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BurmaNet News: December 20, 2000
- Subject: BurmaNet News: December 20, 2000
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2000 05:57:00
______________ THE BURMANET NEWS ______________
An on-line newspaper covering Burma
________December 20, 2000 Issue # 1690_________
INSIDE BURMA _______
*Democratic Voice of Burma: NLD MP Interviewed on Reports of SPDC-Aung
San Suu Kyi Talks
*Democratic Voice of Burma: Black market trading triggers diesel oil
shortage for naval vessels
*Democratic Voice of Burma: Land confiscation by military
*AP: Myanmar general says army will join people to battle ?internal
destructive elements?
*KNU Mergui-Tavoy District Information Department: Human Rights
Situation Report on Tenasserim Township
REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL _______
*AFP: Thailand protests to Myanmar after fishing boat fired on
*AP: Rights group criticizes U.S. imports from Myanmar
*Radio New Zealand International: Government offered "world's biggest
ruby"
*Xinhua: Myanmar Media Hail Anniversary of Ties With Yugoslavia
*AFP: Malaysian jailed for smuggling 64 Myanmars
*The Asian Age Newspaper (New Delhi): [alleges link between ULFA and
Mong Tai army
*The Statesman (New Delhi): Chinese militants backing N-E rebels
ECONOMY/BUSINESS _______
*Canada Asia Pacific Resource Network: Grave Diggers: A Report on Mining
in Burma?available online
*Dana Magazine (Burma): Excerpt from article on Myanmar Garment
factories
*TV Myanmar: [Junta chief comments on relationship between politics,
economics]
OPINION/EDITORIALS_______
*The Gazette (Montreal): Faint hopes in Burma
OTHER______
*PD Burma: Calendar of events with regard to Burma
The BurmaNet News is viewable online at:
http://theburmanetnews.editthispage.com
__________________ INSIDE BURMA ____________________
Democratic Voice of Burma: NLD MP Interviewed on Reports of SPDC-Aung
San Suu Kyi Talks
Dec. 19, 2000
[[DVB correspondent Htet Aung Kyaw telephone interview with U Than Tun,
NLD MP and member of the Committee Representing People's Parliament;
portions by Htet Aung Kyaw read by announcer and portions by U Than Tun
recorded]]
[FBIS Translated Text]
[Announcer] There have been reports recently of SPDC [State Peace and
Development Council] officers meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Our DVB
[Democratic Voice of Burma] contacted and interviewed [via telephone] U
Than Tun, who was recently released from house arrest and who is the
secretary of the Committee Representing People's Parliament [CRPP] and
elected representative of National League for Democracy from Taungtha
Township constituency-2, Mandalay Division. [Htet Aung Kyaw read by
announcer] Recently, there have been reports of SPDC officers holding
talks with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. U Than Tun, your comments please.
[Begin recording] [U Than Tun] We do not know [illeg]]they have nothing
substantial to do. So, they are urging the SPDC to do what they want to
happen.
[Announcer] It is now 3 months since Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been
detained for trying to go to Mandalay. What is the status of NLD members
who were detained in connection with this incident?
[U Than Tun] Those detained in Mandalay have been freed.
Of those detained at Rangoon Railway Station, about 10 or so persons
have been released, while some are still being detained. We are trying
to get the release of those remained in detention in connection with the
incident at the railway station as the reason for detention is
meaningless.
[Announcer] We have heard that the landlords have sued the NLD to evict
the NLD headquarters.
We have not heard any further on it.
[U Than Tun] It is pending [words rendered in English] at present. As
it is pending, the landlord has not said anything and we continue to
stay. It implies that negotiations will be made after Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi and U Aung Shwe are released from their detention. [end recording]
[Announcer] That was the DVB interview with U Than Tun, a member of the
CRPP and elected representative from Taungtha Township constituency-2,
Mandalay Division. We will present the part of Htet Aung Kyaw-U Than Tun
interview on economic, social, and education situation in Burma
tomorrow. Please tune in.
___________________________________________________
Democratic Voice of Burma: Black market trading triggers diesel oil
shortage for naval vessels
Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1245 gmt 17 Dec 00
Personnel from SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] naval vessels
have been selling their rationed diesel oil on the black market due to
high oil prices. They are forcibly demanding diesel oil required for the
naval vessels from the commercial boats. DVB [Democratic Voice of Burma]
correspondent Myint Maung Maung filed this report stating that the
necessary diesel ration could not be supplied to the naval vessels due
to shortage of diesel oil.
