BurmaNet News: December 18 2002

[editor at burmanet.org]

December 18 2002 Issue #2142

INSIDE BURMA

AFP: Myanmar junta raps Suu Kyi over backing of international sanctions
IMNF: Mon teacher arrested for portering
Myanmar Times: 16m to tackle AIDS, health, maternal care

DRUGS

Washington Post: Reward for Burma’s anti-drug efforts unlikely
WMA: Military regime rights to have Myanmar’s status changed on US
drug-producers list
AFP: US, Myanmar at odds over drugs status

MONEY

Guardian: Rights activists put 70 firms on Burma ‘dirty list’

REGIONAL

AP: Drunken elephants kill six in northeastern India
Kaladan: Burmese junta leader reached Dhaka yesterday
Nation: Sulak loses round one of legal fight
Narinjara: Burma Bangladesh on new course: improved relations and road link

INTERNATIONAL

Irrawaddy: International migrant day recognized

STATEMENTS

US State Department: Excerpt: Cooperation with US anti-narcotics efforts

INSIDE BURMA

Agence France-Presse December 18 2002

Myanmar junta raps Suu Kyi over backing of international sanctions

Myanmar's ruling junta Wednesday rapped opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi
over her continued backing of sanctions against the regime, saying they
only harmed ordinary people in the impoverished country.

In the most hostile comments since the two sides began tentative
reconciliation talks two years ago, the government said it "could not
understand the logic behind some of her ideas" aired in a recent BBC
interview.

"Whether her views reflect reality is up to the listeners or viewers to
make their own judgement," it said, abandoning an agreement to cease
criticism of each other in a bid to support the UN-sponsored talks. Aung
San Suu Kyi has been a staunch supporter of sanctions introduced following
the brutal repression of 1988 pro-democracy protests and 1990 disallowed
elections won by her National League for Democracy.

Under the measures led by the United States and the European Union, all
but a small amount of humanitarian aid is banned.

In August Aung San Suu Kyi appeared to soften her stance on the issue,
saying development aid might be acceptable if it fell within strict
guidelines.

But as the reconciliation process sagged, with the government reneging on
promises to begin a fully fledged political dialogue with the opposition,
her stance appears to have hardened.

In the BBC interview last week she indicated it was not yet time to ease
the sanctions, which have helped cripple the Myanmar economy.

"Our policies with regard to sanctions will not change until such time as
political dialogue is in place. So our policy remains the same," she said.

"The sanctions are very limited in scope and the people in Burma who are
affected by it are therefore consequently very few," she said, referring
to the country by its former name.

"The reason why there is not as much investment in Burma as there might
have been is because the political climate is not healthy."

She also backed a vigorous campaign mounted by pro-democracy groups in the
West to deter tourists from visiting Myanmar -- another bugbear to the
junta which has battled to capture the tourist dollar.

"Our policy with regard to tourism has not changed which is to say that we
have not yet come to the point where we encourage people to come to Burma
as tourists," she told the BBC question-and-answer program.

The government said there was "no doubt that any form of economic sanction
and tourism embargo negatively affects the lives of the mass population of
a country."

"It is definitely difficult to understand when a political party supports
or even stays neutral by allowing the rich and powerful nations to impose
hardship on the same people it vows to serve," it said.

However, Aung San Suu Kyi was upbeat about the prospects for political
reconciliation, telling the BBC she was confident political change would
come to the military-ruled country.

"We are confident change will come -- not as quickly as most of us would
wish, but it will come," she said.

The Nobel peace laureate's remarks boosted confidence in the slow-moving
national reconciliation process, which observers in the Myanmar capital
Yangon had feared was on the verge of complete breakdown.
________

Independent Mon News Forum November 30 2002

MON TEACHER ARRESTED FOR PORTERING

Burmese soldiers from LIB No 282 arrested Nai Ma Nu Ong, 60 during his
checking school yard at Southern Ye Township a source from New Mon State
Party said.  The soldiers brought him for portering about three days.

