BurmaNet News: October 23-24 2002

[editor at burmanet.org]

October 23-24 2002 Issue #2110

INSIDE BURMA

Financial Times: Burmese near end of tether as rice supply shrinks and
prices rocket
DVB: UN envoy discusses political prisoners with Burma’s Suu Kyi
AFP: ILO, Myanmar in discussion over high-level mission
Reuters: Myanmar sees more dialing into internet
Irrawaddy: Shan leader sentenced while sick
New Light of Myanmar: Leader says media must confront “smear campaigns”
from abroad
AP Worldstream: Myanmar opposition’s proxy parliament expands ranks
AFP: UN rights envoy visits Myanmar regional police, court officials

GUNS

SHAN: Burma Army building anti-tank ditches
SHAN: Thai academic: Burma’s military arm less than qualified

INTERNATIONAL

Xinhua: Myanmar calls for strengthening UN
Global News Wire: Media watchdog produces media freedom rank table (excerpt)

REGIONAL

Mizzima: Protest for refugee status by Burmese in New Delhi

STATEMENTS

Secretary Powell: Designation of a foreign terrorist organization

____INSIDE BURMA_____

Financial Times
October 24 2002

Burmese near end of tether as rice supply shrinks and prices rocket
By Amy Kazmin

In Rangoon, it is often said that the long-suffering Burmese people can
bear almost any hardship, as long as they still have enough rice to eat.
Such endurance stems from an acute awareness of the price to be paid for
open expression of discontent. In 1988, the army slaughtered thousands of
pro-democracy protesters, who took to the streets after months of
skyrocketing food prices and shortages.
But 14 years on, Burmese patience again appears to be wearing thin, as the
spiralling price of rice, cooking oil, and medicine puts basic necessities
out of the reach of many common people, including the country's growing
number of landless labourers and urban poor.
Since last October, the price of a 46lb (20kg) bag of low-grade rice - the
most commonly eaten in Burma - has risen more than 200 per cent - from
Kt1,470 (ý0.76) to Kt4,480, straining even middle-class pocketbooks in a
country where the average monthly government salary is just Kt13,000.
Prices of other essentials have also risen significantly - thought not as
fast as rice - driven by Burma's persistent inflation, due to the junta's
reliance on printing money to cover chronic budget deficits.
With most Burmese spending around 70 per cent of their household income on
food, there are signs of growing public frustration at the lack of
affordable food.
Western diplomats say they have received reports of mobs attacking a rice
storage warehouse in the Mudon district in Mon state and in several other
rural provinces, though such incidents are nearly impossible to verify due
to the tight control of information and the movement of foreign observers.
Residents of the normally tranquil capital have been unnerved by an
unprecedented crime wave, including a rash of break-ins and daytime
muggings of pedestrians, a development that many link to increasing public
desperation.
As a hedge against further price increases, speculators - and many people
with a bit of cash to spare - are hoarding rice, which has made it even
tougher for the rest to meet their daily needs.
One western diplomat said everybody was expecting a shortage in November
at the next harvest. "That is leading to people speculating on rice."
Burma was once the rice bowl of Indochina, exporting as much as 3m tons of
rice a year in the decades before and after the second world war. But
rural conditions have deteriorated sharply since then, as a result of
under-investment in agriculture and misguided policies that have worsened
soil degradation and imposed punitive tax burdens on small farmers.
In a drive to boost rice production, Burma's military regime requires
farmers in the fertile delta region to grow two, and sometimes three, rice
crops a year, breaking from their traditional pattern of alternating rice
in the wet season with nitrogen-fixing legumes - which help rehabilitate
the soil - in the dry season.
At the same time, though, fertiliser use has plummeted - to almost none -
since few farmers can afford the expensive imports.
In the absence of fertiliser, and since irrigation and drainage systems
are weak, the intensifying cultivation has led to a sharp increase in soil
salinity and acidity - and worrying declines in rice yields.
Rural incomes are also under pressure from the junta's mandatory rice
procurement, which forces farmers to turn over a fixed amount of paddy
each year at less than half the market price. The cash-strapped regime
then distributes that rice to favoured groups - state employees and the
army - and uses it to barter for essential imports, like oil.
The annual procurement quota is based not on farmers' actual production,
but rather on what the junta estimates production should be. Farmers who
fail to meet the requirement are jailed, which forces families to scramble
to secure the required paddy at high prices in the market if their own
production falls short.
Diplomats say that distressed farmers this year resisted the extraction of
their crops and local rice traders say the government failed to meet its
intended procurement target.
Burma's junta is acutely sensitive to the political implications of rice
prices, which it considers a matter of national security. With the stocks
that it has available, the government has begun to distribute subsidised
rice - particularly in urban areas - though people who wish to buy it must
wait in lengthy queues to buy tiny quantities.
But analysts said the government did not appear to have enough grain
reserves to quell the surging prices as they had done in the past by
making more rice available in the market.
Instead, the government appears to be waiting for what it hopes will be a
bountiful harvest.
If the harvest disappoints, however, tensions are likely to intensify.
That concern is creating acute anxiety in Rangoon, where people are
already whispering about the potential for unrest if economic pressures do
not ease.
One Rangoon-based analyst said: "People have been wondering when is the
breaking point, and it does seem increasingly that there are certain areas
where we have reached the breaking point. There are all these little
outbreaks suggesting that we really are getting to the line here."
________

