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BurmaNet News: October 11, 2001



______________ THE BURMANET NEWS ______________
        An on-line newspaper covering Burma 
          October 11, 2001   Issue # 1897
______________ www.burmanet.org _______________


INSIDE BURMA _______
*BBC: Burma slowly comes in from the cold
*DVB: Junta reported closely monitoring activities of Muslims
*Irrawaddy online:  Muslims Kept Under Watchful Eye
*Chin Human Rights Organization: Racially selective settlement and 
relocation being implemented in Kalay-Tamu Area 
*Chin Human Rights Organization: Only Burmese Names In School

MONEY _______
*Asian Week: No more underwear from Burma
*Asian Week: Or Pots
*Chin Human Rights Organization: SPDC monopolizes farming management
*Narinjara News: Burmese Army monopoly in Rakhine State makes life 
difficult Cox's Bazaar
*Mizzima: Burma's cows being smuggled across the borders 

REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL _______
*Kyodo: Coast guard arrests 12 for allegedly trying smuggle selves 
*Mizzima: WLB concluded its Presidium Meeting

EDITORIALS/OPINION/PROPAGANDA________
*Resolutions Adopted by the 169th Session of the Inter-parliamentary 
Union on Burma
The New light of Myanmar (SPDC): Results to be derived from friendship 
between the two countries

OTHER______
*PD Burma: Calendar of events 
*Oak Human Rights Fellowship  Fall 2002

					
__________________ INSIDE BURMA ____________________



BBC: Burma slowly comes in from the cold



 Wednesday, 10 October, 2001, 10:48 GMT 11:48 UK 

By regional analyst Larry Jagan in Bangkok 

The international community is seriously considering abandoning its 
decade-long policy of isolating Burma. 
 
Many western countries have adopted sanctions against Burma because of 
its poor human rights record and the military's failure to respect the 
1990 election results.  

In those elections the opposition National League for Democracy, led by 
Aung San Suu Kyi, won convincingly, but was never allowed to take power. 
 

But for the past year, the military authorities have been talking to the 
opposition leader and released nearly 200 political prisoners as a 
good-will gesture.  

Five opposition members were released on Tuesday. 

Key change 

The European Union now faces the problem many western countries are 
grappling with at the moment. How can the international community 
encourage the dialogue process between Burma's military government and 
the opposition without giving the generals an excuse to drag their feet? 
 

In a typical EU decision it has decided to relax its policy towards 
Burma, while maintaining sanctions - at least for the next six months.  

The European Council of Ministers meeting in Luxembourg earlier this 
week, renewed its sanctions against Burma but commended the junta for 
the progress that was being made towards political reform.  

The EU believes that by renewing the strict sanctions against the 
military regime adopted nearly five years ago, they are keeping up the 
pressure on Rangoon. They have done this every six months since 1996.  

But this time there was a significant difference. In the statement 
released after the meeting, EU foreign ministers said they were 
encouraged by the dialogue process and expected further positive 
developments to emerge.  

They hinted they would be prepared to remove the sanctions - or some of 
them - if there was significant change in Burma, and would do this 
immediately rather than wait till the current six-month period elapsed.  


Thawing 

But it was the supplementary measures they adopted which they hoped 
would send the concrete message to Rangoon.  

The EU has increased its contribution to the UN's Joint Plan of Action 
programme to combat the spread of Aids in Burma by a further $2.2m (five 
million euros). They have also said that individual European countries 
would consider adding to this in due course.  
The programme hopes to raise at least $20m from individual European 
countries, a source 
in the Commission told the BBC.  

The EU also agreed to allow Burma to be included in the International 
Monetary Fund's programme for heavily indebted countries and to join the 
international hydrographic organisation.  

They are also allowing Burma to participate in future EU-Asean meetings 
in Europe. For more than three years they have not met because the EU 
objected to Burma's participation and the Association of Southeast Asian 
Nations insisted on its attendance.  

And finally the EU has suggested to Burma that it would send another EU 
troika to Burma later this year, to assess the political progress being 
made in the country and explain the EU's new position on Burma to the 
generals.  

Foreign aid 

On the face of it, these new measures seem like a token gesture, but in 
reality, reflect a major policy shift within the EU. The decision comes 
just after Australia agreed to resume limited aid programmes for child 
welfare.  

Western countries now believe that by engaging Burma they have a better 
chance of influencing the generals than by continuing to isolate them.  

