[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
BurmaNet News: January 16, 2001
- Subject: BurmaNet News: January 16, 2001
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 14:20:00
______________ THE BURMANET NEWS ______________
An on-line newspaper covering Burma
January 16, 2001 Issue # 1712
______________ www.burmanet.org _______________
NOTED IN PASSING: "The drug factories are on your turf, and the
products are being sold in my house. You say you can't control them.
This is not right,"
Gen. Mongkon Ampornpisit, Former Thai Army Supreme Commander on the
Burmese regime?s claim that it cannot control drug production. See The
Nation: Mongkon Spells out Military's Role
INSIDE BURMA _______
*AFP: Myanmar regime says ready to "join hands" after talks announcement
*AP: Senior Myanmar leader says foreign pressure counterproductive
*Xinhua: Myanmar Holds National Seminar on Health Environment
*CHRO: Burmese Soldiers Stole A Church?s Solar Plate
REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL _______
*The Nation: Govt Categorically Denies Burma Arms Charge
*The Nation: Mongkon Spells out Military's Role
*AP: Thai police: leaders, 14 others from God?s Army rebel group
surrendered
*AFP: EU delegation to visit Myanmar
*The Times of India (New Delhi) : Navy chief to visit Myanmar after a
break of 20 years Navy chief to visit Myanmar after a break of 20 years
*MCC Communications: [Ediger blacklisted in Thailand]
*Mizzima: UNHCR to cut monthly allowance to Burmese refugees in India
UNHCR to cut monthly allowance to Burmese refugees in India
OPINION/EDITORIALS_______
*Bangkok Post: Junta Takes Tentative First Step
__________________ INSIDE BURMA ____________________
AFP: Myanmar regime says ready to "join hands" after talks announcement
BANGKOK Jan 16 (AFP) - Myanmar's military regime said Tuesday it was
ready to "join hands with all the forces in the nation" in an apparent
reaction to the announcement of landmark contacts with Aung San Suu Kyi.
But the junta's first secretary Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt said the
international community must roll back sanctions if it wants to see "the
emergence of a peaceful, modern and democratic state." The United
Nations announced last week that secret talks between Khin Nyunt and
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi were being held to prepare the way
for an historic dialogue between the warring sides. The regime has so
far made no official response to the news, but Khin Nyunt's comments
during an opening ceremony for a government training course for the
first time link the political thaw with the end of sanctions. Nations
using pressure tactics and sanctions on Myanmar "should give them up" if
they wanted to see national reconciliation begin in the military-run
country, he said. "It is now generally accepted by most observers that
these tactics have not worked and can be counter-productive.
"Presently (Myanmar) is beginning to achieve sound political, social and
administrative foundations and it is most important that these nations,
even if they are not in a position to assist us, do not impede the
progress being made." The heavy burden of sanctions, which has helped
bring Myanmar's economy to its knees, is credited with being one of the
major factors behind the junta's new willingness to countenance
political change. Khin Nyunt urged foreign nations holding
"pessimistic and narrow-minded views" on Myanmar to review their stance.
"Even as we look forward to joining hands with all the forces in the
nation in the march towards the national goal ... it is our earnest
desire to establish friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation with
all the nations of the world," he said. New signs have emerged in
recent days of an improvement in the political atmosphere in Myanmar as
the junta and the opposition edge towards an historic dialogue, their
first since 1994. Junta officials have told the NLD that 86 of its
supporters jailed since September, when Aung San Suu Kyi was also placed
under house arrest, will be allowed to receive food parcel and letters.
In another indication of the thaw, the regime has ordered the state-run
media to halt its routine attacks on the opposition leader.
____________________________________________________
AP: Senior Myanmar leader says foreign pressure counterproductive
Jan. 16, 2001
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) _ As Myanmar's military government moves toward
substantive talks with the pro-democracy opposition, a senior general
has appealed to foreign countries to stop pressuring the ruling junta.
``It is high time such nations give up sanctions and pressure tactics if
they really wish to see the emergence of a democratic state in
Myanmar,'' Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, the third-ranking member in the junta
said.