Democratic Voice of Burma
October 22 2002

UN ENVOY DISCUSSES POLITICAL PRISONERS WITH BURMA'S SUU KYI

It has been learned that UN human rights envoy Mr Pinheiro, who is
currently in Rangoon, met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at the NLD National
League for Democracy Head Office this evening. The meeting which took
place from 1630 1000 gmt to 1800 was attended by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and
all the NLD Central Executive Committee CEC Members. NLD spokesperson U
Lwin told DVB Democratic Voice of Burma that the main topic of discussion
was about the release of political prisoners.

U Lwin - recording He was just carrying out his duties and told us about
his observations. We also told him what we had to say. He told us about
his meeting with (?the prisoners). Htet Aung Kyaw Another thing is, he
told U Khun Tun Oo about his trip to the Shan State. Did he mention
anything about his Shan State trip?

U Lwin No. He did not say anything. We heard about U Khun Tun Oo and
(?UNA) being mentioned. I don't know why he accepted something that he
could not take any responsibility for in the first place. I have already
told him and the situation is the same. Anyway, he said he could not do it
because he could not take any responsibility.

Htet Aung Kyaw Yes. What did you discuss about the political prisoners issue?

U Lwin Well, we talked about the rate of release and the small number. We
have been saying that all the time but they seem to release only what they
want.

Htet Aung Kyaw Yes. What did Mr Pinheiro do for the release of prisoners?

U Lwin Well, it is like this. His status and his duties are not the same
as that of Mr Razali UN secretary-general's special envoy . Mr Razali
could respond to what you ask but for him, he has to report to the Human
Rights Commission which in turn will present it to the UNGA UN General
Assembly and then adopt the UN resolutions. He could not tell the
government what should be done. He has to follow his own set of rules
unlike Mr Razali.

Htet Aung Kyaw Indistinct question about political prisoners

U Lwin We know our own people. Some deny they are NLD members when
sentenced because they hope for an early release. Some have that attitude
while others who are not NLD members would say that they are NLD members.
Only when we check the documents thoroughly would we know the real list.
So far we have compiled a precise and concise list and there are only 170
NLD members detained and so far over 350 have been released. We are the
only organization that has compiled such a list and work for their early
release. I think other organizations do not have the means to do what we
have done. For example, if a former BSPP Burma Socialist Programme Party
party member got arrested who would work for his release? What about a
student? We know that there are other political prisoners too and we know
about them from the Red Cross.

Htet Aung Kyaw Yes. What about other topics? We heard that Mr Pinheiro's
agenda include talks for holding new elections.

U Lwin Well, that is what we are trying to say.

