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Xinhua:
Tourists Visiting Myanmar Decrease in 2000
YANGON, April 24 (Xinhua) -- The number of tourists visiting
Myanmar came to 234,900 in 2000, falling by 9.3 percent from
1999, according to the latest figures published by the country's
Central Statistical Organization. Of the tourists, 49 percent
entered the country by land through border points. Up to now,
there were 492 different hotels and motels with 13, 984 rooms.
Of them, 21 are foreign-invested, four are joint ventures, 439
are private-run and 28 state-operated. There has also been 521
licensed tour companies in Myanmar including 508 private ones,
12 joint ventures and one foreign company.
According to the data published by the Myanmar Ministry of
Hotels and Tourism, there are 3,768 registered tour guides. Of
them, English language guides account for the majority with
2,644 in number, while Japanese language guides take 486,
Chinese language guides 222 and French language guides 189. Due
to the impact of the Asian financial crisis, Myanmar's tourism
business is seen as very poor with most of its hotel rooms
remaining vacant. The country's recent target for tourism is to
draw 500,000 tourists annually. Since Myanmar opened to foreign
investment in 1988, such contracted investment in the sector of
hotels and tourism has reached 1.054 billion U.S. dollars in 42
projects.
Source:
Burmanet, April 23, 2001
TOP
Makkah: Burmese Origin Pakistani killed his wife.
Makkah: News desk
Translated from Urdu news
A Burmese origin resident of Pakistan lining in Makkah killed
his family. According to details the husband attacked his wife
with a sharp knife when his wife denied to bring him water. The
wife was seriously injured and she ran to her 17 year son; who
afterward admitted his 39 years old mother with the assistance
of his uncle to Al Noor Hospital. then the victim, mother
of eight died. The culprit husband tried to run away, but the
police arrested him and brought before the court.
Source: Urdu News ,translated by Press &
Publication Department, ARNO,10 April 2001
TOP
Reuters: Myanmar's currency sinks to new record low
YANGON, April 21 (Reuters) - Myanmar's kyat currency has
fallen to a new record low since Friday because of a lack of confidence in
struggling economy, dealers said on Saturday.
The official exchange rate of the Myanmar currency is pegged
at six kyat a dollar -- unchanged for more than three decades -- but
black market traders in the capital told Reuters the currency had
sunk to 600 per dollar on Friday from 530 on April 1. It was 585 kyat a dollar a week ago, they said.
The previous record low was 590 kyat a dollar on February 20,
but it rebounded to 490 kyat a dollar two weeks later. Dealers blamed lack of proper handling of the economy and
growing inflation as the underlying causes of the free fall.
Myanmar has a serious foreign reserves shortage, according to
the Asia Development Bank. The bank said on Tuesday that the country's gross foreign
exchange reserves at end-March 2000 were only about $240 million --
less than two months of exports -- and reflected the fragile state of the
external balances.
ADB said in its Asian Development Outlook for 2001 that
ending the policy of multiple exchange rates would remove both an
existing distortion in resource allocation and a strong disincentive
to investment.
Foreign donors remain reluctant to help Myanmar because of
the country's human rights record. The pro-democracy opposition, led by Nobel peace laureate
Aung San Suu Kyi, has campaigned to discourage foreign investment in the
country until the military allows political reform.
Source:
Burmanet, April 22, 2001
TOP
Radio Australia: Seven Burmese soldiers have been killed in
an early morning raid by ethnic Shan State Army rebels near the
northern Thai border.
April 21, 2001
The SSA said they found a large stash of drugs at the base
where the troops had been posted.
The leader of the SSA rebel army, Yawd Serk, who has been
battling Burmese government forces in the remote east of the country,
vowed earlier this year to step up the group's fight against
advancing soldiers.
Yawd Serk said SSA troops had been attacked because they were
positioned along a border route used by Myanmar to transport drugs, and
that the SSA was simply following its policy to suppress the drugs
trade.
Source:
Burmanet, April 21, 2001
TOP
DVB : Burmese army placed on military alert for US-Thai joint
military
exercise
Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 16 Apr
01DVB [Democratic Voice of Burma] has learned that the Army
Commander-in-Chief's Office of the SPDC [State Peace and Development
Council] Defence Ministry has issued a special order on 14 April to military
battalions and companies stationed at the Thai-Burma border.
According to the order, troops from one superpower nation
[USA] and Thai armed forces have planned to hold a joint military exercise
[Cobra Gold] near the Thai-Burma border and it is a cunning way to
infiltrate into Burmese territory. All the military commands adjacent to
Thailand -Triangle Region Military Command, Eastern Military Command,
Southeast Military Command, and Coastal Region Military Command, have
been warned to be on military alert and awareness.
The same order warned that the Thai military exercises are no
longer routine and have become more advanced and should be monitored
continuously while anti-aircraft batteries should also be
well manned and used effectively in order to repel any enemy force which
could infiltrate the country at anytime.
Furthermore, reserved military helicopters stationed at the
respective military commands should be systematically upgraded as a
gunship to be used as a backup force in an emergency situation [sentence as
received].
Source:
Burmanet, April 19, 2001
TOP
Burma Education Website
The Burma Education website is now accessible at:
http://geocities.com/mahawthahta/index.html
However, it is our beta site and we are working on getting a
permanent host with a faster service.
Currently, you can access the pages at the above mentioned
address and we will inform you after we have straightened things out.
This website has information for Burmese students on neccessary steps
taken in studying abroad, taking tests, scholarships, culture shock,
etc. as well as a page for donors. Please take a look at it and send us
suggestions and comments.
Mahawthahta [mailto:mahawthahta@yahoo.com]
Source:
Burmanet, April 15, 2001
TOP
Living Silence: Burma under Military
Rule
By Christina Fink
About the Book
"Christina Fink's Living Silence is a meticulous study
of the surreal horror imposed upon the people of Burma by its illegitimate
rulers. Read this book and never forget them."
- John Pilger
Through this wide-ranging survey of Burmese society, we begin
to understand what it means to be governed by a repressive
military dictatorship. We also learn about the innovative forms of
resistance of some courageous Burmese. Christina Fink explores the
remarkable range of strategies and techniques which the military regime has
used to maintain itself in power. She presents the political history
of the country since independence in 1948, and a wide diversity of
people and communities -students, soldiers, religious figures, the
artistic community, and political prisoners. She concludes by
examining the internationalisation of Burma's politics.
"makes an important contribution towards an
understanding of the root causes of the problems and choices that the people of Burma
are facing today." - Aung San Suu Kyi
A graphic, moving and insightful picture of daily life for ordinary Burmese
An exceptionally readable yet scholarly account which fills a
major gap in the literature
Original material drawn from extensive interviews conducted
inside and outside Burma
CONTENTS
Introduction - Historical Legacies: Spirits, Martyrs and
Imperialists - 1962-1988: The Ne Win Years - Breaking the Silence: 1988-90 -
Military Rule Continues - Families: Fostering Conformity -
Communities: Going with the Flow - The Military: A Life Sentence - Prison: 'Life
University' - Education: Floating Books and Bathroom Tracts -
The Artistic Community: In the Dark, Every Cat is Black -
Religion and Magic: Disappearing Jewels and Poltergeists - The
Internationalization of Burma's Politics - Conclusion: A Different Burma
About THE AUTHOR
Dr. Christina Fink trained as an anthropologist at the
University of California, Berkeley and served as the editor of the BurmaNet
News from mid-1995 through 1997. This is her first book.
ORDERING INFORMATION
Primary Publisher: Zed Books (London)
Co-Publishers: White Lotus (Thailand), The University Press
(Bangladesh) Distributors: Astam Books (Australia), Fernwood (Canada),
Palgrave (USA)
ISBN. 1 85649 926 X
Paperback Price: ú16.95/$19.95
Order from the publishers or distributors, from your local
bookstore, or online:
www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, and www.blackwell.com
Source:
Burmanet, April 14, 2001
TOP
Nasaka has taken captive 10 Bangladeshi from
the Bandor Bon border.
Reporter from BandoreBon
Translated from Bangla
Myanmar border force Nasaka has captured 10
Bangladeshi citizen after crossing the International border line and
entering into Tumbora, Nikonchori Upozila of Bandor Bon. It is
known through the intelligence that the Myanmar force has
captured them in suspection of being an informer of Myanmar
Opposition’s Thursday operation.
Last Thursday National United Party of Arakan
(NUPA) and Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO) had a
joint military attack on a Nasaka force’s camp near the
boarder of ‘Fulltaolee’. During the heavy
fighting between the two side, two Nasaka soldier had dead.