The EU, in its statement, says it had consulted the NLD before deciding 
to shift its position on sanctions. In fact the UK sent one of its most 
senior diplomats to Rangoon several months ago to sound out Aung San Suu 
Kyi as part of their policy review.  

It is quite clear that the NLD is also reviewing its attitude to foreign 
aid to Burma even while the junta remains in power. The generals know 
that if the dialogue process is to continue to progress they will have 
to make concessions.  

The NLD spokesman U Lwin told the BBC the NLD leaders were considering 
allowing the international community to offer the Burmese military 
government limited humanitarian assistance - for areas like child 
welfare, combating Aids, and education.  

EU officials told the BBC that they wanted to encourage the dialogue 
process and would do this by not being prescriptive or issuing threats. 
They said the EU would continue to make concessions in terms of aid and 
lifting sanctions against Burma, in keeping with changes in Burma.  

But they could just easily be re-imposed, they said, if the process 
falters.





___________________________________________________





DVB: Junta reported closely monitoring activities of Muslims


Text of report by Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) on 9 October 

DVB has learned that the SPDC authorities have been watching the 
activities of the Muslims more closely than before due to rising 
tensions in the region after the terrorist attacks in New York and 
Washington.  

Last month, an Islamic missionary team led by U Hla Min, a Burmese 
Muslim from the Islamic mission of Bassein Township in Irrawaddy 
Division, went on a tour of mosques in Rangoon and Mandalay Divisions 
and Shan State with approval from the Religious Ministry. The team 
arrived in Nawnghkio on 25 September and met with U Zaw Myo Thein, 
another Burmese Muslim. 
 
Then, on 29 September a 12-member Islamic missionary team led by U Hla 
Min and U Zaw Myo Thein arrived at Taunggyi. The team then proceeded to 
Panglong where they were warned by the SPDC Military Intelligence 
personnel for speaking about non-religion related matters at Panglong 
mosque. The team led by U Hla Min next made preparations to continue 
their journey to Mong Kung.  

The Military Intelligence personnel and Panglong Township authorities 
then explained the current world situation to the team, persuaded them 
not to continue their journey, and urged them to return to their own 
townships.  

Later, they were all sent back to their respective townships with 
arrangements provided by the SPDC authorities. Military Intelligence has 
issued a directive to state, division, and township General 
Administration Department officials not to permit any Islamic mission 
team to go on missionary trips and to closely monitor the activities of 
the Muslims in the respective regions.  

Moreover, the Religious Ministry has also issued a notification warning 
the responsible people from the Islamic faith not to teach Muslim 
fundamentalist ideas, not to allow the gathering of people for 
non-religious activities at the mosques, and the respective religious 
organization will be held responsible for any consequence.  

Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 9 Oct 01 





___________________________________________________



Irrawaddy online:  Muslims Kept Under Watchful Eye



By Maung Maung Oo

October 10, 2001? Muslims living in Burma have seen their movements 
restricted and communities watched by the government since the September 
11 attack on the US, according to a Burmese Muslim living in Rangoon.  

A source in Kawthaung, in southern Burma, told The Irrawaddy that last 
week a Muslim man was pulled off a plane in Kawthaung without reason 
that was bound for Rangoon and had has ticket canceled. Airport 
authorities in Kawthaung refused to comment on whether Muslims are 
currently permitted to board planes in Burma.  

"Thousands of Muslims live in Kawthaung and many have connections with 
Muslims living in Malaysia. The government is concerned about reprisals 
from Muslim extremist groups in the region," said a security guard 
working at Kawthaung?s airport. 
A Muslim man in Rangoon vehemently denied that Islamic terrorists 
operate in Burma despite reports indicating that they do.  

Police officers have formed additional checkpoints on highways 
throughout the country and have been asking detailed questions as to 
where Muslims are traveling and why. Burmese citizens must carry state 
issued identification cards that indicate their religion.  
Two or more police officers have also been stationed at Mosques 
throughout the country and plain clothed officers have been attending 
Muslim religious gatherings as well, according to sources in Rangoon.  

In Rangoon, the government tightened security around the US Embassy as 
well as other western embassies and yesterday the US embassy in Rangoon 
closed for security reasons.




___________________________________________________



Chin Human Rights Organization: Racially selective settlement and 
relocation being implemented in Kalay-Tamu Area 



CHRO: October 8, 2001

The State peace and Development Council in Sagaing division have 
established three new villages between Kalay and Tamu town since March 
2001. In the new three villages, only Burmese Buddhists are allowed to 
settle, although the surrounding areas have been co-inhabited by ethnic 
Chin and Shan-Bama decent.  

