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BurmaNet News: October 8, 2001
______________ THE BURMANET NEWS ______________
An on-line newspaper covering Burma
October 8, 2001 Issue # 1894
______________ www.burmanet.org _______________
INSIDE BURMA _______
*AP: Myanmar frees five opposition members as U.N. human rights expert
*Arakan News Agency: Conversion into Christianity en masse in north
Arakan
*AFP: Cambodian FM in Myanmar
*BBC: Investigators silent after Burma visit
*Chin Human Rights Organization: Junta disbands Christian
infrastructure, restricts access to theological studies abroad
*Chin Human Rights Organization: "No English, We are Burman"
MONEY _______
*Singapore Business Times: Myanmar Airways cuts flights after US attacks
*Narinjara News: Rice mills forced to shut down in Ponnagyun
*Narinjara News: 6000 bottles of foreign liquor seized in Ctg
*The Myanmar Times: New garment factory to employ 1000
GUNS______
*Bangkok Post: Third Army commander to visit Tachilek
*Narinjara News: A Rakhaing Mother denied justice for the death of her
son
*Independent Mon News Agency: Train blast in Ye Township
*DVB: Intelligence directive aims to prevent leak of critical speeches
Intelligence directive aims to prevent leak of critical speeches
REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL _______
*Bangkok Post: Burma bridge to be finished by next year
*The Star (Malaysia): Myanmar forgers nabbed
*The Nation: Currents of suspicion still run
EDITORIALS/OPINION/PROPAGANDA________
*Irrawaddy online: Burmese Muslim Group Speaks Out on Afghan Attacks
*Chin Forum: On the passing of Pu Mang Tling
OTHER______
*Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships: Training for Print Journalists
__________________ INSIDE BURMA ____________________
AP: Myammar frees five opposition members as U.N. human rights expert
October 8, 2001
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) _ Myanmar freed five more opposition members from
jail Tuesday in a ``goodwill gesture,'' to coincide with the arrival of
a U.N. human rights expert to assess civil and political rights in the
military state.
The government also said it will extend full cooperation to the United
Nations human rights rapporteur, Paula Sergio Pinheiro, who is leading a
three-member team on a two-week visit.
The team is expected to meet with top government officials, opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi and travel to the provinces to assess the
situation on the ground.
The military junta has faced intense international criticism for rights
violations, including large scale arrests of members of Suu Kyi's
National League for Democracy party and for suppressing virtually all
political activity.
The junta, which took power in 1988 after crushing a pro-democracy
movement, refuses to acknowledge the results of the 1990 general
elections that were won handsomely by the NLD. Instead it jailed many
representatives elected as Member of Parliament.
An official statement said five of the MPs were released Tuesday.
``As a goodwill gesture by the government, 5 NLD MPs elect were being
released from various correctional facilities this afternoon,'' the
statement said. It said all are in good health and were reunited with
their families.
It did not say why they were jailed or on what charges. But the five
were believed to have been serving jail terms ranging from three to 20
years.
Their release raised to 174 the number of political prisoners freed
this year while the junta has been holding closed-door reconciliation
talks with Suu Kyi.
Rights groups have estimated there are more than 1,800 political
prisoners in the country.
The talks with Suu Kyi have been seen as an expression of the junta's
willingness to end the 13-year political deadlock. The regime also has
shown it is opening up in other ways after resisting outside scrutiny
for decades.
It first allowed Pinheiro to visit the country in April, the first time
a U.N. human rights rapporteur visited Myanmar in five years.
He did not travel outside Yangon on that occasion except to survey a
Thai-Myanmar gas pipeline in Kanbauk in southeastern Myanmar.
Also, an International Labor Organization team wrapped up an
unprecedented three-week visit to Myanmar on Saturday. It was allowed to
travel outside Yangon to find out if regulations issued by the
government to stop the use of unpaid civilian labor were being put into
practice.