[Myint Maung Maung] Two naval vessels no. 447 and no. 413 that are on
offshore security duty near Kalakut Island off Kyaikkhami coast have
been demanding one barrel of diesel oil each from private passenger and
commercial boats plying between Tenasserim and Rangoon Division on 15
December. They said it was because the naval vessels did not receive
their November quota of diesel oil. The naval vessels received only 30
gallons of diesel oil daily just to warm the engines. Due to the order
to keep reserve oil for operational purposes, it is the responsibility
of the naval vessels which do not have sufficient reserves to search for
diesel oil.
Diesel oil has become scarce in Moulmein since October and one gallon of
diesel oil reached 550 kyat [Burmese currency unit] at one time. Due to
high oil prices personnel from the naval vessels of Mawrawaddy Naval
Base are selling diesel oil in the black market at two thirds the
prevailing price and sales are believed to be brisk. When the SPDC Navy
Commander in Chief's Office found out about the black marketing and
stopped the diesel oil quotas, they resorted to forcibly demanding
diesel oil from private boats.
___________________________________________________
Democratic Voice of Burma: Land confiscation by military
Oslo, in Burmese 1245 gmt 17 Dec 00
DVB Democratic Voice of Burma has learned that the No. 8 Tactical
Command has earmarked to confiscate over 300 acres of land in the
eastern part of Ye-Tavoy road in Tenasserim Division.
The land will be used to raise funds for regiments under the tactical
command. Over 300 acres of land between Kalonehtar and Kamawhla Villages
east of Ye-Tavoy road will be confiscated. There are 13 villages in the
vicinity and they have lived there for generations. The No. 8 Tactical
Command plans to make egg plant plantations and the villagers themselves
have to clear the area. Some frontline battalions under the tactical
command have asked Myittha, Khawar, Mudaw, Kyauktwin, Khaungtaw, Pyarbar
Chaung, and Khaungmu Villages in Tavoy District to give 100,000 betel
nut tree saplings.
Earlier this year, they have confiscated over 8,000 acres of land east
of Ye-Tavoy road and the villages were forcibly removed. The land was
sold to Poe Kaung Company and Ti Choung Company. Local villagers have
now lost their traditional livelihood of farming, orchards, betel nut
and durian plantations.
____________________________________________________
AP: Myanmar general says army will join people to battle ?internal
destructive elements?
Dec. 20, 2000
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) _ Myanmar's armed forces will join hands with the
people to annihilate ``internal destructive elements'' that pose a
danger to the state, one of the country's ruling generals has said.
Although he did say what such elements were, Lt. Gen. Tin Oo was
clearly referring to opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National
League for Democracy party, who are frequently accused of relying on
Western nations for support. They face harsh repression by the junta.
Tin Oo's remarks, reported by state-controlled media on Wednesday, came
in a speech made Tuesday at a planning meeting for commemorating Armed
Forces Day next year. Tin Oo is army chief of staff and Secretary-Two of
the ruling junta, officially known as the State Peace and Development
Council.
Myanmar's current military government took power in 1988 after crushing
a popular uprising against army rule which began with a 1962 coup
d'etat.
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy swept general elections in
Myanmar, also known as Burma, in 1990, but the military refused to honor
the result. Since then the party has faced constant harassment and
hundreds of NLD members have been jailed.
Tin Oo said in his speech that the Tatmadaw _ armed forces _ had
overcome various dangers together with the people.
He said that Myanmar's armed forces have experience not only with
military affairs, but also with political, economic and administrative
matters.
``Internal destructive elements that lack internal strength are openly
relying on foreign countries,'' the New Light of Myanmar newspaper
quoted him as saying. ``The Tatmadaw together with the people will crush
and annihilate all dangers threatening the interests of the entire
nation and those who are trying to grab power through shortcuts,''
Such indirect attacks on Suu Kyi's pro-democracy movement are common in
the state-controlled press, though often not so sharp.
Armed Forces Day commemorates when the Myanmar army rose up against
Japanese occupation forces in 1945. It is celebrated annually on March
27 with a military parade and speech by the head of the junta, Senior
Gen. Than Shwe.