The names of the three villages are Yanmyo-Aung, Yantaing-Aung, and 
Yanngein-Aung. The meaning of the villages name literally translates 
?conquest of the enemy?. These names are reported to have been dubbed 
based on superstitious astronomical readings consulted by SPDC. 

The area is mostly inhabited by Chin and Shan-bamas and there are many 
virgin lands and forest in the surrounding areas. The inhabitants in the 
area are prohibited to extend their farm or plough the virgin land. Only 
the Burmese Buddhists are allowed to settle in the new villages.  

The SPDC persuades (Burman) people from Minkin township of Magwe 
division to settle in the new villages saying that they will be 
sufficiently provided with whatever they need.  
Since January 2001, the SPDC authority strictly collects or seizes goods 
and commodities, such as rice, cooking oil, bicycles, medicines and farm 
animals from traders and villagers. The goods they seized were provided 
to the new settlers from the three villages.  

According to U Than Aung (name changed), 60 years old Burmese farmer 
from Tamu township, all the nearby villages have been working in the new 
three villages since March 2001 till today. The villagers have to build 
school, houses, digging the well, cutting wood and ploughing in the farm 
for the new settlers.  

( Date of interview with U Than Aung, 21 August 2001 )




___________________________________________________





Chin Human Rights Organization: Only Burmese Names In School


CHRO: October 9, 2001

Young Chin students in the plain area, outside of Chin state, are 
reportedly forced to change their Chin name into the Burmese ones. 

In many Chin inhabited areas in the plain area of Burma the population 
of Chins and Burmese are balanced in most part of Kalay and Tamu 
township, Sagaing division and Kangaw township of Magwe division. Chins 
and Burmese children go to the same school where most of the teachers 
are Burmese. 

Chin children are told by their Burmese teachers that Chin name is 
difficult to call or pronounce. They feel uncomfortable with their Chin 
name among the Burmese teachers who are usually annoyed by their names. 
In many occasions, Chin children are forced to take the Burmese name. 
Thus, Chin parents are in discomfort with the situation because every 
Chin name have its own meaning and definition, which reflects the 
characteristic of their ancestor.  They feel like they are being 
assimilated by the Burmese knowingly.




______________________MONEY________________________




Asian Week: No more underwear from Burma


[BurmaNet adds--Asian Week is an online magazine for the Asian American 
community in the United States and is not related to Asiaweek magazine 
published by Time Warner]



>From www.asianweek.com:

Labor Round-Up

By Suzanne Lee



Sara Lee, a top seller of intimate apparel in the United States with 
nearly $17.5 billion dollars in annual revenues and owners of Hanes, 
Hanes Her Way, Leggs, and Just My Size brands has ceased allowing 
production of its garments in Burma. 

?Sara Lee is a model for what we would like to see from corporations. 
Their response was swift and honest,? Jeremy Woodrum, Washington DC 
director of the Free Burma Coalition (FBC), said. 

FBC found Hanes Her Way and Hanes University clothing made in Burma in 
Ames department stores and posted the information on the FBC Web site. 
In a letter to FBC dated August 31, 2001 Sara Lee Vice President and 
Chief Counsel Melvin L. Ortner wrote, ?We want the Free Burma Coalition 
to know that production in Burma violates both our Global Operating 
Principles and our Supplier Selection Guidelines... two of our licensees 
did use Burma facilities in direct violation of their contract with 
us... We have taken immediate steps with both licensees to confirm that 
neither will make our product in Burma again.? 

A coalition of U.S.-based non-governmental organizations and labor 
unions, including the FBC, Global Exchange, Rainforest Action Network, 
and Lawyer?s Committee for Human Rights, have called on U.S. 
corporations to stop importing from Burma. This comes in response to 
evidence from the International Labor Organization that the country?s 
military regime is responsible for horrific human rights abuses, 
including ?a modern form of slave labor.? Sara Lee?s move follows a 
string of recent decisions by U.S. corporations against Burma?s military 
regime from using profits from the garment industry to perpetuate 
abuses. The U.S. State Department, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty 
International all condemn the regime?s human rights record. 

?Sara Lee?s Hanes licensees were caught with their pants down, and we 
commend Sara Lee for ending its support for Burma?s military regime by 
stopping its licensees from producing Sara Lee products in Burma,? 
Woodrum said. 