In neighboring Thailand, Foreign Ministry spokesman Rathakit Manathat
said Tuesday that the political situation in Myanmar had improved and
the military's ``distrust'' of the international community had lessened.
___________________________________________________
Arakan News Agency: Conversion into Christianity en masse in north
Arakan
By our Special Correspondent
Buthidaung, October 5: Over 300 Rakhine Buddhist men, women and children
belonging to 65 families from newly established Pyin She Buddhist
village under Buthidaung township in occupied Arakan State in southwest
Burma have reportedly been converted en masse to Christianity in the
month of August.
According to reliable sources the mass conversion occurred following a
bitter quarrel between two groups of Rakhines of the said village over
the appointment of village Chairman and Secretary. The aggrieved party
accused the Township Peace and Development Council of siding with the
other group, which is in minority, after taking huge bribe. Although a
complaint was lodged with the District Peace and Development Council no
action has reportedly been taken.
Disappointed and frustrated over the unjust behaviour of the government
officials, all 65 households went to the recently built Christian church
adjacent to Ywa Thit Ywa Muslim village west of Buthidaung town and
voluntarily embraced Christianity en masse.
On being informed the Chairman of the Township Peace and Development
Council summoned the converted people and given them one month to
reconsider their decision. However they told that they would stick to
the new faith till their death.
In a related incident a Buddhist monk belonging to the same village was
sentenced to 3 years imprisonment in the same month of August for
allegedly conspiring against the State.
Abdur Rashid
Chief Reporter
Arakan News Agency
___________________________________________________
AFP: Cambodian FM in Myanmar
BANGKOK, Oct 8 (AFP) - Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong arrived in
Yangon late Monday for an official goodwill visit, state-run television
reported.
Namhong, who is heading a group of senior Cambodian officials, was
welcomed at the airport by his Myanmar counterpart, Win Aung, TV Myanmar
said in a dispatch monitored here.
Namhong, who is also a special envoy to Prime Minister Hun Sen, will
call on Myanmar military leader General Than Shwe and other senior
figures during his two-day trip, a Cambodian foreign ministry source
said.
The visiting delegation will also hold meeting with Myanmar foreign
ministry officials before they winding up the visit.
__________________________________________________
BBC: Investigators silent after Burma visit
Saturday, 6 October, 2001, 16:08 GMT 17:08 UK
By Larry Jagan in Bangkok
A high-level delegation from the International Labour Organisation has
finished a three-week investigation of the use of forced labour in
Burma.
The team, led by former governor general of Australia, Sir Ninian
Stephen, was trying to assess whether a government-ordered ban on forced
labour was being complied with.
The delegation met the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi - currently
under house-arrest - before they left.
Unpaid labour
It has held talks with government officials, opposition leaders and
representatives of ethnic political parties involved in labour matters.
Human rights groups have accused the Burmese Government of forcing
citizens to do unpaid manual labour on public works projects and as
porters for the army.
The ILO has been tight-lipped about everything on this trip.
They continued to give no details of the visit, as they left the
country.
However western diplomats believe the investigation has been extremely
rigorous.
In the past three weeks the ILO team has also spoken with the country's
military leader and the opposition National League for Democracy.
They have also consulted UN officials and representatives of
international aid agencies based in Rangoon.
Most importantly they have travelled around some of the border areas
where there have been recent reports of forced labour.
They appear to have been given access to all the people and places they
wanted to visit.
But some analysts still fear the military authorities will have ensured
that the delegation did not see the real situation for themselves.
The Burmese military government was stung into action last November when
the ILO condemned Burma for its use of what the international community
calls slavery.
Mission
The ILO called on members to implement what would in effect be an
international economic boycott of Burma.
With its economy plunging deeper into crisis, this is the last thing
that the Burmese generals want to see happen.
The Burmese government officially outlawed forced labour and circulated
the directive throughout the country immediately afterwards.
The mission's main objective is to assess to what extent forced labour
has been stopped.
