BurmaNet News: October 31 2002

[editor at burmanet.org]

October 31 2002 Issue #2113

INSIDE BURMA

Financial Times: UN envoy urges more aid to spur Burma reform
SHAN: National reconciliation: Tripartite talks remain unlikely, says UN
expert
Xinhua: UN envoy to renew visit to Myanmar
DVB: Burmese opposition says “no change at all” in relations with authorities
AFP: UN envoy calls for forging of ties with Myanmar
DVB: NLD leaders met veteran politicians
Kaladan: 231 young men and 4 women detained at Maungdaw
DVB: Mergui residents suffer rice shortage because of hoarding by traders

MONEY

Yonhap: South Korean firm completes Burmese electricity network project

DRUGS

Xinhua: Myanmar exposes 241 drug-related cases in September

ON THE BORDER

Irrawaddy: Minority rights groups express dissatisfaction with UN mission

REGIONAL

Bangkok Post: Help sought to free region of child soldiers

INTERNATIONAL

AFP: Myanmar junta says three embassies received letter bombs
Mizzima: Militants surrender
Baptist Press News: Protests of Christian persecution gaining traction in
US, Land says (excerpt)

MISCELLANEOUS

SHRF: Monthly Report
Forum-Asia: UN Burma rapporteur concerned by reports of rape, other human
rights abuses
AP: Two Indian writers win book prize

___INSIDE BURMA_____

Financial Times
October 31 2002

UN envoy urges more aid to spur Burma reform
By Amy Kazmin

The United Nations human rights envoy to Burma yesterday urged the
international community to step up its financial support to the
military-ruled country, saying that such more intensive engagement would
facilitate political change.

Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the UN human rights rapporteur, suggested that it
was "absurd" that the people of Burma should be isolated during a
transition process that would take time.

"It's important that the international community does not wait for the end
of political transition before engaging," Mr Pinheiro told a news
conference. "The population cannot be punished because of problems in
terms of, for instance, social policy." Mr Pinheiro's comments reflect a
growing debate within the international community on maintaining sanctions
against Burma, amid a worsening HIV/Aids epidemic, rampant malnutrition
among children and spiralling food prices.

In the past, Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the opposition National
League for Democracy, had urged western countries to isolate Burma until
the military honoured the results of a 1990 election in which the NLD won
a landslide victory. But since May, when she was released from house
arrest, Ms Suu Kyi has indicated that she would not object to increased
humanitarian relief for the population, provided that the NLD could
scrutinise the flow of funds to ensure the aid really went to those whom
it was intended to help.

Yet Mr Pinheiro conceded that the ruling junta remains reluctant to
establish any co-operative mechanism with the NLD on foreign aid,
something most donors say would encourage them to step up their assistance
for common people.

"The NLD is ready to participate in monitoring and assessment of
humanitarian aid," Mr Pinheiro said. "But it seems to me the government is
not yet prepared to have this engagement." The Brazilian academic said he
saw little harm in a controversial Australian-backed human rights training
programme for Burma's civil servants, many of who, he said, were likely to
remain even after any change in government.

But he called for the regime to allow independent and credible
investigations of widespread allegations of human rights violations, such
as reports of forced conscription of children into the army.
______

Shan Herald Agency News
October 30 2002

National Reconciliation: Tripartite talks remain unlikely, says UN expert

Burma is still far away from the long-awaited Tripartite Dialogue,
according to Sergio Paulo Pinheiro, who just completed his 12-day fact
finding trip to Burma on Monday, 28 October.

"I don't mean to discourage (the people of Burma)", said the grizzled
Brazilian yesterday after his arrival in Thailand. "But that's the way it
is"

He added that Razali Ismail, UN-Special envoy, whom he had met in Malaysia
on his way to Rangoon, "has tried much to put the ethnic parties on board,
but has been unsuccessful so far. It is not easy to convince the generals
that it is in their interests to do so."

But the first thing, he maintained, was "to break the deadlock."

Nearly 6 months after the release of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi
from custody, an event hailed by the military rulers as "a new page",
substantive talks has yet to kick off, prompting Alternative Asean, a
Bangkok-based NGO, to dub it as "New page, Old story."

On License to Rape, a report published by Shan women-in-exile that charges
Rangoon of using sexual violation as a tool of war against non-Burman
states, his press-communique states the reason for his refusal to visit
the Shan State: a short visit would be in appropriate to conduct a
comprehensive assessment. Rather he proposed to the SPDC to explore
several options for credible investigation of these allegations."

The statement also says he had urged Rangoon to allow "an adequate
presence" of the Red Cross in all conflict areas of the country.

Pinheiro will be submitting his interim report and present his
observations from this mission to the UN General Assembly on 6 November.
____

Xinhua News Agency
October 31 2002

UN envoy to renew visit to Myanmar

YANGON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) --United Nations Special Envoy Razali Ismail will
renew his visit to Myanmar on Nov. 12, confirmed Myanmar Deputy Foreign
Minister U Khin Maung Win at a press briefing here Thursday.

It will be Razali's 9th official trip to Myanmar since his appointment as
the envoy in April 2000 and also the mission's second tour after Myanmar
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) was released from 19-month house
arrest on May 6. The upcoming trip of Razali is expected to further his
effort to speed up Myanmar's national reconciliation process.

Razali, during his last visit to Myanmar in August this year, mainly met
with General Khin Nyunt, First Secretary of the State Peace and
Development Council and ASSK, General Secretary of the National League for
Democracy (NLD).

He described all these meetings as very "productive."

Razali was believed to have initiated the confidence-building talks
between the government and the NLD since October 2000. The talks brought
about the release of ASSK and 326 NLD members and activists.

However, no exact timetable has so far been set by the government to
further the talks after ASSK's release.

The NLD won a landslide victory in the 1990 general election sponsored by
the military with 396 parliamentary seats out of 485.