___________________________________________________
KNU Mergui-Tavoy District Information Department: Human Rights Situation
Report on Tenasserim Township
[Abridged]
[Report on events in November 2000, Tenasserim Township]
Karen National Union
18 December, 2000
Forced Portering
On Novermber 2, 2000, Burma Army's Light Infantry Battalion 561
combined with village militia from Nyaung Bin Gwin village arrived to
Taket village tract in Tenasserim Township, and captured 50 villagers
and took them back to the military camp in Kauk Yo village. Their
intention is to let the villagers transport the military supplies.
On November 3, 2000, Burma Army's Light Infantry Battalion 561
arrived to Thabawleik and Ban Law villages (in Tenasserim township,
Mergui district) and captured more than 70 villagers and forced them to
served as porter to carry their military supplies.
On November 8, 2000, a troop of Burma Army's LIB 101 arrived to
Meelaungwin (Tenasserim township, Mergui district) village and demanded
80 porters from village headman. The demand was to send the 80 men to
their camp not later thank 25 November 2000.
On November 15, 2000, Burma Army's LIB 561 commander Lt. Col.
Min Din informed the villages in Pawat area (Tenasserim township, Mergui
district), Tagu, Aleman, Yengangyi, and Shwegenyo village to send him
900 porters to his battalion headquarters not later than 25 November
2000.
On November 15, 2000, Burma Army's LIB 559's commander Lt. Col
Kyi Shein and LIB 560 commander Lt. Col. Htay Win forced the villagers
in Manorone area in Mergui district (who have not served as porter as
ordered) to give money instead. The villagers are from Manorone, Klaw
Thoo Wow. Lahpoonge, Mukwah, Hkechaung. The officers ordered the village
tract chairman U Maung Oo to dictated and collect 7000 kyats from 20
households and sent it to the commanders. Those who unable to give the
dictated money have to go and serve as porter to the borderline Burma
Army's military camp Ko Thet Loo. Villagers who could not give the
dictated money and have to go and serve as porters to the frontline camp
were 30 men form Manorone, 15 from Taung Nge, 5 form Lahponge, 10 from
Hkechaung and totally they were 60.
Extortion
On November 8, 2000, a combined troop of Burma Army's LIB 101
and village militia (about 100 in number) entered into Milaungwin
village (in Taninthayi township) and opened fire to scare out the
villagers from the place where they were forcibly relocated. After the
villagers fled away they took an ox belong to Saw Win Stine and order
the village head to pay for the price to the owner and left the village.
On Nobember 13, 2000, Burma Army's 563's commander Lt. Col. Kyaw
Kyaw Mya and his 2IC Maj. Htun Htun Oo entered to Mazaw village in
Easter Mergui township, Megui district and forced the villagers to
purchase for them: A set of VDO Karaoke cassettes, an amplifier, a 5 HP
Honda generator engine plus a dynamo, a set of satellite dish, clothing
and food stuffs costing 240000 kyats.
The materials and cash were to be arranged for by the village headmen
and sent to SPDC authorities.
Torture
On Novembers 3, 2000, a troop from Burma Army's LIB 431, which was
led by company commander Capt. Aung Gyaw, entered to Le Seik village
(Tenasserim township, Mergui district) with his 50 men. He captured Le
Seik villager Saw Doh Gay (30 yr.) and accused him as he contact and
send information to Karen resistance group. Aung Gyaw beat and strikes
Saw Doh Gay severely. After Aung Gyaw left the villagers have to send
the victim to the Taninthanyi hospital where he was accepted as and
indoor patient.
Forced Labour
On November 18, 2000, Burma Army's LIB 559 and 560 ordered the villagers
from Kay area (Kyeinchaung village tract, in Tenasserim township) to
construct a new road from Htee Wah Throgh military camp. 100 villagers
from Kay area have to serve as in-turn forced loabours everyday since
the date they were ordered.
(Note: 1 US$ = 400-420 Kyat at cross border trade rate. Minimum wage for
a day = 200-500 Kyat. Minimum wage for civil servant for one month =
1500 Kyat.)
___________________ REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL___________________
AFP: Thailand protests to Myanmar after fishing boat fired on
BANGKOK, Dec 20 (AFP) - Thailand has lodged a protest with Myanmar after
one of its vessels seized a Thai fishing boat and fired on another boat,
killing one of its crew, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.
"We will ask Myanmar to investigate the shooting incident against two
Thai trawlers and the violation of Thailand's territory," spokesman Don
Pramudhvinai told a press conference.
The letter will be lodged with the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok.