___________________________________________________




Asian Week: Or Pots

Pottery Barn, a home furnishings store owned by San Francisco-based 
company, William Sonoma, has also broken off all business ties with the 
country of Burma. ?Because of the human rights situation in Burma, it is 
a priority for [Pottery Barn] to make sure that our international 
activities adhere to our corporate values,? Tracy Brown, director of 
public relations for Pottery Barn, said. 

A coalition of U.S.-based consumer organizations, labor unions, and 
human rights groups became concerned about ties to Burma?s regime after 
the National Labor Committee (NLC) obtained shipping data showing 
Williams Sonoma imported items worth $321,548 from Burma last year. FBC 
members subsequently found items from Burma for sale in Pottery Barn 
stores in Washington D.C. and had planned a nation-wide day of protest 
in front of Pottery Barn stores in six different U.S. cities, including 
San Francisco?s Castro location. 

Two letters to the FBC explained that Pottery Barn has removed products 
made in Burma from its store shelves, catalogue, and on-line store, and 
that the company has adopted a policy against placing any new orders 
from the country. The letter also read that the company continues to 
produce a line of products called ?The Martaban Collection? so named for 
a major gulf off of Burma in the Andaman Sea, but that all items are 
non-Myanmar-made products. 

?Companies like Williams Sonoma are beginning to realize that doing 
business in Burma helps perpetuate forced labor and misery,? said 
Charles Kernaghan of the NLC. ?Fortunately, Williams Sonoma is saying 
?no? to the military dictatorship of Burma.? 
Williams Sonoma is the twentieth company to end business with Burma 
during the past fourteen months on account of human rights abuses, 
joining other retailers such as Wal-Mart, Costco, TJ Maxx, Fila, IKEA, 
and Perry Ellis. 

However, many companies continue to import from Burma or allow goods 
from Burma to be sold in their stores, including Ames and Macy?s. 

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate whose 
political party won Burma?s 1990 democratic election and were later 
annulled by the ruling military regime, has called for companies to stay 
away from Burma until ?rule of law and basic democratic institutions? 
are in place. 

?We need to go after the retailers and investors such as UNOCOL that 
help to prop up the dictatorship in Burma,? said Shannon Wolfe of Global 
Exchange. 



___________________________________________________




Chin Human Rights Organization: SPDC monopolizes farming management


The State Peace and Development Council in Kangaw township have forced 
farmers to buy paddy seeds, corn seeds and bio-fertilizer with high 
price saying that the paddy seeds which they sell can produce 300 tins 
of rice in one acre area of land and that all the farmers should buy and 
sow them in their farm. 

Thus, all the farmers bought the paddy seeds from the authority with a 
high price, 1,800 Kyats ( Kyat is Burmese currency ) per tin and corn 
seeds with 80 Kyats per one pyi (one pyi is about 4 kgs ) and a bottle 
of bio-fertilizer for 800 Kyats.  

But when they actually grow the paddy seeds they bought from the SPDC 
authority, it produced only 60 tins per acre according to U Tha Lu, 50 
years old Burmese farmer from Hanthawadi village of Magwe division. The 
authorities buy back the rice from farmers with the rate of 350 Kyats 
per tin.  

"It is totally unjust. When they sell us, we paid 1,800 Kyats per tin 
and they want to buy back from us with the price of 350 Kyats per tin" 
said U Tha Lu.  

The SPDC authority started this method in the year 2000 and they knew 
that it is damaging the farmers. But when the monsoon, farming season in 
Burma, come in June authority repeated what they did to the farmer last 
year.  


( CHRO interview U Tha Lu on 19 August 2001 ) 





___________________________________________________




Narinjara News: Burmese Army monopoly in Rakhine State makes life 
difficult Cox's Bazaar




Oct 11 

: The monopoly on trade and commerce by the Burmese Army in Rakhine 
State, western part of Burma, has made the life of the general 
population very difficult, according to a political leader who recently 
crossed into Bangladesh. With the beginning of this year's monsoon, the 
Burmese Army personnel in variuous places across Rakhine State started 
collecting fruits, rattan, cane, wood, bamboo and other agricultural 
produce at a throwaway price arbitrarily fixed by the military personnel 
themselves.   

At Pohribraung in Ponnagyun Township, the army has opened a stockpile of 
Anyan-thee fruit, paying seven kyats to the hundred and selling the same 
at one hundred and fifty to two hundred in Yangoon.  The trade of black 
pepper, a produce of Pohribraung and Yotoyoke, Ponnagyun, is also being 
monopolized beginning this year by the military.  In Minbra Township, 
LIB [light infantry battalion] 541,and 381, seized more than one 
thousand acre of rice paddy in 1998 and started shrimp farm; in Pauktaw 
Township, LIB 344 confiscated Ngapri island in September 1998, rendering 
hundreds of villagers homeless; in Ponnagyun, LIB 555 seized the 
tributaries to the Yochaung river, for shrimp cultivation, closing down 
waterways for riverine traffic. 