However, the NLD complains that it has never been allowed to take office
although the election ended more than 12 years ago.

Meanwhile, the government regards itself as a caretaker or transitional
one, saying that it has no intention to hold on to power for long.
____

Democratic Voice of Burma
October 29 2002

BURMESE OPPOSITION SAYS "NO CHANGE AT ALL" IN RELATIONS WITH AUTHORITIES

Democratic Voice of Burma DVB has learned that veteran politicians led by
Thakin Thein Pe met leaders of the National League for Democracy NLD at
the NLD headquarters this afternoon. We contacted NLD Spokesperson U Lwin
in connection with this meeting.

Ko Moe Aye of DVB conducted the interview, and in his first question to U
Lwin, he asked what the main objective of the meeting today was. U Lwin We
have not met each other for quite a while and we wanted to meet them, I
mean, the veteran politicians. So, we met them today. Thakin Thein Pe,
Thakin Chit Maung, that is Widura Chit Maung, and other elders were there.
DVB Who represented the NLD at the meeting?
U Lwin Members of the Central Executive Committee represented the NLD.
DVB Was Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also there at the meeting?
U Lwin Yes, she was.
DVB I see. Was anything important discussed at the meeting?
U Lwin No, there was nothing extraordinary about it. They wanted to see us
because they have not met us for a while, and we were free today, so we
arranged the meeting. They asked us about the developments that took place
while we did not see each other.
DVB We understand that the veteran politicians sent a letter to the NLD
and the SPDC State Peace and Development Council yesterday.
U Lwin No, they did not send any letter to us. But it was one of the
topics discussed, about their wish to send us a letter.
DVB Did you discuss the expansion of the CRPP Committee Representing the
People's Parliament and the lack of progress in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's
talks with the SPDC?
U Lwin Well, they know something about it to a certain extent and asked us
about the things they did not know, things like the situation regarding
relations with the authorities.
DVB I see. How is the situation regarding relations between the NLD and
the SPDC?
U Lwin As you know already, there has been no change at all.
_________

Agence France-Presse
October 31 2002

UN envoy calls for forging of ties with Myanmar

BANGKOK - United Nations human-rights envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro
yesterday urged the international community to engage with Myanmar before
its ruling junta introduces democratic reforms, saying it was 'absurd' to
wait.
'I think it is very important that the international community and
international bodies or member states do not wait until the end of the
political transition to become engaged. This is absurd,' he told
reporters.
Mr Pinheiro, a Brazilian academic who has just completed his fourth visit
to Myanmar, said he knew of no democratic transition in history where
foreign governments waited for reforms before engaging with the country's
people.
'The population cannot be punished because of problems in terms of, for
instance, social policy,' he said.
Western governments have led the push for Myanmar to be completely
isolated and subjected to crippling sanctions until its military
government makes concessions to the democratic opposition led by Ms Aung
San Suu Kyi.
But other nations, such as Japan and Australia, have forged what they see
as a compromise position, involving limited engagement with the reclusive
junta which they say has a better chance of achieving change in the
country.
The debate has come to the fore since Ms Suu Kyi began landmark
UN-brokered talks with the junta two years ago, which culminated in her
release from house arrest in May.
In August, she said that she would no longer oppose foreign aid as long as
it fell within strict guidelines.

______

Democratic Voice of Burma
October 29 2002

NLD leaders met veteran politicians

The Veteran Politicians led by Thakhin Thein Pe met the leaders of NLD
today afternoon. We asked the NLD spokesman U Lwin for more information.
First, we asked him what is the purpose of today's meeting:
U Lwin : Basically because we haven't seen each other for sometime. That's
why they came to see us. We met these veteran politicians today. They were
elderly people like Thakhin Thein Pe, Thakhin Chit Maung and it was the
meeting of elders.
Ko Moe Aye : Who attended from the NLD?
U Lwin : We, the CEC members.
Ko Moe Aye : Daw Aung San Suu Kyi?
U Lwin : Yes. She was there too.
Ko Moe Aye : We heard that veteran politicians sent petitions both to the
SPDC and the NLD.
U Lwin : No. They didn't. The came to consult with us to do that kind of
thing. They don't know very much about the situation.
Ko Moe Aye : Did you discuss with Thakhin Thein Pe and veteran politicians
the subjects of CRPP and the political stalemate between Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi and the SPDC?
U Lwin : They asked us what they didn't know. The main thing was the
relationship with the authorities.
Ko Moe Aye : What is the present relationship between the SPDC and the NLD
like?
U Lwin : You know the present situation. There is no change. Ha!
__________

Kaladan Press
October 28 2002
231YOUNG MEN AND 4 WOMEN DETAINED AT MAUNGDAW

Maungdaw, October 28: From 11th to 15th October 2002,
police arrested 231 young men and 4 women from Baggona
village, a place 2 miles south of Maungdaw, Arakan
State, said a trader of Maungdaw.

On 10th October, Maung Lun, the Chairman of the Rwa
Thaya Village Peace and development Council (VPDC),
friendly invited 5 young men from Baggona, an adjacent
village to Rwa Thaya, to watch the pwe (dance drama)
being staged at his village. They are Kabir, Kamal,
Juhar, Mohamed Yunus and Monzia (a Hindu). While they
were watching the pwe, the duty police of the pwe, at
the instigation of Maung Lun, suddenly rounded the
up and arrested 4 of them. But, Mohamed Yunus managed
to escape from the scene. All of them were sent to
Maungdaw police custody with false and fabricated
accusation of rape of two Rakhaing girls of the
village, he further added.

On the following day, the 11th of October, a police
team came to the village from Maungdaw. On the pretext
of looking for Mohamed Yunus, who had gone into
hiding, the police in collaboration with some
Rakhaing goons, had arrested 15 Rohingya young men and
were sent and detained in Maungdaw police custody,
said a villager to our source.