The Thai-language newspaper Thairath said one fisherman was killed and
another injured Tuesday after the Myanmar navy boat entered Thai
territory and opened fire on their vessel.
Another vessel was seized and towed into Myanmar waters, the report
said.
___________________________________________________
AP: Rights group criticizes U.S. imports from Myanmar
Dec. 20, 2000
WASHINGTON (AP) _ A human rights group Tuesday said the U.S. military is
propping up Myanmar's repressive regime by importing clothing from the
country.
The Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), which runs stores on
U.S. military bases, this year imported dlrs 138,290 in clothing made in
Myanmar, also known as Burma, according to the New York-based National
Labor Committee.
The Pentagon said it had no immediate comment.
The rights group noted that Myanmar does not permit wholly owned
foreign subsidiaries and that all factories must operate in joint
ventures that pay their employees as little as seven cents an hour.
``These joint ventures provide much needed foreign currency to prop up
the Burmese military,'' the group said in a statement.
``The military uses a portion of these revenues to purchase weapons in
China to turn on their own people.''
Though importing from Myanmar is not illegal, the group says it
violates the spirit of 1997 sanctions imposed on the country by
President Clinton to bar new investments.
He was hoping to crimp economic support to the regime that has refused
to recognize the 1988 election victory of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung
San Suu Kyi and has kept her under house arrest for much of the time
since then.
The rights group, which works against sweatshop conditions around the
world, also criticized U.S. apparel companies for increasing imports
since the sanctions were imposed. U.S. government figures show U.S.
clothing imports from Myanmar were dlrs 85 million in 1997 , compared to
dlrs 342 million in the first 10 months of this year.
___________________________________________________
Radio New Zealand International: Government offered "world's biggest
ruby"
Wellington, in English 0800 gmt 19 Dec 00
[Excerpt]
Vanuatu's honorary consul to Thailand, Amarendra Gosh, has shown the
Vanuatu Council of Ministers what he claims to be the world's biggest
ruby. Mr Gosh, who says the ruby is worth 170m US dollars, has donated
it to the Vanuatu government. He claims to have bought the ruby at an
auction in Thailand after it had been smuggled from Burma.
Prime Minister Barak Sope says his government will make sure the stone
is real, and that it was not brought into the country illegally, before
using it as a security for loans...
___________________________________________________
Xinhua: Myanmar Media Hail Anniversary of Ties With Yugoslavia
YANGON, December 20 (Xinhua) -- The state-run newspaper The New Light of
Myanmar Wednesday hailed the golden jubilee of the establishment of
diplomatic ties between Myanmar and Yugoslavia with the belief that the
two countries will be able to enhance cooperation in the future through
sympathy and mutual understanding. Marking the event, the newspaper in
an article praised Yugoslavia for having played a leading role in the
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), pointing out that Myanmar too is one of the
original nations which took the initiative to organize the Bandung
conference that laid down the principles of the NAM.
Citing the same experiences of driving out aggressors, the newspaper
said the two nations have been able to maintain their cordial relations
in spite of the rough situation they had to deal with. The newspaper
recalled a visit to Myanmar of Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin
Jovanovic in March this year, during which the two sides agreed to
respect each other's sovereignty and integrity based on equality and
non-interference in the internal affairs of each other and affirm their
support for the inalienable rights of sovereign states to determine
freely their own political and economic systems. Myanmar and Yugoslavia
established diplomatic relations on December 19, 1950, and the first
Yugoslav ambassador arrived in Myanmar in 1952 while Myanmar opened its
embassy in Belgrade in 1955.
_______________ ECONOMY AND BUSINESS _______________
Canada Asia Pacific Resource Network: Grave Diggers: A Report on Mining
in Burma?available online
Dec. 20, 2000
Grave Diggers: A report on mining in Burma, writen by renowned mining
author Roger Moody, is now on-line. You can get to the report by
visiting a portal on the Canada Asia Pacific Resource Network:
http://www.caprn.bc.ca/campaign/burmamines/
Or by visiting the Miningwatch Canada website:
http://www.miningwatch.org
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Grave Diggers: A Report on Mining in Burma
Roger Moody
"Grave Diggers", written by Roger Moody, gives an overall analysis of
mining and mining companies in Burma. It examines in the roles of the
companies involved and their relationship to the Burmese military
dictatorship. Also presented are the social impacts, in particular the
spread of HIV/AIDS through heroin use among miners, and the
disintegration of communities with the discovery of rubies.