However NUPA and ARNO had retrieved after the heavy defense of
the Nasaka Force.
It is known through intelligent that the Nasaka
Force on Saturday evening has crossed the boarder and searched
in BandorBon, Tumbru and Fulltaolee area. They have captured 10
Bangladeshi hill dwellers from the international boarder (Pillar
37 &38). The names of 5, among the captives are identified.
They are Suthai Aung (40), Uba Tu I (45), Kahaoo (57), Khai ha
(48), Aung Sha Puru (50).
The local BDR has strongly opposed the capture
to Nasaka and demanded immediate release of the detained
Bangladeshis.
Source: Protom
Alu ,Press &
Publication Department, ARNO,10 April 2001
TOP
The Nasaka has kidnapped 10 Bangladeshi from
Tumbru.
BandorBon
Translated from Bangla
The Border Force of Myanmar, Nasaka has
kidnapped 10 Bangladeshi citizens from the nearby area of
Tumbru, Nakiownchori of BandorBon District. The incident took
place on 5th of April at pillar Number 37 & 38. It has being
informed by the District Intelligent; On 5th April when
two Nasaka soldier dies in the fighting; at a nearby area
of Fulltaolee between the separatist groups (Arakan Rohingya
National Organisation -ARNO and National United Party of
Arakan-NUPA) and the Nasaka; this accident takes place after two
days. However the district soldiers had denied it.
According to the district Intelligence, due to
the fighting occurred on 5th April early morning between the
Nasaka and the two joint freedom fighting group (ARNO &
NUPA) on the nearby area of Fulltaolee; the Nasaka has taken
revenge by entering illegally into Bangladeshi territory and
kidnapping ten Bangladeshi Citizens. They are all ethnics. Among
them 5 person’s name were mentioned by the Intelligent. They
are Suthai Aung (40), Uba Tu I (45), Kahaoo (57), Khai ha (48),
Aung Sha Puru (50).
It is assumed that the Nasaka thought the
Bangladeshi as members of the separatist groups and thus entered
into Bangladesh and captured them. In this connection we could
not get in contact with any employee at the Nakiownchori BDR
head quarter for further information. From a BDR source, it is
known that there is a battalion patrolling the border area. But
did not mention which area they are patrolling. After the
incident an outrage has been witnessed in the area.
Source: Dainik
Purbokone ,Press &
Publication Department, ARNO,10 April 2001
TOP
Irrawaddy: Who Will Fill Tin Oo's Shoes?
Feb 2001 Issue
The death of State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)
Secretary 2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo and other senior generals in a helicopter crash
in February has created a vacuum in the ruling regime and
an opportunity for observers to assess how well the junta's delicate
balance of power is holding up to a host of pressures.
Unlike in the past, Tin Oo's successor will likely be
selected by consensus, rather than handpicked by the most powerful
general, since there is no obvious person to claim that title. "The
military will hold a high-level meeting including all regional commanders to
decide who will be the next-in-lines," said a source in Rangoon. One likely candidate, SPDC Secretary 3 Lt-Gen Win
Myint,
who is now temporarily serving in Tin Oo's place as army chief of
staff, visited the site of a recent border clash with Thailand on Feb 23,
where he made it clear that the War Office in Rangoon is still in
charge. "Win Myint shows his assertiveness by sidelining regional commanders
such as Maj-Gen Thein Sein of the Triangle Region Military
Command," commented one exiled Shan analyst. According to some sources, Win
Myint is an ally of SPDC Secretary 1 and intelligence chief Lt-Gen Khin
Nyunt, who is seen as head of a "moderate" faction within the
regime and the leading figure behind a recent series of talks with the democratic
opposition.
There has also been speculation about who will replace Win
Myint if he takes over Tin Oo's post. According to some ceasefire
ethnic groups and exiled analysts, Northeast Military Commander Brig-Gen Tin
Aung Myint Oo has the best chance, while inside sources believe that
Southwest Military Commander Brig-Gen Shwe Mann, based in Irrawaddy
Division, is most favored for the post. "He frequently appears in
the newspapers these days," noted one veteran journalist in Rangoon.
"Also, don't underestimate the seniority of Rangoon Military Commander
Khin Maung Than. He holds the rank of major general."
Meanwhile, there has been some news coming out about
dissatisfaction among groups loyal to Tin Oo a hardliner notorious for
his verbal attacks on the opposition over the junta's low-key
handling of his death and funeral
Source:
Burmanet, April 11, 2001
TOP
PRESS
RELEASE
ARAKAN INDEPENDENCE ALLIANCE (AIA) ARAKAN
Dated. 8th April 2001.
ARAKANESE ARMED OPPOSITION ATTACKED BURMESE CAMP
At about 3.45 A.M.(BST) on Wednesday, the 5th of April 2001, a joint
column of
Rohingya National Army (RNA) and Arakan Army (AA), attacked the Bandoola
Camp, a joint camp of Burmese State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)
army and Border Security Forces (Na-Sa-Ka) at Amtula, a place about 40
miles north of Maungdaw town, on Burma-Bangaldesh border, Arakan.
According to final report of RNA & AA joint Command, atleast 5 enemy
soldiers were killed while 12 others injured. The main building of
Bandoola Camp was destroyed completely. There is no casualty from RNA
& AA side. This is the 1st. joint operation of RNA and AA against the
present ruling Burmese military junta under the code named "Yoma
Operation."
It may be mentioned here that the Arakan Rohingya National Organisation
(ARNO) and the National United Party of Arakan (NUPA) had entered into a
Political Alliance on 16th September 2000 which represent the Muslim and
Buddhist community of Arakan. This is
a great achievement for the whole people of Arakan during their long
colonial history. They have vowed to liberate their fatherland and restore
their lost independence so as to free
themselves from the bondage of serfdom, terror and tyranny and as well as
from the clutches of Burman colonialism and imperialism.
Alliance Executive Committee,
Arakan Independence Alliance (AIA),
ARAKAN.
Press &
Publication Department, ARNO,9 April 2001
TOP
The Guardian (UK): How junta protects Mr Heroin
John Sweeney in Rangoon
uncovers the links between Burma's drug barons and
a repressive regime that likes to trumpet to the world its tough
anti-drugs policy John Sweeney
Saturday April 07 2001
The Guardian
It was like the opening
scene of the Hollywood film Traffic: Jeeps with smoked
glass windscreens, laden with heavily armed soldiers, zoomed through the Burmese rain forest, protecting
a very important person.
The dignitary was not the
military junta's anti-drugs tsar but someone much
more powerful - Burma's godfather of heroin, Lo Hsing Han.
An investigation by The
Observer and BBC Radio 5 Live today reveals the
multi-million-pound empire of Lo, the protection he receives
from the Burmese junta - which
proclaims it is cracking down on heroin - and his
money-laundering operation in Singapore. Lo
and his American-educated son, Steven Law, also known as Htun
Myint Naing, come and go freely
between the island state and Burma, running their
Asia World combine - an upmarket front for one of the world's biggest heroin rackets.
And
business is about to get even better. The decision that opium-farming
in Afghanistan is 'un-Islamic' has led to a cut in opium growing
from 200,000 acres in the two key provinces to just 25. That means 'China White' heroin from Burma will
move into the gap made by the drop
in supply of 'Afghan Brown'.
The bad news is that 'China
White' is much more likely to be injected than
'chased' (smoked), worsening the public health risk of Aids and hepatitis.
The Burmese regime, a
pariah in the West, trumpets a tough anti-drugs policy.
The reality behind the pretence is far uglier. Lo's
protectors, the Burmese generals who run the State Peace and Development Council (popularly known by its
former title, Slorc), play very
rough with anyone who gets in the way of Heroin Inc.
When Saw Lu, a prince of
the Wa people opposed to the heroin trade, informed
the US Drug Enforcement Administration about the drug trafficking
activities of a regional army intelligence chief, Major Than Aye, word got back to the junta.
According to a DEA report,
Saw Lu was held upside down for 56 days with an
electric lead attached to his penis. His torturers poured urine
on his face; he was beaten with
chains; his captors tormented him by throwing
him down next to an empty, freshly dug grave.
Saw Lu's life was spared. Others have
not been so lucky. The heroin shipment Saw Lu reported to the DEA was
destined for Lo. Major Than Aye supervised the torture. For his diligence
he was promoted to a high position in Slorc. Lo, who has been identified
as a narco-terrorist by the US State Department and spent time on death
row in Rangoon in the 1970s, before he bought his liberty, lives in lavish
style in two homes, one in the Salween Village and the other in the
smartest area in Rangoon close to the sixteenth tee of the city golf
course. The Observer /Five Live team took up golf for the day to establish
his precise address: 20-23 Masoeyein Kyang Street, Mayangone, Rangoon. The
house is all but shielded from view by a high encircling wall and a
forbidding steel gate.