But the ILO is well aware that what is really needed is a permanent
presence in Rangoon to continually monitor the situation.
Sources in the ILO believe this will be the main recommendation of the
ILO team when it makes its reports to the organisation in November. ?
__________________________________________________
Chin Human Rights Organization: Junta disbands Christian infrastructure,
restricts access to theological studies abroad
CHRO Human Rights News
October 4, 2001
According CHRO source, Chin Christian ministers face a limited access
for their further studies in foreign countries especially in the United
States. Even though the ruling military junta in Burma do not explicitly
imposed law on restriction on Christian minister for their further
studies, many Chin Christian ministers were rejected their application
for passport for unknown reason.
The majority of Christian pastors who come for further studies in the
United States from Burma are Chins. According to sources, Chin Christian
ministers make about two third of the population among those who come to
the States for further Studies in the field of theology.
The American Baptist Missionary come to Chinland in late 19th Century
and majority of Chins converted to Christianity by the end of 20th
century. The United States is the most favoured place for Christian
ministers for further studies.
Since 1995, Christian institutions in Burma can not get permission from
the authority to build Christian infrastructure such as Church, seminary
and Christian school. According to the rule and regulations imposed by
the ruling military junta, any religion in the country can apply
permission at the ministry of Home and Religions Affairs to build the
institution?s infrastructure. However, the ministry always rejects their
aplication.
After bribing a good deal of money to the lower level, township or
district level, authority, Christians institutions are allowed to
repair, extend or build their infrastructure.
Further more, Christians are prohibited to held worship service in their
home. According to the order no. 100 ( HTWE ) 10/TTP-345/ KL-2000 dated
26 May 2000 release from the office of township directorate office of
religious affairs in Kalay Myo, Sagaing division, there will be no more
home worship service, religious meeting and training outside of the
church. The order warned that anyone who does not abide by the order
will be put on trial.
( Note: CHRO have original coppy of order no 100 (HTWE ) 10/TTP-345/
KL-2000 dated 26 May 2000
____________________________________________________________________
Chin Human Rights Organization: "No English, We are Burman"
CHRO: October 4, 2001
The Burmese military regime ordered that any sign board written or named
in English should be replace with Burmese. In Chin state and many other
Chin inhabited areas in Burma, the name of the street, Church and the
welcome sighboards such as " welcome to......" are written in English.
The directorate office of religious affairs Kalay township released
order no 100/ HTWE ( 60 ) TTN- 226/KL -99 dated September 22, 1999.
According to the order, all the English name whether a street, or a
church should be replace with the Burmese name.
The order further suggested that all the citizens of Burma should show
their patriotism by using their own "Burmese names" and not to fall prey
of Western pro-colonialists.
( Note: CHRO have original copy of order no 100/ HTWE ( 60 ) TTN- 226/KL
-99 dated September 22, 1999.)
______________________MONEY________________________
Singapore Business Times: Myanmar Airways cuts flights after US attacks
October 8, 2001
Air & Land Transport News
It is also collecting surcharge from passengers
(YANGON) Myanmar Airways International has trimmed back its schedule of
flights in line with moves by other carriers following the Sept 11
terrorist attacks on the United States, the Myanmar Times newspaper
reported.
In its edition to be published today, the weekly said the carrier issued
a revised flight schedule last Monday showing reduced services to
Bangkok and Singapore.
Direct return flights to Bangkok have been reduced to one a day while
the carrier's morning service to the Thai capital has been scrapped.
Also, direct return flights to Singapore have been cut from five to
three a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Flights to Singapore which stop over in Kuala Lumpur on the return leg
have been reduced to one a week, on Sundays. Before the change, the
service was available on Thursdays and Sundays.
However, Myanmar Airways International has introduced a direct return
flight to Kuala Lumpur on Thursdays.
The international carrier has also changed its schedule for flights to
Hong Kong, which now operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays, instead of
Mondays and Fridays.