The Rakhine villagers have lost their waterways traditionally handed 
down since time immemorial.  Wholesale shrimp cultivation in Rakhine 
State has also threatened the delicate balance of the ecosystem.    
According to the political leader, the trade in shrimp, rice, peanuts, 
timber and motorboats, and small mills are all monopolized by the 
military, making the life of the people of Rakhine State very difficult. 
The money earned this way is used to support the families of the 
military since the Burmese Military Regime cannot pay the soldiers 
enough to keep body and soul together.  





___________________________________________________





Mizzima: Burma's cows being smuggled across the borders 


Burma's cows being smuggled across the borders

Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com) 

Oct. 10: The cross-border business of Burma's cows being smuggled into 
neighboring countries has been growing in recent years.  As a result the 
price of cows in the country has increased, and draught cows are 
becoming relatively rare in Burma whose economy relies on agriculture.  

According to cow traders, Burma's cows are being smuggled from the 
border areas of Rakhine State, Chin State, Shan State, Kaya State, Kayin 
State and Tanintharyi Division in Burma not only to neighboring 
countries such as India, Bangladesh and Thailand but also to far away 
countries like Malaysia.  

In Rakhine State, cows are smuggled by boats to Bangladesh through the 
townships of Yen Bye and Kyauk Phyu.  Cows from central Burma are 
smuggled across the Indian border via Mindat township of Chin State. 
Similarly, through Loikaw of Kaya State, cows are being smuggled daily 
into Mae Hong Son, Mae Sariang in Thailand and from Shan State in Burma 
to the border of Chiang Rai district in Thailand. Smuggling of cows also 
takes place between Kyaik Hto Township in Mon State to the Thai border 
via Phar Pun Township. The smuggling routes from the Tanintharyi 
Division of Burma to Thailand are the Moe Taung - Pa Kyut border route, 
Kaw Thaung-Seit Phu-Kalapuri-Dawei-Nat Ai-taung route. Moreover, Burma's 
cows and goats are being transported by boats up to Malaysia.  

Sources in the border areas estimate that between three hundred and one 
thousand cows are being smuggled across these borders from Burma each 
day. As a result, the price of cows inside Burma increased. The price of 
two draught cows (cattle of an age fit to be used as a beast of burden) 
is at present above one lakh of Kyat (Burmese currency) while it used to 
be about eight thousand Kyat last year. Some pair-cattle fetch up to two 
lakhs.  
However, two draught cows are sold at a price of more than six lakhs if 
smuggled across  the border, according to a cow trader. Cow smugglers 
pay bribes and "tax" to various police, army, intelligence units, and 
"cease-fire" groups (armed ethnic groups which have cease fire 
agreements with the junta) on their ways to border. "Sometimes, we need 
to give only 300 Kyats per cattle to a Gate and there are also Gates 
where we have to pay up to five thousand Kyats per cattle", said a 
trader.  

As there is much profit in the business for smugglers, more and more 
people become involved in it. On the other hand, as cows are still 
widely used in the country's farms, Burma is facing a scarcity of cows, 
and prices are going up.    
  





___________________ REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL___________________
				



Kyodo: Coast guard arrests 12 for allegedly trying smuggle selves 



Kobe, 9 October: The Japan Coast Guard on Tuesday (9 October) arrested 
12 men who said they are from Myanmar (Burma) on suspicion of attempting 
to smuggle themselves into Japan aboard a freighter that arrived in 
Kobe, coast guard officials said.  

The coast guard also arrested three Malaysian crew members of the 
39,582-ton Bunga Raya Satu on suspicion of abetting  the smuggling 
attempt. 

Around 0930 (local time), customs officials found the men hiding in the 
Malaysian-registered ship and reported the discovery to the coast guard. 
 
The ship left Pusan in South Korea on Sunday and arrived in Kobe shortly 
after 0800 Tuesday.  

The coast guard said the 12 may have boarded the ship in Pusan. 




