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Letter to the Japanese Minister of (r)



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Dear Ken and Visakha,

Re your petition, I don't know if you saw this letter I sent to Tanaka 1 May.

Best wishes,

David


Letter to the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs


H.E. Mr Koichi Haraguchi,
Japanese Mission, Geneva
Chemin des Fins 3,
CP 337,
1211 Geneva 19
Switzerland


Your Excellency,

Please transmit the enclosed letter to your Minister of Foreign Affairs

Yours sincerely,

David Arnott (Secretary, Burma Peace Foundation, Geneva)

1 May 2001

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

Ms Makiko Tanaka,
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2-2-1 Kasumigaseki
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8919 JAPAN

(By email and letter to the Japanese Mission in Geneva)

Dear Minister,

I would like to call your attention to certain problems regarding the 
reported intention of  Japan to provide a 3.53 billion Yen grant for 
the  "humanitarian" repair of the Baluchaung Hydropower Station II in Burma 
(Myanmar). Beyond the question of whether the term "humanitarian" may 
logically, technically or administratively be applied to what would 
normally be considered an economic development project, please consider the 
following points:

1) The project is in Karenni State, which is an active theatre of the civil 
war in Burma with frequent fighting, especially in the dry season (see 
Appendix 1 for the latest battle news from the area).

2) The Karenni have stated their objection to the grant (see Appendix 2).

3) The International Labour Organisation has asked its constituents, 
including governments, to ensure that their relations with Burma do not 
contribute to forced labour. There is every likelihood that forced labour 
would be used, directly or indirectly, on this project.

4) It is not yet clear that the talks in Rangoon between the SPDC and Daw 
Aung San Suu Kyi, for which the Japanese grant is said to be a "reward", 
are going anywhere. It would seem premature to reward the generals before a 
concrete process of dialogue can be publicly demonstrated.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Burma Peace Foundation for further 
information.

Yours sincerely,

David Arnott (Secretary, Burma Peace Foundation, Geneva)

1 May 2001

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

Appendix 1

KARENNI NATIONAL PROGRESSIVE PARTY

Date: April 30, 2001
News release

Battle News
March to April 2001

 From March up to the present time there have been 20 clashes between 
the  SPDC troops and the Karenni Army troops (KA).  The SPDC has suffered 
33 casualties and 52 wounded during that period of time.  Four SPDC men 
have been captured. The KA have had two wounded. Details of the fighting 
were as follows:

More fighting are expected in the future as the SPDC does not stop its 
dry-season military operation yet.

On 11 March 2001, at 0800 hrs, the Karenni Army troops (KA) from No. (1) 
Battalion attacked SPDC troops from Light Infantry (IB) No. (250) led by 
Tun Oo at Hway Pu junction in BP (11) area. The SPDC had one dead and two 
wounded. The KA had no casualties.

On 11 March 2001, at 0740 hrs, the KA troops from No. (2) Battalion 
attacked a SPDC company from LIB No (530) at Daw Take with assorted 
weapons.  The SPDC had three wounded. The KA was intact.

On 15 March 2001, at 1330 hrs, there was a clash between SPDC troops from 
LIB No. (424) and the KA at Law Bue Leh junction. The number of SPDC 
casualties was unknown.

On 18 March 2001, at 1000 hrs, the KA troops from No. (1) Battalion made an 
ambush on a column of SPDC soldiers from LIB No. (337) in BP (12) area. One 
SPDC soldier was killed. On the same day, at 0920 hrs, the KA captured a 
SPDC private soldier named Min Min.

On 19 March 2001, at 1400 hrs, the KA troops from No. (1) Battalion made an 
ambush on SPDC troops from IB No. (250) led by Major Tun Tun Oo in Hway Pu 
junction in BP (11) area. One SPDC soldier was wounded. A civilian who was 
forcibly taken as a porter by the unit of SPDC was also wounded in the attack.