Meanwhile, the Myanmar Airways International has begun collecting a US$2
surcharge from passengers to meet higher insurance premiums arising from
massive losses by insurers due to the terror attacks.
An airline official told the Myanmar Times it had been collecting the
surcharge, which has been introduced by many other carriers worldwide,
since Oct 1.- AFP
___________________________________________________
Narinjara News: Rice mills forced to shut down in Ponnagyun
9/10/2001
Cox's Bazaar,Oct 9 : Privately owned rice mills have been forced to
shut down as a result of the opening of new rice mills by Military
Intelligence Agents in Ponnagyun township, in the northern part of
Rakhine State, in western Burma. According to a goldsmith from Ponnagyun
who recently crossed to Teknaf, a border town in southern Bangladesh,
the local MI department and a police inspector in Yotoyoke, under
Ponnagyun Township, have established two new rice mills. The two law
enforcement officers have passed a verbal order to the people in the
area that, the rice husked in the rice mills owned by the villagers
shall not be allowed to be taken outside the village for sale unless the
villagers mill their rice in the two rice mills owned by the two
officials. Since the villagers have no other alternative to the
'order', five other rice mills in the area have been forced to shut down
and the owners of the mills finding no people coming to their mills now
face very difficult days and are compelled to quit the trade. The names
of the rice mill owners are: U Hla Phaw, Kyaw Zan Oo, Maung Mra Thein,
U San Gyaw Pru and U Aung Phaw. The name of the police inspector is
Maung Maung Soe [48]. The other rice mill is owned by the local MI
authority.
___________________________________________________
Narinjara News: 6000 bottles of foreign liquor seized in Ctg
>From Prothom Alo newspaper (Bangladesh)
8/10/2001
CHITTAGONG, Oct 7: An anti-smuggling team of Bangladesh Navy in early
this morning impounded two mechanized boats from outer anchorage of the
Chittagong port and seized huge quantities of liquor worth about TK 37
lakh, reports BSS. The team recovered 6,000 bottles of Whisky and Dry
Gin made by Myanmar from boats in a pre-dawn swoop, a navy press release
said. Steps were taken to deposit the liquor and a case was file with
port police in this connection, the press release added.
___________________________________________________
The Myanmar Times: New garment factory to employ 1000
Volume 5, No.83
October 1 - 7, 2001
New garment factory to employ 1000
By Myo Lwin
A SOUTH Korean company has begun recruiting employees for a new garment
factory being built at Bago, about 50 miles northeast of Yangon. The
Myanstar company is seeking nearly 1000 employees for a suit and coat
factory involving a US$5 million investment registered with the Myanma
Investment Commission last July. The recruitment drive comes amid
reports of retrenchments and production slowdowns at other garment
factories in Myanmar. Myanstar, which has head offices in Seoul, is a
sister company of the Indonesian-based PT Starnesia Garment. Myanstar's
job vacancy advertisements indicate that it expects to begin production
in December. Basic salaries at the factory will range from K5000 to
K40,000 a month, depending on qualifications and experience, according
to a source close to the company.
Myanstar is reported to have contracted with a Japanese supplier to
make US$1 million worth of clothes a year on a cut, make and pack
basis. The garments will be shipped to Japan. Myanstar also has plans
to make men's and women's coats next year, which will require
recruiting about another 1000 workers. In common with some other South
Korean textile companies, such as Myanmar Yes, Opal and Glogon,
Myanstar has confidence in the stability of markets in Japan and
Europe. "We have no problem as our products are not destined for the
United States," said a Myanstar official in a reference to legislation
being considered by the US Congress to ban all imports from Myanmar.
The US move threatens about 300,000 garment industry workers in
Myanmar. Like most of the 400 garment factories in Myanmar, almost all
of Myanstar's raw materials will be imported from Japan.
_______________________GUNS________________________
Bangkok Post: Third Army commander to visit Tachilek
Bangkok Post, Monday 08 October 2001
Third Army commander Lt-Gen Udomchai Ongkhasingh has accepted an
invitation to visit Tachilek.