``These tactics are counterproductive since it hinder the very process
of democratization in Myanmar,'' he said, speaking at the opening
ceremony of a diplomatic skills training course at the Foreign Ministry
in Yangon on Monday. His speech was reported in all three
state-controlled daily newspapers Tuesday. For several years, the
military government has come under intense international criticism for
human rights abuses and repressing Myanmar's pro-democracy movement. The
National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi was never allowed
by the junta to take power after a sweeping general election victory in
1990. The United States and the European Union have been particularly
outspoken in their criticisms of the military regime, and instituted
limited diplomatic and economic sanctions against the junta. Khin
Nyunt did not name any country but said his remarks were addressed to
``to those nations that have negative and biased views on Myanmar.''
Last week, the United Nations announced that Khin Nyunt and Suu Kyi had
held their first talks in six years. The government had previously
refused to deal directly with Suu Kyi, insisting it would talk only with
other leaders of her National League for Democracy. The two sides are
expected to hold more discussions on national reconciliation soon. The
government and Suu Kyi, who remains under virtual house arrest, have yet
to comment. In similar past remarks about foreign interventionism,
Khin Nyunt usually included attacks on Suu Kyi's movement, but his
remarks Monday were conciliatory.
Khin Nyunt declared that Myanmar ``is beginning to achieve political,
economic, social and administrative foundations. It is important that
these pressuring nations do not hamper the progress even if they do not
want to assist us.'' . Khin Nyunt said that although the country
received practically no foreign assistance, the economy grew by an
average 7.2 percent in the first four years of the five-year economic
plan beginning 1996-97 because of the government's economic policies.
Independent economists have expressed doubt over such optimistic
statistics. Khin Nyunt also invited the Karen National Union _ the
sole major ethnic rebel group that hasn't signed a cease-fire with the
junta _ to work for peace and development like 17 other armed rebel
groups that joined hands with the government.
____________________________________________________
Xinhua: Myanmar Holds National Seminar on Health Environment
YANGON, January 16 (Xinhua) -- A national seminar-cum-workshop began
here Monday to work out an action plan on health and environment,
official newspaper The New Light of Myanmar reported Tuesday. The
two-day event is attended by Myanmar health officials, representatives
of U.N. agencies, non-governmental organizations and experts. Based on
the "Framework for Health and Environment Action Plan, "which is an
outcome of a Regional Consultative Meeting of World Health Organization
South-East Asia Region held in October 1997 in Maldives, key
environmental health issues such as water, sanitation and water
resources, clean air, food safety, solid and hazardous waste disposal
and safe use of chemicals and occupational safety will be discussed at
the seminar.
Myanmar is implementing its five-year national health plan ( 1996-2001)
which consists of six programs including the environmental health
program. Health assumes an important role in Myanmar's social objective
among others for national development and health and development
programs, especially in the under-served rural and border areas, have
been made possible in harmony with its economic policies and extensive
development of infrastructure.
____________________________________________________
CHRO: Burmese Soldiers Stole A Church?s Solar Plate
Chin Human Rights Organization
Jan. 15, 2001
Burmese soldiers led by Lt. Kyaw Min of Light Infantry Battalion ( LIB )
266 in Vuangtu camp, Thantlang township, Chin State stole a solar plate
and a 12-volt battery from Lawngtlang (B) village on October 13, 2000.
The soldiers, who said they were running out of battery, asked the
headman of the village to find a solar plate. The headman, Lian Rem (
name change ), told the officer that the village didnÆt have a solar
plate, but unfortunately, the officer saw one that was being charged in
the sunlight, and he told the headman to pick it. The headman explained
that that was the property of a Church. The officer threatened him and
forced him to take the solar plate which he would take for nothing.
The villagers expected that they would get it back the next day, but the
platoon commander Lt. Kyaw Min asked them to send two porters to carry
the solar plate and the battery to his camp to be his property. It
worths over Ks. 100000, including the labor charge. The solar plate was
donated to the Church by Lawngtlang natives working in Malaysia.
Vuangtu and Lawngtlang are villages in Thantlang township, Chin State.
The soldiers in Vuangtu camp had been reported to have the practice of
taking properties from business people who come and go through Hlamphei,
Khuabung and Lawngtlang.
In July 2000, they took 70 heads of cattle from smugglers and sold them
in the villages for their own pocket. They also seized 15 horse-loads
of goods which the owners never got back. In addition, the soldiers
asked the village headmen to help them cover what they did to the
smugglers. When the headmen denied, they were threatened and disturbed
by the Burmese soldiers in several ways. The name of the headmen are
hidden for security reason.
