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BurmaNet News: March 14, 2001
- Subject: BurmaNet News: March 14, 2001
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2001 13:34:00
______________ THE BURMANET NEWS ______________
An on-line newspaper covering Burma
March 14, 2001 Issue # 1755
______________ www.burmanet.org _______________
INSIDE BURMA _______
*Free Burma Action Committee: What our leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said
to pass on
*AP: Myanmar gunboat fires on Thai trawlers, injures one
*TV Myanmar: [Burma's Maung Aye receives Chinese delegation]
*Myanmmar Times: Reconciliation on border but war of words goes on
REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL _______
*The Nation: Japan Defends Ties with Burma
*Kyodo (Japan): Exiled Myanmar lawmakers say full Japan aid premature
*Reuters: Thailand challenges Myanmar to tackle drugs trade
*People's Daily: New Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Presents Credentials
*Bangkok Post: Chuan gets the blame for bad ties
ECONOMY/BUSINESS _______
*Myanmar Times: Myanmar on Europe?s duty-free list
*Cherwell (UK): OUSU orders ban on Lonely Planet advertising
OPINION/EDITORIALS_______
*Myanmar Information Committee [SPDC]: [Criticism of Thailand's
"unilateral action" in reopening border checkpoint]
*Myanmar Information Committee [SPDC]: Wild Accusations and Conspiracy
Theories Should Make Way for Sincere Truth Leading to Mutual Respect and
Cooperation
OTHER______
*Universities Historical Research Centre: Conference " Texts and
Contexts in Southeast Asia"
*The Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand Bulletin: Thai-Burma Night
*NCGUB: Invitation to Ceremony to Call for Release of Political
Prisoners in Burma
__________________ INSIDE BURMA ____________________
Free Burma Action Committee: What our leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said
to pass on
Feb. 2001
[BurmaNet adds: Because Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is under house arrest, it
is not possible to confirm the accuracy of this message directly but
there are indications that incline me to believe it is authentic. It
was smuggled out in February 2001 and is directed primarily to Burmese
working for democracy. Strider]
"Please, stay united. Don't quarrel. Is it possible to have education on
lessening jealousy? One person's self worth should not be threatened by
the self worth of another. How can you expect the NLD to talk to the
SPDC when you don't talk to each other? It would make me so happy if you
could present a united front. Sit down and talk through your
differences. How can you expect to run a democracy if you can't sit down
and resolve your differences?"
www.actionfreeburma.com
___________________________________________________
AP: Myanmar gunboat fires on Thai trawlers, injures one
March 13, 2001
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) _ A Myanmar patrol boat opened fire at two Thai
fishing trawlers that entered Myanmar waters Wednesday, injuring one
crew member and damaging one boat, police said.
The Thai boats fled on being challenged by the patrol boat, which gave
chase and opened fire with M-40 machine guns, said Capt. Surat Srikoh,
the chief of the marine police in Ranong province.
He told The Associated Press that one trawler, Pornimit, was hit when
it was two kilometers (one mile) out of Myanmar waters. The other
trawler escaped without damage.
The incident happened in the Andaman Sea off the port of Ranong, 470
kilometers (290 miles) south of Bangkok.
The stricken, 15-meter (50-feet) Pornimit docked in Ranong with the
injured crew member, a Myanmar migrant worker, Surat said. Several
bullets had hit the boat's hull, he said.
He said the sound of the gunfire was audible from the shore.
Two Thai naval gunboats were dispatched to confront the Myanmar boat
near Koh island, located 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the coast where
territorial demarcation is unclear, Surat said. But no incident was
reported.
The fishermen admitted they had ventured into Myanmar waters, he said.
Hundreds of Thai trawlers have been regularly sneaking into Myanmar's
part of the Andaman Sea since 1999 when Myanmar withdrew a concession to
Thailand that allowed Thai fishermen to exploit its waters.