Later this month he will meet Maj-Gen Thein Sein, Burma's Triangle
Region chief, and Brig Gen Myint Swe, Southwestern Region commander.
Lt-Gen Udomchai said Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh instructed
him to concentrate on promoting personal relations with Burmese leaders.
The Third Army commander said his drug suppression policies would be
much more aggressive than those of his predecessor, Gen Wattanachai
Chaimuanwong.
He said he would allow Burmese soldiers to deal with drug production
plants inside Burma while Thai soldiers concentrate on blocking
smugglers.
Meanwhile, army chief Gen Surayud Chulanont said the Third Army's Task
Force 399 has begun its drug suppression operations along the border.
__________________________________________________
Narinjara News: A Rakhaing Mother denied justice for the death of her
son
8/10/2001
Cox's Bazaar 8 October 01: A Rakhaing mother from Maungdaw has become
mentally unsound due to denial of justice for her son killed by the
Nasaka border police fire. According to a trader from Maungdaw
available at Teknaf border town of Bangladesh, the mother went to all
the higher authorities in the area, demanding the justice for her son
shot dead by Nasaka in February this year.
Pauk Sa [40], the son, was a well-known businessman in Maungdaw who also
carried out smuggling in collusion with the Military Intelligence 18
stationed in Maungdaw. At night the Nasaka troops shot at the smuggling
boat of Pauk Sa as he only paid illegal tolls to MI and not Nasaka. Pauk
Sa was instantly killed and his dead body was found floating two days
later. The mother has repeatedly tried to lodge a complaint to the law
enforcement agencies but failed till today, eight months after the
murder. Pauk Sa left behind a wife and three daughters. They live at
Boat wharf at Maungdaw.
___________________________________________________
Independent Mon News Agency: Train blast in Ye Township
On October 2, 2001 a train from Mawlamyine the capital of Mon state,
bounce to Ye was bombed between Lamine village and Toung Bone village in
Ye township.
A source in the area said no armed group admitted to the blast but
possibilities include the Karen National Union or a Mon Splinter armed
group which operates around this area.
___________________________________________________
DVB: Intelligence directive aims to prevent leak of critical speeches
Intelligence directive aims to prevent leak of critical speeches
Text of report by Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) on 4 October
DVB has learned that the SPDC Directorate of Defence Services
Intelligence [DDSI] has issued a directive to employees of departments
under the Ministry of Home Affairs that severe action would be taken to
those responsible personnel in connection with the leakage of SPDC Home
Minister Col Tin Hlaing's speech to foreign radio stations.
The speech delivered by Home Minister Col Tin Hlaing at a July meeting
was smuggled out of the country by corrupt employees and some foreign
broadcasting stations broadcast the news. The directive reminded that
this leak tantamount to breaching the country's security act. The DDSI
directive also stated that the disclosure of the country's secret is
the same as high treason. Some foreign radio stations and political
opposition groups based in Thailand bribe government employees
including junior officers by giving them twice their government
salaries and attempt to obtain copies of important speeches by cabinet
ministers. The DDSI directive urged all the heads of departments to be
always watchful of their junior officers.
Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 2330 gmt 4 Oct 01
---
___________________ REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL___________________
Bangkok Post: Burma bridge to be finished by next year
October 08, 2001
Government to pay for construction
Saritdet Marukatat
A new bridge linking Mae Sai with Tachilek in Burma will be ready for
use by next year, the foreign minister said.
Surakiart Sathirathai said the government would pick up the tab for the
structure and renovations of a road on the Thai side.
Mr Surakiart and Transport Minister Wan Muhamad Nor Matha attended a
meeting yesterday with Burmese junta first secretary Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt
and Foreign Minister Win Aung.
Mr Wan Nor said the bridge would cost 25-30 million baht and take eight
months to complete. It would be the responsibility of the Highways
Department, he said.