Htet Aung Kyaw Apart from that, what did Daw Aung San Suu Kyi say about
the political prisoner situation?

U Lwin He asked about the condition of the political prisoners during his
tenure because this was his first time meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
She on the other hand told him about her trips, where she went, what she
said, and the general condition of the people and her opportunity to visit
the government projects. He also wanted to know about the condition of
party members.

Htet Aung Kyaw He has been to the country about three or four times. In
general terms what do you think is the difference with his previous trips?

U Lwin No, nothing. He discovered about the real situation in his last
trip and I think he has not learnt anything more. He will visit the
prisons, talk to the prisoners, note their answers, talk with us, and
finally he will present a report. That's all. We have finished our part.
According to his itinerary he will meet with the national races, the
diplomats, and I do not know whether he has plans to meet with other
organizations. That is one part. The other part is you can study about
Burma even if you are in other countries. That is also a factor.
_____

Agence France-Presse
October 24 2002

ILO, Myanmar in discussion over high-level mission

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) said Thursday it was in talks
with Myanmar's junta over sending a high-level mission to the country to
implement programs aimed at eliminating forced labour.

"What has happened is there has been discussion between the ILO and the
government of Myanmar on the possibility of sending a high-level mission
to Myanmar, but these discussions have not yet concluded," the ILO's
liaison officer in Yangon, Hong-Trang Perret-Nguyen, told AFP. Myanmar is
widely condemned by the international community for its use of forced
labour. A 1998 ILO inquiry found the practice was "widespread and
systematic" and targeted ethnic minorities living in border regions.

"There is a possibility that a mission would take place but the dates and
the agenda of the mission are not finalised," Perret-Nguyen added.

"The subject of the mission, or what the ILO has in mind, is a discussion
or finalisation of some plan of action or program to implement the
decisions of the government of Myanmar to eliminate forced labour."

An earlier statement issued by the military inferred that the mission had
already arrived, but a government official told AFP Thursday that they had
merely agreed to an ILO proposal for a mission.

"The main thing is that we agreed to their visit," he said, adding that
they were now deciding on a date.

Perret-Nguyen told the Myanmar Times this week that while the government
had taken important steps to eradicate forced labour, more needed to be
done.

"Some very important steps have been taken by the government, in terms of
issuing orders, instructions and circulars, but those circulars and orders
have to be complemented and supplemented by more specific instructions and
then they have to be implemented," she told the semi-official weekly
newspaper.
_______

Reuters
October 24 2002

Myanmar Sees More Dialing Into Internet
By Wong Choon Mei

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Internet usage in military-ruled Myanmar is
expected to jump ten-fold in the next two years, although blocks on
certain political Web sites and pornographic channels will stay, an
official from a state-run agency said on Thursday.

Myanmar's ruling junta, in power for four decades, has promised to move
toward democracy and gradually liberalize an economy tottering close to
collapse.

The junta allowed the country to dial into the worldwide Web in January,
but not many people in this impoverished nation of 51 million people can
afford to go on-line.

Pyone Maung Maung, joint-secretary of Myanmar's e-National Task Force,
told Reuters 20,000 Myanmar people now surf the Internet and the number
could rise to 200,000 in the next two years as connectivity improved.

Local and expatriate residents of Yangon say Pyone's figures sounded a tad
high, adding that high costs prohibited most people from having access
though the government had relaxed many restrictions on Internet usage in
recent months.

Pyone said affordability and scarcity of local content would remain key
bottlenecks after the initial explosion of interest.

"Our people are still mostly farmers and the per capita income is still
low at $700-$750," said Pyone, who was attending an ASEAN Internet Trust
Symposium in Kuala Lumpur.

"Very few speak English. If there's no local content, there won't be any
usage."

Myanmar approved the setting up of a second Internet service provider this
year, breaking its traditional iron-fist control on the sector by allowing
enterprises to take equity in the ISP.

Pyone said Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, had overcome fears the
Internet would be a source of negative influence for its people, and
censorship would be kept low to spur usage.

But residents of Yangon say there continues to be some censorship, with
many sites blocked.
network exists.