Again on 12th October , a 5 member police team
together with the collaboration of 15 Rakhaing
muggers went to the said with the same pretext and
held up16 young men, who were at once sent to Maungdaw
police custody, he further added.

It was on 15th October, when the Western Commander
Brigadier General Maung Oo was visiting Maungdaw, the
inspector of police of Maungdaw apprised him of the
matter, the General instructed the police inspector to
give him detail report after making inquiry. This made
the inspector encouraged and , in that very night, he
dispatched a team of 12 police men with 20 Rakhaing
robbers with the alleged intention of harassing and
extorting the villagers. The police made house to
house searches and picked up the young occupants. A
total of 200 young villagers with 4 women, namely
Jahanara Begum,17, Noor Jahan,22, Samida Begum, 26,
and Ayas Jahan, 31, were arrested and carried to
Maungdaw police custody. All of the four arrested
women belong to a same family and are daughters of
Sayed Ahmed, said victims' relatives.

On 17th October, 69 detainees were released with a
bribe of Kyats 10,000/- for each and the remaining
166 persons, including the 4 women, who are unable to
offer bribe, are still kept in police custody and they
have been reportedly tortured. On the other hand, the
police inspector is threatening the villagers of more
punishment unless Mohamed Yunus is not arrested, they
further added.

An old man from Maungdaw town said," the arrest is
totally illegal. It is a fabrication to intimidate and
extort the Muslim villagers. Rwa Thaya is a Rakhaing
village well known as a place of prostitutes and
country made wine. The corrupt army, police,
government servicemen and bad elements used to visit
it".
____

Democratic Voice of Burma
October 29 2002

MERGUI RESIDENTS SUFFER RICE SHORTAGE BECAUSE OF HOARDING BY TRADERS

It has been learned that the people in Mergui, Tenasserim Division, have
been surviving on rice porridge due to acute rice shortage. Rice traders
have been hoarding their rice and storing them in other villages while
rice sellers are only putting a meagre amount out to sell at the counter
at exorbitant prices. Thus people living at Thaung Nge, Myit Nge, and
Zayat wards in Mergui cannot not afford to eat rice so they have had to
resort to buying broken rice and eating rice porridge instead. The Mergui
Township Peace and Development Council has reported to the Tenasserim
Division Peace and Development Council yesterday morning urging them to
resolve the rice shortage as soon as possible.

Col Khin Maung Nyo, secretary of Tenasserim Division Peace and Development
Council, called all the rice traders and rice sellers yesterday evening
and warned them that they would be held responsible if any problem arise
from the rice shortage. Furthermore, he also warned them not to trade rice
across township boundaries and reminded them that all the rice would be
confiscated and severe action would be taken against those found violating
the restrictions.

DVB Democratic Voice of Burma has also learned that Col Khin Maung Nyo
warned them not to sell one pyi one sixteenth of a bushel of rice at more
than 450 kyat and that severe action would be taken and rice trading
licences would be revoked for those found selling rice at higher retail
prices.

___MONEY______

Yonhap
October 31 2002

South Korean firm completes Burmese electricity network project

Seoul, 31 October: Korea Electric Power Co (Kepco) has completed a
one-year project to diagnose and research the electric power network in
Myanmar Burma , Kepco said Thursday 31 October . The project marked the
company's first overseas venture in the power transmission and
transforming sector.

Under the project, the power company engaged in overall analysis of the
Southeast Asian country's electric power system and made proposals of
short- and long-term measures to improve it.

This will pave the way for South Korean firms to make advances into
Myanmar's power generation and transmission market, a Kepco official said.
__DRUGS_____
Xinhua News Agency
October 31 2002
Myanmar exposes 241 drug-related cases in September

YANGON, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Myanmar authorities exposed a total of 241
narcotic-drug-related cases in September this year, said a report of the
Myanmar Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control available here Wednesday.

During the month, the army units, police and the customs seized 63.34
kilograms (kg) of opium, 36.97 kg heroin and 41.36 kg marijuana as well as
37,865 tablets of stimulant drugs. The authorities punished 329 people --
252 men and 77 women -- for being involved in the September cases, it
said.

According to official statistics, in 2001, the Myanmar authorities exposed
a total of 2,933 drug-related cases with 4,256 people involved and
1,770.76 kg opium, 96.74 kg heroin, 284.38 kg marijuana,  3,922.16 kg
ephedrine as well as 32.438 million tablets of stimulant drugs seized. Of
them, the amount of stimulant drugs registered the highest confiscated
since 1996 when the country began a crack-down on such drugs.

A report said opium cultivation in Myanmar was 81,400 hectares (200,000
acres) in 2002 and the country's opium output was about 828 tons in the
year.

The report was released on August 27 this year by the United Nations
Information Service based on a joint field survey and satellite photos
taken by the UN Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP) and
the Myanmar government.

It also said 2.4 percent of Myanmar's population, aged 15 and above, smoke
opium daily compared to a global average of 0.3 percent of the population
taking opium once or more in a year.
___ON THE BORDER______
Irrawaddy
October 30 2002
Burma: Minority rights groups express dissatisfaction with UN mission

Shan and other ethnic minority human rights groups in Thailand have
expressed their doubt over the United Nations human rights rapporteur
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro's fact-finding mission to Burma.

"Personally, I am not satisfied with Pinheiro's investigation into our
report 'Licence to Rape'," said Nang Mo Hurng of the Shan Women's Action
Network (SWAN).

In meetings held at Chiang Mai University's International Centre, Pinheiro
met with representatives from several ethnic minority groups and
non-governmental organizations. However, many human rights groups said
they will wait and see his upcoming report before making further comments.

Pinheiro is expected to present a report on recent findings to the UN in
early November. His findings will be given only seven minutes at a meeting
of the UN human rights section.