Lo's infamous brand of 'China White'
heroin is industrially produced in the Mong Hom-Mong Ya valley on the
Chinese border, opposite Mangshi. His operational headquarters is the
Salween Village near Nampawng, south of the town of Lashio, a base for
farmers, chemists and gunmen, serviced by local prostitutes and burlesque
dancers from Ukraine.
Lo has made so many millions from
heroin that he built and runs Rangoon's main port. Two years ago
Australian police seized a ship carrying almost half a tonne of heroin
originating in Burma - a huge find, enough to give every man, woman and
child in Australia a hit of heroin. The street price of heroin in Sydney
did not change by a cent.
The plainest evidence of the
closeness between Slorc and Lo's heroin empire emerged at the 1995 wedding
of his son, Steven Law, to Singaporean businesswoman Cecilia Ng. Guest of
honour was Hotels and Tourism Minister Lt-Gen Kyaw Ba, accompanied by
three other Slorc generals and four Cabinet Ministers.
Law is the managing director of Asia
World Company Limited. Started in 1992, it reports its 'authorised
capital' to be about $40 million. It has put an estimated $200m into
construction projects around Rangoon.
Asia World is running a joint venture
with Slorc, building and running the main new port in Rangoon, which
handles 90 per cent of Burma's exports.
Law is not such an honoured guest in
the United States. He has been declined a visa, due to 'suspicion of
involvement in narcotics trafficking', according to a State Department
official. The Asia World racket also runs a supermarket chain, Burma's
biggest bus company - good cover to ship the product - and a plastic bag
factory. To make plastic bags, Lo imports large quantities of acetic
anhydride. The other use of acetic anhydride is the manufacture of heroin.
The millions from Lo's heroin racket are laundered in Singapore from a
plush suite of offices on the tenth floor of Shenton House, an office
block on Shenton Way, in the heart of Singapore's business district. The
Singapore company registry lists two companies run by Law, neither of
which is called Asia World. But the giveaway is a large display sign in
the Shenton House front office, depicting a globe with the letters A and
W.
Law was not there when we visited;
staff said he was out of the country. In the past 10 years Singapore has
executed at least 100 drug traffickers for possession of small amounts of
heroin, according to Amnesty International. But the island state lets off
at least one Mr Big, scot-free. In the heroin addict ward in Bangkok's
biggest hospital, one of the victims of the Burmese heroin barons lay on a
bed, his skin stretched like paper over his bones, a hideous fungal
infection creeping over his face, suggesting to the doctor that he was
suffering from Aids. You can see heroin addicts like him in every major
city in the world.
Different faces, same dead eyes.
Source:
Burmanet, April 9, 2001
TOP
Bangkok Post: Shan Rebels Report
Attack on Junta Base
Sunday, April 8, 2001
Subin Khuenkaew
The Shan State Army attacked a
Burmese military base opposite Mae Sai district yesterday and claimed to
have killed two soldiers and wounded many others. Shan military leader Col
Korn Juen said his men laid siege to the Burmese position at Palang Luang,
opposite Ban Pahi in Mae Sai, and bombarded it with light and heavy
gunfire.
The assault lasted about one hour, he
said. When the SSA retreated, Burmese soldiers gave chase and another
clash occurred at Palang Noi, about 2km from Palang Luang. An assistant
village headman and a child were killed in the cross-fire.
"SSA troops will keep on
harassing Burmese positions every day until all are withdrawn from our
area," Col Korn Juen said. Col Akkadej Songworawit, commander of the
Third Cavalry Regiment Task Force, said clashes took place almost daily
opposite Mae Sai and Mae Fah Luang districts, but had no effect on the
agreement reached by Thailand and Burma at the recent Regional Border
Committee meeting in Kengtung
Source:
Burmanet, April 9, 2001
TOP
Independent (Bangladesh): Seminar
on Dhaka-Yangon relations: Permanent
solution to border problems with Myanmar sought
April 9, 2001
Diplomatic Correspondent
Speakers at a seminar here yesterday
observed that there were immense potentialities
to expand trade and economic coperations between Bangladesh
and Myanmar to the mutual benefits of the two nations. The
seminar on "Bangladesh-Myanmar Relation" was organised at CIRDAP
auditorium by the Centre for Strategic and Peace
Studies (CSPS).
The speakers, most of them diplomats,
former diplomats , teachers and businessmen
and former senior military officilas , stressed the need for infrastructural
developments along the border to facilitate diversified economic
ties between the two neighbours.
Brigadier General (retd) Syed
Jahangir Kabir in a paper on "Myanmar-Bangladesh Strategic Security
Concerns Keeping in view the Quadrangular Relationship
among China-India-Myanamar-Bangladesh "presented at the seminar,
focused on strategical geographical advantages, suitable for forging
regional cooperations.
Obaidul Haque , teacher of the
Department of International Relations of the
Dhaka University, presented a paper on "A Friendly Myanmar for Bangladesh : Necessity and Reality "giving an
account of salient features of the growth of
bilateral ties between the two neighbours.
Haque stressed the need for permanent
solution to the problems related to
repatriation of Rohingya refugees, transborder crimes and cross border
insurgency.
Chief Editor of the Holiday, AZM
Enayetullah Khan suggested that relations
between Myanmar and Bangladesh be developed in view of the dynamic
political cooperation among the countries in the region.
"Vast resources in the Arakan
region can be utilised for mutual benefits of
the two neighbours" said Khan who was once Bangladesh ambassador to Myanmar.
He stressed the need for
implementation of the Asian Highway Project . Rashed
Maksud Khan, President of the Bangladesh- Myanmar Chamber Council,
said that the existing border trade between Dhaka and Yangon could
be a mile stone for expansion of trade between the two countries.
Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh U
Ohn Thwin welcomed the Bangladesh traders and
industrialists in his country. The Political
Counsellor of Myanmar embassy here told the seminar that the
repatriation of the Rohingya refugees had been going on.
He clearly said that Myanmar would
not allow return of the insurgents, having
links with the fundamentalists in Bangladesh. The
seminar, moderated by former ambassador Aanwar Hashim, was also attended
by Professor Shahiduzzaman of Dhaka University,former ambassador
Arshaduzzman,former ambassador Shafiulllah, Brigadier(retd) Hossain,
Dr.Shahin Afroza of the BIISS and CSPS Executive Director Major General
Syed Muhammad Ibrahim.
Source:
Burmanet, April 9, 2001
TOP
Cambridge University Press
publishes The Making of Modern Burma
The Making of Modern Burma, by Dr.
Thant Myyint-U is available in bookstores
throughout the UK and through www.amazon.co.uk. There is a hardcover
edition as well as a paperback edition for approximately 11 pounds.
It will be published in the US next month.
The book is the first comprehensive
history of Burma from the late eighteenth
through the early twentieth centuries and aims to provide readers
with an entirely new background to the contemporary situation. It
also presents readers a portrait of a lost society, the Burma just prior
to the British occupation, and describes in detail a little-known but
fascinating chapter in Burma's history - the often visionary attempts
by the Burmese government from 1854-1885 to modernise the country.
More information about this book both on amazon.co.uk and at this
website:
http://uk.cambridge.org/areastudies/catalogue/0521780217/default.htm
Thank you very much for your kind
help and please do not hesitate to let me know
if you would like any further information.
Dr Thant Myint-U
Source:
Burmanet, April 8, 2001
TOP
Update
of AA-RNA Joint-Expedition attack
At 1500Hr, April 6, 2001.
AA-RNA Joint-Expedition attacked the
SPDC Outpost An AA-RNA Joint Expedition, 40 in strength, has launched an
"OPERATION ROMA" under the command of Captain Rakkha of AA and
Abdullah co-Commander of RNA. At 15:45 hours of April 4, 2001, the
Joint-Expedition attacked the SPDC Bandula Outpost (Amtala-Botala) between
the BP No. 50 and 51, northern Maungdaw Township, Arakan. The strength of
this outpost has been reinforced from 80 to 120. Two SPDC soldiers were
killed and one Corporal wounded. The AA-RNA side has no casualty.
NN Tayzaw
RNA..........Rohingya National Army
AA...........Arakan Army (Rakhaing-pray Tetmadaw)
(Correction: The
operation was at 0345 hours not 1545 hours)
narinjara news, ARNO,7 April 2001
TOP
Joint
Operation of Rohingya National Army (RNA) and Arakan Army (AA) near
Bangladesh-Burma boarder
5 April 2001
According to our correspondence from the Bangladesh-Burma
boarder a joint operation under the name "Yoma
Operation" has took place at 3.45 AM at Maha Banduhla Camp
(Locally known as Amtala Camp), one mile away from Bangladesh-
Burma border.