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________ REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL___________________
The Nation: Govt Categorically Denies Burma Arms Charge
Tuesday, January 16, 2001
THAILAND yesterday categorically rejected an allegation from a Burmese
state-owned paper that it was trying to revive the ethnic minorities'
armed struggle along the border by supplying them with weapons under the
pretence of narcotics suppression.
"We categorically reject the report in the Burmese paper The Mirror.
Thailand has no policy of supplying arms to ethnic minority groups to
fight the Burmese government," said Deputy Foreign Ministry spokesman
Rathakit Manathat.
The paper, in its editorial last Friday, slammed Thailand for supplying
arms and offering moral support to ethnic-minority rebels in a bid to
rejuvenate their armed struggle for autonomy.
It said Bangkok was using the excuse of drug suppression along the
border as a cover for its operations.
Rathakit said Bangkok wanted to see peace, stability and prosperity in
Burma as well as have a good neighbour.
"We believe in political means through dialogue as the only way to solve
political and ethnic conflicts and bring about reconciliation and
lasting peace in Burma.
"That is why we support the role of the UN's special envoy to Burma
Razali Ismail," he said.
Rathakit also said the Thai government believed its "unrelenting efforts
in the past will lead to serious and sincere cooperation in order to
tackle the drug problem".
___________________________________________________
The Nation: Mongkon Spells out Military's Role
Tuesday, January 16, 2001
BY VORAPUN SRIVORANART
The Nation
FORMER Supreme Commander General Mongkon Ampornpisit said yesterday
Thailand's military, with its closeness to regional counterparts, will
continue to play a critical role in the country's ever-shifting
relations with its neighbours.
However, Mongkon dismissed prospects of a return to a military role in
guiding foreign policy, saying the armed forces would not usurp the
Foreign Ministry's role.
Mongkon made the comments during a lecture entitled "The Military and
Our Neighbours" at Chulalongkorn University.
The general was quick to point out, however, that "it is undeniable that
relations between the armed forces are better than those between the
region's foreign ministries".
The military's main challenge now is to realise its goal of becoming a
"lean but mean" force, working within budgetary constraints without
sacrificing defence capability.
Mongkon admitted the cutbacks had diminished Thailand's capacity to
project force, however.
"If you read less, you're less likely to pass an exam," he said.
Thailand's defence budget stands at 1.4 per cent of GDP, the smallest in
the region, according to Mongkon, and slightly greater than those of
Japan and Switzerland.
This is worrisome in the context of a regionwide military modernisation
campaign, he said, noting that Burma, for example, spent 6.77 per cent
of GDP on defence and was constantly upgrading its arsenal, purchasing
modern weaponry from foreign manufacturers as well as arms made by local
suppliers with assistance from Singapore and Israel.
"Burma is the only country in the world increasing the size of its armed
forces," Mongkon said, citing the current global military streamlining.
Burma has 140 battalions comprising 50,000 personnel along its border
with Thailand, he said.
"That is equivalent to half the Thai army. Our bargaining power, in the
sense that 'whenever we talk they stop', has decreased significantly,"
he noted.
Another major concern is ongoing border disputes with the four countries
Thailand adjoins: Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia.
"I told the Foreign Ministry: 'Germany fought a war on two fronts and
lost. What are we going to do?,'" he said.
Thailand needed a "comprehensive strategy" in the event of a major
conflict on more than one front, one in which every Thai would be
required to fight, Mongkon said.
To prevent this worst-case scenario, Thailand must work to build
confidence using the principle of non-exploitation. In the case of
disputes, relationships between local commanders on the two sides would
be helpful in pre-empting escalation, he said.
Meanwhile, the general took a swipe at Rangoon for its "uncooperative"
approach to stemming the influx of drugs into Thailand.
There are now 20 to 30 illegal metamphetamine factories in
minority-controlled areas of Burma smuggling drugs into the Kingdom.
"The drug factories are on your turf, and the products are being sold in
my house. You say you can't control them. This is not right," Mongkon
said.
Serious communication problems between the two sides have stymied
cooperation not only on the issue of narcotics but also over refugees.
The present problem, he said, exists between the countries' highest
officials, not between local officials or the Thai and Burmese peoples.
Adding to the strain, he said, is a series of anti-government movements
allegedly using Thailand as a base from which to create unrest in
neighbouring countries.
"These are serious problems that have a serious effect on relations," he
said, adding that Bangkok needed to act decisively and sincerely with
its friends.
