE NATION: REGIONAL GROUP BLASTS RIGHTS RECORD 
BKK POST: TRAINING OFFERED TO BURMESE OFFICIALS 
BKK POST: RANGOON NOD EXPECTED FOR ROAD PROJECT 
ANNC: GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR BURMA 
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THE NATION: JUNTA GAINS FROM THAI HOSPITALITY
10 March, 1999 

It was no accident that the visiting Burmese junta leader, Gen Than Shwe, took
a stroll with his Thai counterpart, Chuan Leekpai, through the picturesque Doi
Tung Development Project in Chiang Rai for the obligatory photo opportunity,
after all carefully choreographed by both sides.

But photo opportunity aside, both leaders nevertheless demonstrated their
determination to get results from this rare trip by the Burmese general. That
Than Shwe's visit came 11 years too late only goes to confirm the longstanding
suspicion Burma has harboured towards Thailand. Of all the Asean countries,
Thailand was last on Than Shwe's itinerary. This is despite the Kingdom being
Burma's nearest neighbour.

For the first time it can be said with some degree of confidence that both
countries have succeeded in establishing the kind of rapport necessary for
future negotiations, be it on drug suppression, border disputes or refugee
problems.

The leaders did choose the most obvious topic for discussion during the visit,
cooperation in drugs, considered the most palatable subject for the two
participants and the international community. When US Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright visited Thailand last week she did the same routine.

For Burma to work with Thailand on anti-drug cooperation is indeed a welcome
sign. No doubt Rangoon would like to capitalise on the gains it has recently
achieved by the much criticised Interpol meeting and the United Nations
report,
which has some positive things to say on Burma's anti-narcotics effort.

Another key Burmese leader, Khin Nyunt, even complimented Thailand on its
success in replacing drugs with cash crops coupled with job training for the
local communities. Such a positive gesture does not come easily to the
Burmese.


Both countries also agreed to set up a joint committee comprising
drug-enforcement agencies to stop cross-border smuggling and illegal drug
manufacture along the dense Thai-Burmese border.

Both sides also sought progress in reducing border tension, which now covers
both land and sea. This is especially serious given the recent exchange of
gunfire between the two countries' naval forces in the Andaman Sea, which
resulted in a number of deaths.

The meeting this week indicated the willingness of the two Asean countries to
try to avoid using violence to settle their differences. In this sense, it
marks a new spirit in Asean, an organisation that takes pride in not having
had
a war between its member countries since its founding in 1967.

But if tension indeed spilled over to Doi Lang, where Thai and Burmese troops
are now holding nerve-racking military exercises, there would be bloodshed.
Given this, the two leaders need to work harder together and ensure that peace
and stability are permanent along the long border they share.

Judging from the words of the Burmese junta leaders, they obviously want to
put
an their best face for the world while in Thailand. Indeed Bangkok could serve
as a bridge between that very isolated nation and the rest of the world.

The smooth, two-day visit, despite protests from human-rights groups, will
certainly pave the way for the reconvening of the long-awaited joint committee
between Asean and the European Union Commission in the very near future. As a
coordinator, Thailand is ironing out the final details for the meeting at the
end of this month in Bangkok.

It should not be long before Chuan makes an official return visit to Rangoon.
The Thai leader wants to go there, on condition that there is substantial
overall progress in human rights and democratic freedom, though he would
certainly not say so in public. On any visit to Rangoon he would be
accompanied
by Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan, whose vision of a more open Asean has
irked
the Burmese leaders somewhat.
     
The timing of this return visit, however, will depend mostly on the
generals in
Rangoon and especially on whether they heed the international call for a
dialogue with the opposition to resolve long-standing problems.

****************************************************************

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST: BURMA MUST PROVE SINCERITY ON DRUG ERADICATION
10 March, 1999

HONG KONG - The visit to Thailand of a 40-strong Burmese delegation led by
Senior General Than Shwe is another step in the junta's campaign to gain
credibility in the wider world.

If the visitors heard some tough talking from their Thai hosts, they were also
accorded a meeting with King Bhumibol in the capital. That seemed in keeping
with the stick-and-carrot approach to the constructive engagement policy which
the Thais have adopted towards their neighbour. 
     
This approach has produced nothing of value for members of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations except to have damaged previously excellent ties with
the European Union while producing none of the hoped-for improvements in human
rights. But Thailand has a more pressing need to engage with the junta.

Burma has overtaken Afghanistan as the world's top opium producer, and is
known
to be producing ever larger quantities of amphetamines. Thailand's own efforts
to cut drug production have been sabotaged as more and more of its young
people
fall prey to the traffickers.

There are reports that half the children in northern Thai schools are known to
have tried amphetamines. Apart from its own efforts to curb domestic
production, the government in Bangkok has to tackle the problem of drugs from
its neighbours.

At least half the narcotics smuggled out of the Golden Triangle passes through
the country increasing in value along the route - yet few traffickers are ever
brought to justice.

Things may change now if the two countries really increase their joint
efforts,
and the Burmese junta promotes its own anti-drugs campaign.