The operation was conduct
by Rohingya National Army (RNA) and Arakan Army (AA) at
the Maha Banduhla Camp, Pillar No. 50 & 51. It is further
reported in the combat the Burmese Army lost two soldiers and
one Sergeant was wounded. There was no casualties on the joint
group side.
Press &
Publication Department, ARNO,5 April 2001
TOP
Comment:
We request all our brothers and friends to pray for our brave
Mujahedeens.
Muslim
Information Centre of Burma: Junta kills Imam of mosque for
money
April, 3, 2001
On January, 15, 2001,
junta’s military officers shot dead an Imam of mosque
in Arakan state of Burma. The
military officers led by Major Min Aung Naing of Light Infantry Battalion No. 541 met the
Imam, Mr. Noor Hussain ( 42 years old), and demanded Ks. 1.5 million the Imam
allegedly collected as donation from the Muslim community for construction
of his village mosque in Min Bya township, Sittwe (Akyab) district, Arakan
State.The Imam replied that he had
collected only about Ks. 500,000 and it angered the major who
shot him dead
in the compound of the Imam. The local community jointly put up
a letter to Major
General Aung Twe , commander of Arakan state.
No action has yet taken
against the major. The Imam lived in Sambli village,
MinBya township, Sittwe district.
Source:
Burmanet, April 6, 2001
TOP
Shan
Herald Agency for News: Village headmen arrested for failure to fill rice quota
4 April 2001
3 village headmen were
arrested and imprisoned in Hsipaw on 20 March for failure
by their villagers to fill the rice procurement quota, said the source form northern Shan State.
They were Zang Hsu,
Zaykharn village; Ai Parn In, Nalaw village; and Ai Pi, Na-oong village. All were detained by the order of U Maung
Sein, Customs Officer and U Ngwe Taik, Township
Officer.
According to the source,
their arrests had caused much outrage among the villagers.
Rangoon's exorbitant rice
quota, 8 baskets per acre at K. 300 per basket,
had resulted in protest by the farmers in Hsihseng Township in southern Shan State on 15 January.
Source:
Burmanet, April 6, 2001
TOP
Shan
Herald Agency for News: Weather and overweight killed Tin Oo?
4 April 2001
According to a Thai Burmese
watcher, Rangoon appeared to have concluded that
the helicopter crash on 19 February that killed 2 top generals
was due to adverse weather and
overweight, and not through sabotage.
He said some Russian
mechanical experts have arrived since last month to examine
all the MI-17 helicopters sold to Rangoon. "Since then, the
air force high command has been
repeatedly issuing directives to all their airbases
scattered throughout the country instructing them to pay attention
to two things: the weather and not to overload the helicopter".
The unexpected crash on the
Salween on 19 February resulted in 9 dead 8 missing.
Among the dead were Lt.-Gen. Tin Oo, No:4 top man, and Maj.-Gen Sit
Maung, commander, Southeastern Regional
Command. Only 12 survived the crash,
among whom was Lt.-Gen Win Myint, Secretary 3.
Source:
Burmanet, April 6, 2001
TOP
Comment:
I wonder if the news is a fabrication of the Military government
to overrule the currently talked about internal conflicts within
the Junta?
Independent
Mon News Agency: Child labor used in road construction
April 6, 2001
In Molamein, Mon state, the SPDC is
using child labor for the construction of the
road and they also collected funds for construction from
people.
The road they are constructing is in
Myai Thar Yar, Monlamein, the city of Mon
state, Burma and called THA MAIN PARUN road. This road was a stone
road and now sealing it. For this construction, the SPDC was collected
funds from people in this road area. From each houses they collected
15,000 Kyats.
They are using child labor, under 16
years of age, because it is cheaper than adult
labor and they have to pay half of a adult labor earn. An old mother,
who lives in No.681 hose, near that road, said that children, under
16 years of age are being used as laborers. She named Khin Lin, a 12
year-old boy, whose father rides a tricycle taxi, a 12 year-old boy, Naing Win, who attended 4 standards. The Children are
earning a bout 150 kyats per day. Early in the
morning the children start work in the construction
site until midday. After one hour rest, they work until sundown
every day. These children are not working age, but they are working
for their family to be a live she added.
Krak Nai
Source: Burmanet, April
5, 2001
TOP
Mizzima:
E-mail Users in Burma
Rangoon, April 4, 2001
While the Internet and electronic mail
(Email) have become an easily available
mean of communication for people in many countries around the world, it is still a tightly-controlled
business privileged to a few ones in
this military-run country. At present, the Myanmar Post and Telecommunications
(MPT), which is one of
the departments of Ministry of Communications,
Posts & Telegraphs, control all the Email accounts in the country. Besides military generals and
their associates, some private
companies such as members of Myanmar computer entrepreneurs association, hotels and travel tours can
apply to get Email accounts.
But in applying Email account, they have
to submit the documents such as company
registration certificate, type of modem, the reason for the
use,etc. But the most important thing to do is to hookö someone
in the Junta and bribe him, which in
turn, will make it easier and faster. At present,
a common citizen cannot get an Email account at all.
There are also some business groups,
which are using others’ Email accounts,
as their companies do not have own Email. Moreover, there are four or five shops in Rangoon downtown,
particularly on Pansoedan Street in
Kyuaktadar Township, which give you email service to send or
receive messages. Kyat 300 (US $
0.6) for one-time use either for sending or receiving!
But you will have to make sure yourself that there is nothing on politics in your email messages because
all these shops are strictly surveillanced
or controlled by the countries notorious military intelligence.
Source: Burmanet, April
5, 2001
TOP
Bangkok
Post: List revealed of top dealers
April 4, 2001
Temsak Traisophon
A list of major drug dealers in the
North was revealed at a meeting yesterday,
chaired by Interior Minister Purachai Piemsomboon.
Drug suppression chief Pol Lt-Gen
Priewphan Damapong, who said the meeting
was intended to map out strategy to deal with the menace, said no politicians were on the blacklist.
Pol Lt-Gen Priewphan said police were
keeping watch on major drug dealers
in the northern provinces, especially in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son.
Most of the people on the list had
connections with the United Wa State Army
and frequently moved locations to stay with the Wa to avoid
arrest.
The interior minister said that among
topics discussed were ways to encourage
provincial governors and senior police officers to co-operate closely to combat drugs despite the fact
that police were no longer under the
Interior Ministry.
Not only drug laws but also money
laundering laws, other related laws and
tax measures must be used as tools to suppress the drug trade,
he said Also present at the meeting
were assistant national police chief Pol
Lt-Gen Noppadol Somboonsap and Office of Narcotics Control Board
secretary-general Kitti Limchai
Source:
Burmanet, April 4, 2001
TOP
Free
Burma Coalition: 35 U.S. Senators Press President Bush to Maintain Sanctions on Burma and Support Suu Kyi
April 4, 2001
Contact: Jeremy Woodrum, (202) 547-5985, jeremy@freeburmacoalition.org
35 Senators, including Republicans Jesse Helms and
Mitch McConnell and Democrats Pat Leahy and
Tom Harkin signed a letter sent to President George
W. Bush on April 2 calling on his administration to maintain sanctions
placed on BurmaÆs military regime in 1997. ôWe are convinced that
the sanctions have been partially responsible for prompting the regime
to engage in political dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters,ö
read the letter, and ôWe believe any change in sanctions pressure
could remove the incentive for the regime to negotiate.ö
Highlights of the letter include:
╖ The Senators view support for Suu Kyi
similarly to support for Nelson Mandela.
United States maintained sanctions on South Africa until
Nelson Mandela declared his support for lifting them, we believe no
change should be made without full consultation and concurrence from Aung San Suu Kyi.ö
╖ The International Labor Organization
graphically illustrated the scale and depth of
the regimeÆs abuses of its citizens.ö
╖ Burma is one of the largest producers
of opium for the heroin which plagues our
communities.ö After its de facto expulsion
from the International Labor Organization late
last year, Burma's military regime announced that it had entered into
preliminary talks with opposition leader and 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu
Kyi. UN envoy to Burma Razali
Ismail has received credit for brokering the
talks.
In response to news of the talks, then Secretary
of State Madeline Albright said In the absence
of significant progress, ILO members,including the United States, should
be prepared to consider additional measures,
including trade sanctions, to respond to the ILOs call to action.