___________________________________________________
AP: Thai police: leaders, 14 others from God?s Army rebel group
surrendered
BANGKOK, Thailand
Jan. 16, 2001
The twin adolescent leaders and 14 members of a mystical rebel cult from
Myanmar surrendered to Thai authorities Tuesday, police said.
The members of the God's Army group, led by the charismatic brothers
Luther and Johnny, turned themselves in at the border with Myanmar in
Suan Phung district of Ratchaburi province, Lt. Col. Somchai Suwatsuwan
of Thailand's Border Patrol Police. Ratchaburi is 100 kilometers (60
miles) west of Bangkok.
The group, including nine boys and two girls, surrendered themselves
along with M16 assault rifle and other weapons.
The rebel group first gained notoriety after it gave refuge to another
group of Myanmar dissidents known as the Vigorous Burmese Student
Warriors who had taken hostages at the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok in
October 1999. The Thais allowed them to go free in exchange for the
captives' release.
Several months later, the Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors seized a
Ratchaburi hospital, demanding that the Thai government send medicine
and doctors to treat ethnic Karen people injured in fighting with
Myanmar troops. All hostage-takers were killed by Thai commandos.
It was unclear whether God's Army participated in the hospital raid. The
Myanmar army, aided by Thai forces, ousted the group from its stronghold
after the raid. They have been on the run since, variously reported to
be hiding out in villages on either side of the Thai-Myanmar border.
A photograph of a long-haired, angelic looking Johnny posing next to his
tougher looking, cigarette puffing brother was taken and circulated
around the world after the incident. The twins were 12 at the time.
Somchai said most of the surrendered rebels were being held at Border
Patrol Police headquarters in the province.
He declined to give more details, saying an investigation was underway.
The surrendered rebels include two suspects in the killing of Thai
villagers in a robbery on a Thai border village earlier this month, the
Nation television channel reported.
They had been separated from the other surrendered rebels and were
detained at a police station in Suan Phung, the Nation reported.
Violence along the border between Thailand and Myanmar, also known as
Burma, is common, although the two countries maintain good
government-to-government ties.
The frontier seethes with insurgents fighting the Myanmar government,
drug traffickers and smugglers. Local, cross-border conflicts are
common.
Karen groups are fighting for autonomy from Mynamar's military regime.
___________________________________________________
AFP: EU delegation to visit Myanmar
STOCKHOLM, Jan 16 (AFP) - A European Union (EU) delegation will visit
Myanmar at the end of January to meet with representatives of the
military regime and the opposition, a Swedish official said Tuesday.
The statement followed the announcement of landmark contacts between
Myanmar's ruling junta and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. "The EU
troika will visit Myanmar January 29-31," foreign ministry spokeswoman
Aasa Arvidsson told AFP. "This is a continuation of the EU dialogue
that began in 1999," Arvidsson said.
The troika, which consists of representatives from Belgium, Sweden and
the EU Commission and Council of Ministers, will hold talks with
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the military regime, and various
organisations and UN bodies. The United Nations announced last week
that secret talks between the junta's powerful number-three, Lieutenant
General Khin Nyunt, and Aung San Suu Kyi were being held to prepare the
way for the first official dialogue between the warring sides since
1994. Aung San Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace laureate who is viewed as
an icon of democracy by the West, was placed under house arrest in 1989
and only granted limited freedom in 1995. Despite being confined to
her home, she led her National League for Democracy to a landslide
victory in 1990 polls, which the junta refused to accept. She has
again been under house arrest since September 22.
___________________________________________________
The Times of India (New Delhi) : Navy chief to visit Myanmar after a
break of 20 years Navy chief to visit Myanmar after a break of 20 years
January 16, 2001
NEW DELHI: Chief of Naval staff Admiral Sushil Kumar is leaving on a
three-day official visit to Myanmar on Tuesday, the first by an Indian
naval chief in almost 20 years. Although expected to be high on
atmospherics, the visit is in keeping with the country's new pragmatic
policy to improve ties with the Yangon military junta. "It is basically
a return goodwill visit that has been hanging fire for some time and has
had to be rescheduled thrice earlier. But we hope to begin picking up
strings from where we left off many years ago," said a source.
The past few years have witnessed a series of visits between the two
countries, the last being in November last year when Vice-Chairman of
the ruling State Peace and Development Council Gen Maung Aye led a
high-level official delegation on a week's trip to India. That was his
second visit last year. Gen Aye had visited Shillong in January last
year in his capacity as Army chief, a day after the then Army chief, Gen
VP Malik, visited Myanmar.