___________________________________________________



Mizzima: WLB concluded its Presidium Meeting

WLB concluded its Presidium Meeting
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com) 

Chiang Mai, Oct. 10: The Women?s League of Burma (WLB), an umbrella of 
Burma's women organizations in exile, ended its Presidium Board meeting 
yesterday in Thailand. All the presidents of its member organizations, 
members of WLB Secretary and regional responsible persons attended the 
meeting, which was held from October 7 to 9 at Chiang Mai in Thailand. 
This is the second meeting of the WLB's Presidium Board members.  
According to the WLB sources, during the three-day deliberations, the 
women leaders discussed the various matters including assessment of the 
activities implemented by the women league during the past eight months, 
the present political situation in Burma and the role of WLB and 
organizational matters such as new membership requests and the detailing 
for future activities.  

Women's League of Burma, which was formed in December 1999 in a 
Thai-Burma border area, organizes of workshops and trainings to promote 
knowledge and skills of Burma's women activists in exile and works 
together with the country's pro-democracy and ethnic organizations to 
achieve peace and national reconciliation in the military-rule Burma and 
to maximize the use of the ability of women in the national 
tasks.Moreover, it joins together with regional and international women 
organizations on common issues and participates at United Nations forums 
and other international meetings.  

At present it has eleven women organizations including the country's 
ethnic women organizations based in border areas and cities of Thailand, 
India and Bangladesh. The women league holds its Presidium Board 
meeting, which is composed with the Presidents of the member 
organizations, every eight months and its general conference is held 
every two years.  

Mizzima News has learnt that leaders of the WLB will soon travel to 
India, Thailand and Bangladesh in an organizational trip to meet Burma's 
pro-democracy and ethnic activists based in these countries.  
 






___________EDITORIALS/OPINION/PROPAGANDA__________







Resolutions Adopted by the 169th Session of the Inter-parliamentary 
Union on Burma


(Ouagadougou, 14 September 2001) 

[Abridged]

 
The Inter-Parliamentary Council, 

Referring to the resolution it adopted at its 168th session (April 2001) 
on the case of the above-mentioned members-elect of the Pyithu Hluttaw 
(People's Assembly) of the Union of Myanmar, and to the related report 
of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians,  

Recalling that the Parliament elected on 27 May 1990 has to date been 
prevented from convening, the military regime instead setting up a 
National Convention, which lacks any legitimacy, to draft a new 
Constitution; the National League for Democracy (NLD), which won 392 of 
the 485 seats, has been systematically impeded in its functioning and 
the MPs-elect eliminated from the political process, including by 
arresting and detaining them and sentencing them under laws infringing 
basic international human rights standards,  

Recalling also that the NLD, together with other parties, set up the 
Committee Representing the People's Parliament (CRPP) in an effort to 
implement the election results; that the Committee has not, however, 
been recognised by the military regime,  

Noting that talks are under way between the military regime and Daw Aung 
San Suu Kyi, the NLD leader, and that since then 11 MPs have reportedly 
been released from prison and 35 from "guesthouses"; however, according 
to the sources, there is no guarantee that those released will not be 
re-arrested at any time,  

Noting that, for want of official data and reliable first-hand 
information, figures on the exact number of MPs detained or imprisoned 
vary,  

Recalls in this regard that on 23 March 2001 the Deputy Permanent 
Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations Office at Geneva 
undertook to provide information on the current situation of each of the 
MPs-elect,  


1. Regrets that no official information on the current situation of the 
MPs-elect has been forthcoming, which makes it extremely difficult to 
assess their situation;  

2. Notes that encouraging signs of a political thaw in Myanmar have been 
reported since the beginning of this year and that MPs-elect are said to 
have been released, and wishes to receive official confirmation of this; 
 

3. Reiterates its firm belief that restoration of the rule of law 
requires the immediate and unconditional release of all the detained 
MPs-elect, the removal of the ban on political activities and the 
establishment of institutions representative of the people's will;  

4. Again calls upon all members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union to take 
whatever measures they deem appropriate to press for the respect of 
democratic principles in Myanmar and to show their solidarity with their 
elected colleagues from the Pyithu Hluttaw, in particular by supporting 
the "Committee Representing the People's Parliament" and by making 
appropriate Myanmar-related policy recommendations to their governments, 
such as discouraging trade with or tourism to Myanmar; invites once 
again member Parliaments to inform it of any steps they may take to that 
end;  

5. Remains convinced that an on-site mission would enable the Committee 
to make progress, particularly in the light of the ongoing dialogue 
between the regime and the NLD, and expresses once again the hope that 
the authorities will favourably consider its request to conduct such a 
mission;  

6. Requests the Secretary General to bring this resolution to the 
attention of the authorities of Myanmar and the sources;  

Requests the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians to 
continue examining this case and report to it at its next session (March 
2002). 