(January 18, 2001)
Secretary of State Colin Powell expressed
skepticism about the talks after a visit with
Razali in March. Said State Department Spokesperson Richard
Boucher Although were encouraged by the ongoing dialogue and recent
release of some political prisoners, were mindful that the Burmese
regime continues to systematically violate the fundamental,basic, human
rights of its citizens. (March 1, 2001)
The International Labor Organization is poised to
meet in June. (Letter below)
The Honorable George W. Bush
President
Office of the White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
In 1997, legislation was signed into law reqiuring
the Administration to impose sanctions on
Burma if the regime engaged in wide scale repression or
took action against Aung San Suu Kyi. Within a matter of months, the regime escalated its attacks on the legitimately
elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and her
supporters in the National League for Democracy;
more than 800 people were arrested, and dozens were tortured or
executed. Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest and remains restricted in her movements. In response, President
Clinton signed an Executive Order restricting
new investment in Burma and suspending visas for
senior officials. These sanctions encourage similar action by our European
allies and have been in place ever since.
More recently, the International Labor
Organization (ILO) representing governments,
employers, and employees from virtually every nation met to consider
Burma's abhorrent abuse of forced labor. A study completed by the
U.S. Department of Labor graphically illustrated the scale and depthof the
regime's abuse of its citizens. The ILO recommended that members report
back by February on additional steps they intend to take, including
economic sanctions, which would support efforts to end the regime's
repugnant practices. This is the first time in the ILO's 81-year
history that it has taken such action against a member. While
we strongly believe the United States should stand by the internationally-recognized
results of the 1990 elections, and we support an
end to forced labor practices, we believe there is an additional national
security consideration which encourages us to maintain the pressure
of sanctions. Burma is one of the largest producers of opium for
the heroin which plagues our communities. There is strong evidence directly
linking members of the regime to this narcotics trafficking. Although
Burma may have the capability to combat trafficking, no serious effort
has been made to restrict the production or flow of opium. This pattern
persuades us that only a democratically-elected government will share
our commitment to end this lethal trade.
We are convinced that the sanctions have been
partially responsible for prompting the regime
to engage in political dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi
and her supporters. While it is too soon to determine if these talks
will produce a plan for national reconciliation, we believe any change
in sanctions pressure could remove the incentive for the regime to negotiate.
Just as the United States maintained sanctions on
South Africa until Nelson Mandela declared his
support for lifting them, we believe no change
should be made without full consultation and concurrence from Aung
San Suu Kyi. To date, her position has been courageously firm in support
of the sanctions. We encourage you to support her and the NLD's efforts
to restore democracy.
Sincerely,
(Free Burma Coalition Has Typed Names of Signers
Below For Your Convenience) Republicans
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) /Sam
Brownback (R-KS) /Jesse Helms (R-NC) /George
Voinovich (R-OH) /Jack Reed (D-RI) /Wayne Allard (R-CO) /Bob Smith (R-NH)
/Judd Gregg (R-NH) / Robert Bennett (R-UT) /George Allen (R-VA) /Susan
Collins (R-ME) /Democrats Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
/Joe Lieberman (D-CT) /Kent Conrad (D-ND) /Tom Harkin (D-IA) /Dianne
Feinstein (D-CA) /Dick Durbin (D-IL) /Charles Schumer (D-NY)/Paul Sarbanes
(D-MD) / Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) /Herb Kohl
(D-WI) /Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) /Jim Jeffords (D-VT) / Daniel
Akaka (D-HI) / Carl Levin (D-MI) / Mark
Dayton (D-MN) / Paul Wellstone (D-MN) /Russ
Feingold (D-WI) /Ted Kennedy (D-MA) /John Kerry (D-MA) /Patty Murray
(D-WA) /Ernest Hollings (D-SC) /Jean Carnahan (D-MO) /Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
/Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) /
Source: Burmanet, April
5, 2001
TOP
Freedom
News (SSA): Human Rights Violations In Shan State
January,February, 2001
[Abridged],Shan State Army
Jailed For Money?
On 2nd June 2000, SPDC troops from 514th LIB
(based in Parng Kae Tu) tied up a village
headman named Loong Zan Ti from Wan Nar Lorn, Murng Kerng
township, and jailed him at their base without any reason. On 3rd June
2000, he was released after 100,000 kyats was paid to the SPDC troops.
Forced To Buy Planks
On 16th June 2000, the SPDC troops from the 514th
LIB ordered planks from the villagers of Wan
Nar Lorn, Murng Kerng township. The villgers bought
planks and sent them to the SPDC's base in Parng Kae Tu. The villagers
lost 2,000 kyats for the cost.
Disappearance After Capture
On 17th December 2000, SPDC troops from the 99th
Brigade seized a cow belonging to the
villagers of Wan Kharm Puark, Murng Khun tract, Murng Kerng
township. At the same time, one of the innocent villagers named Sai
Sarng Orn was captured and dragged with the SPDC troops to Haam Ngai
base. After knowing the news the relatives of the captured villager
headed to Haam Ngai base for information. SPDC said he was released
recently, but till now he is not back home yet. The villagers believed
he was probably murdered by SPDC.
Shot Dead In Farm Hut
On 5th October 2000, at 08:00 hrs., SPDC troops
from the 315th LIB, 99th Brigade led by
Captain Win Shwe besieged one of the farm huts north of Wan
Nam Nur village and opened fire on a hut causing an innocent civilian
to die on the spot. The victim was known as Nang Mart, aged 42,
daughter of Loong Yan Naa and Pa Long of Wan Koong Yoam village, Hai
Lai tract, Nam Zarng township. The bullets hit the victim in the breast,
in the waist, in the chest and in the thighs.
Forced Labour
From the beginning of year 2000 to 2001, SPDC
troops from the 99th Brigade, which recently
set up a base at Kho Lam, have been forcing the villagers
who are located near their base, to build the new road to Wan Zing
village and a dam on Nam Mawng river to let the water run through Wan
Zing. SPDC have forced not less than a hundred people to work for their
programs daily, the Shan people have been forced to work without payment
or food but Burmese people in that area were paid 250 kyats a day.
Shans who are able to pay for workers have to hire the Burmese.
Lai Kha Township
Martial Law
In the month of September 2000, SPDC troops of the
99th Brigade who are based in Parng Sarng
tract, Lai Kha township issued a martial law to the villagers
in the area. The order says:
1. Never run away from SPDC troops wherever villagers meet them, if not they will be shot to death.
2. Whenever SPDC troops need porters or labourers,
they have to be provided in time.
3. If the porters are not presented according to
the order, the villagers will not be allowed
to work in their farms.
The local people said, "in fact, regarding
porters, SPDC has been capturing villagers to
be porters repeatedly and it is up to them whether
and when they will let the villagers go back home".
Source: Burmanet, April
3, 2001
TOP
Myanmar
Information Committee (SPDC): Installation of Microwave Links in Progress
March 29, 2001
Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs
inspected progress in building a microwave
station and microwave tower and installation of machines
on the 8,871 feet high Thiriruttamma mountain in Tiddim Township,
Chin State, on 24 March.
The microwave facilities on the mountain are part
of Kalay-Thiriruttamma-Tiddim microwave link
which is included in the project to improve
the communication system on the west bank of Ayeyawady
River and border areas. Kalay-Thiriruttamma-Tiddim microwave link
is being installed to get the town accessible to the microwave link system. After opening of the link, Tiddim will be
able to make local and foreign calls easily;
over US $ 1.43 million have been spent in building the
link.
The Minister also inspected erection of a
microwave tower and station and preparations
being made to install machines on a 3,069-foot high mountain
in Mawlaik Township. The facilities are included in Kalay-Tamu microwave
link project.
Source: Burmanet, April
3, 2001
TOP
ICFTU
ONLINE: Burmese junta's disinformation exposed by ICFTU
28/03/01
Brussels March 27 2001 (ICFTU OnLine): The Burmese
military junta has strengthened its
disinformation campaign aimed at deflecting pressure by the
International Labour Organisation (ILO) over its widespread use of forced
labour, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
charged today in Brussels. The junta's campaign includes sending
bogus letters from "workers' representatives" to the ILO and attempting to deceive the international community by
falsely claming that forced labour-related
trade sanctions imposed on Burma in 1997 by the
European Union have now been lifted.
The ICFTU, the world's largest umbrella group of
national trade union centres, says the Myanmar
Times, an English-language bi-monthly published
in Rangoon under the auspices of the regime's military intelligence
service, is actively pursuing a propaganda and disinformation
plan designed last winter by a secret advisory group.