"At the moment, only domestic e-commerce is possible," Pyone said. "But we
are trying to sign pacts with other international and regional partners to
enable cross-border online business."

He said his government was unlikely to back-pedal on liberalization,
citing communist China as an example of success.

China's telecoms and technology sectors have grown by leaps and bounds,
and the world's most populous nation is now Asia's biggest buyer of
personal computers and cellphones.

"There's no reason to, look at China," Pyone said. "We are already a
latecomer, if we turn back, we will always be left behind."

Myanmar is a poor, agrarian country, whose political and economic
isolation meant it was left behind when other Southeast Asian countries
industrialized their economies in the last few decades.
_______

Irrawaddy
October 23 2002

Shan Leader Sentenced while Sick

Despite obvious liver and kidney problems, a Shan politician, U Saw Nan
Di, was yesterday sentenced to seven years imprisonment. His merciless
sentence occurs just two weeks after fellow inmate U Sai Phat, vice
chairman of the Shan State National League for Democracy (NLD) died in
custody, sources said.
U Saw Nan Di, 67, who was chairman of the organizing committee of the NLD
in Shan State, was sentenced to seven years under section 5/j of the
Emergency Provisions Act and six months under section 33 of the Drug
Special Act in Kengtung, Shan State, a close relative said.
"Before he was sentenced in court, he had been sent to a local hospital
from the prison because he suffered from dizziness," the relative said.
"The physician says he was suffering from liver and kidney diseases."
U Saw Nan Di and U Sai Phat were arrested on Sept 13 and charged under
section 5/j because of their active participation in the NLD’s
organizational work.
After being detained for one month, U Sai Phat, vice-chairman of the Shan
State NLD, died on Oct 9. He was said to have died from cerebral malaria.
____

New Light of Myanmar
October 24 2002

LEADER SAYS MEDIA MUST CONFRONT "SMEAR CAMPAIGNS" FROM ABROAD

Yangon Rangoon , 22 October: The second four-monthly work coordination
meeting (2002) of the Ministry of Information took place at Myanma Myanmar
Radio and Television on Pyay Road here this morning, with an address by
Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council General Khin
Nyunt...

Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan reported on the objectives of the ministry,
implementation of the guidance of the chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council and instructions of the Vice-Chairman and the
Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council, nature and
formation of the ministry, projects being implemented department and
enterprise-wise, income and expenses of the ministry in the second four
months in 2002, construction of new retransmission stations, extended
broadcasting and receiving of the programmes, broadcasting programmes of
Myanma Radio, Myanma Television and MRTV-3, cooperation of international
news agencies, arrangements to be made for ensuring opportunities to read
newspapers and to receive TV set and radio for every village, and future
tasks to be carried out for better media coverage...

The tasks of the Ministry of Information to correctly bring about
spiritual development of the people using various means including
knowledge, education, organization and entertainment programmes have
interaction with the nation duties which the state is giving priority.
Understanding the interaction, the ministry staff should strive to develop
their functions. The ministry is carrying out a wide array of profound
tasks covering nationwide newspaper distribution, TV and radio
broadcasting, information and public relations services reaching down to
the towns and villages and supervision of the film and video industries...

Recently, the destructive expatriate groups taking refuge abroad and the
terrorist insurgents using the territories of some neighbouring countries
bordering Myanmar as their dens are launching smear campaign to discredit
Myanmar with the help of some foreign media groups that are against
Myanmar. The destructive elements in cooperation with the radio stations
of some big nations making attempts to interfere in the affairs of Myanmar
with the media as an effective weapon are, trying to cause dissension
among the national races. Misusing the international media, they are
launching slanders against Myanmar stage by stage under their scheme to
tarnish her image in the eyes of the international community, with
accusations including sexual violence against Shan women, religious
oppression, sectarian discrimination and forced recruitment of juveniles
as themes of their invented stories.