In a press conference in Bangkok today, Pinheiro stressed that an
independent investigation is needed to verify allegations made by the SWAN
and other human rights groups. He called for a professional and
independent investigation to be conducted in Shan State.

Responding to rape cases in Shan State, the junta has said previously that
while isolated incidents may have occurred, there was no systematic sexual
abuse by military personnel.

During his recent visit to Rangoon, Pinheiro proposed a national
investigation into the rape allegations, involving opposition parties such
as the Shan National League for Democracy.

He also proposed an international commission of inquiry comprising human
rights experts to review the rape cases in Shan State. Sources also
revealed that Pinheiro suggested he and his own team could investigate the
allegations of rape.

But analysts argue that as the commission will require the full
cooperation of the junta, which has all but dismissed the allegations,
that prospect appears unlikely.

Commenting on political dialogue between the junta, the opposition
National League for Democracy and ethnic nationalities, Pinheiro said that
tripartite talks also remained unlikely.

During the press conference, Pinheiro also endorsed the Australian
government's initiative to resume human rights training for middle-ranking
officials in Burma and called on the regime to free political prisoners.
In his estimate, between 1,200 and 1,300 political prisoners are being
held in Burma.

Pinheiro also warned: "Every political transition in the world is a
process. Don't expect instant regime change in Myanmar Burma ."
____REGIONAL______

Bangkok Post
October 31 2002

HELP SOUGHT TO FREE REGION OF CHILD SOLDIERS
By Saritdet Marukatat

The United Nations Children's Fund has urged the government to play a
greater role in helping put an end to child soldiers in Southeast Asia.

Unicef Executive Director Carol Bellamy said despite having no bad record
on under-age combatants, Thailand and the region's other countries should
not sit idly by doing nothing, because the problem was a common concern
for the region.

It's not good enough for somebody saying it's not in my backyard,
therefore, it's not my problem,'' she said. This is a problem of East Asia
and the Pacific.'' According to its study launched yesterday, Burma,
Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines have
70,000 child soldiers, or almost a quarter of the world's total. They have
been forced to fight for government and non-governmental forces in what
the UN agency deemed an illegal and morally reprehensible practice.''

Five of the studied nations are in Southeast Asia, with two of them _
Burma and Cambodia _ sharing their common border with Thailand.

Unicef's assessment on the problem in Burma was based on interviews with
children at the Burmese border after Rangoon refused access to
researchers.

Rangoon has strongly denied it uses children in battle.

The Unicef chief remained pessimistic about the outlook, saying that the
problem was largely ignored by governments. She said children were being
recruited in extensive numbers'' in the region due to easy access to arms
and continued conflicts in some countries.

Asked about the role of Thailand, Ms Bellamy called for regional efforts
and discussion among governments and leaders across borders'' to stop
children being abused, and supported political pressure and political will
in the war against the problem.

We certainly think that political dialogue, political pressure and
political will are very important in making changes in this area,'' she
added.

The fact that this kind of exploitation may not be happening in a
particular country does not mean that the leader of that country might not
speak out,'' she reiterated.

The Unicef chief also urged the government to ratify an optional protocol
banning children under 18 years of age from being involved in hostilities,
and setting clear standards for the recruitment of those under 18.

The first thing Thailand could do is to ratify an optional protocol,'' she
added.

The government has ratified only the 1990 convention of the rights of
child, which sets the legal minimum age for recruitment at 15.
__INTERNATIONAL______

Agence France-Presse
October 31 2002

Myanmar junta says three embassies received letter bombs

Myanmar's embassies in Japan, Malaysia and Singapore have received letter
bombs over the past few days, prompting an upgrade in security at home and
abroad, the military government said Thursday.

"We can deduce that this is the work of a dissident group residing in our
neighbouring country as all the letters had Bangkok post-marks," junta
spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nyan Lin told reporters.

The first of the packages, all sent between October 28 and 30, was
received in Tokyo on the same day that former dissident leader and US
resident Moe Thee Zun had arrived in the country, he said. The devices
were defused without causing any casualties, he said, adding that they
were marked with 8/8/88 -- the date when widespread anti-government unrest
broke out in Myanmar, eventually leading to a military takeover.

"I would like to submit that this is definitely the work of a dissident
terrorist group being harboured there (Thailand) aiming to disrupt peace
inside Myanmar," Nyan Lin said.

Deputy military intelligence chief Major General Kyaw Win told the
briefing that he did not believe the spate of letter bombs indicated the
start of an intensification of anti-junta activities overseas.

"Nevertheless we are taking security measures both inside and outside of
the country just in case," he said, without specifying details of the new
precautions.

Singapore Police Force spokesman Stanley Norbert said Thursday that the
city-state's military bomb squad had defused a letter containing a
detonator sent to the Myanmar embassy there.

He said the embassy had received the suspicious letter bearing a postage
from Thailand on Wednesday and called the bomb squad, which found a
"low-grade detonator" but no explosives.

Norbert said the detonator was unlikely to have caused significant damage.