The group was established to advise the Foreign
Affairs Ministry on how to counter measures
activated by the ILO last November. (Under the ILO decision,
governments and companies throughout the world have been requested
to review their links relations with Burma and cease any relations
that might "directly or indirectly perpetuate forced labour". Burma's State and Peace Restoration Council (SPDC,
official name of the junta) quickly denounced
the measures as "sanctions", claiming the country
was facing imminent trade boycotts and export bans. While not ruling
out that compelling measures "may eventually be imposed by the United Nations", the ICFTU says it is much too
early to talk of real "sanctions"
yet).
The existence of the carefully-designed propaganda
campaign was confirmed this morning when a
Norway-based Burmese opposition radio (Democratic
Voce of Burma, DVB) released details of the plan, adopted last
November. The so-called "White Paper" inter alia instructed Burmese companies to use containers for textile and
other exports, in an effort to make their
Burma origin more difficult to trace, advised them
to re-route exports via countries whose governments are friendly towards
the regime and ordered the administration to organise for "letters
from workers" to be sent to the ILO in order to protest "ILO sanctions set to deprive them of jobs and destroy
their livelihoods".
The latter idea was implemented last January and
announced at the time by the Myanmar Times as
a spontaneous initiative by Burmese workers. The
ILO last week acknowledged it had indeed received a letter to that effect.
A 40-pages report by the ILO's Director General, due to be discussed
in Geneva tomorrow, 28th March, by the ILO's Governing Body, includes
information about an "open letter regarding ILO decision on Myanmar"
dated 29 November and purportedly send on behalf of "18 million
workers in public and private enterprises", petitioning the
ILO"to reconsider its actions" on forced labour in Burma. The
ICFTU says the letter is completely bogus and
sees its announcement by the Myanmar Times as
confirmation that the secret propaganda plan is now in full swing.
In a separate development, the Myanmar Times
falsely claimed last month that Burma had
regained access to European markets at privileged conditions
established under the EU's Generalised System of Preferences (GSP).
Burma has lost its GSP privileges in 1997, further to a formal ICFTU
complaint at the EU against the regimes' forced labour practices, which
notably increased throughout the 90's.
The ICFTU says the junta-sponsored newspaper
knowingly and wilfully lied to its readers by
stating that a new revised set of GSP regulations, know
as EBA, would apply to Burma. On February 26, the General Affairs Council
of the EU, composed of the 15 Member States' foreign ministers, issued
a new regulation designed to gradually eliminate all tariffs hitherto
imposed by the EU on imports from developing countries. The regulation,
nicknamed "Everything but Arms", or EBA, specifically stated
it did not cover Burma.
The ICFTU says it was earlier this month told by a
trustworthy EU source that at least 20
would-be investors had called the Brussels-based European
Commission to check whether trade sanctions against the regime had
indeed been lifted, after they had read the Myanmar Times article.
As for the junta's secret "White Paper",
the ICFTU said it had been in its possession
for months, but it had refrained from publicising it in order
not to upset chances that the junta might reconsider its refusal to
co-operate with the ILO on eliminating forced labour. An ICFTU spokesperson
added the organisation might now revise its position on releasing
the document, in the light of the outcome of tomorrow's ILO discussion
on Burma.
For more information, please contact the ICFTU
Press Department on
+32 2 224 0232 or +32 476 62 10 18.
Source: Burmanet, April
3, 2001
TOP
A
demand for the release of an Innocent student leader Min Ko Naing
JOIN STUDENTS APRIL 17th, 2001 FOR A 24 HOUR FAST
TO DEMAND THE RELEASE OF STUDENT LEADER
MIN KO NAING AND TO END CORPORATE SUPPORT FOR BURMA’S REGIME!
Fellow Students: We are a group of students from
the United States, Malaysia, Portugal, Canada, and Burma. Please join us
for a 24 hour fast on April 17th to demand the release of our fellow
student, Min Ko Naing, who has been a political prisoner in Burma for the
past twelve years and to protest greedy multinational corporations
that continue to prop up Burma’s brutal
military dictatorship.
According to reports from diverse groups such as
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, US State and Labor Departments,
and even the Wall Street Journal, Burma is ruled by one of the
world’s most brutal military dictatorships.
Min Ko Naing, one of our generation’s most
dynamic student organizers and leader of a nationwide nonviolent
uprising, was jailed in 1990 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. His
crime? Doing something we take for granted: speaking his mind. He has
spent the past 12 years in solitary confinement
and many reports state that he can barely walk.
Unfortunately, Burma’s dictators are propped up
by multinational corporations such as UNOCAL, Suzuki, Halliburton,
and Premier Oil, and apparel importers such as Warner Bros., Kmart, and
Perry Ellis.
We call on you, our fellow students
throughout the world, to forgo food for 24 hours in solidarity with
Min Ko Naing. In addition, we ask students to boycott all goods made
in Burma and to pressure your universities to cease investing in and
purchasing from corporations that operate there. Just as the anti-apartheid struggle exposed corporations
supporting tyranny in South Africa, Burma’s 1991 Nobel Peace Prize
winner Aung San Suu Kyi has repeatedly stated that “Until we have
a system that guarantees rules of law and basic democratic
institutions, no amount of aid or investment will benefit
our people.”
We know that we will succeed. Already this
semester, students at Peace College,
University of Virginia, and London School of Economics passed resolutions
calling on their universities to stop doing business in Burma.
When the University of California, Berkeley,
American University, and University of Missouri, Columbia kicked
JanSport out of their campus stores for operating in Burma in
September/October, 2000, JanSport backpedaled quickly, stating
“Recently some collegiate licensed apparel was found to have been
manufactured in Myanmar without JanSport’s or the university’s knowledge. This was expressly against JanSport’s manufacturing policy. I
assure you, JanSport was unaware... [and] immediately took steps to
transfer the production to an
alternative facility.”
We refuse to stand by silently while Burma’s
brutal regime continues to imprison Min Ko Naing and greedy
multinational corporations profit from the persecution
of the Burmese people.
We must act now. Contact Meighan Davis at mdavis@peace.edu
to join the fast!
Sincerely,
Sayed Hussein, Kolej Damansara Utama,
Malaysia
William Ho, University of Michigan, USA
Andrew Price, University of Virginia, USA
Meighan Davis, Peace College, USA
Tiago Manuel Antunes, Portugal
Erin Brennand, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Ohana Foley, University of Hawaii, USA
Kalista Poppe, Virginia Tech, USA
Min Zaw Oo, George Mason University, USA
Anjanette Hamilton, American University, USA
Source: Sayed Hussein, April
4 2001
TOP
Discovery Sparks Black Gold
Rush
April 03, 2001: According to the Rangoon-based Living Color
business magazine, local villagers from central Burma are flocking to the
Maha Myaing forest in Sagaing Division to extract crude oil from a
recently discovered source.
The magazine reports that local
people first noticed the oil in late 1999, but did not begin digging in
the area until earlier this year. Maha Myaing forest is located about 69
km from Kyun Hla Township, Sagaing Division.
Since January,
thousands of oil-diggers have been manually extracting the oil using
bamboo poles and iron pipes. It reportedly took 25 days to reach the
source, which was said to be under more than 91 m (300 feet) of hard
earth.
Local workers say they can get about 300 gallons of
crude oil per day from the oil-rich wells, while the whole area yields an
estimated 3,000 barrels per day. The price of oil in Burma is currently
around 13,000 kyat (US$ 26) per barrel. There has been no official
estimate of the site’s production capacity.
The discovery has
prompted many local residents from the Monywa, Kalay, Pakokku, Myaing,
Pyinmana and Lashio areas to abandon their work in a bid to strike it rich
at the new well. Living costs near the site have reportedly doubled in
recent months, with oil workers earning around 1,500 kyat ($3) per day, or
three times the average daily wage in the rest of the
country.
So far, there has been no official response to the
discovery from Burma’s ruling military junta. "The local military
officials are receiving a sort of tax from the workers for permission to
dig at the well. Corruption is rampant," explained one area
resident.
Local people are already expressing concern about
deforestation in the area, as well as fears about the rapid spread of
malaria and HIV/AIDS among oil-diggers living in more than 1,000 makeshift
huts. To prevent social unrest, local authorities have prohibited the
opening of video theaters and karaoke bars in the area. But health
problems are the major concern, as there are no doctors or medical
facilities to cope with the influx of newcomers living and working under
primitive conditions.
In Burma, the sale of gasoline is still
strictly controlled by government-imposed quotas, limiting vehicle owners
to three gallons per day. Petrol is available on the black market for
nearly 450 kyat per gallon, while the official price is 180 kyat.
