BurmaNet News: November 13-14 2002

[editor at burmanet.org]

November 13-14 2002 Issue #2121

INSIDE BURMA

Bangkok Post: Razali holds talks with Than Shwe
DVB: Razali also met CRPP
AFP: Aung San Suu Kyi greeted by supporters on visit to restive Shan state
Kaladan: Army used forced labour in Arakan state
DVB: Rice shortages reported at military units in Shan State township
DVB: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s Shan State tour

GUNS

SHAN: Triple X comes to Burma

DRUGS

FEER: Cheap Burmese heroin back on the streets

MONEY

Xinhua: Myanmar, Japan to cooperate in computer field

REGIONAL

Xinhua: Myanmar newspaper appraises ASEAN-Japan relations
Mizzima: India to close down illegal gates across Manipur-Burma border

STATEMENTS & PRESS RELEASES

Dictatorwatch: Photodocumentation of war crimes in Burma
Foreign & Commonwealth Office (UK): EU promotes visit of UN Secretary
General’s special envoy to Burma
Reporters Without Borders: Lighting operation reminds world that 110
journalists are in prison

___INSIDE BURMA______

Bangkok Post
November 14 2002

Razali holds talks with Than Shwe

United Nations envoy Razali Ismail met with Burma's leader Senior General
Than Shwe yesterday in talks critical to the diplomat's efforts to
revitalise a stalled reconciliation process, officials said.

Mr Razali, who warned recently he would quit if the junta failed to make
progress on democratic reforms, had planned to confront Gen Than Shwe over
a broken promise to begin a dialogue with opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi.

But in a clear sign that little was achieved, the meeting which was also
attended by junta number-two Deputy Senior General Maung Aye and
number-three General Khin Nyunt lasted just 15 minutes, official sources
said.

``It can't be particularly good. You'd have thought that if they went to
the lengths of committing to the meeting then it would have been half an
hour or so at least,'' said one Rangoon-based diplomat.

``Fifteen minutes is not much ... it's not usual,'' he said.

Another diplomat said Gen Than Shwe had held a number of similarly brief
meetings in recent months that were merely ``protocol formalities'' and
lacking in any substance.

Mr Razali was tight-lipped after the meeting, saying only that he met Gen
Than Shwe and that he was cancelling a visit to northeastern Shan state
planned for today.

Aung San Suu Kyi is currently on a political trip to Shan state and the
pair had planned to meet there, giving them an opportunity to discuss the
exchange with Gen Than Shwe before Mr Razali leaves Burma tomorrow.

The UN envoy had indicated that the meeting with the junta leader was the
top priority during his ninth mission to Burma.

Mrs Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy said earlier that the meeting
between Mr Razali and Gen Than Shwe was crucial to the envoy's efforts to
reignite the reform process.
__________

Democratic Voice of Burma
November 13 2002

Razali also met CRPP

After meeting the NLD members, Mr Razali also met members of the CRPP at
the League's head office. The CRPP's Secretary and spokesman, U Aye Thar
Aung told us more details of the meeting:
Ko Moe Aye : Could you tell us first who attended from the CRPP today?
U Aye Thar Aung : Everyone from the CRPP except Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
attended.
Ko Moe Aye : Who were with Mr Razali?
U Aye Thar Aung : There were four of them including their local
representative.
Ko Moe Aye : Could you tell us what you discussed in particular?
U Aye Thar Aung : We mainly discussed the current economical difficulties.
We also asked him to urge the generals to start a dialogue in connection
with economical difficulties and to allow political parties and ethnic
nationality parties to freely partake in political activities.
Ko Moe Aye : Yes. How did he react?
U Aye Thar Aung : He told us that he would do his best. He also said that
he is meeting Senior Gen. Than Shwe tomorrow.
Ko Moe Aye : As a member of the CRPP, what kind of hope do you harbour
from his trip?
U Aye Thar Aung : We don't harbour any particular hope because we have
often demanded a situation for dialogue. I often demanded for a dialogue
as a member of an ethnic group and of the NLD. We also have been
expressing our desire to have a dialogue on the current economical
difficulties. BUT the SPDC authorities show no sign of interest for a
dialogue and they have been giving several excuses for not having a
dialogue and we don't hope any possible dialogue during Mr Razali's trip.
____________

Agence France-Presse
November 14 2002

Aung San Suu Kyi greeted by supporters on visit to restive Shan state

Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was greeted by thousands of
supporters on a visit to Shan state Thursday as she exercised her newly
won right to travel freely through the country, party officials said.