The Burmese soldiers claimed no reason why he is arrested but according a
local Mon teacher, this is a tactic of psychological attack that makes him
to discontinue his job.

A local Mon teacher added that Burmese soldiers visited the village prior
to one day and asked about his personal story before he is arrested.  He
was born and lives at A Nyer village where he also administers Mon
National Education School in the areas.

After cease-fire agreement in 1995, he is the first NMSP member who is
arrested and forced for portering as a chairman of a high profile of the
Teacher Association.

Another Mon Teacher said "this is an act to damage our Mon National
Education system".  He asked not to mention his name for safety reasons.

Many Mon teaches have been experienced various kinds of treat and pressure
to leave to job by the Burmese soldiers in Mon Territory.
____________

Myanmar Times December 9-15 2002

16m to tackle AIDS, health, maternal care
By Nwe Nwe Aye

TheUnited Nations Population Fund has made a massive increase in financial
aid for Myanmar, allocating US$16 million for the four years from 2002 to
2005. About $2.6 million had been provided this year by the UNFPA, which
since 1995 had allocated about $1 million a year for projects in Myanmar.
The head of the UNFPA’s Yangon office, Mr Najib Assifi, told Myanmar Times
that the increased allocation followed a decision by the agency’s
executive board in September last year to approve a special program of
assistance for Myanmar. Mr Assifi said the program is aimed at reducing
maternal mortality, providing educational programs on reproductive health
and preventing the spread of HIV-AIDS. He said most of the funding, about
$7 million, was aimed at expanding the availability of reproductive health
services to a target of 110 townships by the end of 2005. The services are
already available in 86 townships. Mr Assifi said more needed to be done
to reduce Myanmar’s maternal death rate. The services are also aimed at
increasing the number of ante-natal check-ups. "Ante-natal care is very
low in Myanmar," said Mr Assifi, adding that at least four ante-natal
check-ups were desirable to increase the chances of a safe delivery. He
said the UNFPA was also providing about $3.5 million next year for new
projects to curb the spread of HIV-AIDS and to create greater awareness
among adolescents about a range of health issues. The HIV-AIDS project
will promote condom use in 30 townships identified by the government’s
National AIDS Program. The adolescent health awareness project will result
in youth centres being set up in 30 townships in collaboration with
Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association. Mr Assifi said the aim of
the centres was to provide a relaxed environment where information could
be provided to young people in an informal way. "They will include
libraries and music lounges and we will invite specialists to give
lectures and interactive presentations," he said. The balance of the
funding will go towards research projects and reproductive health surveys.
_______

DRUGS

Washington Post December 18 2002

Reward for Burma's Anti-Drug Efforts Unlikely
By Glenn Kessler

The State Department has decided not to recommend that Burma be
"certified" for its anti-narcotics programs, dealing a heavy blow to the
repressive regime's efforts to improve ties with the United States,
according to the Burmese government and congressional sources.

Department officials, the leading advocates within the U.S. government for
taking small steps to improve relations with Burma, had been close to
recommending that the nation be rewarded for meeting anti-drug goals that
the United States had set earlier in the year and made eligible for some
drug eradication aid. But when news of the pending decision leaked last
month, a series of negative editorials in newspapers in the United States
and Asia, along with congressional protests, persuaded officials to
reverse course, the sources said. The final determination is still up to
the White House, but few expect President Bush to overturn the
recommendation and risk congressional anger for a regime with few friends
in the world. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the incoming Senate majority whip,
sent national security adviser Condoleezza Rice a note last month that
stressed the need to maintain a tough policy on Burma.

In an unusual move, the Burmese government announced that it had been
informed that its effort to win U.S. approval for its anti-drug efforts
had been denied. In a statement issued by its Washington lobbyist, the
country, also known as Myanmar, denounced the decision.