___________________________________________________
TV Myanmar: [Burma's Maung Aye receives Chinese delegation]
Rangoon, in Burmese 1330 gmt 12 Mar 01
[BurmaNet adds-- Reports of who senior regime officials meet with are
mind-numbingly routine in Burma's state press. This report of a meeting
between Gen. Maung Aye and a Chinese delegation is, however, noteworthy
because it comes just after reports in the Thai press that Gen. Maung
Aye has been placed under detention by Gen. Khin Nyunt. If Maung Aye is
meeting official delegations, reports of his arrest seem at the least,
premature.]
Gen Maung Aye, Vice Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
SPDC of the Union of Myanmar Burma , Deputy Commander in Chief of the
Defence Services, and Army Commander in Chief, received the visiting
Chinese goodwill delegation led by Mr Li Chengren, member of the
Communist Party of China Party Discipline Inspection Central Committee
and executive vice chairman of the Chinese Association for International
Understanding CAIU , at the Zeyathiri Beikman Defence Services Hall at
Konemyinttha in Yangon Rangoon at 0900 today.
Also present were SPDC Secretary-1 Lt Gen Khin Nyunt, SPDC Secretary-3
Lt Gen Win Myint, Lt-Gen Tin Hla, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Military Affairs, Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, SPDC member, chairman of
Yangon Division Peace and Development Council, and commander of Yangon
Military Command, Foreign Minister U Win Aung, Deputy Minister for
Agriculture and Irrigation Brig-Gen Khin Maung, Director General of
Protocol Department Thura U Aung Htet, and PRC Ambassador to Myanmar Mr
Li Jinjun.
___________________________________________________
Myanmmar Times: Reconciliation on border but war of words goes on
[BurmaNet adds: The Myanmar Times is nominally independent but is widely
reported to operate under the auspices of, if not reflect the views of
Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt]
March 12-18,2001
MYANMAR has continued to ward off accusations of wrongdoing by Thailand,
despite the apparent resolution of the situation on the border which led
to armed skirmishes last month.?It is very unfortunate that certain
quarters in Thailand are still continuing to act in a hostile and
irresponsible way by making inflammatory remarks, in spite of the
understanding and goodwill shown by the two governments in resolving the
recent border tensions,? a Government spokesman said.?A stream of
irresponsible speculations and allegations have been systematically
launched against Myanmar by some Thai officials.?The spokesman said the
campaign of misinformation by those officials had been underway since
the beginning of the year, and had resulted in ?wild and irresponsible
speculations or deliberate cover-ups to serve the interest of certain
quarters in Thailand?.
He said those same sources might soon be ?claiming that Myanmar was
responsible for the 1997 ASEAN financial crisis?.Some of the cases
listed by the spokesman included:allegations that Myanmar troops had
murdered six Thai civilians in Suan Pueng on December 30 last year, an
act later found to have been carried out by the God?s Army faction of
the Kayin National Union? accusations that the United Wa State Army was
behind the recent sabotage of a Thai Airways jet scheduled to carry the
country?s new Prime Minister? and the ?sensational story? of two Myanmar
soldiers taken by the KNU who allegedly confessed that their infantry
unit had shot down a Thai helicopter four years ago.
Myanmar?s continued defense against Thai propaganda continued last week
despite an apparent easing of tenions on the border.Lieutenant-General
Wattanachai haimeunwong, commander of the Third Army which patrols the
region, said that while both national armies were still on standby,
there was no chance of further bloodshed.
?The situation is back to normal. There will be no more fighting on the
border,? he told reporters.Both armies had promised to respect an
agreement not to intrude into each other?s territory, and to refrain
from firing across the border, he said.Myanmar has also agreed to
Thailand?s request for a meeting of the regional border committee to be
convened for the first time in two years.?We will talk about our
long-time conflicts, particularly about the border demarcation dispute,?