National League for Democracy (NLD) spokesman U Lwin said the Nobel peace
laureate would make an extensive tour of the restive state during the
nine-day trip which began Wednesday.

"She is going to open four NLD offices there," he told AFP. The trip was
meant to coincide with a separate visit to Shan state by United Nations
envoy Razali Ismail, who is in the midst of a crucial five-day mission
aimed at reviving Myanmar's stalled political reconciliation process.

The pair were scheduled to meet Friday in the southern Shan capital of
Taunggyi, giving them an opportunity to discuss the Malaysian diplomat's
talks with junta leader Senior General Than Shwe.

But in a sign that little was achieved, Thursday's meeting lasted just 15
minutes. Razali declined to comment on their progress but told reporters
that he would not now be travelling to Shan state.

The talks with Than Shwe are seen as critical to Razali's efforts to push
forward democratic reforms through a dialogue between the military
government and the opposition which he brokered two years ago.

Aung San Suu Kyi continued her tour of southern Shan state Thursday,
stopping in several villages and towns where supporters lined roadways to
meet and catch a glimpse of her, U Lwin said.

She was due to spend the next few days in Taunggyi before proceeding north
to the town of Lashio.

Rainy weather and landslides may force the opposition leader to fly to
Shan's northern regions instead of traveling overland as she usually does.

Aung San Suu Kyi has made several political trips around the country since
she was released in May from 19 months under house arrest with a guarantee
that she would have complete freedom of movement.

Her trips have gone off smoothly, although Yangon is informed of her
movements in advance and dispatches a security detail for her "protection"
wherever she goes.

Shan state, where ethnic unrest and tensions with government forces have
simmered for decades, has been in the spotlight recently with the release
of a report alleging systematic sexual abuse of ethnic minority women
there.

However, Aung San Suu Kyi is not expected to look into the rights abuse
claims during her trip, which will focus on building up the NLD which has
suffered in recent years due to government repression.

The military has ruled Myanmar for the past four decades, and refused to
recognise a landslide election victory claimed by the NLD in 1990.
_________

Kaladan News
14 November 2002

ARMY USED FORCED LABOUR IN ARAKAN STATE

Buthidaung, November 14: The Commander of the Military Operation Command
of (MOC-15) of Buthidaung Township, Arakan State used forced labor for
reaping his own crop, according to our source.

The villagers of Nanragoon and Quandaung village tracts of Buthidaung
township of Arakan State had to pay 100 labors daily for reaping the said
Commander’s own paddy crop from last October 22 to 27. The two village
tracts, about one mile east of Buthidaung town consisting of 1125
households, said a villager preferring anonymity told our source.

Besides, they had to do other works: such as threshing, carrying, storing
the grains in his granary, put the paddy into heat, etc, source further
added.

The aforesaid Commander previously seized 10 acres of farmland from
Rohingya villages adjacent to the MOC-15 headquarters and growing paddy
with forced labor and now the time of harvest.

According to the order of the aforementioned Commander, one person per
family was called by the Village Peace and Development Council Chairmen of
both village tracts and gathered them in one suitable place. Afterwards,
100 villagers were picked up and sent to the MOC-15  headquarters for
forced labor and the rest were set free after taking Kyats 300/- per head.
This money was going to their pockets, said a
teacher to our source.

After 6 days of continued forced labor, the villagers were freed and paid
Kyats 300/- per head by the MOC-15 Commander while outside labor charge is
Kyats 1000/-per day. But, the SPDC authorities have declared
that there is no forced labor in Burma, said sources.