Moody reviews in detail the historical development of the industry and
mining regulations in Burma, "the least developed or sound of any in the
world", according the report's author. Examples are provided of the
inadequacy of the regulations and the loopholes they offer. The author
then examines companies active in the country (chiefly the Canadian and
Australian mining industry), their role, and why they have been
permitted to operate under militarized conditions. Canadian stock
markets, where much of the investment is raised, Canadian law and the
industry itself come under scrutiny.
The report in particular highlights the activities of Canadian mining
company Ivanhoe Mines, headed by Robert Friedland, holder of the single
largest mining investment in the country. Moody reviews the history of
mining operations owned by Friedland, including environmental disasters
in the United States and Guyana and corporate links to mercenary armies
in Africa, and how Ivanhoe entered into joint venture with the Burmese
military dictatorship to develop one of Asia's largest copper mining
projects in Monywa.
The report concludes with accounts of the deplorable conditions of
miners and affected communities in Burma. Moody examines the hazards of
methods employed at Monywa and offers evidence of serious human rights
violations, safety breaches, and serious ground water pollution.
Finally, the conditions of mines elsewhere in Burma are presented,
including the breakdown of village communities in Shan State, and an
interview with a Burmese mining engineer who describes how primitive
mining standards has jeopardized lives and the environment.
In "Grave Diggers," Roger Moody provides an extraordinary wealth of
detail on the damages done by international mineral extraction companies
in deals with the brutal junta of Burma. He tears away the screen
covering this little-known aspect of controversial investments in that
hidden, oppressed land. Moody's comprehensive report, with harrowing
revelations about multinational corporations and their effects on human
rights and the environment, is valuable and compelling reading.
-- Edith T. Mirante
author of "Burmese Looking Glass"
___________________________________________________
Dana Magazine (Burma): Excerpt from article on Myanmar Garment factories
[Posted to soc.culture.burma 12/19/2000 by <mhtoon@xxxxxxx> .
Authenticity and accuracy of translation not verifiable. Dana is a
Burmese language publication..]
November 2000 issue, pages 85/89 by U Htin Aung Kyaw)
"Up to March 2000 statistic, there are over 400 Garment factories
including small to big scale in Myanmar. It has created and employed
over 300,000 (three hundred thousand) people in various positions. Most
of them are women and their minimum education is 6th grade and above.
They have better salary than competitive market in the country."
"United States has already allowed quota of year 2000 from Myanmar
Garment industries is 337,327 dozen (over three hundred thousand) of mix
apparel. China has quota of 30 millions dozen"
"JODC - Japanese Overseas Development Corporation" (Good Will) has
agreed to open train center in Myanmar. They (JODC) did assist to
Cambodia garment industry which has export income of over US$ 500
millions in this fiscal year."
___________________________________________________
TV Myanmar: [Junta chief comments on relationship between politics,
economics]
Rangoon, in Burmese 1330 gmt 17 Dec 00
[BBC Summary of World Broadcasts---Chairman of Burma's State Peace and
Development Council, Than Shwe, has said that politics and economic
achievement have a direct correlation and therefore everyone must strive
to achieve a firm economic foundation. In a guidance speech, Than said
efforts were being made to achieve success in agriculture, livestock
breeding and the transport sector. He noted that the role of leadership
was vital for nation-building.]
Excerpt from report by Burmese TV on 17 December
Sr Gen Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
SPDC and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services, accompanied by SPDC
Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo, SPDC Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint, Rear Adm
Kyi Min, navy commander-in-chief, Lt-Gen Kyaw Than, air force
commander-in-chief, Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Adm Maung Maung Khin, Lt-
Gen Tin Hla, deputy prime minister and minister for military affairs,
Maj-Gen Ye Myint, chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and Development
Council, and commander of central military command, the ministers, the
deputy minister for health, senior military officers, the chairman of
Magwe Division Peace and Development Council and responsible officials,
departed Magwe by helicopter at 0815 local time yesterday for
Taungdwingyi and inspected Yanpe Dam Project in the township...
In his guidance speech Sr Gen Than Shwe said dams were being built in
the east of Magwe Division and efforts were to be made for contiguity of
irrigated areas as much as possible and ways and means should be sought
to irrigate the acreage in between. He spoke of the need to scrutinize
practical irrigation of cultivated areas by the respective dams as
targeted. He said the dams might silt up with the passage of time and
this might lead to less water storage in the dams. He called for the
continued maintenance and repair of the main canals and others. Than
Shwe and party inspected the construction of the main dam with the use
of heavy machinery. The earth Yanpe Dam is 9,000 ft long and 78 ft high.