"If it went off, there might have been a spark or flash. Somebody's hand
might get burnt, but that's all," he said.
____

Mizzima
October 31 2002

Militants surrender
Guwahahti, Oct. 31, 2002: Twelve militants belonging to the United
Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of
Boroland (NDFB) of the North East India today surrendered before the
Indian Army in Assam State.
The militants, who were allegedly trained in Myanmar, deposited one AK 56
rifle, one Sniper rifle and some Chinese grenades.
The militants fled from their respective camps and surrendered today
expressing disappointment with the leadership.
While talking to the media persons during the surrender ceremony, they
revealed that the militant groups of the North East India have nexus with
the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) which has been co-operating in setting
up of their camps in the western part of the country.
The Kachin Independence Army is an armed wing of the Kachin Independence
Organization which signed a ceasefire with the Burmese military government
in February 1994.
The surrender ceremony, which was held at Army Headquarters, Rangiya, was
attended by the GoC Red Horn Division Gaganjeet Singh.
______

Baptist Press News
October 31 2002

Protests of Christian persecution gaining traction in U.S., Land says
(excerpt)

By Dwayne Hastings
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--The revelation by North Korea that it had engaged
in a clandestine operation to develop nuclear weapons, contrary to
promises made to the Clinton administration in 1994, thrust the Asian
nation again into the news. However, many in the United States have had
the communist nation on their minds and in their prayers for years for its
shoddy record in human rights
.
Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty
Commission, said revulsion against widespread acts of persecution against
Christians is slowly gaining traction across the United States, prompted
in part by the national news media's newfound willingness to report on
attacks against Christians coupled with a growing awareness of the issue
among evangelicals
.
Churches, Christian schools and hospitals all have been targets of the
anti-Christian terrorism in Pakistan, Land continued, while noting
Christian persecution does not always involve violence.
In Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, Christian orphanages and programs for
the poor are being forced to close their doors because those served by the
ministries are placing their faith in Christ much to the chagrin of local
Buddhists, a news report from Christian Aid reveals. The nation's
socialist government provides Buddhists interest-free loans and
supplemental rice allotments, while leaving the Christians to fend for
themselves in the economically depressed country
.
_____MISCELLANEOUS______

SHAN HUMAN RIGHTS FOUNDATION
October 2002

SHRF  MONTHLY REPORT -- OCTOBER 2002

COMMENTARY
        As mentioned in the commentary section of last month's issue of
this newsletter, there has been a dramatic increase in the
killings of innocent villagers, in groups as well as individually,
by SPDC troops in Shan State since the fighting between Shan
resistance troops and the Burmese junta troops near the border
with Thailand in May and June 2002.
        Extrajudicial killings of unarmed villagers by Burmese army troops
in Shan State, especially in the relocation areas of central Shan
State, have been taking place on a more or less regular basis with
varying degrees since the mass forced relocations in central Shan
State, carried out in 1996-97 by the then SLORC (State Law and
Order Restoration Council) troops.
        The killings started to intensify again during the one-month long
armed clashes, from late May to late June. They took place not
only in the border areas where the fighting occurred, but also in
areas as far away as central Shan State.
        Although it was at first thought that the killings were acts of
retaliation by the SPDC troops because of the fighting, and would
calm down a bit after a few months, they have continued with the
same intensity up to the present.
        SHRF continues to receive reports of mass killings taking place as
recently as late last month and early this month. In this
newsletter, among other killings, there are 2 massacres in each of
which 10 people were killed, including several elderly people who
were observing sabbath and women who had been raped before being
killed.

                                                                  ----------------------------------------

RAPE AND KILLING OF 10 DISPLACED FARMERS IN KUN-HING & NAM-ZARNG
        On 2 October 2002, 10 displaced farmers, including 6 men and 4
women, from Kun-Hing relocation site were beaten to death, the
women raped before being killed, by a patrol of SPDC troops from
IB66, near Nam Wo village (deserted) in Nam-Zarng township.
        The said 10 displaced farmers were originally from Nam Wo village
in Haai Laai village tract, Nam-Zarng township, which had been
forcibly relocated to Kun-Hing township at the relocation site on
the outskirts of Kun-Hing town in 1996 by the then SLORC (State
Law and Order Restoration Council) troops.
        These farmers had been given permission by the local SPDC military
authorities of Kun-Hing-based IB246 to go and cultivate their
farms at their original old village, Nam Wo. On the day of the
incident, while the farmers were working at their farms a patrol
of SPDC troops from Nam-Zarng-based IB66 came and arrested them.
        All the 10 farmers were later beaten to death by the SPDC troops;
the women were raped before being killed. Their bodies were
scattered in and on the edge of a farm near Nam Wo village.
        The 10 victims were:
1. Lung Zan-Da Lam (m), aged 48
2. Zaai Taw-Ling (m), aged 28
3. Zaai Phaw-Ka (m), aged 35
4. Zaai Long (m), aged 31
5. Zaai Mu-Lung (m), aged 28
6. Zaai Maad (m), aged 27
7. Naang Seng (f), aged 26
8. Naang Zing Lu (f), aged 24
9. Naang Nae (f), aged 22
10. Naang Thuay (f), aged 20