For the earnings of army Headquarters, they had previously seized about
750 acres of arable lands include camp area from nearby villages for
growing crops. The army authorities again let the villagers to grow paddy
on condition that the villagers have to pay 37.5 Tongs of paddy (1 Tong =
14 kg) to the headquarters per acre. But, the villagers are freed from
Tans of paddy (1 Tan=35 kg) which are payable to the Government, said our
correspondent.
________

Democratic Voice of Burma
November 13 2002

Rice shortages reported at military units in Shan State township

It is learned that due to rice shortages at Kunghing Myanmar Burma
Agriculture Products Trading MAPT , it can no longer provide rice to the
military units of Kunghing township, Shan State. Every month , the Kunhing
MAPT has to provide over 700 baskets 1 basket = approximately 1 bushel of
rice to the military units in the township. This month, MAPT cannot
distribute rice to the military units as rice has stopped entering from
central Burma. Regional farmers are not able to sell the quota of paddy
they had earlier pledged they would to the government. Moreover, the Wa
group has been buying the paddy and rice available in the township. The
Democratic Voice of Burma learned that the Myanmar Police Force and MAPT
have planned to buy rice jointly from the local farmers because of rice
shortages.
_________

Democratic Voice of Burma
November 13 2002

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's Shan State Tour

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo and some members of the NLD have departed
for Shan State today. Before she left, she met the UN envoy Mr Razali
yesterday at her home. The NLD spokesman, U Lwin told us about it as
followed:
U Lwin : She has started the journey. She will soon be arriving in Kalaw.
She will be mainly visiting the three towns of Shan State, Taunggyi,
Kengtung, Lashio. She is rallying the people and having discussions with
existing supporter groups. She is also visiting the areas of possible
supporters. She will be mainly concentrating on core supporters and have
discussions with them thoroughly. The roads she is taking are quite bad.
We can't predict when and where she will be arriving. There are some
landslides in the highlands. For these reasons, there is no fixed timing.
Ko Moe Aye : Is she travelling by car for the whole journey?
U Lwin : She has to travel by car mostly. She has to fly where she can't
travel by car.
Ko Moe Aye : Like her previous trip, she is rallying people?
U Lwin : It's true. There is no other reason.
Ko Moe Aye : The trip could be quite long?
U Lwin : It's possible. At least, two weeks.
Ko Moe Aye : How is the rallying condition in Shan State?
U Lwin : We can't definitely say about that yet. The communication line
with us is not good. There are plans to erect NLD billboards in Taunggyi
and Lashio Townships.
Ko Moe Aye : What about security arrangements for her trip?
U Lwin : As for security, it's like before. There are special conditions
in some places. As for her security, local military authorities concerned
will be arranging for her.

_____GUNS_______

Shan Herald Agency for News
November 12 2002

Triple X comes to Burma

Hundreds of Chinese six-wheelers for military use, with triple axles, were
poised for entry into Burma yesterday morning, reported S.H.A.N.
correspondent Hawkeye.

The trucks, called Dongfeng (East wind) in Chinese, were being washed
alongside the road between Zegao and Mongmao (Ruili in Chinese), opposite
Muse, the northernmost city of Shan State when S.H.A.N saw them. "Their
destination is Mandalay (290 miles from Muse)," according to a hired truck
attendant.

"These are mountain-climbers suitable for rugged terrains like areas
opposite Thailand where we have the Shan State Army of Yawdserk and such,
"said an ex-resistance member who claimed to have come across them in
Laos. "But they are also known as inordinate fuel-consumers."

According to Bangkok Post, 6 November, Burma has been hoarding 3 million
liters of gasoline since the border was reopened on 15 October. A Thai
source, it says, believes it points out to a major crackdown on dissident
groups along the Thai border.

"It would also mean Rangoon was not interested in parleying with the
opposition," said a veteran Thai border-watcher.