___________________________________________________




The New light of Myanmar (SPDC): Results to be derived from friendship 
between the two countries


Thursday, 11 October, 2001   

Results to be derived from friendship between the two countries  

The Union of Myanmar has always been striving to promote friendship as 
well as economic and trade cooperation with its neighbours and ASEAN 
countries.  
During the goodwill visit of Thai Prime Minister Dr Thaksin Shinawatra 
to Myanmar, the Thai Prime Minister met with Head of State Senior 
General Than Shwe and had friendly discussions on matters relating to 
promotion of friendship and economic and trade cooperation between the 
two countries.  
Secretary-l of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of 
Myanmar Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt paid a goodwill official visit to Thailand 
from q to S September 2001 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister 
and Minister of Defence of Thailand General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh.  
The Secretary-l was granted audience by His Majesty King Bhumibol 
Adulyadej of Thailand at the Royal Palace in Huahin. The Secretary-l 
also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister of Thailand Dr Thaksin 
Shinawatra at the Government House. Secretary-l Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt also 
met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Thailand 
General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and had discussions. Minister of Foreign 
Affairs of Thailand Dr Surakiart Sathirathai called on Secretary-l 
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt at Indonesia Hall of the Shangri-la Hotel. At the 
meeting, they reaffirmed the determination to promote friendship and 
further enhance cooperation for mutual benefits.  
It is, in fact, the reaffirmation of the decision to turn the common 
border between the two countries into one of friendship and harmony, as 
mentioned in the Joint Statement issued on 21 June 2001 regarding the 
official goodwill visit of Thai Prime Minister Dr Thaksin Shinawatra to 
Myanmar.  

At the discussions during the goodwill visit, both sides held frank and 
cordial discussions on finding ways to cooperate more closely in trade, 
fishery, health, drugs eradication, tourism and labour sectors. As 
regards the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding for 
control of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor 
chemicals, agreement was reached to promote cooperation between the 
organizations of both countries and to  exchange information. 

As regards the products of opium-substitute crops cultivation programme, 
Thailand has agreed to grant "generalised system of preference" within 
the framework of ASEAN Integration Programme. Agreement was reached to 
endeavour for the emergence of transportation network development 
project between the two countries with a view to enhancing trade and 
economic development as well as contacts and dealings among the peoples 
of both countries and the peoples in the Mekong sub-region.  

As a result of the goodwill visits of the leaders of both countries, the 
work programmes for promoting economic and trade cooperation between the 
two countries are being implemented with momentum.  

State Peace and Development Council Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, 
during his recent tour of eastern Shan State, arrived Tachilek. Thai 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Surakiart Sathirathai and Thai Minister 
of Transport and Communication Mr Wan Muhammad Noor Matha and party paid 
a courtesy call on the Secretary-1 at the Golden Triangle Hotel in 
Tachilek on 7 October 2001. They cordially discussed promoting 
cooperation and friendly relation between the two countries, cooperation 
in education, health, culture, trade, tourism industry and narcotic 
drugs eradication sectors and construction of another friendship bridge 
in Tachilek to link Myanmar and Thailand.  

Afterwards, Secretary- 1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Thai Minister of Foreign 
Affairs Dr Surakiart Sathirathai and Thai M1nister of Transport and 
Communication Mr Wan Muhammad Noor Matha inspected the site chosen on 
Tachikek bank for construction of No 2 Friendship Bridge to link 
Tachilek of Myanmar and Maesai of Thailand  
Then, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, together with the two Thai 
Ministers went to Maesai and viewed the site where No 2 Friendship 
Bridge will be built.  

Due to the friendship between the two countries, the No 2 Friendship 
Bridge to link Tachilek with Maesai will now be built. It is believed 
that with the construction of the No 2 Friendship Bridge, trade and 
commerical undertakings between the two countries will surely become 
easier and more convenient and tourism, economic and trade cooperation 
between the two nations will further be enhanced.  