It is also required to refute the fabrications with the effective mass
media tool distributing actual news reports in exposing the original
source of the slanderous accusations, in addition to the diplomatic means
and the active participation of the social organizations. The mass media
is the only means to counter the alien media penetration and manipulation
against the people in this media age in which the ones having superior
media weapon are trying to change and dominate the outlook of the world's
people in accord with their wish.

It is the duty of the officials, the mentors and the patriots to
collectively give correct outlook and knowledge to the youths who are
going to shape the future. Sadly, some quarters are found to be misleading
the youths. Such acts are a great danger to the Union...
______

Associated Press Worldstream
October 24 2002

Myanmar opposition's proxy parliament expands ranks

In a move that may test the tolerance of Myanmar's military regime, the
country's pro-democracy movement said Thursday it is enlarging its
self-proclaimed surrogate parliament - an assembly the government
considers illegal.

The Committee Representing People's Parliament, or CRPP, was established
Sept. 16, 1998, by the opposition National League for Democracy party and
other activists. The military reacted harshly, detaining dozens of
would-be members of the proxy legislature.

The National League for Democracy, headed by Aung San Suu Kyi, swept a
1990 general election but was not allowed to take power.

The opposition party said in 1998 that the CRPP would perform the
functions of a legislature until a formal parliament is convened, but its
activities have been limited to low-profile meetings. The military has not
set a date for opening a parliament.

The CRPP said its members met Wednesday and decided to expand the group's
membership from 10 to 13, giving more representation to ethnic minorities.

Aye Tha Aung, who formerly represented four ethnic political parties,
would now represent just his own, the Arakan League for Democracy, the
CCRP said in a statement.

The new members represent the Mon, Shan and Zomi ethnic groups, the
statement said.

Aye Tha Aung was detained in April 2000 and given a 21-year prison
sentence, but he suffers from liver cancer and was released from prison in
August on humanitarian grounds.

Suu Kyi and the ruling junta have been holding closed-door political
reconciliation talks since late 2000, but with little apparent progress
aside from the release of several hundred political prisoners. More than
1,000 more are believed to remain in detention. Suu Kyi was released from
19 months of house arrest in May.
_____

Agence France-Presse
October 24 2002

UN rights envoy visits Myanmar regional police, court officials

UN human rights envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro visited officials at a
regional police station and law court Thursday as part of his ongoing
fact-finding mission to Myanmar, according to an official source.

Pinheiro, who arrived in Yangon last Thursday to assess the overall human
rights situation, is currently on a three-day visit from the capital to
Karen and Mon states in the southeast of the country.

On Wednesday he met with Christian and Buddhist leaders in Karen state's
Kyar-inn-seikkyi, and travelled to Tha-ma-nya-sayadaw, where he called on
a highly-revered Buddhist monk of the same name. Pinheiro held talks with
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday, after which he said
prospects for a long-running dialogue on national reconciliation in
Myanmar were good.

"The prospect of dialogue is good. I do not want to elaborate on it. In
fact, I have to keep everything confidential," he told reporters after
their meeting.

Talks between Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar's ruling military junta began
in October 2000, but they are widely believed to have stalled, having not
even progressed beyond a confidence-building stage.

During his 11-day visit here, Pinheiro has also held discussions with
leading members of the ruling junta including military intelligence chief
General Khin Nyunt and Foreign Minister Win Aung.

While outside Yangon, the Brazilian academic is also expected to visit
Mawlamyine, the Mon state capital. He is likely to meet with veteran and
elderly politicians being held in the jail there, according to Mon
political sources.

International concern has been regularly raised over elderly and sick
prisoners failing to receive appropriate medical treatment while in
Myanmar's jails.

The junta originally invited Pinheiro to travel to northeastern Shan
state, to investigate a report by two Shan women's groups based in
Thailand who had alleged that the military used rape as a weapon of war.

But Pinheiro cancelled the planned three-day trip, saying it was not
possible to do enough fact-finding within the short period.

The envoy is due to return to Yangon Friday, and is scheduled to depart
Myanmar on October 28.