The two ministers visited the construction site along the Mae Sai river,
about 4km east of the present bridge.
The new bridge will be wider than its 20-year-old predecessor, to cope
with increasing trade.
Thailand hopes the bridge will boost business along the border and
absorb the expected rise in traffic when international trade grows with
the completion of a road linking Tachilek with southern China.
``It will improve not only the Thai economy but also that of our
neighbouring country,'' Mr Surakiart said.
He said Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt promised to speed up decisions by the Burmese
government on the lifting of a ban on 15 Thai commodities and the easing
of restrictions on joint fishery investment.
Thai investors complained Rangoon's restrictive measures would make it
difficult for them to re-enter the fishery industry with the Burmese.
___________________________________________________
The Star (Malaysia): Myanmar forgers nabbed
Sunday, October 7, 2001
KUALA LUMPUR: Eight Myanmar nationals, who were believed to be running a
syndicate specialising in printing forged travel documents, were
arrested by Immigration authorities during a special operation on
Wednesday night. They were detained during a raid at an apartment in
Pandan Indah here.
Immigration department director (enforcement division) Zainuddin Ab Hadi
said forged travel documents including work permits were seized from
them.
___________________________________________________
The Nation: Currents of suspicion still run
Published on Oct 7, 2001
Don Pathan
Every day a group of 75 to 100 men gather by the loading dock at Chiang
Rai's Chiang Saen district waiting to offload hundreds of boxes of goods
sent down from southern China via the Mekong River.
It's a back-breaking job, and the pay is low - about Bt100 per day on
average- but the men are not complaining. A job is a job, they say.
Ten to 15 cargo ships, ranging from 75 to 100 tons, dock at the Chiang
Saen pier daily, but the workload will get even heavier in coming days
as more and more cargo ships arrive.
In May, Thailand, Laos, Burma and China's Yunnan province took a major
step towards strengthening regional economic cooperation by entering
into an agreement - after five years of negotiation - to allow cargo
vessels to navigate freely on the Mekong.
Local Thai officials said the Chinese merchants and sailors, with their
vast experience from navigating the Mekong and other great rivers were
looking to make the most out of the recently signed agreement aimed at
facilitating commercial navigation along the Mekong.
Unlike in the past when the absence of a standard operating procedure
gave rise to unscrupulous practices by customs and port officials, the
agreement that came into effect in May put in place the necessary rules
for safe and free navigation along an 886-kilometre stretch of the
river. This extends from Simao port in Yunnan to Luang Prabang, a world
heritage site and popular tourist destination in northern Laos.
Considering the political turmoil of the past decades, the agreement is
indeed a major step towards regional cooperation. In the post-World War
II period, the Mekong was divided along geopolitical lines, with
Communist China in the upper reaches being sidelined from development
schemes funded by Western powers. The move was aimed at preventing
communism from reaching the river banks of the non-communist states
south of China.
Decades later, following the fall of the Vientiane royalist government
in 1975, the upper-lower line became blurred. As a result, the portion
of the Mekong that separated pro-US Thailand from Communist Laos became
a bitter dividing line between the two countries. For the hundreds of
thousands of Indochinese refugees fleeing Communist rule, the river
became the last hurdle before reaching the so-called free world.
Today, the gathering of porters at Chiang Saen's port is indeed a
testimony of how political and economic realities have evolved over the
years. Though the changes are welcomed, not all parties are completely
sold on the idea that this is a "win-win" situation. For some, the heart
of the problem is the issue of sovereignty. For others, the problems lie
elsewhere - namely security and environmental degradation.
Laos and Burma, which stand to gain only a fraction of what Thailand and
China are reaping economically, have consistently pointed out that the
great Mekong is not an "international waterway" and that the agreement
does not constitute forgoing one's sovereignty for the sake of the
whole.
Vientiane is also concerned that the dredging of the river to facilitate
the movement of larger ships, as proposed by China, may exact too high a
price.