On completion of the Dam, it will supply water to about 10,000 acres.
The senior general and party next went to the site of Sunchaung Dam
Project in Myothit Township by helicopter...
Sr Gen Than Shwe, SPDC chairman and commander-in-chief of the defence
services, met members of Magwe Division Peace and Development Council
PDC , Mandalay Division Agricultural Coordination Committee, chairmen of
Magwe, Pakokku, Thayet, Minbu, and Gangaw District PDCs Peace and
Development Councils , chairmen of 16 township PDCs, division, district
and township level departmental officials, and members of the Union
Solidarity and Development Association at the City Hall in Magwe at 0900
local time today...
In his guidance speech, SPDC Chairman Sr Gen Than Shwe said: The task to
achieve rice sufficiency in the Anya region of the up country is of
great importance. As there is no rice sufficiency in Mandalay and Magwe
divisions, strenuous efforts are to be made to boost per-acre yield and
extend paddy sown acreage. As the government has spent huge sums on dams
and pump irrigation projects, measures are to be taken to ensure water
supply in the irrigated areas. It is necessary to make arrangements for
cultivation of paddy with the use of rain water and irrigated water.
Only then can Mandalay and Magwe divisions meet the planned target for
paddy cultivation.
It is very important to utilize water and land resources fully. It is
also required to expand cultivation of oil crops, with the aim of
ensuring edible oil sufficiency in the divisions and partly fulfilling
requirements of edible oil in the entire nation. Since sunflower
cultivation is making progress, encouragement should be given to
cultivation of sunflower. Moreover, projects for cultivation of crops on
the sandy river banks are to be implemented successfully.
While efforts are being made to achieve success in agriculture,
livestock breeding work is to be carried out in conjunction with
agricultural work to supplement and increase the income of farmers. It
is required to provide assistance for livestock breeding work suitable
for the region. As greenery projects are being undertaken, with the aim
of improving weather conditions, emphasis should be given to grow trees
such as tamarinds, toddy palms and neem trees which provide shade and
contribute to regional economic development.
Then, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin reported
on the targets of cultivation of monsoon paddy, summer paddy, oil crops,
cotton, sugarcane, beans and pulses, and accomplishment of the targets,
establishment of special crop cultivation zones in Mandalay and Magwe
divisions, measures taken to improve agricultural methods, and tasks for
water resources development.
In his concluding address, Sr Gen Than Shwe said: It is important for
the nation, division and state, district, and township level authorities
to lead effectively and enthusiastically the working people in national
development projects. In building a modern, developed nation, tasks
should not be carried out at random, and all have to work with
seriousness in accord with the 12 political, economic, and social
objectives. For national economic progress, efforts must be made to
achieve firm development in the main sectors such as agriculture,
fisheries, and industrial sectors.
He noted politics has a direct bearing on the realization of economic
endeavours as politics and economy are correlated, so all must strive in
creating a firm foundation for the economy. Serious attention is also
being paid to development of the transport sector, which is vital for
national economy, and endeavours have been made to commission Yangon
Rangoon -Akyab Highway into service and projects are under way to build
Mergui-Kawthaung Road and Yangon-Kyaukpyu Road. Meanwhile, plans are
being made for human resources development required for nation building
tasks. He said it is human beings that are building and safeguarding the
nation and they are the ones creating their own destiny. At this
juncture, he noted, the leadership role is of vital importance and
persons in this capacity at various levels should be diligent,
intelligent, and efficient...
___________________________________________________
The Asian Age Newspaper (New Delhi): [alleges link between ULFA and Mong
Tai army]
"Barua runs Bangla business: Police"
Date: Wednesday, December 20, 2000
(BY RAHUL DAS)
Calcutta, Dec. 19: The elusive and shadowy
commander-in chief of the banned militant outfit Ulfa,
paresh Barua, has his sights on gig money. Entrenched
in Bangladesh, Barua also heads a leading corporate
house----- Karimuddin Exports Pvt. Ltd, which employs
more than 400 executives and workers, according to
Assam police director-general H.K. Deka.
Mr Deka said several intelligence reports suggest that
Barua has invested a huge amount of money in several
countries. "We have information that he has invested a
huge amount of money in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma and
Dubai. He frequently flies to these places," Mr Deka
told The Asian Age from Guwahati.