Source: Win Htein (The
Irrawaddy)/ Mhone Shwe
Yee. April 2, 2001
TOP
UN rights
envoy visits Burma
The go-ahead for the visit signals change in
Rangoon
The United Nations special human rights rapporteur
for Burma, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, is in Rangoon on the first such visit in
nearly five years.
He will spend the next three days holding talks
with Burmese military leaders and assessing the human rights situation.
So far, he has met the head of military
intelligence, General Khin Nyunt, and the Foreign Minister, Win Aung.
But it is unclear whether Mr Pinheiro will also
meet the pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house
arrest since September last year.
Analysts believe the general's decision to allow
Mr Pinheiro access to Burma is another sign that significant changes are
taking place in Rangoon.
Secrecy
The BBC's Southeast Asia analyst, Larry Jagan says
the UN official's visit to Burma is still shrouded in secrecy.
Diplomats in Rangoon believe the full schedule for
the visit will be worked out with the generals in Rangoon.
Analysts say the visit can only be a
confidence-building mission. Unlike his predecessors, Mr Pinheiro has
avoided holding extensive discussions with human rights activists or
Burmese opposition figures.
Instead he has spent nearly a week in the region
talking to some of Burma's neighbours - Japan, Malaysia and Thailand in
particular.
UN sources say this is a fresh approach to the job
and one that they hope may produce concrete results on the human rights
front.
New mood
Many of these Asian governments are also expected
to support a highly critical resolution on Burma, which will be discussed
at the human rights commission in a fortnight's time.
Diplomats in Rangoon believe that the military
government has permitted Mr Pinheiro to visit in the hope of deflecting
some of the more critical aspects of the proposed resolution.
But there has been evidence of a new mood in
Rangoon ever since the generals started talking to the opposition leader
late last year.
These discussions have been kept secret and no one
outside the participants knows how they are progressing.
The international community, however, hopes that
the UN rapporteur may be able to shed some light on them as a result of
this visit
Source: BBC NEWS April
3, 2001
TOP
Burma
stocks up on ammunition
Burma is obtaining through international dealers a
significant quantity of 82mm smoothbore
mortar ammunition, apparently intending to replenish its supplies
in the face of continuing border tension with Thailand.
The shipment involves
some 50,000 to 100,000 mortar bombs that should cost Rangoon
around $2 million. It originates from Vietnam, although Hanoi may be
unaware of its ultimate destination. A Vietnamese-flagged ship was due to land the ammunition in Thailand in mid-March for
covert trans-shipment to Burma, Bangkok- based
intelligence sources informed Jane's Defence Weekly.
Source: Jane's Defence
Weekly/Burma Project. March 21, 2001
TOP
Burma's
ex-strongman Ne Win hosts luncheon for 99 senior monks
Burma's former military strongman
General Ne Win, who ruled the country between 1962 and 1988, appeared in
public for the first time in years to host a
luncheon for 99 senior Buddhist monks, eye-witnesses said.
The lunch, presided over by Ne Win,
91, was held at the posh Sedona Hotel in
downtown Rangoon. Altogether 99 members of the Buddhist Sangha, - essentially
the Buddhist priesthood - and about 500 lower ranking monks, attended
the merit-making event, observers said.
The speculation was that Ne Win was
hoping to add another eight years to his life
with the auspicious number of 99 monks, compared with his 91 years.
Source: Deutsche Presse-Agentur/Burma Project. March 21, 2001
TOP
Talk
of Political Transition Suggests Breakthrough Near
The head of the military regime in
Burma has spoken publicly for the first time
about plans for political transition, a fresh sign that secret talks may be progressing on a return to civilian rule.
Of the talks, a government spokesman
said: "It's going very well." Observers
said the remarks by General Than Shwe, on such an important day [Burmese
Armed Forces Day] in the Burmese calendar, reinforced speculation that
significant progress was being made towards solving the 10-year standoff
between the regime and Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy.
"For the number one guy in the Government to use the words political
transition in a major speech on an occasion like this is very significant,"
one Rangoon-based analyst said. The Herald revealed earlier this
month that Aung San Suu Kyi has held at least 12 meetings at her Rangoon
residence with the powerful deputy chief of military intelligence, Major-General
Kyaw Win, and the general has told close associates they were discussing
the framework for a transitional administration.
"Sydney Morning Herald"
March 28, 2001
Source: Deutsche Presse-Agentur/Burma Project. March 21, 2001
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Comment: Burma
is a home to diverse ethnic groups and about 60% of the area is inhabited
by nearly 140 ethnic races. Therefore any negotiation excluding the
minorities will not solve the core problem.
UN
HR envoy to make first trip to Myanmar
AFP, Bangkok
The United Nations' new human rights envoy is to visit Myanmar for the
first this time week, in a new sign of the junta's willingness to begin
cooperating with the outside world.
Brazilian academic Paulo Sergio Pinheiro received
the green light to fly into Yangon just weeks after his appointment, while
his predecessor Rajsoomer Lallah quit last year after never visiting the
military-run country.
Diplomats have hailed Pinheiro's visit as another
indication that a remarkable political shift is underway in Myanmar, where
the generals have begun meeting behind closed door with democracy leader
Aung San Suu Kyi.
"This is a very positive sign," said one
observer. "They need to normalize their relations with the
international community." Source: AFP, Bangkok/Daily Star
Internet Edition. April 2, 2001
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Comment: We hope that the visit
of Mr. Pinheiro will be successful and request him in finding just and
durable solution for us, the Rohingyas.
Mekong Meeting on Refugees Opens in
Myanmar
Yangon, Apr 2, 2001: The Second Mekong Sub-Regional Meeting
of the Asia-Pacific Consultations on Refugees, Displaced Persons and
Migrants opened here Monday.
The two-day meeting is attended
by delegates of China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar as well as
representatives of the U.N. High Commissioner for
Refugees.
The meeting is aimed at enhancing exchange of
experiences and information issues relating to cross-border
migration.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Myanmar
Minister of Immigration and Population U Saw Tun stressed that sound and
comprehensive judicial, legislative, and executive systems play important
roles in the reconstruction of civil society relating to repatriation and
reintegration.
Information sharing is an indispensable key to
developing better understanding of the migration situation across the
region, he said, adding that economic disparity, poverty and degradation
of environmental conditions have an impact on the size and flow of
irregular migration.
He noted that the issue of irregular
migration is globally prevalent and persistent, adding that consultations
between countries, based on mutual understanding, equity and goodwill,
will facilitate the approach to orderly migration.
He is
convinced that further problems will not arise if all countries respect
each other's sovereignty, existing laws and international practices,
saying that inter-governmental cooperation and collaboration in tackling
this issue will bring forth tangible results.
He pointed out
that one of the root causes of irregular migration is lack of development
which calls for international assistance and collaboration for sustainable
development.
He said Myanmar wishes to stress the importance
of international cooperation and responsibility sharing in protecting the
rights of refugees and migrants.
He pledged that Myanmar will
have full cooperation and collaboration with countries across the
Asia-Pacific region including Mekong countries and neighboring
ones.
Source: Xinhua/ Mhone Shwe
Yee. April 2, 2001
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AP:
Myanmar: Lack of development causes migration
April 2, 2001
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) _ Myanmar's immigration
minister appealed Monday for more development
assistance and international cooperation to protect the
rights of refugees and displaced persons.
``One of the root causes of irregular migration is
lack of development, therefore relevant international assistance and
collaboration are essential,'' said Saw Tun,
minister for immigration and population.
He was speaking at a two-day meeting in Yangon on
the problem of displaced persons and
cross-border migration. Officials are attending from
six nations of the Mekong sub-region: Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar,
Thailand and Vietnam.
``Myanmar wishes to stress the importance of
international cooperation and responsibility
sharing in protecting the rights of refugees and migrants,''
said Saw Tun.
He said that problems related to ``irregular
migration'' across the world ``will not arise
if all countries respect each other's sovereignty,
existing laws and international practices.''
Hundreds of thousands of mostly ethnic minority
villagers have fled military-run Myanmar for
Thailand, Bangladesh and other neighboring countries
in the past two decades, often claiming mistreatment by Myanmar
forces.
International human rights groups say civilians
have escaped fighting between government
forces and ethnic insurgents or forced relocation.
Many more have migrated illegally to find work or
been displaced inside Myanmar. Myanmar
says it is trying to develop border regions where minorities live
but is starved of development assistance. Most countries stopped giving
aid to Myanmar, also known as Burma, after a violent military crackdown
against pro-democracy demonstrators in 1988.
Source: Burmanet, April
2, 2001
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Comment: Isn't
it Ironic to hear from the SPDC Minister the word 'Development' and
Refugee's Right' where they are actively engaged in complete extermination
of ethnic groups and not even recognizing the basic rights of human
being?