Author : Tekkatho Tin Kha 





______________________OTHER______________________





PD Burma: Calendar of events 

October 11, 2001

  a.. September                                : 56th UN General 
Assembly. For more information: www.un.org/ga/56 

  b..  O ctober 9-20th                         : UN Special Rapporteur 
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro to visit Burma 

  c.. October 11th                              : Hearing in the 
European Parliament on Corporate Social Responsibility. For more 
information, contact                                                     
        Lola Almudevar e-mail: rhowitt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 

  d.. October                                      : Review of EU Common 
Position on Burma 

  e.. October 27-29th                        : the Fifth Annual Working 
Conference of the Free Burma Coalition, American University in 
Washington,                                                             
DC. For more information: http://www.freeburmacoalition.or 

  f.. December 1st                           : Worlds Aids Day 

  g.. December 8th                           : World wide celebration 
for the Nobel Peace Prize for Aung San Suu Kyi 

  h.. January 14th 2002                    : 26th Session of CEDAW, New 
York. For more info: www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/committ 

  i.. February 2002                           : The fourth Bangladesh, 
India, Burma, Sri Lanka and Thailand-Economic Cooperation (BIMST- EC) 
meeting, Colombo 

  j.. February 12th 2002                  : National Union Day in Burma 
(Official) 

  k.. March 4-15th            2002         : 46th Session of CSW, New 
York, : www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw 

  l.. March 8th 2002                         : International Women Day 

  m.. March 13th 2002                       : Burma Human Rights Day 
(Unofficial) 

  n.. March 17-23rd 2002                 : 107th Conference of the IPU, 
Morocco 

  o.. March/April 2002                       : Commission on Human 
Rights, Geneva 

  p.. March 27th 2002                        : Resistance Day in Burma 

  q.. May 27th 2002                            : Anniversary of the 1990 
election 

  r.. June 19th 2002                           : Aung San Suu Kyi's 
birthday and Burmese Women's Day 

  s.. July 2002                                     : ASEAN Ministerial 
Meeting (AMM) 

  t.. July 2002                                     : ASEAN Regional 
Forum (ARF) 

  u.. August 8th 2002                         : Anniversary of the 
8-8-88 uprising 

  v.. September 18th 2002               : Anniversary of SLORC Coup, 
1988 

  w.. September 2002                        : United Nations, General 
Assembly, New York 

  x.. October 2002                             : Inter-Parliamentary 
Conference 

  y.. December 10th 2002                : World Human Rights Day 





___________________________________________________




 Oak Human Rights Fellowship  Fall 2002


 The Oak Institute for the Study of International Human Rights is   
soliciting nominations and applications for the Oak Human Rights   
Fellowship for the Fall of 2002. The Oak Institute is located at Colby   
College, a small liberal arts college in Waterville, Maine.  
 Every fall semester, the Oak Institute honors a significant   
practitioner in international human rights by awarding a semester-long   
(September -
 December) fellowship as a scholar/activist-in-residence at Colby 
College.  This provides the Fellow time for reflection, research, and 
writing.  Following the period of the award, it is expected that the 
Fellow will  return to her or his human rights work. For the Fall of 
2002, the Oak  Institute seeks a practitioner in the field of refugees 
and displaced  populations in Asia or Africa. Possible areas of interest 
include (but are  not limited to): internal or international 
displacement due to war or civil  conflicts, development projects, or 
forced relocations; women and children  refugees; economic and political 
rights; religious or cultural forms of  persecution; asylum, 
repatriation, or third country resettlement, among  others.   While all 
human rights practitioners are eligible, we especially  encourage 
applications from those who are currently  or were recently  involved in 
"on-the-ground" work at some level of personal risk.
  
 The Oak Fellow's responsibilities include some collaborative teaching   
with members of the Colby Faculty, ongoing meetings with student   
discussion groups, and assistance in shaping a lecture series   
associated with the Fellow's area of expertise.  The Fellow is also   
expected to participate in the intellectual life of the campus to   
enable our students to work and study with a professional in the   
field.
 
 The fellow will receive a stipend and College fringe benefits (approx.  
$30,000) plus round-trip transportation from the Fellow's home site,   
housing for a family, use of a car, and some meals on campus.  The   
Fellow will also receive research support, including office space,   
secretarial support, computer and library facilities, and a student   
research assistant.
 
 Nominations (including self-nominations) for the 2002 Oak Fellow   
should be sent to the Director, Professor Mary Beth Mills, or the   
Associate Director, Eliza Denoeux, Oak Institute, Lunder House, Colby   
College, Waterville, Maine  04901 (fax: 207-872-3752/3474;  e-mail:   
oakhr@xxxxxxxxx ; phone 207-872-3813). Completed applications must   
arrive no later than January 15, 2002.  More information - including   
application forms - is available on the Institute's Web site at   
http://www.colby.edu/oak .
 
 Final selection will be announced by April 30, 2002.









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