In a recent interview with The Nation, Phongsavath Boupha, Lao deputy
foreign minister, said dredging the Mekong was likely to have a wide
range of effects, from environmental degradation to the shifting of the
current border demarcation and riverbanks.
"Experts who carry out the study on the impact will have to be well
versed in a wide range of areas as the dredging will affect a wide range
of things," Phongsavath said.
The Chinese government is reportedly looking to invest US$5.6 million
(Bt250 million) dredging the 331-kilometre section from the No 243
demarcation point between China and Burma to Houyxay in Laos.
If all goes to plan, the project will start in December. Once completed,
this stretch is expected to allow passage of 100-ton ships all year
round, Liu Daqing, a leading technician in charge of the project, was
quoted by China's state-run People's Daily as saying.
And by 2007, 300-ton ships are expected to be able to navigate this
stretch even in the dry season, the daily said. Currently the annual
navigation capacity of the Mekong is four million ton and is expected to
reach 10 million tons by 2007.
As for the generals in Rangoon, high on their agenda is the issue of
security. Not only is the area on the Burmese side of the Mekong River
rugged and not firmly within the grip of authority, the area is slowly
being taken over by units of the United Wa State Army (UWSA).
And although Rangoon and the 20,000-strong UWSA entered a cease-fire
agreement over a decade ago, the arrangement is still a far cry from a
meaningful and lasting peace settlement. Any development that enhances
the standing of the Wa, said Thai army officers, is definitely a point
of concern for both Thailand and Burma.
The UWSA, dubbed the world's largest armed drug-trafficking group, has
been declared "public enemy number one" by the Thai government.
Checkpoints leading to the UWSA settlement and units have been ordered
shut, while troop presence along the border has been beefed up to stop
the flow of drugs into the Kingdom.
One good thing that has come out of the Wa's presence in the area, said
a Thai border official, is the decline in banditry and river piracy.
But with or without the Wa, the face of the so-called economic
quadrangular development zone - its social and economic landscape - is
certainly changing.
"A handful of people may be involved in the drug trade and other illicit
activities," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity,
"but the real force that is shaping the area is the cross-border trade
among the four countries."
Besides enhancing trade between northern Thailand and southern China,
strengthening economic cooperation in the region will essentially
enhance Laos' international standing, the official said.
The landlocked country that in the past served as a buffer between
Thailand and suspicious Vietnam and China is today trying desperately to
become a land-link nation. Along the way, it is also looking to become
the "battery" for Southeast Asia through the sale of hydroelectric
power.
"A strong Laos would be good for Thailand," said the official. "We
wouldn't want a mass migration from up north [China] pouring down to
this area."
As pointed out by Nawin Thepawong, the chief of Chiang Rai's commerce
office, cross-border trade between Thailand and Laos continued at the
height of the regionwide economic crises. He said Thai exports to Laos,
especially electrical appliances, were climbing steadily throughout the
turmoil.
Said the Thai official: "Don't underestimate the Laotians. They are good
salesmen. Much of what they have purchased from Thailand is resold to
China and Vietnam."
___________EDITORIALS/OPINION/PROPAGANDA__________
Irrawaddy online: Burmese Muslim Group Speaks Out on Afghan Attacks
By Maung Maung Oo and Ko Thet
October 8, 2001?A Muslim group from Burma has expressed its perspective
on attacks being carried out in Afghanistan by the United States and its
allies.
Thet Lwin Oo, a spokesperson for the Muslim Information Committee of
Burma (MICB) said that the Muslim people might be consolable if this war
ruins only Afghanistan?s military targets and terrorist training camps.
"But if this war hurts the innocent people of Afghanistan or results in
other unnecessary bloody events, it will be more difficult for Western
countries to solve the terrorist problem. If there are other unnecessary
consequences, reprisals would follow, because in Islam, all Muslims are
brothers," he said.