Lt-Gen Wattanachai said, adding that the meeting would be held at the
end of March or early in April.The Mae Sai-Tachilek border crossing, a
vital artery for trade between the two countries which was closed during
the skirmish last month, would be re-opened today (Monday), he said.
THE defence of the country may be a noble task, but it is also a
gruelling one, and for Tatmadawmen stationed in the remote forward and
border areas of the country since the middle of last month, charged with
protecting Myanmar?s sovereignty, the mission has been challenging.Last
week, however, the soldiers? morale and comfort received a welcome boost
when supplies donated by well-wishers were flown into the area (pictured
above).
A total of 89 donors from the Myanmar business community presented cash
and gifts worth more than K36 million to the Tatmadawmen.The donations
were received at a ceremony by the Secretary-1 of the State Peace and
Development Council, Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt. They followed two earlier
donations from the business community, on February 23 and March 3, worth
K19.5 million and K16.6 million respectively.The most recent cargo of
donations was transported by air to troops stationed near Tachilek on
the evening of March 4, and to those at the Monghsat Station on March 7.
___________________ REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL___________________
The Nation: Japan Defends Ties with Burma
Tuesday, March 13, 2001
Jeerpwat Na Thalang, Pana Janviroj
JAPAN has insisted that it will continue dialogue with the Burmese
government, saying such an approach is one of the collective tolls that
will eventually bring positive change to the country.
"By isolating [Burma], you cannot achieve anything," Nobutoshi Akao,
Japanese ambassador to Thailand, said in an interview. "Maintaining only
internatinal pressure and without maintaining dialogue, how can we
achieve our goal?"
In spite of international sanctions on Burma's military government, the
Japanese government still provides assistance to the country.
"Our goal is the same with Thailand, the US or the EU. We want to see
the democratic system. Our approach is different from the US and EU. We
have a kind of more Asian way," Akao said.
Tokyo provided 1.6 billion yen (Bt579.3 million) for the expansion of
nursing facilities and Y2.5 billion to improve Rangoon's international
airport in 1998. "We were criticised by the US and EU, and we said we
did not share your opinion," he said.
There are signs of progress in Burma. The junta has been holding secret
talks since last October with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the
first since 1994.
The military has ruled Burma since 1988, when it took over in a blooby
suppression of pro-democracy demonstrations. It refused to cede
contrsssol in 1990 when Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy
overwhelmingly won a general election.
The latest talks, which have been cautiously welcomed by the
international community, were revealed in January after a visit to
Rangoon by Ismail Razali, the UN special envoy.
"We think that the role of Mr Razali ... brings the both sides
together," Akao said. "Of course, I don't think his role is the only one
to bring this. But our effort has also very important."
Asked what he predicted after the latest development in Burma, Akao
said: "We have to wait and see how the start of the dialogue will
progress and materialise, and we don't have to be pessimistic about it.
We are cautious optimistic perhaps."
___________________________________________________
Kyodo (Japan): Exiled Myanmar lawmakers say full Japan aid premature
TOKYO March 14 Kyodo - A group of self-exiled Myanmar lawmakers have
urged Japan not to resume full aid to Myanmar despite recent signs the
junta is willing to negotiate with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi, Japanese Foreign Ministry officials said Wednesday.
The Myanmar lawmakers, who were elected to parliament in May 1990 but
barred from the junta to assume duties, filed the plea in a meeting with
Japanese Foreign Ministry officials earlier this month.
Australia resident Daniel Aung, vice president of the Members of
Parliament Union, urged the ministry not to resume full official
development assistance (ODA) to Myanmar. It was cut in 1988 after the
junta suppressed nationwide pro-democracy uprisings by force.
The exiles included Ye Htut, head of the National League for Democracy
(NLD) in Japan. They submitted a statement saying that since it is
unclear whether dialogue between the junta and Suu Kyi has actually
reopened and the prospect of democracy in Myanmar is still remote,
Japanese ODA is bound to prolong military rule in the country.