______GUNS_______

Shan Herald Agency News
October 24 2002

Burma Army building anti-tank ditches

Across the border from Chiangmai, the Burmese military have for over a
month been busy constructing a mile long anti-tank ditch, report several
sources.

"You can just see it from the Thai side," said one source. "Mounds of
earth dug up by excavators are all facing Thailand."

When asked, a Burmese sergeant from Infantry Battalion #245, based in
Kengtung, that was manning the outpost in BP-1, Mongton Township, replied
it was intended to prevent foreign tanks and armored vehicles from
crossing into Burmese territory.

"The ditch is about six feet deep and six feet wide," said a Shan who paid
a hundred baht to the Burmese unit and another hundred to a Wa unit nearby
in order to be allowed to slip across the border. Other sources also
confirmed the fact.

One Thai security official in Chiangmai said he was not sure what
agreements were reached between Bangkok and Rangoon during the last few
months. "But we cannot afford one unguarded moment when it comes to
Burma," he said, pointing out that a similar ditch was being built in
Namon near Homong, opposite Maehongson.

One observer thought it could be a signal that the expected campaign
against non-Burman rebels along the border would take place where no sign
of interference from Thailand would be allowed. Many Thai intelligence
sources have agreed that the military offensive is a long forgone
conclusion unless "something goes wrong in Rangoon."

That "something" was the current tit-for-tat test of strength between
Burma's top generals, especially Maung Aye and Khin Nyunt, both of whose
close relatives and associates are under investigation for business fraud.

Shan State Army's Kengtung Forces commander, Lt-Col Gawnzuen, said up to
now the only unusual movement by "the enemy" was the Wa unit opposite Loi
Kawwan, across Chiangrai, moving up closer to Shan positions earlier this
month. "Apart from that, Burmese units: Light Infantry Battalion 331,
Light Infantry Battalion 526 and Light Infantry Battalion 311 continue
holding their old positions around us," he said.

Sources in Tachilek also say the only curious thing they are able to
witness has been the substantial import of fuel, both diesel and gasoline,
from Thailand since the border was reopened on 15 October. "They might
need it in case there were a campaign and the border closes again," said a
Shan business man in Maesai.

Fuel is sold to Burma for 9.50 baht per liter, whereas in Thailand it cost
15-17 baht, he added.
___

Shan Herald Agency for News
October 24 2002

Thai academic: Burma's military arm less than qualified

In his book, Neighboring Armed Forces: Continuity and change in the next
century, Thailand's well-known civilian expert in military affairs,
Surachart Bamrungsuk from the country's prestigious university,
Chulalongkorn, points out that several factors had contributed to the
prevailing amateurishness in Burma's armed forces.

The Tatmadaw, as Burma's armed services call itself, he begins, is second
only to Vietnam in size in the whole Southeast Asia, including Indonesia,
the 4th most populous nation-state in the world, is also one of the most
battle-hardened especially in jungle warfare.

At the same time, it is suffering from several limitations, he says. "The
rapid expansion, quantity wise, has resulted in the shortage of qualified
officers, both commissioned and non-commissioned, in the armed forces," he
writes.

He also draws attention to the fact that the military's heavy involvement
in politics has created frictions between professional soldiers who are at
the front and political soldiers in the rear who are being promoted more
for their political influence than their military acumen, thereby
impairing the army's morale as a whole.

Compounding the contentious state of affairs is the conflict between
officers who graduated from Defense Services Academy and those that
finished Officers Training School, he says.

"Another important limitation is the inability of Burmese armed forces to
engage in large scale conventional warfare," he reports. He goes further
to say that even though seasoned in counter-insurgency warfare, it is also
plain for all to see that the Principle of Joint Operations i.e.
coordination between the army and the air force, in their campaigns
against ethnic rebels is still largely neglected.

Surachart works in the International Relations Division, Faculty of
Political Science. The book published in 2000, can be ordered from
http://www.cubook.chula.ac.th .

___INTERNATIONAL__

Xinhua News Agency
October 24 2002

Myanmar calls for strengthening UN

YANGON, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) --Myanmar leader General Khin Nyunt Thursday
evening called for strengthening of the United Nations so the world body
is able to tackle the problems being faced by mankind in the 21st century.