"The denial comes after a massive effort by Myanmar to achieve a series of
drug-eradication accomplishments, including significant decreases in opium
production and cooperation with U.S. law enforcement authorities," said
the statement, which added that "denial of U.S. certification followed an
intense media and lobbying campaign in Washington by those who favored
linking drug certification with political issues."

"Drug traffickers and their associates will be pleased with the U.S.
government's decision to remain on the sidelines in one of the world's
largest narcotics control challenges," said Hla Min, a government
spokesman. "Our regret is, without U.S. cooperation the time frame to
totally eradicate drugs in Myanmar is significantly longer."

In its statement, Burma suggested that a more rapid decrease in cutting
opium poppy production would lead to a humanitarian crisis. But Burma is
also the primary source of amphetamine-type stimulants in Asia, producing
an estimated 800 million tablets per year. There is substantial evidence
-- recently detailed in the Asian edition of Time magazine -- that the
government is linked to major drug traffickers, including joint ventures
with the military and frequent meetings between traffickers and junta
leaders.

"Given Burma's horrendous record on the drug front, it would have been an
unmitigated disaster to take Burma off the list of the world's worst
offenders on drugs," said Rep. Tom Lantos (Calif.), the senior Democrat on
the House International Relations Committee.

Officially, the State Department said no decision had been made. "The
announcement, I would say, is premature at best," State Department
spokesman Richard Boucher said. The Burmese government "may have formed an
impression from some conversations," he added, "but we have a final
determination to make over the next several months about whether or not
they failed demonstrably to cooperate."
_______

World Markets Analysis December 18 2002

Military Regime Fights to Have Myanmar's Status Changed onA,-US
Drug-Producers List
By Dr Tobias Nischalke

Myanmar's military junta, notorious for its human rights violations, has
devoted considerable resources to persuading the US State Department to
upgrade the country's status on its blacklist of drug-producing countries.
Myanmar claims that it has undertaken major efforts to reduce the
production of opium, which is believed to be rampant in the country's
inaccessible border areas. In recent weeks the regime has lobbied hard to
gain an endorsement from the US State Department that it is co-operating
in the fight against narcotics. The State Department today described as
'premature' statements from the Myanmar government that the country will
be denied certification of co-operation. Along with Afghanistan, Myanmar
has been regarded as the world's prime opium producer and many observers
allege that elements within the military are benefiting directly from the
drugs trade. Thailand has complained regularly that Myanmar's military is
flooding Thailand with drugs, causing social instability; the US State
Department is likely to take the position of its South-East Asian ally
into account.
_______

Agence France-Presse December 18 2002

US, Myanmar at odds over drugs status
By Stephen Collinson

Myanmar said Tuesday it had been told by the United States that it had not
done enough to combat drugs production to be certified as cooperating in
the fight against narcotics.

But the State Department immediately denied that it had made a final
recommendation, branding Myanmar's announcement, in a statement issued in
Washington, as "premature at best."

Any decision not to upgrade the US assessment of Myanmar's anti-narcotics
performance would be a bitter blow to the military government's drive to
get recognition for its anti-narcotics efforts. It would also be a
disappointing return for a recent Myanmar charm offensive aimed at healing
poisoned relations with the United States, which included the hiring of a
Washington DC-based congressional lobbying firm.

"The Government of Myanmar has been informed that its attempt to come into
compliance with the US State Department's anti-narcotics program, and thus
be certified by the Bush Administration for meeting certain basic
anti-narcotics achievements, has been denied," the Myanmar statement said.

"The denial comes after a massive effort by Myanmar to achieve a series of
drug-eradication accomplishments including significant decreases in opium
production and cooperation with US law enforcement authorities," it said.

Yangon government spokesman Colonel Hla Min, said "our struggle to become
a drug free society will continue on track, with or without American
recognition for our efforts."

But the State Department said no final determination had been made on
whether Myanmar, in language set down by US legislation, had "failed
demonstrably ...to make substantial efforts" to honor international
anti-drugs agreements and other measures set out under US law.