On 22 March, at 0900 hrs, there was an unexpected face to face fight that 
broke out between the KA and a column of SPDC troops from LIB No. (426) at 
Hway Khano, BP (11) area. The SPDC suffered one dead and two wounded. The 
KA had one wounded slightly.

On 23 March 2001, at 1030 hrs, the KA made an ambush on a column of SPDC 
from IB No. (250) at Hwar Kha Mong, BP (11) area. The SPDC suffered one 
dead and one wounded.

On 26 March 2001, at 1640 hrs, an unexpected face to face clash broke out 
between two companies of SPDC from IB No (102) led by vice battalion 
commander Major Aung Min and the KA troops from No. (2) Battalion at Hte 
Poe Kloe, Dee Mawso Township, Karenni.  The clash lasted one hour.  The 
SPDC had one sergeant dead and four wounded.

On 28 March 2001, at 0830 hrs, the KA troops from No. (2) Battalion made an 
ambush on a column of SPDC troops from LIB No (248) at Daw Taku village, an 
abandoned village. The attack lasted one-and-a-half hours. Four SPDC 
soldiers were killed and twelve others were wounded. The KA had one wounded.

On 29 March 2001, at 0555 hrs, the KA troops from No. (1) Battalion 
attacked a base of SPDC troops from LIB No (250) at Pasaung. The SPDC lost 
one sergeant and one private dead and two privates were wounded.

On 30 March, at 1000 hrs, the KA troops of No. (1) Battalion made an ambush 
on a column of SPDC troops from LIB No. (426) led by Battalion commander 
Myint Htoo at Hway Pu Long. The SPDC suffered one dead and one wounded.

On 3 April 2001, at 0830 hrs, the KA troops of Battalion No. (2) destroyed 
by burning a SPDC truck at Shadaw. On the same day at 1030 hrs, the KA 
troops of No. (1) Battalion captured three SPDC soldiers from LIB No. 
(430). The captured are Tun Aung Kyaw, Lynn Naing and Ke Win.

On 5 April 2001, at 0940 hrs, the KA made a light attack on SPDC troops 
from LIB No. (426) led by the Battalion Commander at Hway Mo. The SPDC had 
one sergeant seriously wounded.

On 10 April 2001, at 1600 hrs, the KA made an ambush on a column of SPDC 
troops from LIB No. (337) at BP (9) area. One SPDC soldier was killed.

On 16, April 2001, at 0700 hrs, an unexpected face to face clash broke out 
between a column of SPDC troops from LIB No. (421) and the KA troops of No. 
(2) Battalion at Shadaw. The SPDC suffered one wounded.

On 17 April 2001, at 1400 hrs, the KA troops from No. (1) Battalion 
destroyed a truck belonging to the SPDC at Mawchi.

On 19 April 2001, at 0840 hrs, the KA discovered two dead prisoners who 
were used as porters by SPDC troops from LIB No. (424) led by Battalion 
Commander Htay Myint Aung during its military operation. The dead prisoners 
were U Chit Laing and Maung Boe. They were believed to have died from malaria.

On 19 April 2001, at 1200 hrs, the KA discovered a dead body of a porter 
named Thant Zaw. The porter was believed to have died from tiredness.

On 20 April 2001, at 0750 hrs, the KA troops from No. (1) Battalion made a 
surprised attack on an outpost of SPDC troops from IB No. (261) near 
Mawchi. The SPDC suffered three deaths. The KA seized one MA-1. During the 
fighting, the SPDC troops from Mawchi based fired six shells of 81 MM on Lo 
Khar Lo village and wounded two villagers. The names of the wounded are not 
yet available.

On 21 April 2001, at 1300 hrs, the KA troops from No. (1) Battalion 
attacked a convoy of SPDC troops from IB No. (102) led by Lt. Colonel Win 
Htway, battalion commander, at Hway Au Lay. The SPDC suffered nine deaths 
and fourteen wounded. The commander was among the wounded.