Khin Nyunt, first secretary of the State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC), made the call at a ceremony here marking the 57th UN Day.

Due to the challenges being faced by mankind today, the international
community has unanimously acknowledged that the relevancy of the United
Nations is greater than ever, he said, describing the world body as a
center for harmonizing the actions of nations in the maintenance of
international peace and security and in the search for the solutions of
international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems. "It is
the first and foremost duty of all the member states to ensure that the
U.N. never deviates from these time-tested principles in order to protect
and promote the common interest of all member states, big or small, rich
or poor, powerful or weak," he stressed.

Khin Nyunt warned that the development gap between the industrialized and
developing countries has continued to widen and the number of people
living in poverty has not diminished.

He emphasized that it is imperative that poverty alleviation efforts by
the U.N. be given unstinting support by the international community.

At the ceremony, a message from Myanmar SPDC Chairman Senior-General Than
Shwe, read by Foreign Minister U Win Aung, called on all members of the
international community to tackle the global problems together in a family
spirit.

"The problems facing humanity consist of both man-made and natural
problems," he said, pointing out that "many of the problems are closely
intertwined and the solution of one requires simultaneous solution of
another or others with a comprehensive approach and coordinated strategy."

On pursuit of development goals, he said, the most fundamental
prerequisite is peace --peace within countries, peace between neighbors
and peace among all.

He stressed the need for every country to respect and strictly abide by
the principles on friendly relations between countries enshrined in the UN
Charter and International Law, in one's relations with others in order to
firmly root the foundation of peace.

Myanmar became the 58th UN member when it joined the organization on April
19, 1948.
______

Global News Wire
October 24 2002

INTERNATIONAL: MEDIA WATCHDOG PRODUCES MEDIA FREEDOM RANK TABLE (excerpt)

A number of organizations produce their own assessments or tables of the
level of censorship and media freedom they observe in countries around the
world. Notable producers of such information are the International Press
Institute, International Journalists' Network, Committee to Protect
Journalists and Freedom House. Now the Paris-based media watchdog
organization Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) has released its own ranking
of media freedom by country in a press release in English on 23 October

The first worldwide index of press freedom has some surprises for Western
democracies. The United States ranks below Costa Rica and Italy scores
lower than Benin. The five countries with least press freedom are North
Korea, China, Burma, Turkmenistan and Bhutan.

Surprises among Western democracies : US below Costa Rica and Italy below
Benin Reporters Without Borders Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) is
publishing, for the first time, a worldwide index of countries according
to their respect for press freedom. It also shows that such freedom is
under threat everywhere, with the 20 bottom-ranked countries drawn from
Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe. The situation in especially bad in
Asia, which contains the four worst offenders - North Korea, China, Burma,
Turkmenistan and Bhutan
..

___REGIONAL_____

Mizzima
October 23 2002

Protest for refugee status by Burmese in New Delhi
By Sein Win

Over 200 Burma refugees having arrived in Delhi over the last six month
and seeking recognition as refugees by UNHCR held a demonstration in front
of UNHCR Office.
"Although six months have passed since we applied for refugee status, the
UNHCR has taken no action on our appeals and our cases have effectively
been ignored. We have faced hardship in the form of police threats and
local house owners' threats to throw us out of our accommodations as we
are unable to pay the rent", said strike leader Ko Jayung.
The demonstrators are mostly ethnic Kachin and Chin nationals. They fled
Burma due to increased internal crisis and persecution by the military
regime. Most of the demonstrators had their appeals to UNHCR rejected or
pending over a long period of time.
 "If we are threatened with arrest, let them arrest us. We have no
alternative to staging this demonstration", commented a Kuki woman. "I
was imprisoned for two months. Even after my release, the MIs kept a
close watch on me. I have been accused of having links with exiled
political organizations", said Shadan Zaw Aung, former student of the
Rangoon Institute of Technology.
The demonstration took place at Lodi Road, New Delhi. The demonstrators
were shouting anti- regime slogans, showing posters, singing Burmese
national songs, and conducting group prayers. They  demanded that UNHCR
react to their plea with fifteen days and recognise them officially as
'persons of concern', failing which they would continue their
demonstration.
Leaders of New Delhi-based Burmese political organizations and Indian
human rights lawyer Ms. Nandita Haksar gave encouragement speeches to the
demonstration.
UNHCR Chief of Mission Mr. Lennart Kotsalainen conferred with five leaders
on behalf of the demonstrators and informed them that UNHCR would speedily
re-examine their cases, omitting however to mention a date. He had
received the demonstrators' press release, detailing their demands.
Only 966 out of 1300 Burmese in New Delhi are recognized by UNHCR as
mandated refugees. These persons are given 1, 400 rupees (about US $ 30)
monthly in subsistence allowance (SA). Some of the refugees have been
threatened with discontinuation of their payments.