10 DISPLACED ELDERLY VILLAGERS SHOT DEAD WHILE OBSERVING BUDDHIST SABBATH,
25 OTHERS DISAPPEARED AFTER ARREST, IN NAM-ZARNG
        On 21 September 2002, 10 displaced elderly villagers who were
observing Buddhist sabbath were arrested from a monastery and shot
dead in a group by SPDC troops from IB246, led by Capt. Pyi Pyo
Wei, in Kho Lam village tract in Nam-Zarng township.
        Around noon of that day, some insurgent soldiers attacked the base
of IB246 of the SPDC in Kho Lam, leaving one SPDC soldier dead and
one rifle lost. That night, a patrol of 40 SPDC troops, led by
Capt. Pyi Pyo Wei, from the commando unit under the direct command
of Tactical Command commander, San Htun, based in Kun-Hing town,
came to Kho Lam area.
        The day of the incident was full-moon day of the 10th month of the
Shan lunar calendar and many elderly people were observing
Buddhist sabbath when around midnight the said SPDC patrol of
commandoes came via Wan Luk Pung Nam Kheo to Wan Phui village in
Kho Lam village tract.
        The SPDC troops arrested 7 elderly Shan men from Wan Phui village
monastery and 3 other younger villagers they found at the
monastery and took them to a place known as Kung Nawng Kai, some
distance from the monastery, and shot all 10 of them dead in a
group.
        The next morning, some other SPDC troops from Nam-Zarng-based IB66
came to Wan Phui village and gave the villagers 10 sacks of rice
to conduct a funeral for the dead they found at Kung Nawng Kai,
whom they claimed must have been killed by the rebels.
        The 10 persons killed were:
1. Lung Wan-Na (m), aged 70, from Luk Nam Kheo village, Nam-Zarng township
2. Lung Saam (m), aged 80, originally from Nam Waan village, Naa Poi
tract, Nam-Zarng township
3. Lung Su (m), aged 30, originally from Wan Luk village, Naa Poi tract,
Nam-Zarng township
4. Lung Zarae Su (m), aged 70, originally from Wan Luk village, Naa Poi
tract, Nam-Zarng township
5. Pu Mu Ling (m), aged 80, originally from Wan Luk village, Naa Poi
tract, Nam-Zarng township
6. Lung Thi Seng (m), aged 50, originally from Loi Waeng village, Naa Poi
tract, Nam-Zarng township
7. Lung Za-Ling (m), aged 50, originally from Loi Waeng village, Naa Poi
tract, Nam-Zarng township
8. Ka-Win-Da (m), aged 25, originally from Wan Hai village, Naa Poi tract,
Nam-Zarng township
9. Zaai Ti (m), aged 30, originally from Ter Zarng village, Naa Poi tract,
Nam-Zarng township
10. Zaai Lu (m), aged 16, originally from Nawng Kwaai village, Ton Hung
tract, Nam-Zarng township
        These people were displaced farmers who had been forcibly
relocated to Kho Lam relocation site from their original villages
during the mass forced relocation in 1996 by the then SLORC (State
Law and Order Restoration Council) troops.

        About 3 days later, the same SPDC troops arrested 5 Buddhist
novice monks, aged around 17-20, and 5 villagers at Wan Phui
village monastery. As soon as they got outside the village the
troops tied the monks and the villagers two-by-two together and
took them into the forest. After 2 days and 2 nights, the 5
villagers were released.
        Later, on 29.9.02, another group of SPDC troops arrested 20 more
villagers from Wan Phui village, ages ranging from 20 to 60, and
took them away. Since their arrest up to the time of this report,
the 20 villagers and the 5 novice monks arrested earlier have
disappeared and their fate has not yet been known.
        When village elders and community leaders tried to inquire about
the disappeared at the SPDC military base in Kho Lam, the troops
and officers there told them that they did not know anything, and
that the SPDC troops there had not left the base at the time the
incidents took place.

8 DISPLACED FARMERS RAPED AND KILLED IN A GROUP IN MURNG-PAN
        On 24 September 2002, 8 displaced farmers, including 5 men and 3
women, were beaten and shot to death, the women raped before being
killed, by a patrol of SPDC troops from LIB502, led by Capt. Soe
Naing, at Tawng Kwaai Tai village (deserted) in Tawng Kwaai
village tract, Murng-Pan township.
        The said 8 displaced farmers were originally from Tawng Kwaai Tai
village which had been forcibly moved to Ho Phaai Long village
tract by the Burmese army troops some years ago. These farmers had
managed to get permission from the SPDC authorities of Murng-Pan
township and, with a pass given by the township office, had been
going to work at their original rice fields at their old village
since May 2002.
        On the day of the incident, however, the said patrol of 40-45 SPDC
troops from LIB502, led by Capt. Soe Naing, came and rounded up
the said farmers who were working in the fields. The farmers were
kept for one night, during which the 3 women were raped by the
SPDC troops, and were all killed on the next day. The victims
were:
1. Lung Kaw-Ya (m), aged 48
2. Lung Kan-Ta-Ma (m), aged 47
3. Zaai Wan-Na (m), aged 45
4. Zaai Pae-Ti (m), aged 36
5. Zaai Kat-Ti-Ya (m), aged 32
6. Naang Lu (f), aged 31
7. Naang Thun Nae (f), aged 29
8. Naang Zing Nyunt (f), aged 25
        Where their bodies were found, the women's were lying separately
about 20-25 yards from one another with no clothes on whatsoever
and there were signs of severe beating and rape on all of them.
The men's bodies were lying together but only one had bullet
holes; the others had bruises and wounds all over, apparently
beaten to death. The women were also beaten to death.

MUSHROOM GATHERERS SHOT DEAD IN LAI-KHA
        On 7 July 2002, 3 out of 5 displaced villagers who were gathering
mushrooms in the forest were shot dead by a patrol of SPDC troops
in the forest 4-5 miles west of Lai-Kha town.
        The said 5 villagers were originally from Nawng Mai village in Wan
Saang village tract, Lai-Kha township, which had been forcibly
relocated to the outskirts of Lai-Kha town in 1996 by the then
SLORC troops. The villagers were:
1. Lung Taan Lu (m), aged 58
2. Lung Kham Maw Tawng (m), aged 55
3. Zaai Zaam Seng (m), aged 37
4. Zaai Kaw (m), aged 31
5. Naang Seng Hurng (f), aged 27
        On the day of the incident, the villagers went together to gather
mushrooms in the forest west of Lai-Kha town. When they were
roaming around in the forest, a group of SPDC soldiers appeared
from somewhere and called out to them to come to them.
        Some of the villagers ran as they heard the soldiers, but 2 of
them, Naang Seng Hurng (not her real name) and Lung Taan Lu (not
his real name), were so close to the soldiers that they dared not
move. The SPDC troops shot at those who ran, killing all of them,
although some did not die immediately.
        The commander of the troops said to Lung Taan Lu and Naan Seng,
"They must be Shan rebels, that was why they ran away from us".
Lung Taan Lu then said to the commander, "Had they known it was
you 'Bo Gyi' (Commander), they would not have run. They might have
thought you were Shan rebels so they ran, because our community
leaders always warned us to keep away from them to avoid being
kidnapped or forced to join them. That was why they had tried to
run".
        When the SPDC troops heard that, they let Lung Taan Lu and Naang
Seng go, warning them not to tell anyone about the incident, but
to say they heard shots of gunfire and ran back to their village.
The troops also threatened to come and kill them if they told
people that it was SPDC soldiers who shot those villagers dead.