During Gen Aye's November visit, New Delhi was particularly happy with
Myanmar foreign minister U Win Aung's statement that Myanmar would not
allow any outside power to use its territory against India for either
setting up military bases or for passage of arms. He was referring to
both large-scale Chinese military (and economic) assistance to Myanmar
supported by a trade regime that promoted extensive border trade and to
insurgent groups active in the North-East.
In fact, the alarming proportions of insurgency and narcotics trade
along with China's substantial military assistance had led Nerw Delhi to
establish quiet contacts with the Myanmar military junta in 1993.
Consequently, agreements were signed to deal with both cross-border
terrorism and narcotics smuggling, and also to promote trade along the
1,600-km Indo-Myanmar border. In 1995, the two armies had mounted a
largest ever-coordinated military operation along the Manipur, Mizoram
and Nagaland borders. In keeping with India's policy of engagement, the
BRO has recently finished constructing a 144-km highway in Myanmar
linking Tamu, located near the Manipur border, to Kalemyo. Discussions
have been on for extending the highway by another 160-km and to develop
a hydro-electric potential of the Chinduin river.
___________________________________________________
MCC Communications: [Ediger blacklisted in Thailand]
[Jan. 2001]
Mennonite Central Committee
AKRON, Pa. -- Max Ediger, longtime Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)
volunteer, has been banned from re-entering Thailand, where he works in
Bangkok at Burma Issues, a human rights organization he helped found in
1989. Ediger traveled to the United States in December to meet with MCC
staff in Akron, Pa., and visit family and friends in Oklahoma. Upon
returning to Thailand Dec. 31, he was denied entry.
Immigration officials told Ediger his name had been placed on a "list"
at the Ministry of Interior in November prohibiting him from entering
the country.
Ediger was involved in a seven-month-long court case in 2000 regarding
his work with Burmese refugees. Last February, Thai police raided the
Burma Issues office in Bangkok and charged Ediger with harboring illegal
immigrants. He was held for one day, then released on bail. Two other
MCC workers and nine Burmese trainees were also detained, questioned and
released.
Burma Issues helps Burmese refugees develop creative and nonviolent ways
to respond to the war and oppression in their communities.
The police raid in February followed the death of 10 Burmese rebel
soldiers killed in Thailand when they seized a hospital. The young men
had crossed the border illegally and one was found with a Burma Issues
publication in his pocket. He was not involved with Burma Issues,
although some trainees do come from counter-insurgency groups.
Burma Issues work includes researching and documenting human rights
abuses in Burma, producing various publications and teaching literacy.
Burma's more than 60 minority ethnic groups have struggled through civil
war and military rule since 1948. Most who come to Burma Issues for
help cannot receive legal travel documents to Bangkok, where the office
is located.
After seven months of spotty court hearings, Ediger pleaded guilty and
was sentenced to one year in prison and a $370 Cdn./$250 U.S. fine. The
court suspended the prison sentence, however, determining Ediger to be
of good character and Burma Issues work "beneficial to Thai society and
the people."
Since the February raid, Burma Issue has moved its trainings with
Burmese refugees out of Bangkok to the Burma/Thailand border. Fewer
resources and research materials are available there, but the move makes
this work less controversial.
Ediger is now in Hong Kong, where he's working with the Christian
Council of Asia and determining what to do next. Immigration officials
said it may be possible to appeal the ban on his entry into Thailand.
Since the list was created, a new Thai government has been elected.
MCC has three other volunteers at Burma Issues in Bangkok: Nunus Subandi
of Central Java, Indonesia; Erich Miller of Goshen, Ind.; and Joel
Ulrich of Lombard, Ill.
___________________________________________________
Mizzima: UNHCR to cut monthly allowance to Burmese refugees in India
UNHCR to cut monthly allowance to Burmese refugees in India
New Delhi
January 16, 2000
Mizzima News Group (www.mizzima.com)
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in
India has informed the Burmese refugees in New Delhi that it would not
be possible to continue to provide monthly subsistence allowances (SA)
to all refugees due to the level of UNHCR voluntary funds available for
the year 2001. Although UNHCR officials have not announced when exactly
the SA will be cut, it is now talking with the representatives of
Burmese refugees to evolve alternatives such as loan schemes and
skill-related training for the refugees.