_____STATEMENTS/OTHER____-

U.S. State Department
October 23 2002

Designation of a Foreign Terrorist Organization

   Secretary Colin L. Powell


The United States is taking several important steps today as part of our
continuing efforts to combat global terrorism. I am announcing the
Designation of the Jemaah Islamiya organization (JI), which was founded by
Abdullah Sungkar, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. I am also
announcing the designation of JI under Executive Order 13224.

In addition to these actions, the United States will join Australia,
Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Timor Leste (East Timor), and other
partners around the world to ask the relevant United Nations sanctions
committee to include JI on its consolidated list of individuals and
entities the assets of which member states are required to freeze in
accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions 1267 and 1390. This joint
referral to the UN sanctions committee is a powerful signal that the
countries of Southeast Asia will not tolerate terrorism on their territory
and that they are committed to working with the international   community
to put a stop to wanton acts of terror.

In making this joint referral, the United States does not wish to imply
that we have come to a conclusion about responsibility for the devastating
Bali bombings on October 12. Investigation into those bombings continues
in Indonesia. The United States and its partners in the global war on
terrorism have long had concerns about the activities of the JI. Today's
designation of this group by the United States and the referral to the
United Nations are the result of a process that has been underway since
well before the Bali bombings.

Today s actions mark the first time the United States has simultaneously
designated a terrorist group as an FTO, designated it under Executive
Order 13224, and requested the relevant UN sanctions committee to include
it on the list of those against which sanctions should be applied. We hope
these steps put Jemaah Islamiya out of the terrorism business.

The FTO designation allows the United States to block the organization's
assets in U.S. financial institutions; criminalizes the knowing provision
of material support or resources to the organization; and allows members
of the organization to be excluded from the United States. Designation
under EO 13224 also blocks the property and interests in property of the
organization in the U.S. or held by U.S. persons, and authorizes the U.S.
to subsequently designate and block the assets of individuals and entities
that are owned or controlled    by, act for or on behalf of, provide
support or services to, or are otherwise associated with the organization.

The UN Security Council Resolutions require all Member States to take
certain actions against the organization, including freezing the
organizations assets and denying it access to funds and other financial
assets or economic resources, preventing the supply or sale of weapons to
the organization, and preventing members of the organization from entering
or traveling through their territories.

Jemaah Islamiya, which has been in existence for many years, is an
extremist group with cells operating throughout Southeast Asia. JI s
stated goal is to create an Islamic state comprising Malaysia, Singapore,
Indonesia, and the southern Philippines. JI planned to conduct bombings of
the U.S. Embassy in Singapore and the interests of several other countries
in December 2001. JI members recently arrested in Singapore, Malaysia, and
the Philippines have revealed links with al-Qaida.

With the designation of Jemaah Islamiya, the number of foreign terrorist
organizations is now 35.
The recent terrorist attack in Bali claimed victims from 29 countries the
worst attack since September 11, 2001. It is an example of how terrorism
threatens democratic institutions, undermines economies, and destabilizes
regions. The frontlines on terrorism are everywhere. The world s response
to these heinous crimes must be comprehensive, and steadfast.