A certification that Myanmar had cooperated with the United States to
reach minimum anti-narcotics benchmarks would clear the way for US
anti-narcotics funding.

"The announcement, I would say, is premature at best. We're going to be
looking at the decisions involved to make final determinations in the next
several months," said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher.

Contacts on the issue take habitually take place with affected countries,
and "Myanmar may have formed an impression from some conversations,"
Boucher said.

A recommendation is made by the State Department on certification, but has
to be cleared by the White House. No final decision is expected until at
least next month.

Myanmar has been campaigning in recent months to have its name taken off a
US list of "major" producers altogether, and has won qualified American
praise for its efforts to combat illegal narcotics production.

It sent anti-drugs czar Colonel Kyaw Thein to Washington earlier this
year, and has conducted a string of public events in which large
quantities of seized narcotics have been torched.

The Washington Post reported in November that there was debate within the
administration on taking Myanmar off the major producers list.

But Boucher said that such a move was not in the cards.

"The question some have raised of removing Burma from what's called the
Majors List is not under discussion and it's not being recommended or
looked at," he said, using Myanmar's former name.

"Also, we're not considering any bilateral narcotics assistance for Burma."

US officials have nevertheless admitted that certain members of the
military regime in Yangon are sincere about the anti-drugs drive, despite
their fierce criticism of the government's record on human rights,
economic management and political repression.

Any change of drugs status for Myanmar has been fiercely resisted by
supporters of the embattled opposition of Aung San Suu Kyi in the US
Congress and the non-governmental organisation community.

Campaigners fear that the junta would showcase its new status and portray
it as international acceptance of its rule.

MONEY

The Guardian (London) December 18 2002

Rights activists put 70 firms on Burma 'dirty list'
By Terry Macalister

Nearly 70 companies including the Cordiant advertising agency, City law
firm Norton Rose and Sea Containers, rail and holiday company, have been
targeted by human rights activists for their activities in Burma.

A "dirty list" of businesses whose operations are said to be helping to
finance the military dictatorship in south east Asia is published today by
the Burma Campaign.

Activists are hoping that members of the public and investors will steer
clear of these companies, putting pressure on them to break links with
Burma. "Foreign investment helps finance a regime that uses rape, torture
and murder to suppress its own people," Yvette Mahon, director of Burma
Campaign UK, said.

Cordiant is listed because it owns the global advertising company Bates
which handles contracts for foreign investors in Burma. Similarly Norton
Rose is targeted for providing legal help to investors in Burma.

The bulk of the firms listed by the campaign are involved in the tourist
trade where forced labour is said to have been used to build holiday
infrastructure.

This month Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the democratic opposition in Burma
who was released from house arrest in May, repeated her call for foreign
visitors to stay away. "We have not yet come to the point where we
encourage people to come to Burma as tourists," she said.

This has not stopped companies such as Abercrombie & Kent or Sea
Containers' subsidiary Orient Express offering holidays to the area and
not mentioning the repressive regime operating in Burma in their
promotional literature. The Lonely Planet company which produces a travel
guide is already facing boycott action for encouraging tourists.

Sea Containers confirmed that its subsidiary offered river boat tours. "We
leave it to the informed traveller to decide for themselves whether they
want to visit Burma," said a spokesman.

British American Tobacco, Pricewaterhouse Coopers and ABN Amro are also
among the companies that appear on the "dirty list" along with Carnival
Cruises. A "clean list" of companies including household names such as
Bhs, Adidas and Carlsberg is also published today. The Burma Campaign is
keen to publicise those firms which have taken a deliberate decision not
to work in the area.

REGIONAL

Associated Press December 18 2002

Drunken elephants kill six in northeastern India
By Wasbir Hussain

Rampaging elephants drunk on rice beer killed six people in northeastern
India, where the world's largest population of wild Asian elephants is
running out of control, destroying crops and property.