A ministry official told the group Japan is closely examining
democratization in Myanmar, adding Tokyo will consider the exiles'
views.
Japanese government officials said earlier this month that ODA
resumption would signal a major policy change by Tokyo that could draw
protests from Suu Kyi's NLD and Western countries that continue to
impose economic sanctions on Myanmar.
Japan has provided the country with technology aid and humanitarian
grants since 1995, but has held off from resuming full ODA, which would
include new low-interest yen loans.
Tokyo had given Myanmar 50 billion yen in ODA up to 1988, according to
the officials.
In contrast, humanitarian grants totaled only 880 million yen in fiscal
1999 and 1.5 billion yen in fiscal 2000, they said, adding that Myanmar
has been asking for Japan's help on such projects as construction of
dams and roads.
___________________________________________________
Reuters: Thailand challenges Myanmar to tackle drugs trade
By Chris Johnson
BANGKOK, March 14 (Reuters) - A war of words between Thailand and
neighbouring Myanmar intensified on Wednesday with Bangkok challenging
Yangon to tackle what it called ``known locations'' of drugs production
within its borders.
Stung by a Myanmar accusation that it was blaming all its drugs
problems on others, the Thai foreign ministry said in a statement it had
accelerated efforts aimed at drugs suppression.
``Thailand is not looking for a scapegoat for the drug problems in
Asia,'' it said.
Myanmar, by contrast, had within its borders areas where the Wa ethnic
minority, living under the control of the Yangon-backed United Wa State
Army (UWSA), were producing narcotics, it said.
The Thai government has said it suspects the UWSA are the most
important producer of metamphetamine stimulants coming into Thailand
from the mountainous ``Golden Triangle'' region at the intersection of
Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.
``It is now in the hands of the government of Myanmar to demonstrate to
the international community that it has the will and determination to
seriously eradicate drugs manufacturing, perhaps by at least starting
from known locations within its territory,'' it said.
The statement was a response to a rebuke by Myanmar of the Thai
government and of a Thai conference on drugs, which heard allegations
that Myanmar was the major source of illegal narcotics in the region.
The spokesman for Myanmar's military government, Lieutenant-Colonel Hla
Min, said in a statement on Monday that Thailand should concentrate on
dealing with its own drugs industry rather than blaming others for its
problems.
``ALL THE BLAME ON A NEIGHBOUR''
``Putting all the blame on a neighbouring country for everything that
goes wrong in Thailand is not the way to solve any problems,'' he said.
The Thai army says that 700 million metamphetamine pills, which affect
the central nervous system, will come into Thailand this year, an
increase of 40 percent on last year.
Thai politicians at the weekend drugs conference said they had been
shocked by photographs of impressive infrastructure in the prosperous
and growing Myanmar town of Mong Yawn, which Thai officials believe has
been funded by the drugs trade.
But Myanmar denies this, saying the growing wealth of the Wa comes from
successful development projects.
``...The whole narcotic problem Thailand is encountering today seems to
be very conveniently thrown on the UWSA,'' the Myanmar government
spokesman said.
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said this week he was looking
for ``sincere'' discussions with the Myanmar government following his
election at Thai polls in January.
But relations have taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks since
fighting between Myanmar troops, backed by their Wa allies, and ethnic
Shan rebels spilled over into Thai territory. Thai army sources suggest
the fighting is linked to the drugs trade.
A top Myanmar military official accused the Thai army on Wednesday of
treating his country like a ``subordinate state'' after the border
skirmish last month, and vowed Myanmar would respond by keeping a key
border checkpoint closed.
___________________________________________________
People's Daily: New Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Presents Credentials
Wednesday, March 14, 2001, updated at 08:23(GMT+8)
New Chinese ambassador to Myanmar Li Jinjun Tuesday presented his
credentials to Chairman of the Myanmar State Peace and Development
Council (SPDC) Senior-General Than Shwe.