Intelligence officers said on Tuesday Barua runs
Karimuddin Exports Pvt. Ltd in partnership with the
brother of a former Bangladesh Prime Minister. "While
the Bangladeshi partner has a stake of 60 per cent,"
he said. Senior Army officers of the Eastern Command
said the hawala route is Paresh Barua's lifeline.
"Extortion money from Assam is siphoned off through
hawala channels and is then pumped into the export
trading companies in Dhaka by Barua," an Army officer
said.
Indian authorities have also come to know that Ulfa
has set up a number of money-spinning companies in
Bangladesh, ranging from hotels to poultry farms. A
Union home ministry report said Ulfa has set up
business projects in other Bangladeshi towns like
Dhaka, Sylhet, Mymensingh and Narsingdi. "In Dhaka
alone, the Ulfa bosses own three hotels, one private
clinic and two motor training schools. In Sylhet
district, it has several grocery and drug stores. In
Mymensingh it owns some poultry farms, while in
Narsingdi it runs two schools," the Union home
ministry report says.
According to the report, Ulfa generates a lot of
revenue from these business ventures and it is these
funds that enable its leaders, like chairman Arabinda
Rajkhowa and commander-in-chief Paresh Barua, to live
in luxury in Bangladesh and Bhutan. " Anup Chetia, who
is in a Bangladesh prison, had also visitde Brazil and
South Africa with this money before his arrest," an
officer said. Ulfa, the report says, has also set up a
profitable narcoties business following a tie-up with
the NSCN ( K), which has led to contacts with the
Kachin Independent Army. " They are also developing
links with ex-drug baron Khun Sa's disbanded Momg Tai
Army, both for procurement of arms and for a narcotics
conduit," it says. The home minister report also
talks of the expensive lifestyles of Ulfa leaders and
their families. It says money is being extorted from
business houses and the common people for " the
personal benefit of the luxury-loving United
Liberation front of Asom leaders basking in luxurious
villas and five-star hotels in foreign cities like
Geneva and Bangkok."
___________________________________________________
The Statesman (New Delhi): Chinese militants backing N-E rebels
December 20, 2000
Shivanth Jha
NEW DELHI, Dec. 19. û The Intelligence Bureau has asked the Centre to
take urgent steps to combat "Sino militants' illegal infiltration,
supply of huge quantities of sophisticated arms and ammunition and
contraband into India from China to the North-east."
The IB had submitted a five-page confidential report to the home affairs
ministry last week. It noted: "The Chinese militants have spread their
area of operation in all the seven North-Eastern states and are running
parallel administrations with the help of local militants in the entire
region, posing a serious threat to internal security."
"If timely action is not taken, the entire region is likely to be turned
into a big arms bazaar," the report stated and added that due to the
Nepal government's strict law enforcement, they were concentrating on
the North-east.
The agency sent its report soon after the visits of the Assam Governor,
Lt Gen (retd) SK Sinha, Mr. Prafulla Mahanta and Mr. Nipamacha Singh. It
accused all the seven state governments of poor administrative control
in tackling the menace.
The report said about 60 to 75 per cent of the illegal arms is being
supplied to rebel groups in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Assam,
Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura by Chinese militants.
"These outfits are creating a major law and order problem in the
bordering NE region and it will be difficult for the law enforcement
agencies, including Border Security Force, to deal with the situation,
if timely action is not initiated by New Delhi," it said.
Justifying the IB report, Manipur's deputy chief minister, Mr. L
Chandramani Singh told The Statesman today: "We just can't rule out the
possibility of supply of illegal arms from across the border." He,
however, denied poor administrative action by the state governments.
They were doing their best with the available financial resources, he
added.
The IB report, which was forwarded to Mr. LK Advani, and the home
secretary, Mr Kamal Pandey, also stated: "If the government fails to
take suitable measures, the entire North-East region is likely to be
turned into a Chinese gun bazaar as they (Chinese militants outfits)
have flooded the area with sophisticated arms and ammunition."
It said that Chinese militants supply firearms to the Ulfa, Bodo and
Naga rebels. Despite largescale security operations, militancy has
increased during the past two years, the report added.
The Ulfa has become the major buyer of such firearms, the report said,
adding that "it has increased its clout in the region". Chinese
explosives are widely used by Bodo militants who were behind over 100
blasts in the states.