Herds of migratory elephants from neighboring Myanmar have crossed the
border into India's Assam state, joining the Indian elephants already
struggling to survive in the shrinking forest. Some farmers have resorted
to killing the growing number of beasts. Last week, a herd of elephants
descended on a tea plantation and broke down sheds to get to the
traditional rice beer the tea-pickers had made, said Forest Minister
Pradyut Bordoloi of the northeastern state of Assam.

They feasted on the standing rice crops and ransacked homesteads, killing
six people in the state's Tinsukia district, 570 kilometers (350 miles)
east of the state capital, Gauhati.

"They guzzled down fermented rice beer ... and ran amok, leading to the
tragedy," Bordoloi told The Associated Press in an interview on Wednesday.

Four other people were killed in the area earlier this month.

Bordoloi expressed alarm at "the violent man-elephant conflict" and said
authorities had begun a huge campaign to raise awareness at the plight of
the elephants.

According to the last elephant census in 1999, Assam had 5,400 wild
elephants, more than half of India's 10,000 or more. Assam's is the
world's largest concentration of Asiatic wild elephants.

"In this part of the year, the problem increases because elephant herds
from Myanmar migrate into Assam, making the state overflowing with them,"
Bordoloi said.

Experts say the growing incidents of elephant attacks and destruction of
property are due to shrinkage of their habitat as humans encroach into
forest reserves and illegally cut down trees.

In the past, villagers would drive occasional marauding herds away by
beating drums or exploding firecrackers. Nowadays, the villagers kill the
animals.

Bordoloi said 27 adult wild elephants had been poisoned across Assam over
the past two years. Five more, including calves, died after crowds chased
them until they fell or died of exhaustion, he said.

Another reason for the rise in the elephant population is the federal ban
on their capture imposed in 1992.

Before that, professional elephant catchers used to capture about 200
elephants a year. They were sold to individuals or exchanged with zoos.

"That kept the population in check," said Bordoloi.
____________

Kaladan News December 18 2002

BURMESE JUNTA LEADER REACHED DHAKA YESTERDAY

The Burmese junta leader Gen. Than Shwe, also the chairman of Myanmar’s
SPDC, arrived Dhaka yesterday morning for a two-day state
visit to Bangladesh at the invitation of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

Prime Minister Beguym Kahleda Zia received Gen. Than Shwe and Madame
Kyaing Kyaing when they arrive Zia International Airport by a special
flight of Myanmar Airways International at about 10:35am.

Myanmar PM is leading a 54 member delegation that included his wife, two
daughters and ministers of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Industries and
Commerce. Myanmar PM was given a red-carpet reception on his
arrival. A smartly turned out contingent drawn from the three services
presented a guard of honor and gave 21 gun salutes.

Bangladesh and Myanmar reached total understanding on road link between
the two countries and decided to set up two task forces for studying
technical and financial feasibilities in this regard.

One agreement and MOU were also signed between the two countries yesterday
following the formal talks of PM Begum Khaleda Zia with the visiting
Myanmar PM Senior Gen. Than Shwe.

 Foreign ministers of two countries signed the agreement on Culture
Cooperation between the two countries and the MOU on Annual Consultation
between two foreign ministers.

The Cultural accord aims at promoting and strengthening relations in
different fields including art, music, education, research, media and
tourism.

During the talks, Bangladesh side said bilateral trade between Bangladesh
and Myanmar can be boosted, if border trade facilities can be expanded.
Begum Zia stressed on concluding agreements on avoidance of double
taxation and arrangement of coastal shipping of the benefit of the both
countries. In response, Gen. Than Shwe said he would instruct his
officials to look into the suggestions.

Repatriation of some 22,000 Rohingya refugees, who are still staying in
Bangladesh, also camp up for discussion. Shwe told Begum Zia that his
Government is committed to solve the issue through dialogue.

“Than Shwe was positive on Rohingya issue, he expressed willingness to
take back remaining refugees from Bangladesh through proper way” the
Foreign Secretary Mr. Shamser Mobin told a questioner.