So far, it seems to have convinced Interpol of its sincerity, though US drug
enforcement agencies and others remain deeply cynical. Cooperation with
Thailand in the fight is the surest test of Rangoon's commitment. If that
stands up to scrutiny, it will be the first sign that constructive engagement
can produce results.

****************************************************************

THE NATION: REGIONAL GROUP BLASTS BURMESE RIGHTS RECORD
10 March, 1999 

A REGIONAL human-rights group yesterday blasted the government of Burma,
accusing the junta of gross violation of the human rights of its own people,
and urged Thailand to review its attitude to the military regime.

The absence of the rule of law in Burma has driven thousands of Burmese
nationals across the Thai border, where many have been "arbitrarily arrested,
tortured and detained and have suffered inhuman conditions inside Thai
prisons", Forum-Asia said in two open letters addressed to Thai Prime Minister
Chuan Leekpai and Gen Than Shwe, chairman of Burma's ruling State Peace and
Development Council.

The protests coincide with the two day visit of about 40 top Burmese leaders,
including Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, head of the powerful intelligence body, economic
tsar David Abel and Foreign Minister Win Aung, to Thailand in an attempt to
map
out a long-term strategy to curb the narcotics problems of the country.

Burma is one of the world's leading producers of heroin. The international
community has consistently condemned the military government for turning a
blind eye to narcotics production and trafficking.

The organisation said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which Burma
joined two years ago, could not justify the military regime.

The group urged the generals to establish a dialogue with the National League
for Democracy, the opposition party which won a landslide victory in 1990
general election but was denied the fruits of victory by the military.

****************************************************************

BANGKOK POST: TRAINING OFFERED TO BURMESE OFFICIALS
10 March, 1999 by Achara Ashayagachat 

Than Shwe keen on integrated farming

Burmese officials have been invited to train at farms and factories
operated by
Charoen Pokphand Group, the Thai agriculture giant that has invested US$9.4
million in farm businesses in Burma.

The offer was made yesterday when Senior General Than Shwe, chairman of
Burma's
State Peace and Development Council and prime minister, visited the group's
poultry farm and production facility at Bangkok Produce Merchandising Ltd in
Saraburi before ending his first official visit to Thailand.

Sen Gen Than Shwe and his delegation were enthusiastic about the potential of
integrated farming.

Burma is trying to increase agricultural productivity, especially of crops
that
would substitute for imports and save foreign currency.

CP has two businesses in Burma together worth $9.4 million. Myanmar CP
Livestock Co Ltd is wholly-owned investment arm, while CP Yangon is a trading
company.

Myanmar CP Livestock operates a feedmill factory with an annual production
capacity of 84,000 tons, and a poultry business, said Nattakrit Sivasri,
senior
vice-president of CP's agribusiness unit. 

CP has hired 354 families in Burma as contract farmers providing up to 10.4
million day-old broiler chicks annually, as well as 1.3 million laying hens.

CP Yangon trades raw materials including fishmeal, soybean animal feed and
corn, and promotes production of hybrid corn, vegetable seeds and marine
products.

"We are the first foreign company to promote chicken raising in the country
since 1996 and we have been asked to promote pig breeding and aquaculture," Mr
Nattakrit said.

However, business in Burma was expected to expand gradually as Burmese
currently had low buying power, he added.

The official exchange rate of six kyat per dollar against the black market
rate
of 344 is another barrier to expansion of foreign investment in Burma.

****************************************************************

BANGKOK POST: RANGOON NOD EXPECTED FOR ROAD PROJECT
10 March, 1999 

Kanchanaburi and Tavoy to be linked

The Burmese government is expected to approve by the end of this month a road
project linking Kanchanaburi's Ban Bongti in Sai Yok district with Burma's
deep-sea port of Tavoy, according to the secretary-general of the Industrial
Council of Kanchanaburi.

Somphop Thirasant said approval had been delayed because the project needed to
be sanctioned by a plenary meeting of the 18-member Myanmar Investment
Committee (MIC) but the recent meetings were not attended by all members of
the
MIC.

Mr Somphop said he had been told by Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, first secretary of the
State Peace and Development Council, that Burma would be able to tell the
council the date for the signing of the road construction project by the
end of
this month.

Kanchanaburi-Tavoy Development Co, of which Mr Somphop is vice-chairman, has a
30-year concession to build and operate the 110-km Bongti-Tavoy road worth
US$40 million from the Burmese government.

It is hoped Kanchanaburi would be transformed into a tourism hub of the upper
west after completion of the road, which would lead tourists into Burma in
just
a few hours.

****************************************************************

ANNOUNCEMENT: GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR BURMA
10 March, 1999  from: JKWolcott@xxxxxxx


There is a worldwide movement called the Global Day of Prayer for Burma. This
day is sponsored by Christians Concerned for Burma, a group that encourages
people worldwide to pray and act for change in Burma.

This year's day of prayer is THIS SUNDAY, March 14th.

To download a prayer guide for this week leading up to the prayer day and for
more information go to: www.prayforburma.org
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