Shooting
not directed at Thai planes, says army. Mystery surrounds anti-aircraft
fire from junta side
There were no Thai military planes
flying along the Burmese border on Friday when anti-aircraft fire was
heard from the Burmese side, a senior Third Army officer said yesterday.
Col
Akkadej Songworawit, commander of a special task force, said he received a
report from a unit at Ban Pang Noon post, near Mae Fah Luang district,
that soldiers heard 30 bursts of anti-aircraft fire from the Burmese side.
"We
don't know what they fired on. It could be an aircraft, but it for sure
wasn't ours," he said.
The ranger outpost at Ban Pang Noon was
seized by Burmese troops on Feb 9, resulting in fierce clashes when it was
retaken.
A source said the United Wa State Army and Burmese
military are continuing to reinforce their outposts along the border from
Ban Pang Noon to Doi Ko Wan, close to the Shan State Army base.
The
nearest Wa base is only about 300m from the Ban Pang Noon base.
Source: BKK
post/ Mhone Shwe Yee.March 31, 2001
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Burma
hints at move towards democracy
The head of Burma's
military regime has spoken publicly for the first time about plans for
political transition, in a fresh sign that progress is being made in
secret talks with democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi about the framework
for a return to civilian rule.
In a speech marking Burma's Armed
Forces Day, General Than Shwe offered careful praise for democracy, but
said the country would need to move forward with caution to avoid
instability.
While he did not refer directly to Ms Suu Kyi or her
talks with senior military intelligence officers, a government spokesman
said: "It's going very well."
Expectations of a more
detailed announcement are growing after it was confirmed that United
Nations special envoy Razali Ismail, who was asked to postpone a visit to
Rangoon earlier this month, is expected back in Burma within the next two
weeks.
Observers said the remarks by General Than Shwe, on such an
important day in the Burmese calendar, reinforced speculation that
significant progress was being made towards solving the bitter 10-year
stand-off between the regime and Ms Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy. "For the number one guy in the government to use the words
'political transition' in a major speech on an occasion like this is very
significant," said one Rangoon-based analyst.
The Age revealed
earlier this month that Ms Suu Kyi had held at least 12 meetings at her
Rangoon residence with the powerful deputy chief of military intelligence,
Major-General Kyaw Win, and that he had told close associates that they
were discussing the framework for a transitional administration.
Sources
said yesterday that Ms Suu Kyi, who won the 1991 Nobel peace prize, was
still refusing to talk publicly about the progress of her talks with the
regime. "She remains totally tight-lipped about it all and she's not
even talking to her own people about what is going on."
Burma
has been ruled by military regimes for almost 40 years and Ms Suu Kyi has
spent most of the past decade under house arrest since the generals
refused to recognize the NLD's landslide poll victory in 1990.
During
a speech yesterday before a mass military parade in Rangoon, General Than
Shwe praised the success of democratic countries in achieving economic
development.
"They have high per capita incomes,
well-developed human resources and they cooperate for national interests
regardless of partisan differences," he said.
But Burma should
not move too quickly towards democracy, he said.
"In our
country we experienced chaos and instability when multi-party democracy
was put into practice right after independence and before the nation
became strong ... Political transition will naturally require a higher
degree of sound preparation."
Source: Mark Baker/
Mhone Shwe Yee.March 30, 2001
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Myanmar Frees 16 Political Prisoners
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - Myanmar's
military regime released from prison 16 members of opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, official sources said
Saturday, a further sign of easing political tensions.
They were freed from Mandalay prison in
northern Myanmar on Friday. They were detained last year in connection
with Suu Kyi's abortive attempts to visit party members outside Yangon,
the sources said on condition of anonymity.
NLD leaders were not available for
comment. The party headquarters in the capital is closed on the weekend.
Another 84 NLD members were freed in
January from Yangon's Insein prison.
In October, Suu Kyi and the regime
began secret talks on breaking a decade-long political deadlock. That led
to a reduction in hostile rhetoric from both sides and renewed optimism,
though the status of the talks remains unclear as both sides refuse to
give details.
But Suu Kyi, who won the 1991 Nobel
Peace Prize for her peaceful democracy struggle, and her two top
lieutenants remain confined to their homes in Yangon.
While her party swept general elections
in 1990, the military, which has run Myanmar, also known as Burma, since
1962, refused to honor the results. Many of the country's more than 1,800
political prisoners are supporters of Suu Kyi's party.
The recent prisoner releases appear
timed to coincide with the military regime's announcement that it will
allow the United Nations (news
- web
sites)' new human rights monitor into the country next week. His
predecessor was barred from visiting during his four-year tenure.
Source: Yahoo News Asia, March 31, 2001
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Analysis: Burma's new approach
By
Southeast Asia analyst Larry Jagan
Burma's military government has said the newly-appointed
United Nations rapporteur on human rights will be allowed to visit the country
next week. It is the first visit by a
UN human rights expert in almost five years. The
previous rapporteur was denied access to the country and resigned last year. Since his appointment two months ago, Paulo
Sergio Pinheiro has kept a low-profile.
Unlike his predecessors, he has not held extensive discussions
with diplomats, nor consulted human rights activists or Burmese opposition
figures. UN sources say he has taken a
discreet approach to his mission. He
is due to visit Burma early next week.
Resolution ahead
Although no details of his schedule are available, he is
expected to meet Burma's military leaders and the opposition leader Aung San
Suu Kyi, who is still under house arrest.The visit is intended to provide the
rapporteur with a chance to assess first-hand the Burmese situation before the
Human Rights Commission discusses a resolution on Burma next month. The
UN has confirmed that Mr Pinheiro will address the commission late next week. Mr Pinheiro's predecessor, Rajsoomer Lallah
was never allowed to visit Burma, although the two previous envoys, Professor
Yozo Yokata and Mrs Sadako Ogata were given access. Mr
Pinheiro has also not adopted his predecessors' practice of widely consulting
the leaders and representatives of Burma's ethnic minorities. Instead
he has been discussing Burma with many of Asia's leaders.
Regional anxiety
He has held talks with Japan, Malaysia and Thailand.
As
a result, UN sources in Geneva say, the resolution to be discussed at the
Human Rights Commission in a fortnight's time will have a lot of Asian input. It is likely to be strongly critical of
Burma's human rights situation while praising the junta's efforts to talk to
Aung San Suu Kyi about the country's political future. Western
diplomats in Asia believe that Burma's neighbours, the countries in the
regional grouping Asean, are increasingly anxious that Burma's record does not
impede relations with Europe and the United States. There
is also growing embarrassment that Burma has made little progress towards
democracy in the past four years since it joined Asean.
Peer pressure
Some countries like Singapore are concerned that most business
ventures in Burma have not been profitable, and that capital invested in the
country cannot be repatriated. The
Thais remain primarily concerned about the drugs trade in Burma, which has
resulted in ever-increasing numbers of drug addicts in Thailand. Many
analysts believe it is pressure from its neighbours, particularly the
Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad, which has contributed to the
Burmese generals taking a more conciliatory approach to Aung San Suu Kyi. There have been ongoing talks between the two
sides since October. These talks have
been held in complete secret. And with little concrete information coming out
of Burma it is difficult to know how they are progressing. There
has only been one confirmed face-to-face meeting between the intelligence
chief Lt General Khin Nyunt and Aung San Suu Kyi. There
is no doubt that the military authorities are keen to exploit the situation
and represent any movement to their advantage.
Hint of change
At recent official occasions, including last week's Army Day,
the country's leader General Than Shwe has hinted at the thaw in relations
with Aung San Suu Kyi. He has even
suggested that in the long-run democracy may even a desirable form of
government. But there is no doubt that
Burma's military will not be rushed into introducing multi-party democracy. After all, they established a National
Convention to draw up a new constitution which appears to be no closer to
finishing its task than it was when it started eight years ago. While
analysts are seeing Mr Pinheiro's trip to Rangoon as further evidence that the
Burmese military is adopting a more conciliatory approach to the outside
world, there signs it is not going as far as it would like the international
community to believe. Although the
human rights rapporteur has been given access to Burma, diplomatic sources say
a further visit by the UN special envoy Dr Razali Ismail has been refused.
Sources close to the envoy believe Rangoon was upset by Dr
Razali's attempt to get the ethnic minorities involved in tripartite talks
with the generals and Aung San Suu Kyi. If
this is the case the international community needs to be careful in how far it
endorses Burma's ruling military's new found flexibility.
Source: LONDON, BBC
WORLD SERVICE NEWSROOM, March 31 2001
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