On 23 April 2001, at 1100 hrs, the KA troops from No. (2) Battalion made an 
ambush on SPDC troops from LIB No. (531) between Pruso and Htar Le. Four 
SPDC soldiers were killed and three others were seriously wounded. The KA 
seized one 60 MM and six of its shells, one G-3 and six of its magazines 
and 30 of its rounds, one BA-94, one China-made communication machine and 
other military supplies.

On 24 April 2001, at 0830 hrs, the KA troops from No. (1) Battalion made an 
ambush on a column of PSDC troops from IB No. (102) at Hway Kha Mong, BP 
(11) area. One SPDC soldier was killed and two others wounded. On the same 
day, the KA once again attacked the same column of SPDC troops while it was 
carrying back its wounded. The SPDC had two wounded.

On 25 April 2001, at 1635 hrs, the KA made an ambush on a column of SPDC 
troops from IB No. (102) led by Battalion Commander Aung Min at BP (12) 
area. The SPDC had two dead and two wounded.

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

Appendix 2

Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 00:07:31 +0200

DVB : KNPP says Japanese aid will only benefit government  "cronies"

Karenni group says Japanese aid will only benefit government "cronies"

A national race armed group based at the Burma-Thai border today 
strongly  objected to the Japanese government's plan to grant ODA 
assistance for  renovation of Lawpita Hydropower plant. The Karenni 
National Progressive  Party [KNPP] which is active in the Lawpita region 
has objected to the  recent Japanese government's decision to grant 24m 
dollars assistance to  the SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] 
military government. To learn more about the KNPP's decision, DVB 
[Democratic Voice of Burma]  interviewed KNPP Foreign Affairs Spokesman Saw 
Roh Se on the matter.

[Saw Roh Se] The KNPP categorically object this matter because the 
monetary  assistance provided will not benefit the people of Burma in 
general and  KNPP in particular. It will only benefit the SPDC and its 
cronies. For example, the current Lawpita hydropower plant was built more 
than four decades ago and the Karenni people living in the vicinity of 
Lawpita has  never enjoyed the luxury of using electricity till today. They 
are still relying on candles and other fuel.  Furthermore, for the security 
of the power plant over 10,000 mines have been laid in the plant's 
environs  especially after the SPDC came to power. Some villagers living in 
the  neighbourhood were killed or maimed after stepping on the mines as 
they go  to work in the fields. Whether it is for renovation or expansion 
of the Lawpita hydropower plant, the SPDC will forcibly recruit the 
villagers to use as forced laborers and they will plant more mines.

[Htet Aung Kyaw] What I would like to know is since Japan has given
assistance for renovation of Lawpita hydropower plant won't the 
Lawpita  plant produce more electricity for the Burmese people and the 
country once the assistance is utilized and the plant is functional. Aren't 
you giving  any consideration for such benefits and why are you objecting it?

[Saw Roh Se] The SPDC is facing an electricity shortage now and the
prevailing situation demonstrates they are also facing a political and
economic crises as well. If they receive any assistance and use it for 
the  benefit of the people then we are happy and satisfied but we firmly 
believe  that the assistance will only benefit them and their cronies.

[Htet Aung Kyaw] If the Japanese government does give the assistance 
despite  the objections of the local people, the opposition, and the armed 
groups  including the KNPP what do you plan to do? Will you continue the 
fighting  or do you have any other plans?

[Saw Roh Se] Well, it is very premature to give any answer at this point.

Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 28 Apr 01



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<html>
<font size=3>Dear Ken and Visakha,<br><br>
Re your petition, I don't know if you saw this letter I sent to Tanaka 1
May.<br><br>
Best wishes,<br><br>
David<br><br>
<br>
Letter to the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs<br><br>
<br>
H.E. Mr Koichi Haraguchi,<br>
Japanese Mission, Geneva<br>
Chemin des Fins 3,<br>
CP 337,<br>
1211 Geneva 19<br>
Switzerland<br><br>
<br>
Your Excellency,<br><br>
Please transmit the enclosed letter to your Minister of Foreign
Affairs<br><br>
Yours sincerely,<br><br>
David Arnott (Secretary, Burma Peace Foundation, Geneva)<br><br>
1 May 2001<br><br>
************************<br><br>
Ms Makiko Tanaka,<br>
Minister of Foreign Affairs<br>
Ministry of Foreign Affairs<br>
2-2-1 Kasumigaseki<br>
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8919 JAPAN<br><br>
(By email and letter to the Japanese Mission in Geneva)<br><br>
Dear Minister,<br><br>
I would like to call your attention to certain problems regarding the
reported intention of&nbsp; Japan to provide a 3.53 billion Yen grant for
the&nbsp; &quot;humanitarian&quot; repair of the Baluchaung Hydropower
Station II in Burma (Myanmar). Beyond the question of whether the term
&quot;humanitarian&quot; may logically, technically or administratively
be applied to what would normally be considered an economic development
project, please consider the following points:<br><br>
1) The project is in Karenni State, which is an active theatre of the
civil war in Burma with frequent fighting, especially in the dry season
(see Appendix 1 for the latest battle news from the area).&nbsp;
<br><br>
2) The Karenni have stated their objection to the grant (see Appendix
2).<br><br>
3) The International Labour Organisation has asked its constituents,
including governments, to ensure that their relations with Burma do not
contribute to forced labour. There is every likelihood that forced labour
would be used, directly or indirectly, on this project.&nbsp; <br><br>
4) It is not yet clear that the talks in Rangoon between the SPDC and Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi, for which the Japanese grant is said to be a
&quot;reward&quot;, are going anywhere. It would seem premature to reward
the generals before a concrete process of dialogue can be publicly
demonstrated.<br><br>
Please do not hesitate to contact the Burma Peace Foundation for further
information.<br><br>
Yours sincerely,<br><br>
David Arnott (Secretary, Burma Peace Foundation, Geneva)<br><br>
1 May 2001<br><br>
********************<br><br>
Appendix 1<br><br>
KARENNI NATIONAL PROGRESSIVE PARTY<br><br>
Date: April 30, 2001<br>
News release<br><br>
Battle News<br>
March to April 2001<br><br>
 From March up to the present time there have been 20 clashes between
the&nbsp; SPDC troops and the Karenni Army troops (KA).&nbsp; The SPDC
has suffered 33 casualties and 52 wounded during that period of
time.&nbsp; Four SPDC men have been captured. The KA have had two
wounded. Details of the fighting were as follows:<br><br>
More fighting are expected in the future as the SPDC does not stop its
dry-season military operation yet.&nbsp; <br><br>
On 11 March 2001, at 0800 hrs, the Karenni Army troops (KA) from No. (1)
Battalion attacked SPDC troops from Light Infantry (IB) No. (250) led by
Tun Oo at Hway Pu junction in BP (11) area. The SPDC had one dead and two
wounded. The KA had no casualties.<br><br>
On 11 March 2001, at 0740 hrs, the KA troops from No. (2) Battalion
attacked a SPDC company from LIB No (530) at Daw Take with assorted
weapons.&nbsp; The SPDC had three wounded. The KA was intact.<br><br>
On 15 March 2001, at 1330 hrs, there was a clash between SPDC troops from
LIB No. (424) and the KA at Law Bue Leh junction. The number of SPDC
casualties was unknown.<br><br>
On 18 March 2001, at 1000 hrs, the KA troops from No. (1) Battalion made
an ambush on a column of SPDC soldiers from LIB No. (337) in BP (12)
area. One SPDC soldier was killed. On the same day, at 0920 hrs, the KA