Than Shwe said the friendly relations of the two countries are forged on
the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
The Chinese ambassador stressed that development of friendly ties with
neighbors including Myanmar constitutes a basic state policy of the
Chinese government.
___________________________________________________
Bangkok Post: Chuan gets the blame for bad ties
March 14, 2001
Chavalit: He should have visited Burma
Yuwadee Tunyasiri and Wassana Nanuam
Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh yesterday slammed former prime
minister Chuan Leekpai for failing to improve relations with Burma.
The deputy prime minister said relations with Burma would not have sunk
this low had the two sides sat down and talked.
"The matter should have been settled when Burmese Prime Minister Than
Shwe visited Mr Chuan and invited him to visit Burma for talks. But Mr
Chuan did not go," Gen Chavalit said.
"That was why the two sides have never resumed talks. This was followed
by suspicion and border conflicts in which each side had to protect its
interests."Gen Chavalit was commenting on Burma's failure to keep its
promise to open its side of the Mae Sai-Tachilek checkpoint.
He said there might be a misunderstanding on the part of Burma. "This
explains why I have to say the two sides must hold talks."Gen Chavalit
said there would be talks at a higher level if the one at the regional
border committee-level did not succeed.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra described relations between the two
countries as normal.
"There may be problems at a local level because we suspect Burma might
have something to do
with the Red Wa," he said.
"We want the Burmese government to know that we have evidence and are
concerned about it," he said, referring to Thailand's belief that Mong
Yawn settlement of the United Wa State Army is a major methamphetamine
production base.
He agreed that both countries were suspicious of each other and should
sit down for talks.
A source said a meeting looked likely between military top brass from
both sides in Rangoon before the regional border committee meeting in
Keng Tung.
Participants would include Third Army commander Lt-Gen Wattanachai
Chaimuanwong, military commander of Burma's Southwest Army chief Maj-Gen
Than Sein, Burmese premier and defence minister Gen Than Shwe, Burmese
supreme commander Gen Maung Aye and Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, secretary one of
the State Peace and Development Council. Lt-Gen Wattanachai and Maj-Gen
Than Sein are co-chairmen of the regional border committee.
The source said Burma proposed the panel meeting be held for three days
early next month. The 40-strong Thai delegation will include members
from the Interior and Foreign ministries and Office of the Narcotics
Control Board.
The Thai side is expected to raise the problem of Burmese illegal
immigrants and war refugees.
_______________ ECONOMY AND BUSINESS _______________
Myanmar Times: Myanmar on Europe?s duty-free list
March 12-18,2001
THE European Union has included Myanmar in a group of least developed
nations which will benefit from the opening up of the huge EU market to
poor countries across the globe. The European General Affairs Council
decision allows duty free access to the EU, with no restrictions on
quantity, to 48 of the world?s least developed countries, most of them
in Africa and the Asia-Pacific region and with per capita incomes of
less than US$1 per day.The initiative, which United Nations Secretary
General Kofi Annan lobbied European governments to adopt, covers all
products from least-developed nations except for arms and ammunition.The
inclusion on the list of Myanmar, which is subject to an EU economic
blockade, has surprised political observers and EU diplomats ?
particularly so given its timing.?I was a bit astonished by this
decision (as it came) before the April meeting of EU ministers to review
their policy on Myanmar,? one European diplomat told Myanmar Times.
Other European diplomats said they were waiting on trade policy details
from their governments and did not want to comment on the move.The trade
privilege for Myanmar came after last month?s meeting of the EU Asia
Working Group, which was convened to hear the report of the EU troika
delegation to Yangon at the start of the year. Led by Swedish Foreign
Ministry official Mr Borje Ljunggren, the troika said in a statement
following its visit that ongoing reconciliatory talks between the
Government and the National League for Democracy represented the ?most
interesting development since 1990? in domestic political events.