___________________________________________________
AFP: Malaysian jailed for smuggling 64 Myanmars
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 (AFP) - A Malaysian has been jailed for one year
after pleading guilty to smuggling 64 Myanmars into the country, the
official Bernama news agency said Wednesday.
Bernama said a magistrate court fined Mohamed Shukri Che Ros, 30, 5,000
ringgit (1,316 dollars), or a one year jail in default.
But Mohamed Shukri, who pleaded guilty to the charge, opted to go to
jail because he could not pay the fine.
The charge under carries a maximum 10,000 ringgit fine or five years'
jail on conviction.
Prosecutor Ibaharim Abdul Rahman told the court that anti-smuggling
unit officers found 64 Myanmars after searching Mohamed Shukri's lorry
on a highway in the northern Perlis state on December 8.
They had entered the country without valid documents, he said. Perlis
shares a common border with Thailand.
Magistrate Azizan Mohamed Arshad, who ordered the lorry to be
confiscated, said Mohamed Shukri's offence was serious as it involved
smuggling a large number of illegal immigrants into the country.
______________OPINION/EDITORIALS_________________
The Gazette (Montreal): Faint hopes in Burma
December 20, 2000
Burma's repressive military rulers have been hinting that they will soon
release Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest. One hopes they mean it. But
even if the dissident, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, really does gain a
greater measure of freedom, no one should mistake that for the real
freedom that she and her fellow Burmese deserve.
The current military junta in Burma, also known as Myanmar, came to
power after murderously crushing pro-democracy demonstrations that swept
their country in 1988. At least 3,000 unarmed activists were killed. Two
years later, the despots ignored the results of democratic elections
that were won in a landslide by Ms. Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy.
Since then, the military rulers have continued to crush all attempts to
install democracy in Burma. Remarkably, though, they have not crushed
the spirit of Ms. Suu Kyi, who has spent most of the past decade under
house arrest (sometimes formally, sometimes de facto) and has paid an
enormous personal price for her steadfastness. Nor have they crushed the
spirits of many others, who continue to struggle for democracy, against
all apparent odds.
Human-rights violations in Burma remain systemic, and the Burmese
government continues to come in for well-deserved condemnation.
This week, Amnesty International warned that the torture of political
prisoners is not only widespread in Burma but its use is growing. Last
week, the United Nations General Assembly criticized Burma for a long
list of abuses, including forced labour and summary executions. The
International Labour Organization has regularly raised the alarm about
the use of forced labour.
And the country's rulers are now also getting blasted by military
officials in neighbouring Thailand, who see Burma's complicity with drug
producers as a threat to stability and human welfare in the region. (One
factor that makes it particularly hard to dislodge Burma's rulers is
that they control much of the important economic activity in their
country. Not only would democratic liberalization cut into the
military's political power, it could also curb its lucrative - and
corrupt - business enterprises.)
A lifting of Ms. Suu Kyi's house arrest would be welcome, but it should
be seen as a tactical move by the junta to diffuse criticism, not a
harbinger of any fundamental liberalization.
______________________OTHER______________________
PD Burma: Calendar of events with regard to Burma
No 48 Vol. IV December 19th 2000
╖ January 2001 : Sweden takes over EU Presidency
╖ February 5-6th : Meeting of Solidarity Groups,
Brussels
╖ February 6th : James Mawdsley to address the
European Parliament, Brussels
╖ February 15-16th : Burma Donor Meeting, Sweden
╖ March/April : Teachers/ Students Union
Conferences
╖ April : EU Common Position Review
╖ March/April : UN Human Rights Commission,
Geneva
╖ May 13-20th : UN LDC III, UN conference on
the LDC-countries, Brussels
╖ May 27th : 11th Anniversary of the 1990
elected.
╖ May : ARF Senior Official Meeting, Hanoi
╖ June 19th : Aung San Suu Kyi birthday
party and Burmese Women's Day
╖ July : Belgium takes over EU Presidency
╖ July : 8th RFA Ministerial Meeting, Hanoi
╖ July : 34th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and
Post-Ministerial Conference
╖ July : ASEAN Summit
╖ Aug. 31st- Sep.7th : World Conference
against Racism and Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and related
intolerance, South Africa
╖ December 1st : Worlds Aids Day
╖ December 10th : 10th Year Anniversary of the
Nobel Peace Prize for Aung San Suu Kyi, Oslo
________________
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