DISPLACED VILLAGERS SHOT DEAD, THEIR CATTLE STOLEN, IN MURNG-NAI
        On 19.6.02, 3 displaced villagers who had gone to gather bamboo
with an ox-cart were shot dead and their oxen stolen by SPDC
troops of LIB518, in the forest some miles north of Murng-Nai
town.
        The 3 victims, Zaai Ung (m), aged 24, Zaai Thun (m), aged 29 and
Naang Pun (f), aged 22, were originally from Haai Kur village in
Mai Hai village tract, which had been forcibly relocated to the
outskirts of Murng-Nai town in 1997 by the then SLORC (State Law
and Order Restoration Council) troops.
        On the day of the incident, the 3 villagers went with an ox-cart
to the forest north of the town to gather bamboo for repairing
fences of their house and garden. When they did not return after 2
days, and their 2 draft-oxen were seen in the base of LIB 518 by
some villagers, their relatives went in search for them and found
their dead bodies in the bamboo forest north of the town.

        On 25.6.02, SPDC troops from the same battalion, LIB518, beat to
death a displaced villager, Lung Nya (m), aged 51, and took away
his cow and its calf, at a place some distance outside Murng-Nai
town.
        Lung Nya was originally from Wan Pong village in Naa Khaan village
tract, Murng-Nai township, which had been forcibly relocated to
the outskirts of Murng-Nai town in 1997 by SLORC troops.
        He had bought a cow with a small calf and had been taking them to
graze in a meadow outside the town nearly every day for about 3
months when he was killed and his cows were stolen by the said
SPDC troops.

RAPE DURING 2 WEEKS OF FORCED LABOUR IN MILITARY BASE, IN LAI-KHA
        From 8.8.02 to 21.8.02, 2-3 village women were raped each day by
an SPDC military commander while being forced to work at the base
of IB292 in Lai-Kha township.
        On 3.3.02, the commander of IB292 issued an order to the village
headmen in the area to provide 5-6 young women per day to 'help'
clear grass and weed flower beds in the military compound because
some senior officers would be visiting the base in the near
future.
        Every day, while the women were working in the military compound,
normally around the main buildings, the commander called up one
woman at a time to go and work around the barrack where he had his
bed room, and eventually forced her into his bed room and raped
her.
        Each day, 2 to 3 younger and prettier women were raped in this way
and were warned not to tell anyone about it by the commander, who
also threatened to send troops to shoot dead not only the women
but also their parents if they dared complain about it.
        One of the rape victims, Naang Thun Nae (not her real name), aged
16, was so shocked by the experience that even after she had
returned home for some days she still looked sad and could still
not eat and sleep properly. Finally, she related her plight to her
mother and told her that she had been raped by the commander at
the IB292 base on 11.8.02 when she had to go and work at the base.
        Her mother then told her father about their daughter's plight and
they both complained about it to the village leaders in the area.
Naang Thun Nae and her parents, Lung Thun and Pa Tem, were
originally from Paang Hu village which had been forcibly relocated
to Phuay Hai village in 1997 by SLORC troops.
        When the village leaders asked among the other women who had had
to go for forced labour during the same time frame as mentioned
above, most of them dared not speak out, but at least 2-3
courageous women did say they had been raped like Naang Thun Nae.
The village leaders, however, did not dare push the case further.

2 DISPLACED WOMEN RAPED IN KUN-HING
        In early January 2002, 2 displaced women who were returning from
their farm were taken by a passing patrol of SPDC troops from
IB246 and raped for several days and nights at Wan Lao village
(deserted) in Kun-Hing township.
        The 2 victims, Naang Mi Awng (not her real name), aged 27 and
Naang Khin (not her real name), aged 23, were originally from
Nawng Lom village in Saai Khaao village tract, Kun-Hing township,
that had been forcibly relocated to the outskirts of Kun-Hing town
some years ago by the then SLORC troops.
        On 9 January 2002, the 2 women were returning from their farm in
Saai Khaao tract, where they had gone to work on permission from
the SPDC authorities in Kun-Hing, when they ran into a patrol of
about 50-60 SPDC troops who forced them to go with them.
        The patrol was from Kun-Hing-based IB246 and was heading towards
Kaeng Tawng area of Murng-Nai township when they met the 2 women
near Saai Khaao village (deserted) village. The troops forced the
women to go with them until they reached Wan Lao village where
they stopped for 4 days and 3 nights.
        During those days and nights, the 2 women were raped by one
soldier after another most of the time and they were slapped and
kicked when they tried to refuse any soldiers approaching them.
After they were released and got back home, they continued to
suffer from what they had been through for quite some time and
their husbands and relatives were outraged but could do nothing
and dared not complain to anyone.

RAPE AND BEATING, CAUSING PERMANENT DISABILITY, IN MURNG-NAI
        On 26.6.02, a vegetable gatherer was raped by an SPDC Sergeant
form LIB324 near Waeng Kao village in Kaeng Tawng area, Murng-Nai
township, and was beaten with a rifle butt so severely that one of
her legs became permanently disabled.
        Pa Thuay (not her real name), aged 39, was from Waeng Kao village
and was gathering wild vegetables outside her village when an SPDC
soldier came upon her and forced her to sit down. The soldier was
a Sergeant from the SPDC troops of LIB324 that were stationed at
Waeng Kao.
        The soldier forced Pa Thuay at gun point to lie down and started
to rape her. She tried to shout 2-3 times for help but no one
seemed to have heard her voice, and the soldier raped her to his
satisfaction. When the soldier finished, he said to Pa Thuay, "Why
did you shout?", and beat her with his rifle butt severely several
times at her waist, hip and thighs.
        The beating was so severe that Pa Thuay could not get up even
after the soldier had left for a long while, and had to lie and
shout for help until some villagers found her and took her home.
Although she was treated traditionally at her home one of her legs
could not be cured, and up to the time of this report she still
has to drag it along when she walks.