Although the duty exemption has been generally welcomed here, a Chamber
of Commerce and Industry official in Yangon said the country?s trade
deficit with the EU would remain. ?Still we can not breakthrough in
trade with the EU, partly because of the?quality of our products and
partly because of sanctions imposed on Myanmar by the EU,? said U Khin
Maung Htay. He said international trading arrangements favoured powerful
states and that this situation was not likely to change overnight, even
with the EU policy announcement. Myanmar?s garment industry, which has
been exporting 60 per cent of it total product to Europe, would most
benefit from the move, followed by the timber industry.
Japan?s External Trade Organisation (JETRO) office in Yangon, which has
been working for Myanmar export promotion, said the policy would not
have a great impact on Japanese investments in Myanmar. Europe ranked
fourth as a priority market for those firms after Japan, ASEAN countries
and the US, a spokesperson said.
The EU initiative, championed by the bloc?s Trade Commissioner Pascal
Lamy, was approved by the EU trade and foreign ministers in Brussels on
February 26. ?It is the first time that trade policy has been
substantially modified for the benefit of developing countries,? said Mr
Lamy.France and Spain, protecting their own farmers, tried but failed to
get exemptions from the deal for imports of sugar and rice.France is a
sugar producer by way of its Caribbean islands; Spain is home to many
small-scale rice growers.
In a compromise formula, tariffs on sugar and rice from least-developed
countries will be phased out in stages through 2009.Tariffs on bananas,
which the EU has been importing for many years under a regime that
favours former European colonies, will meanwhile be reduced 20 per cent
each year from 2006.
The list of the world?s least developed nations in the Asia-Pacific
includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar,
Laos, Cambodia, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Vanuatu and
Samoa. Another 30 countries across the African continent, plus Haiti in
the Americas, will benefit from the EU policy. The move could flag a
further relaxation of the international stance against
Myanmar.Opposition, however, continues in other quarters.
___________________________________________________
Cherwell (UK): OUSU orders ban on Lonely Planet advertising
[Cherwell is an Oxford University student paper. OUSU is Oxford
University Student Union.]
Friday 23rd February 2001
Adam Brown
OUSU will not advertise the publisher Lonely Planet, it decided at last
Friday's council meeting.
The ban is in response to Lonely Planet's continued publication of a
guidebook to Burma, a country with a poor human rights record. Burma's
government-in-exile is asking no one to visit the country because
tourist-money supports the brutal military dictatorship.
OUSU took the decision after pressure from the Oxford Burma Campaign,
which further encourages students to send a complaint to Lonely Planet
and boycott its travel guides.
The Campaign's coordinator, Tom Harrison, said, "OUSU's decision will
send an important message to Lonely Planet that they must stop
supporting Burma's "brutal" regime. I am glad Oxford students have
chosen to stand up for people in Burma where students are denied even
the most basic rights."
But one furious student said, "This is a waste of my subscription money.
How are you ever going to change things if they isolate Burma and
pretend it's not there?" Lonely Planet claims that forced labour in
Burma is "on the wane".
Students felt it was important to send a strong message to Lonely Planet
that they should respect the views of the Burmese people and withdraw
their guide to Burma.
_______________OPINION/EDITORIALS_________________
Myanmar Information Committee [SPDC]: [Criticism of Thailand's
"unilateral action" in reopening border checkpoint]
Rangoon, in English 13 Mar 01
Text of Information Sheet N0.B-1744 (I) issued by the Myanmar
Information Committee in Rangoon carried in English by Myanmar
Information Committee web site on 13 March
Mutual cooperation and understanding essential in reopening border
checkpoints
It is reported in the Thai media that the Third Army has reopened the
Mai Sai checkpoint in Chiang Rai opposite the Tachileik checkpoint of
Myanmar Burma on 12 March. The Thai papers also quoted the Thai army
spokesman's statement that Myanmar side has not open its gate at the
border checkpoint despite a previous agreement. The Myanmar officials
are quite surprised by the Thai spokesman's statement because there was
no previous agreement made on the reopening of the border checkpoints.