___DRUGS__

FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW
November 13, 2002

Cheap Burmese heroin back on the streets

Cheap heroin is back on the streets in the two main markets for Burmese
producers and traffickers of the narcotic -- Australia and China. The
police in Sydney have warned senior officers about an increase in user and
dealer activity in the entertainment district of Kings Cross and the
suburb of Cabramatta, home for many Australians of Southeast Asian origin.

In 2000, the Australian police seized almost 200 kilos of Burmese heroin,
which led to a sharp reduction in the availability of the drug. But now
the police are saying that there is more - and cheaper - heroin in the
streets than at any time in the past two years. Meanwhile, authorities in
the Chinese province of Yunnan, bordering Burma, announced on November 8
that they had made their largest-ever seizure of heroin from across the
border. Police found 672 kilos of heroin hidden in hollowed-out tree
trunks. Seven men from Hong Kong and six of their mainland accomplices
were arrested. It was the biggest heroin seizure in China since the
mid-1990s.

_____MONEY_______

Xinhua News Agency
November 14 2002

Myanmar, Japan to cooperate in computer field

YANGON, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) --Myanmar and Japan have reached a memorandum of
understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of computer.

The MoU was signed here on Wednesday by the Myanmar Computer Federation
(MCF) and the Japan Technology Engineer Examination Center, official
newspaper The New Light of Myanmar reported Thursday. The memorandum
covers the holding of information technology (IT) engineering examination
in Myanmar, supply of computer machines for Myanmar-Japan electronic
(e)-Learning Center, computer training and training of Myanmar computer
engineers in Japan, the report said.

Myanmar and Japan have been cooperating in the IT sector since October
2001, when a Myanmar-Japan e-learning center was established here to train
Myanmar teachers from computer-related universities and schools by
Japanese experts.

Myanmar started introducing e-education data broadcasting system in the
country in January 2001, integrating the system into its education system.
In January 2002, Myanmar set up its first Information and Communication
Technology Park in Yangon.

So far, a total of 304 e-learning centers have been reportedly opened
across the country.

______REGIONAL________

Xinhua News Agency
November 14 2002

Myanmar newspaper appraises ASEAN-Japan relations

YANGON, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) --The official newspaper The New Light of Myanmar
Thursday appraised the deepening relations between the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan, citing some cooperation
agreements reached at the ASEAN-Japan Summit held earlier this month in
Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The paper commented in an article that the signing at the summit of
ASEAN-Japan Joint Declaration on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership
has kicked off a 10-year process of building a "broad based economic
partnership covering not only liberalization of trade and investment, but
also their promotion and facilitation".

The paper recalled that ASEAN and Japan established informal ties in 1973
and formalized them by setting up the ASEAN-Japan Forum in 1977. In recent
years, it noted, ASEAN and Japan have moved closer not only in the sphere
of trade and investment, but also in broader areas ranging from political
and security issues to culture and the environment.

In addition to the ASEAN-Japan summits which have been held every year
since 1997, Japanese foreign ministers attend the annual ASEAN Regional
Forum and Post-Ministerial Conference meetings, with ministers responsible
for economics and trade also meeting regularly, it also recalled.

Noting that Japan has long been ASEAN's most important trading partner and
source of investment, the paper said, a unique feature of ASEAN-Japan
cooperation is the ASEAN Promotion Center for Trade, Investment and
Tourism in Tokyo, which was set up in 1981 and has been actively promoting
ASEAN trade to Japan as well as Japanese investment and tourism to ASEAN.

The paper cited another fact that Japan has been a major contributor to
development cooperation in ASEAN, contributing substantially to the ASEAN
Culture Fund set up in 1978 while providing technical assistance through
programs such as the Japan-ASEAN Cooperation Promotion Program, the Japan
Scholarship Fund and the ASEAN-Japan Friendship Program.