Last night the United States and its allies started their war against
terrorism with air strikes on targets in Afghanistan. Afghanistan?s air
defenses and terrorist redoubts in the capital Kabul and other cities
were hit by Tomahawk cruise missiles.
According to reports, Osama Bin Laden, the millionaire Saudi exile
accused of financing and masterminding attacks on New York and
Washington on Sept 11, escaped the air strikes, as did Mullah Mohammed
Omar, leader of Afghanistan?s Taliban regime.
The Irrawaddy asked Thet Lwin Oo if he believed there was a danger of
the US war against terrorism turning into a religious war. "As long as
this war lasts, it could change," he replied.
"I think it is early to have a war against Afghanistan because America
cannot show any concrete evidence of Bin Laden?s involvement in the Sept
11 attacks," he said when asked if he felt the war against Afghanistan
was fair or not.
The MICB spokesperson said that most Muslims in Burma know little about
Bin Laden, but believe that he is carrying out a war to defend the
Muslim people. "But if he is responsible for the Sept 11 attacks in
America, which claimed thousand of lives, we, Burmese Muslims, would not
be support him," he added.
Most Burmese Muslims, he said, regard Burma?s military government as the
real terrorist group because of their practice of demolishing mosques
and persecuting Muslims.
___________________________________________________
Chin Forum: On the passing of Pu Mang Tling
The sudden departure of Pu Mang Tling, one of the founders of the CHIN
FORUM, has touched our hearts deeply. As a Member of Parliament of the
Union of Burma during our country's short-lived democracy period he
joined the the democratic forces lead by the former Prime Minister U Nu
in the 1970s to fight against the military dictators that took power by
force in 1962.
When the revolution failed and many others of his colleagues retuned to
Burma, Pu Mangtling, along with other respected leaders like U Thwin
etc. opted to carry on the struggle and remained in Thailand and the
liberated areas. During the ten years of his refuge in Thailand Pu Mang
Tling's residence had been a place of solace and meeting points for all
Chins of various parts of Chin State, who, for various reasons,
happened to come to Bangkok or travelled elsewhere enroute Thailand.
Even at his old-age he had never given up his determinations to keep on
the light of democracy burning and help the younger generations of the
Chin democracy forces by enthusiatically helping them form up the CHIN
FORUM in 1998 at Ottawa, Canada.
Pu Mang Tling - your name will live forevermore in the history of the
Union of Burma and in the hearts of the Chin people you have so dearly
loved. You have inspired us as an examplary leader in many ways, and
your iron heart have an immense impact and inspiartion on us - the
young generations. We solemnly pledge to carry on the unfinished
struggle for freedom and democracy until we all reach the goal you have
envisioned ever since your youthful days.
May you live in PEACE.
THE CHIN FORUM
______________________OTHER______________________
Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships: Training for Print Journalists
Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2001 10:23:10 EDT
The ALFRED FRIENDLY PRESS FELLOWSHIPS (AFPF) announces its annual
competition open to mid-career, professional print journalists from
developing and transitional countries. Approximately twelve reporters
and editors will be selected to spend six months in American newsrooms
as reporters. Since 1984, AFPF has hosted 202 journalists from 71
developing countries. An applicant must have an excellent command of
written and spoken English, early to mid-career status (between the ages
of 25 and 35) with at least three years experience as a print
journalist, a demonstrated commitment to a career in journalism in the
home country, and current employment as a journalist with an independent
print media organization in a developing or transitional country. The
Fellowship covers all costs of program-related international and
domestic U.S. travel, and provides a monthly stipend to cover basic
living expenses. The program begins in June in Washington, DC. After a
two-week orientation program Fellows are deployed to U.S. host
newspapers. Applications are due February 1 for the program beginning in
June of that year. For more information and/or an application, visit
AFPF's website, www.pressfellowships.org
or contact AFPF by January 1 at:
2000 L Street N.W., Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036-4997;
Telephone: (202) 416-1691;
Fax: (202) 416-1695;
E-mail: afpf@xxxxxxx
________________
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