It was a unilateral decision and action taken by the Thai side. The
Myanmar officials at the Tachileik border checkpoint were notified by
the Thai authorities just a few hours before the Mai Sai checkpoint was
reopened and were also then informed of the rules and regulations the
Thai authorities have unilaterally introduced on travellers from both
nations.
The Myanmar officials believe that such events and activities on the
border concerning with both nations should be officially discussed and
the consent of both sides should be taken into account before acting on
it to avoid the unnecessary misunderstanding and also to show courtesy
and respect to the other party's requirements and needs.
The Thai spokesman was also quoted as saying, "We opened Mai Sai
checkpoint because we are sympathetic with the Burmese who face a
shortage of food and goods, though Thais are not in trouble". The
Myanmar officials appreciate this gesture even though such kind of
shortage is unheard of in that region. Myanmar officials hope that in
the future such important activities which concern both nations should
be unfailingly managed with a good grace of courtesy, respect and mutual
cooperation.
___________________________________________________
Myanmar Information Committee: Wild Accusations and Conspiracy Theories
Should Make Way for Sincere Truth Leading to Mutual Respect and
Cooperation
March 13, 2001
Recently in the Bangkok Post, the Thai authorities were quoted as
claiming Mong Yawn, a town on the Myanmar side of the border, a
methamphetamine center. The authorities even went to the extent of
claiming that there are 37 methamphetamine factories inside the town of
Mong Yawn and some photographs of buildings and newly built family
shop-houses are being presented as an evidential justification for their
allegation.
It is difficult to understand why a town for having a hydro-power dam
for making electricity, hospitals, education facilities and modern
utility services be equated with drug manufacturing. It is undeniable
that such kinds of facilities also exist on the Thai side as well.
Certain sectors in Thailand even went to the extent of falsely claiming
that the town even boasts a casino and five-star hotels. But it is
regretful that the Thai authorities did not mention anything on the
crop-substitution and alternative income generating projects where the
locals in the area are working on. The Wa people are involved in many
development projects in the country such as : mining, fisheries,
logging, agriculture, livestock breeding & small scale industries
(cigarettes, noodles, gems, distillery, tea production, foodstuff,
electrical appliances and etc.) They are also working on the short and
long term agriculture projects such as rice, rubber, tea, buckwheat,
tobacco, longan, maize, corn, g! rapes, saffron, garlic, oranges and
etc. Recently they have discovered a huge mine containing at least nine
different minerals which are being exported to China. They are in the
process of setting up a mineral processing plant to enable the raw
material to be exported in value-added finished products and are already
exporting granite slabs.
It is disappointing to learn that the Red Wa is being used as a
scapegoat and the whole narcotic problem Thailand is encountering today
seems to be very conveniently thrown on the U.W.S.A. One begs to know
that if the U.W.S.A. ceases to exist today, will the narcotic problem in
Thailand disappear? If not, then, who will be the next targeted and
finger-pointed as the problem maker for convenience sake.
To be realistic, the Thai authorities should first examine the internal
drug distribution system in Thailand and how these organized crime
syndicates and individual big dealers are not only surviving but
thriving and also being protected.
Truth is painful but we have to be realistic and responsible in our
fight against narcotic drugs. Putting all the blame on a neighbouring
country for everything that goes wrong in Thailand is not the way to
solve any problems and any issues.
______________________OTHER______________________
Universities Historical Research Centre: Conference " Texts and
Contexts in Southeast Asia"
Yangon 12 to 14 December 2001
Organized by the Universities Historical Research Centre
With a literary tradition stretching over several centuries, Southeast
Asia has a rich collection of texts in many forms -- single documents as
well as multi-volume works, official records as well as works of
imaginative creation, verse as well as prose.