captured a SPDC private soldier named Min Min.<br><br>
On 19 March 2001, at 1400 hrs, the KA troops from No. (1) Battalion made
an ambush on SPDC troops from IB No. (250) led by Major Tun Tun Oo in
Hway Pu junction in BP (11) area. One SPDC soldier was wounded. A
civilian who was forcibly taken as a porter by the unit of SPDC was also
wounded in the attack.<br><br>
On 22 March, at 0900 hrs, there was an unexpected face to face fight that
broke out between the KA and a column of SPDC troops from LIB No. (426)
at Hway Khano, BP (11) area. The SPDC suffered one dead and two wounded.
The KA had one wounded slightly.<br><br>
On 23 March 2001, at 1030 hrs, the KA made an ambush on a column of SPDC
from IB No. (250) at Hwar Kha Mong, BP (11) area. The SPDC suffered one
dead and one wounded.<br><br>
On 26 March 2001, at 1640 hrs, an unexpected face to face clash broke out
between two companies of SPDC from IB No (102) led by vice battalion
commander Major Aung Min and the KA troops from No. (2) Battalion at Hte
Poe Kloe, Dee Mawso Township, Karenni.&nbsp; The clash lasted one
hour.&nbsp; The SPDC had one sergeant dead and four wounded.<br><br>
On 28 March 2001, at 0830 hrs, the KA troops from No. (2) Battalion made
an ambush on a column of SPDC troops from LIB No (248) at Daw Taku
village, an abandoned village. The attack lasted one-and-a-half hours.
Four SPDC soldiers were killed and twelve others were wounded. The KA had
one wounded.<br><br>
On 29 March 2001, at 0555 hrs, the KA troops from No. (1) Battalion
attacked a base of SPDC troops from LIB No (250) at Pasaung. The SPDC
lost one sergeant and one private dead and two privates were
wounded.<br><br>
On 30 March, at 1000 hrs, the KA troops of No. (1) Battalion made an
ambush on a column of SPDC troops from LIB No. (426) led by Battalion
commander Myint Htoo at Hway Pu Long. The SPDC suffered one dead and one
wounded.<br><br>
On 3 April 2001, at 0830 hrs, the KA troops of Battalion No. (2)
destroyed by burning a SPDC truck at Shadaw. On the same day at 1030 hrs,
the KA troops of No. (1) Battalion captured three SPDC soldiers from LIB
No. (430). The captured are Tun Aung Kyaw, Lynn Naing and Ke Win.
<br><br>
On 5 April 2001, at 0940 hrs, the KA made a light attack on SPDC troops
from LIB No. (426) led by the Battalion Commander at Hway Mo. The SPDC
had one sergeant seriously wounded.<br><br>
On 10 April 2001, at 1600 hrs, the KA made an ambush on a column of SPDC
troops from LIB No. (337) at BP (9) area. One SPDC soldier was killed.
<br><br>
On 16, April 2001, at 0700 hrs, an unexpected face to face clash broke
out between a column of SPDC troops from LIB No. (421) and the KA troops
of No. (2) Battalion at Shadaw. The SPDC suffered one wounded.<br><br>
On 17 April 2001, at 1400 hrs, the KA troops from No. (1) Battalion
destroyed a truck belonging to the SPDC at Mawchi.<br><br>
On 19 April 2001, at 0840 hrs, the KA discovered two dead prisoners who
were used as porters by SPDC troops from LIB No. (424) led by Battalion
Commander Htay Myint Aung during its military operation. The dead
prisoners were U Chit Laing and Maung Boe. They were believed to have
died from malaria.<br><br>
On 19 April 2001, at 1200 hrs, the KA discovered a dead body of a porter
named Thant Zaw. The porter was believed to have died from
tiredness.<br><br>
On 20 April 2001, at 0750 hrs, the KA troops from No. (1) Battalion made
a surprised attack on an outpost of SPDC troops from IB No. (261) near
Mawchi. The SPDC suffered three deaths. The KA seized one MA-1. During
the fighting, the SPDC troops from Mawchi based fired six shells of 81 MM
on Lo Khar Lo village and wounded two villagers. The names of the wounded
are not yet available.<br><br>
On 21 April 2001, at 1300 hrs, the KA troops from No. (1) Battalion
attacked a convoy of SPDC troops from IB No. (102) led by Lt. Colonel Win
Htway, battalion commander, at Hway Au Lay. The SPDC suffered nine deaths
and fourteen wounded. The commander was among the wounded.<br><br>
On 23 April 2001, at 1100 hrs, the KA troops from No. (2) Battalion made