In recent two meetings held on 14 December and 15 January, 2001 with
representatives of Burmese refugees, UNHCR officials cited the reason of
SA cut as low availability of financial contributions from donor
countries for this year. As a result, while UNHCR (India) had received
the budget allocation of US $ 1.6 millions last year, only US $ 1.2
millions is allocated for the New Delhi Office for the year 2001.
Moreover, 20% of the allocated budget for this year is again to be
frozen as some donor countries might not fully contribute their promised
amount.
ôWith this in mind, the further extension of monthly subsistence
allowances to all refugees would not be possible beyond UNHCR present
financial commitmentö, said UNHCR in a latter sent out to refugeesÆ
representatives. Marie-Jose Canelli, Officer Incharge, signed the
letter. It claimed that UNHCR (India) spent 40% of last yearÆs budget
amounting to US dollar six hundred thousands only for the SA of
Afghanistan and Burmese refugees in India.
UNHCR provides monthly Subsistence Allowance of Indian Rupees 1,400 (US
$ 30) per person to most of the Burmese refugees in Delhi. There are
around 800 Burmese refugees living under the mandate of UNHCR in India.
The Government of India has, since late 1999, issued Residential Permit
(RP) for the UNHCR-recognized Burmese refugees and the permit is to be
renewed every six month.
UNHCR is now seeking the active involvement of the Burmese refugee
community in activities geared towards improving their self-reliance,
from planning to execution. It has advised the Burmese refugees to set
up various Committees, which would work on the projected activities
towards welfare and self-reliance of the refugees.
It is, however, to continue to provide SA, through its one of NGO
partners in Delhi, to the extremely vulnerable individuals and would
continue to subsidize refugee childrenÆs access to education.
Burmese refugee community in New Delhi responded the news with dismay
and urged the UNHCR either to continue the monthly Subsistence Allowance
or resettle them in the third countries such as USA, Canada, Australia
and New Zealand.
ôWe are shocked to hear the news of SA cut. Going back to our own
country means imprisonment for life and death for usö, said Elvis Ceu,
an ethnic Chin national from Burma. Except some, many of the Burmese
refugees are not interested in self-reliance activities as they said it
would be very difficult for them to work in India. However, for UNHCR,
ôresettlementö is the least preferred solution as it entirely depends on
those countries to accept the refugees.
______________OPINION/EDITORIALS_________________
Bangkok Post: Junta Takes Tentative First Step
TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2001
The generals have invited in Suu Kyi for discussions on their country's
future. This is a first step on what may be a very long road, but one
which must be travelled, to democracy.
Htun Aung Gyaw
The political deadlock between Burma's opposition National League for
Democracy and the military junta has been broken through the efforts of
UN special envoy Razali Ismail.
Many, including UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the European Union,
Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Rattakit Manathat, the Singaporean
Foreign Affairs Ministry and US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
earlier had warned the regime to treat NLD head Aung San Suu Kyi as a
national leader not as a little sister. British Foreign Office Minister
John Battle also has announced that Britain would not ease its pressure
on the junta until it respects democracy and human rights, and shows
practical evidence of real progress.
The threat of sanctions late last year by the International Labour
Organisation shook the regime which goes under the name of the State
Peace and Development Council and forced arethink of its inflexible
stance, but without Mr Razali dialogue could never have gone ahead this
year.
Genuine peaceful change depends on building trust, forgiveness and
sacrificing self-interest. If the two parties put aside their own
interests and work together for the benefit of the people, they will
successfully build on common issues, and this will ultimately achieve
genuine long lasting peace for the whole country.
It is too early yet to say whether the secret talks between the NLD and
the military regime will lead to real peace and a change in the
political system in Burma. But Mr Razali is the first envoy to
successfully break the deadlock.
His success is based on five factors:
He is an adviser to Malaysian Prime Minister Mohamad Mahathir, who like
Mr Razali has visited Rangoon this year.
Dr Mahathir is the biggest supporter of the regime among the Asean
members since the fall of Suharto as president of Indonesia.
Malaysia's influence on Burma is important for a number of reasons. From
a political point of view, it is important for Asean to prove to the
world that constructive engagement with Burma is working. Dr Mahathir
took a leading role in bringing Burma into Asean.