AKHA VILLAGER SLAPPED AND ROBBED OF HIS CHICKENS IN MURNG-YARNG
        On 17 July 2002, an Akha villager was slapped 3 times and robbed
of his chickens by SPDC troops from LIB328 near Wan Nam village 2
miles north of Murng-Yarng town, Murng-Yarng township.
        On the day of the incident, an Akha couple, Aa Li, aged 39 and his
wife, Aa Mi, aged 32, who had their house and 3 children at Yaang
Kawk village in Murng-Yaang township, were going to the market in
Murng-Yarng town to sell their chickens and buy some basic
commodities for their family.
        Before they reached the town, the Akha couple met 3 SPDC troops
from LIB328, who were coming from the direction of Yaang Lao
village, near Wan Nam village, 2 miles north of the town. The
troops stopped them and demanded 2 chickens for free.
        When Aa Li refused to give them the chickens, explaining that they
needed to sell them to buy their basic necessities, the SPDC
troops slapped him 3 times, shouted insults at him and forcibly
wrested away the bamboo basket in which he was carrying 4 chickens
on his back.
        The Akha couple got very frightened and let the troops take the
chickens, and quickly ran away from them before they could abuse
them further and take also the other 3 chickens the wife was
carrying, which they eventually managed to sell at the market.

FARMERS FORCED TO HARVEST THEIR UNRIPE RICE TO GROW RICE FOR THE MILITARY
IN MU-SE
        In late September 2002, farmers in Ze Laan tract in Mu-Se township
were forced by SPDC township authorities to reap their rice far
before the proper time and prepare the fields for growing another
crop of rice for the military, causing losses to the farmers.
        In order to conduct a rice seeds sowing demonstration in honour of
Gen. Khin Nyunt, Secretary No.1 of the SPDC, who would be visiting
during the end of Buddhist Lent, Capt. Ant Maw, head of Mu-Se
Township Peace and Development Council, issued an order requiring
farmers in Ze Laan sub-township to prepare their rice fields in
time for that purpose.
        The rice fields were to be ready for sowing seeds by the time of
Gen. Khin Nyunt's visit. The farmers had to reap their rice well
before it was ripe, clear the fields and plough the earth using
their own mini-tractors and fuel, so that they were ready for
sowing when Khin Nyunt arrived.
        From the time the order was issued up to the time the work was
finished, for more than 10 days, SPDC authorities concerned and
members of township police force watched over the farmers every
day to make sure they did as told and did it fast enough to be
ready in time.
        About 250 villagers were conscripted each day from the villages in
the area and forced to reap the rice and clear the rice fields.
Anyone who failed to go would have to pay 1,000 kyat per day to
hire someone else to go for them. Many mini-tractors of the local
villagers were also conscripted and forced to till the ground
without providing any fuel for their engines. Several acres of
rice fields had been affected in this way and many farmers lost
their crop.
[Ed. note: to read this report, please visit www.shanland.org]
__________
Forum-Asia
October 30 2002

UN Burma Rapporteur Concerned by Reports of Rape, other Human Rights Abuses

Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human
Rights in Myanmar (Burma), met with representatives from the Asian Forum
for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia) and other Thai and Burmese
human rights groups today to discuss the human rights situation in Burma.

Professor Pinheiro was concerned by reports from sources on the Thai-Burma
border which claim that a group of women and children aslyum seekers
forcibly repatriated by Thai authorities were raped by SPDC troops after
being pushed back into Burma. The youngest victim was a ten year old
child.

Forum-Asia also raised concerns about reports of the use of rape as a
weapon of war by the Burmese military in ethnic minority areas. Professor
Pinheiro said he was convinced that the pattern of sexual violence in
Burma must be investigated independently, transparently and credibly, and
went on to add that his team are now investigating reports of sexual
violence, forced relocation and the forced conscription of child soldiers.

Professor Pinheiro agreed to visit refugee camps and shelters along the
Thai-Burma border when he returns to Thailand in February 2003, following
a request from Forum-Asia that he talk to Burmese refugees in order to
gain a clearer picture of human rights violations in Burma.

In response to reports of political arrests in Burma, Professor Pinheiro
said he was aware that the SPDC, Burma’s ruling military junta, continue
to arrest and detain people on political grounds.

Forum-Asia and other human rights groups discussed key human rights
violations common in Burma, such as the numerous cases of torture
committed by the Burmese military, and wished Professor Pinheiro well in
his future efforts to promote the improvement of human rights in Burma.

For further Information or comments please contact Sunai Phasuk,
Forum-Asia, on +66-1-632 3052
______

Associated Press
October 29 2002

Two Indian Writers Win Book Prize

Novelist Rohinton Mistry and memoir writer Pascal Khoo Thwe are the
winners of the seventh annual Kiriyama Prize, given for books "that
promote greater understanding of and among the nations of the Pacific Rim
.... and of the South Asian subcontinent."

Mistry, a native of India now living in Canada, was cited Tuesday for
"Family Matters," a novel set in Bombay and featuring an ailing patriarch
whose children debate over how to care for him. "Family Matters," Mistry's
fourth book, was a finalist for the Booker Prize.
Paschal Khoo Thwe won in the nonfiction category for "From the Land of
Green Ghosts," the story of his childhood in rural Burma, his years as a
guerrilla fighter in the jungle and his eventual journey to England. "From
the Land of Green Ghosts" is his first book.
The winners share $30,000, given out by Pacific Rim Voices.