an ambush on SPDC troops from LIB No. (531) between Pruso and Htar Le.
Four SPDC soldiers were killed and three others were seriously wounded.
The KA seized one 60 MM and six of its shells, one G-3 and six of its
magazines and 30 of its rounds, one BA-94, one China-made communication
machine and other military supplies.<br><br>
On 24 April 2001, at 0830 hrs, the KA troops from No. (1) Battalion made
an ambush on a column of PSDC troops from IB No. (102) at Hway Kha Mong,
BP (11) area. One SPDC soldier was killed and two others wounded. On the
same day, the KA once again attacked the same column of SPDC troops while
it was carrying back its wounded. The SPDC had two wounded. <br><br>
On 25 April 2001, at 1635 hrs, the KA made an ambush on a column of SPDC
troops from IB No. (102) led by Battalion Commander Aung Min at BP (12)
area. The SPDC had two dead and two wounded.<br><br>
********************<br><br>
Appendix 2<br><br>
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 00:07:31 +0200 <br><br>
DVB : KNPP says Japanese aid will only benefit government&nbsp;
&quot;cronies&quot; <br><br>
Karenni group says Japanese aid will only benefit government
&quot;cronies&quot;<br><br>
A national race armed group based at the Burma-Thai border today
strongly&nbsp; objected to the Japanese government's plan to grant ODA
assistance for&nbsp; renovation of Lawpita Hydropower plant. The Karenni
National Progressive&nbsp; Party [KNPP] which is active in the Lawpita
region has objected to the&nbsp; recent Japanese government's decision to
grant 24m dollars assistance to&nbsp; the SPDC [State Peace and
Development Council] military government. To learn more about the KNPP's
decision, DVB [Democratic Voice of Burma]&nbsp; interviewed KNPP Foreign
Affairs Spokesman Saw Roh Se on the matter.<br><br>
[Saw Roh Se] The KNPP categorically object this matter because the
monetary&nbsp; assistance provided will not benefit the people of Burma
in general and&nbsp; KNPP in particular. It will only benefit the SPDC
and its cronies. For example, the current Lawpita hydropower plant was
built more than four decades ago and the Karenni people living in the
vicinity of Lawpita has&nbsp; never enjoyed the luxury of using
electricity till today. They are still relying on candles and other
fuel.&nbsp; Furthermore, for the security of the power plant over 10,000
mines have been laid in the plant's environs&nbsp; especially after the
SPDC came to power. Some villagers living in the&nbsp; neighbourhood were
killed or maimed after stepping on the mines as they go&nbsp; to work in
the fields. Whether it is for renovation or expansion of the Lawpita
hydropower plant, the SPDC will forcibly recruit the villagers to use as
forced laborers and they will plant more mines.<br><br>
[Htet Aung Kyaw] What I would like to know is since Japan has given 
<br>
assistance for renovation of Lawpita hydropower plant won't the
Lawpita&nbsp; plant produce more electricity for the Burmese people and
the country once the assistance is utilized and the plant is functional.
Aren't you giving&nbsp; any consideration for such benefits and why are
you objecting it? <br><br>
[Saw Roh Se] The SPDC is facing an electricity shortage now and the 
<br>
prevailing situation demonstrates they are also facing a political and
<br>
economic crises as well. If they receive any assistance and use it for
the&nbsp; benefit of the people then we are happy and satisfied but we
firmly believe&nbsp; that the assistance will only benefit them and their
cronies.<br><br>
[Htet Aung Kyaw] If the Japanese government does give the assistance
despite&nbsp; the objections of the local people, the opposition, and the
armed groups&nbsp; including the KNPP what do you plan to do? Will you
continue the fighting&nbsp; or do you have any other plans?<br><br>
[Saw Roh Se] Well, it is very premature to give any answer at this point.
<br><br>
Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 28 Apr
01<br><br>
&nbsp;<br>
</font></html>

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