>From an economic point of view, newly industrialised members of Asean
are competing with China. Labour costs in China are very cheap compared
to Malaysia. As a result, Malaysia needs a modern colony which will
provide raw materials including labour and a market to sell its
products. Burma fits into this category.
Its faltering economy and the threat of pressure from the West have
brought the regime to its knees but have not killed it outright. The
generals need a way out which will save them face. They will not start a
dialogue with the NLD because of outside pressure but they are willing
to compromise if the mediator is from a friendly country.
Also the regime wants to offer something to Asean and justify
constructive engagement by accepting a mediator from an Asean member
country. Mr Razali fits this bill well.
The main driving force for the dialogue is legitimacy. Japan is the main
donor to Burma. Sadao Ogata, the Japanese UN high commissioner for
refugees until this year failed completely to influence the regime.
Likewise her government's representatives. None convinced the generals
to start talking to the NLD, even though Japan gave them millions of
dollars in grants and loans.
The regime just took the money and ignored the demands.
But when Mr Razali was appointed the UN special envoy for Burma, the
regime's spokesman welcomed him as an acceptable negotiator and praised
him as a fellow member of Southeast Asia.
Last year, the UN secretly offered the regime $1 billion (43.5 billion
baht) to start talking with the NLD and to cede it the political power
it won in a general election in 1990. The regime rejected the offer.
This proves that even though Burma is poor, money is not enough for the
regime. What the generals need is recognition, especially from fellow
members of Asean and China, as a legitimate government.
The ILO sanctions imposed last year worry the regime because they could
mean the isolation of the country. This would hasten their fall.
Their survival depends mainly on two factors: the strength of the army
at home and their recognition abroad as a legitimate de facto
government. The army, or Tatmadaw, is the main influence, and it is
weaker than in the past. Proof of this is that the chain of command has
been decentralised to a regional collective leadership. These regional
commanders have become very powerful and operate like warlords.
Armed resistance groups also are well armed despite signing cease-fire
agreements, and the regime cannot control the Red Wa which control the
drug trade from just inside Burmese territory from Thailand.
The army is nowhere near as solid as it was, and this is adding to the
problem of the regime's lack of credibility on the world stage. But then
generals have not lost hope altogether of clinging on to power. After
all, fellow Asean members Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Vietnam
and Laos have governments which are not fully democratic.
The success of the dialogue between the NLD and the junta depends on the
two sides having a genuine desire to reach an agreement which improves
the welfare of the people.
It has been obvious from the start that the NLD is sincere about
engaging in genuine dialogue based on mutual respect. And there are
signs the regime is now more receptive.
When the regime was trying to crush the resistance Karen National Union,
its newspapers called the KNU leader Nga Mya (nga was used in the past
with slaves). But when it started talks with the Karen resistance, the
newspapers began referring to him as General Mya. When the talks failed,
they resorted again to insult.
The military regime's mouthpieces have for years referred to Ms Suu Kyi
as a democracy witch, a Western Mae Daw Gyi, Mrs Airs, a Western puppet
and just Suu Kyi, dropping the name of her father Aung San, a national
hero. But in December last year, the newspapers started using her full
name Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, a signal to all Burma watchers that there
might be some positive news.
And there have been other healthy signs including a statement from U
Lwin, an NLD executive, welcoming any dialogue while warning that both
sides had to be careful not to undermine the process of confidence
building.
The first step needed for building confidence is for the regime to
release all political prisoners. If the regime is worried that releasing
these prisoners will cause political instability, there is another
option; tt can recognise them as political prisoners until it reaches an
agreement with the NLD and grant them special status like under British
colonial rule.
How the NLD and regime handle this very sensitive issue depends on their
ability, maturity, honesty, willingness for change and, most of all,
concern for the well-being of the people. Both sides understand the
delicacy of this matter.
Moving from dialogue to a peaceful transition to democratic government
needs the building on common issues such as: the establishment of
democratic government; defining the duties and responsibilities of the
military in Burma; defining the duties and responsibilities of political
parties; minority rights; and the establishment of an independent
judicial system.
The two sides need to believe in the establishment of a democratic
government which is accountable, transparent and has respect for the
rule of law.
The military has played a prominent role in Burmese politics. Burma
needs a strong military to protect the country. But the military needs
to respect democratic institutions and the rights and existence of
political parties, which is the total opposite of military rule.
The role of the military is to safeguard democracy and protect the
country from foreign invasion, not to rule the country by force. The
Burmese army in the future needs to be divorced from politics.