Another program known as the Japan-ASEAN General Exchange Fund, it added,
has supported recent workshops in Phnom Penh and Vientiane to identify
steps to integrate Cambodia, Lao, Myanmar and Vietnam into ASEAN under the
initiative announced at the ASEAN Summit in Singapore in 2000.

In January this year, the paper went on to say, Japanese Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi proposed designating 2003 as the Year of ASEAN-Japan
Exchange and strengthening cooperation in the areas of education, human
resource development and security.

The paper believed that "the collective efforts will bear good results
when the Southeast Asian region, which is full of future opportunities,
and Japan, the world's second largest economic powerhouse, enhance their
mutual cooperation".
_______

Mizzima
November 14 2002

India to close down illegal gates across Manipur-Burma border

Moreh, November 14, 02: Worried over increasing illegal trade across the
Indo-Burma border, the Indian Union Commerce Ministry, has decided to
close down three gates at Moreh point in Manipur, bordering with Burma.
The Commerce Ministry's move came in the wake of complaints lodged by
several trade organizations in the region. There are four gates at Moreh
bordering Burma to facilitate trade with the South East Asian countries.
But, now only one gate will be in operation.
The Commerce Ministry sources today informed that the move has been
initiated to channelise the legal trade. It may be mentioned here that
several trade organizations and the Burmese Government had been demanding
the Centre to close down the illegal gates for which the Commerce Ministry
has taken the step. Mizzima has learnt that the Commerce Ministry has
taken a serious note to non-availability of Letter of Credit (LoC) system,
which has sealed down the legal trade between India and Burma.
The sources further stated that though Moreh has become a focal point of
export and import between India and Burma after the trade agreement,
signed in 1994, the region has not been successful in generating revenue
due to the illegal trade.
"A huge chunk of money generated from the border trade, has been siphoned
off resulting in loss of revenue," they said, adding that the insurgent
groups operating along the border have imposed heavy taxes on the traders.
Moreover, the statistics reveal that the growth of export between India
and Burma is less than import, due to some restrictions imposed by the
Burmese Junta. In this context, the sources said that the Indian central
government's move to close down the gates, would help in restricting the
entry of third country goods into the Region, which has already created a
major problem in the North East India.
Commenting on poor export growth rate in the North East despite vast
potential, they revealed that the on going militancy has remained a major
problem affecting the trade. Moreover, infrastructure is not up to the
mark for which exporters are facing severe hardship in running their
trade.
Meanwhile, North East Federation on International Trade (NEFIT) has
welcomed the move of the Indian Commerce Ministry to close down the
illegal gates at the Moreh trade point.
The NEFIT president, Mr. R C Agarwal informed that this would help the
exporters of the North East in accelerating their business with Burma. He
further expressed the hope that the export growth would be higher as the
traders had to pay a huge sum of money during their export. "We had also
submitted a memoranda to the Commerce Ministry to close down the illegal
gates earlier," he informed.
Year-wise volume of trade through Moreh point (Amount in rupees)
Year                  Export                       Import
1999-2000        3,25,65,827            3,67,97,316
2000-2001        5,29,107                19,38,523
 2001-2002       1,25,08,345            8,29,71,255

______STATEMENTS _______

DICTATORWATCH
November 13 2002

PHOTODOCUMENTATION OF WAR CRIMES IN BURMA

Dictator Watch announces the publication of two photo series documenting
assault and murder by the State Peace and Development Council and the
SPDCOs direct involvement in what is arguably the worldOs largest
narcotics trade.

The photos are available on the DW site at www.dictatorwatch.org/phmain.html

Dictator Watch believes it is the obligation of the free states of the
world to end the commission of war crimes in dictatorial nations. For
Burma, we ask the question: when will the killing end?

Our answer:

When Kofi Annan fires the United Nations Special Envoy, Razali Ismail,
because of his complicity with the SPDC, and installs instead an envoy who
will draw a line in the sand and announce to the dictators: leave now, or
else!

When the United States and the European Union impose real sanctions
against the SPDC, including a retroactive ban on all business investments
and an import ban; and, when they actively support the resistance movement
in Burma.