The texts were created within a social and cultural milieu and bear, in
greater or lesser degree, the imprint of that milieu. So that the texts
act as windows to the society and culture of their times.
The Universities Historical Research Centre is organizing a Conference
on the theme "Texts and Contexts in Southeast Asia" to provide a forum
for the study of some significant texts and the contexts in which they
were produced.
The Conference will be held in Yangon and is tentatively scheduled for
12 to 14 December 2001. We hope you can participate in the Conference
and contribute a paper. The deadline for submission of paper titles is
30 June 2001.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Universities Historical Research Centre
Amara Hall, Yangon University Campus
Yangon 11041, Myanmar
Tel : +951-532622, +951-524200
Fax : +951-530121
e-mail : uhrc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
___________________________________________________
The Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand Bulletin: Thai-Burma Night
Tuesday March 20, 2001 (7pm) Dinner Bt280 members; Bt400 non-members;
Bt250 non-members entry only Program 8pm
The club has lined up an impressive panel for a special evening to
discuss the current low ebb in bilateral relations between Thailand and
Burma. The Thais claims there is official Burmese backing for the
smuggling of drugs into Thailand, while the Burmese say the Thais are
backing rebel ethnic minority groups. Parts of the Thai-Burmese border
are tense, with troops massing on both sides. For the evening we will
have a panel to answer your questions including Senator Kraisak
Choonhavan, chairman of the Thai Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, and
Bertil Lintner, a well known journalist who is a renowned expert on
Burma. It promises to be an extremely interesting evening on this
currently critical issue, and it will include exclusive video footage of
the Shan minority's problems with the Burmese authorities. The video,
"Dispossessed: Forced Relocation and Extrajudicial Killings in the Shan
State and the Condition of Shan Migrants in Thailand," was made by a
Shan camera crew with production backing from Image Asia.
www.fccthai.com Penthouse, Maneeya Center Building
518/5 Pleonchit Road, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330
(Adjacent to BTS skytrain, Chidlom Station)
Tel. 652-0580-1 Fax. 652-0582 e-mail: info@xxxxxxxxxxx
___________________________________________________
NCGUB: Invitation to Ceremony to Call for Release of Political Prisoners
in Burma
[Abridged]
Dear Friends of Burma:
In coordination with the National Coalition Government of the Union of
Burma (NCGUB), the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the democratic
Burmese community in the Washington Metropolitan area requests the
pleasure of your company at the ceremony to call for the release of
political prisoners in Burma, including student leader Min Ko Naing, who
was arrested on March 23, 1989. The event will also coincide with the
anniversaries of the "White Bridge Affair" and "Hmaine Centennial
Crisis", which fall on March 16 and 23 respectively. As a prelude to
the 1988 nation-wide Mass Uprising in Burma, the White Bridge Affair is
one of the bloody riots between the students and security forces of the
then Burmese government led by U Ne Win. On March 16, 1988, while on the
march as a protest against the dictatorship, several students were
beaten and arrested by the riot police on the bank of Inya Lake adjacent
to the Rangoon University main campus. On March 23, 1976, Rangoon
University students marched toward the tomb of Sayagyi Thakin Kotaw
Hmaine, one of the greatest patriots and authors in the nation's
history. The military intelligence and police arrested many students.
Date: Saturday, March 17, 2001
Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm
Place: 815 Fifteenth Street, N.W.
10th Floor Conference Room
(Above the Office of the NCGUB)
Washington, D.C.
(By Metro, take orange or blue line/to McPherson Square Station/exit
Franklin Square & 14th Street)
Dinner will be served.
Contact:
NCGUB --- (202) 393-7342
________________
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Burma News Update
Frequency: Biweekly
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Cost: Free
Published by: Open Society Institute, Burma Project
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Note: News sources are cited at the beginning of an article.
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Cost: Free
Published by: PD Burma (The International Network of Political Leaders
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