Political parties are crucial for the establishment of a democratic
government. Political parties need to support the modern military
establishment and upgrade the facilities of the army.
Political parties need to respect the military and try to avoid attempts
to influence the forces for political advantage. Most of all, each
political party needs a written commitment to democracy in its party
manifesto and it needs to promise not to eliminate the opposition if it
wins government. Minority rights need to be respected and apply across
the whole county. The NLD needs to join a fully democratic national
convention (as opposed to the sham held previously) and discuss with
minority leaders the drafting of a new constitution. Without the
agreement of minority leaders, any new constitution will not be
democratic.
Many minority leaders see Ms Suu Kyi as a potential leader and fit to
lead the constitution drafting process. But it is time she addressed the
ethnic issue which divides the country and prolongs the civil war.
Military leaders have been dealing with ethnic groups for more than four
decades. They have a lot of experience in this field but, because of
their use of force, they are regarded as the enemy by most ethnic groups
even after cease-fires have been reached. Ms Suu Kyi does not have this
experience, but she has charisma.
Establishing an independent judicial system is crucial to safeguarding
democracy. Without an independent judicial system, there will be no
freedom for the Burmese people. Without an independent judicial system,
the people and civil society will suffer from government brutality.
Democratic government depends on certain steps: dialogue (bargaining,
negotiation, compromise); transitional government; the constitution
drafting process; elections; and the transfer of power to the elected
government.
Dialogue will lead to the formation of a transitional government, one
which will represent both the NLD and the military. The transitional
government will draft a new constitution and hold elections, which will
produce a winner hopefully able to form a democratic government.
Now Burma is taking the first step after more than a decade of
hesitation. While the regime and the NLD talk, there are many
non-political tasks that need to be carried out by foreign governments,
NGOs, activists and academics from Burma living abroad.
The most important problem facing Burma is in the health area. This is
on the verge of collapsing. Despite government denials, Burma is
overwhelmed by HIV/Aids cases. According to the World Bank, there are up
to 700,000 sufferers. HIV threatens to grow into a full-scale epidemic.
The military regime needs to think about this dangerous disease and
allow NGOs to enter and work now in Burma.
It also is time for Burmese patriots to set aside their grudges against
the military regime and work together with international organisations
as non-political social workers. There is no time to wait for political
change; we have to help our people before it is too late.
The peaceful transition to democracy depends mainly on the military
regime. The question of whether the army is for the people or for the
generals will be answered very soon. It is time the regime proved how
much it loves its country and how much courage it has in embracing
change.
Htun Aung Gyaw is president of the Civil Society for Burma based in New
York City. He also was the first chairman of the All Burma Students'
Democratic Front.
______________________OTHER______________________
________________
The BurmaNet News is an Internet newspaper providing comprehensive
coverage of news and opinion on Burma (Myanmar) from around the world.
If you see something on Burma, you can bring it to our attention by
emailing it to strider@xxxxxxx
To automatically subscribe to Burma's only free daily newspaper in
English, send an email to:
burmanet-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To subscribe to The BurmaNet News in Burmese, send an email to:
burmanetburmese-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
You can also contact BurmaNet by phone or fax:
Voice mail or fax (US) +1(202) 318-1261
You will be prompted to press 1 for a voice message or 2 to send a fax.
If you do neither, a fax tone will begin automatically.
Fax (Japan) +81 (3) 4512-8143
________________
Burma News Summaries available by email or the web
There are three Burma news digest services available via either email or
the web.
Burma News Update
Frequency: Biweekly
Availability: By fax or the web.
Viewable online at http://www.soros.org/burma/burmanewsupdate/index.html
Cost: Free
Published by: Open Society Institute, Burma Project
The Burma Courier
Frequency: Weekly
Availability: E-mail, fax or post. To subscribe or unsubscribe by email
celsus@xxxxxxxxxxx
Viewable on line at: http://www.egroups.com/group/BurmaCourier
Cost: Free
Note: News sources are cited at the beginning of an article.
Interpretive comments and background
details are often added.
Burma Today
Frequency: Weekly
Availability: E-mail
Viewable online at http://www.worldviewrights.org/pdburma/today.html
To subscribe, write to pdburma@xxxxxxxxx
Cost: Free
Published by: PD Burma (The International Network of Political Leaders
Promoting Democracy in Burma)
________________
____________________________________________________________
T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less.
Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose.
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01