When the democracies of the world make it clear to China that they will
not and do not accept its Odictatorship in perpetuity,O and demand that it
end its support of the SPDC.

When the democracies of the world make it clear to the authoritarian
leaders and states of ASEAN, including Thaksin and Thailand, Mahathir and
Malaysia, and Lee and Singapore, that they understand that the groupingOs
go slow policy towards democracy in Burma, and in their own nations, is a
shield to hide their own obsession with power, and corruption, and further
demand that they end their Oconstructive engagementO with the SPDC.

When the people of the world recognize that Odialogue,O and not only in
Burma, is a sham, and renounce it; that OtalkO does not solve problems,
that OtalkO does not save lives.

When the people of Burma, starting with the National League for Democracy
and the Committee Representing the PeopleOs Parliament, accept that they
must do more, however difficult and dangerous this might be, to win the
war for their freedom.

When will the killing in Burma end? The killing will end when the SPDC is
DEFEATED; when the generals, starting with Than Shwe, Khin Nyunt and Maung
Aye, are removed from power.

Contact: Roland Watson, roland at dictatorwatch.org
www.dictatorwatch.com
_______

Foreign & Commonwealth Office (UK)
November 11 2002

EU PROMOTES VISIT OF UN SECRETARY GENERAL'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO BURMA

The European Union today conveyed the following message to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in Burma/Myanmar on the subject of the visit to
Burma/Myanmar on 12 November by the United Nation Secretary General's
Special Envoy, Tan Sri Razali Ismail:

'The European Union strongly supports the visit to Burma/Myanmar on 12
November of the United Nations Secretary General's Special Envoy Tan Sri
Razali Ismail.

'The European Union regards the efforts of Tan Sri Razali as central to
facilitating political dialogue in Burma /Myanmar and to furthering the
national reconciliation process there.

'The European Union urges the Burma/Myanmar authorities to take advantage
of the visit by arranging a meeting for the UN Special Envoy with Senior
General Than Shwe. The European Union believes it is important that the
Burma/Myanmar authorities use this opportunity to take clear and
substantive steps to initiate a genuine political process, leading to
reconciliation and democratisation in Burma.'
________

Reporters Without Borders
November 13 2002


Lighting operation reminds world that 110 journalists are in prison

A moving convoy of French and foreign journalists demonstrated in front of
five Paris embassies yesterday to demand the release of colleagues
imprisoned in those countries.  The lightning operation was staged on the
eve of today¹s tribute by Reporters Without Borders to the 110 journalists
in jail around the world for simply doing their job and to those who
continue to do it despite major obstacles.

The Reporters Without Borders staff members, renamed the streets after the
imprisoned journalists and daubed on the embassy gates the words:  ³When
you enter here, you enter a country where news is censored.²

They went first to the Burmese embassy, where they demanded news of
journalists, especially U Win Tin, detained under the military regime. 
Next target was the embassy of Kazakhstan, where they called for the
release of Sergei Duvanov, an opposition journalist, before going to the
Chinese embassy to appeal for Gao Qinrong and 41 other journalists and
cyber-dissidents to be freed.

At the Cuban embassy, the convoy symbolically renamed the embassy ³the
prison of (jailed dissident journalist) Bernardo Arévalo Padrón² on the
eve of the 15-16 November 12th Ibero-American  Summit.  Arévalo Padrón is
serving a six-year sentence for accusing Cuban President Fidel Castro of
breaking promises he made at the 1996 Ibero-American Summit to respect
human rights.

At the Russian embassy, they demanded the release of journalist Grigory
Pasko, who is in prison for reporting that the Russian military dumped
liquid radioactive waste in the Sea of Japan.
The entire operation aimed to point out that press freedom is an important
matter for citizens everywhere.

Details of the situation in the five targeted countries can be found on
the Reporters Without Borders website, www.rsf.org, where petitions can be
signed calling for the release of the journalists.
Don¹t wait to be deprived of news to stand up and fight for it!