“The Myanmar leader also assured that his Govt. would support and help
Bangladesh to become a dialogue partner of ASEAN”, the Foreign Secretary
said.

During the talks, Than Shwe apprised Begum Zia about the prevailing
political situation in his country and said his Govt. has no intention to
deny democratic rights of the people. “Presently, Myanmar is in a
transition period to democracy”, he pointed out.
______

Nation December 18 2002

Sulak loses round one of legal fight

In a setback to opponents of the Yadana gas pipeline, the Constitution
Court ruled yesterday that PTT Plc's legal action against social critic
Sulak Sivaraksa and other protesters at a construction site was not in
violation of the Constitution.

Constitution Court judges voted 12 to 1 that PTT could cite the Petroleum
Act of BE 2521 in suing Sulak and others for obstructing construction of
the pipeline, court chairman Jul Atirek said. Sulak and other activists
formed a human chain and staged a sit-in protest in Kanchanaburi's Thong
Pha Phum district against the project, which links Thailand and Burma.
After PTT sued him and others, Sulak petitioned the Constitution Court
through a criminal court, saying that the firm's action violated the
Constitution's articles 35, 44 and 46, which allow members of the public
to stage peaceful protests and take action to preserve natural resources.

Jul said that although the PTT had become a public company, it still
enjoyed the same rights as when it was a state enterprise. PTT was
previously a state enterprise known as the Petroleum Authority of
Thailand. With yesterday's ruling, it now depends on the criminal court to
rule on the PTT case against Sulak and his group, Jul told a press
conference yesterday. When asked whether the judgement would be a setback
to the conservation movement, Jul said the court had merely referred to
the Constitution without taking other factors into consideration.

According to the Petroleum Act, anyone found to have obstructed the
operation of one of its projects could face imprisonment of up to six
months or a fine of no more than Bt1,000, or both.

The 238-kilometre Yadana pipeline was built between 1996 and 1998. It
carries natural gas from Burma across the border to an electrical power
plant in Ratchaburi province which has been operating since October 2000.
_____

Narinjara News December 18 2002

Burma Bangladesh on a new course:  Improved relations and road link

Burma and Bangladesh have agreed to establish road links at a prime
ministerial level talk held yesterday.  The two countries would sponsor
two technical and financial taskforces to conduct feasibility studies on
the Dhaka to Rangoon road link shortly, reported the local press.  The
Burmese leader said that Burma is ready for the establishment of road
links.
Prime minister of Burma and chairman of State Peace and Development
Council (SPDC) junta senior general Than Shwe arrived at Dhaka Tuesday
morning on a two-day state visit as the head of a 55 member delegation. 
He was given a warm reception by Bangladeshi Prime Minister Begum Khaleda
Zia at the Zia International airport.  Burmese junta leader was given a
red carpet welcome and a 21-gun salute on his arrival.
Just before the official dialogue, the two leaders had a twenty minute
long informal discussion at the Prime Minister's Office.  Present in the
occasion were Foreign Minister and the chief secretary.
An agreement was reached when the Bangladesh side formally proposed for
establishment of road links between the two countries in the bilateral
talked.  Both sides agreed to set off two task forces in this regard.
On repatriation of Rohingya refugees the Burmese side expressed their
determination to take all of them back through bilateral and normal course
within a short time.
Besides road link the two sides also agreed on coastal shipping agreement,
stepping up border trade and easier visa procedures for the business
community and doing away with the double-taxation that sometimes pose
obstacles to smooth trade between the two countries.  They also agreed to
set up a joint business council.
In the light of the success of a Bangladeshi Trade Fair in Rangoon, Burma
announced to hold a Burmese trade fair in Dhaka.
On including Bangladesh as a dialogue partner of ASEAN, Burma ensured that
it not only supports the proposition but also would like to discuss with
the other members of the regional forum on this regard.
Agreement was also reached on improved bilateral trade.  At the end of the
official talks, foreign ministers of the two countries signed deals on two
agreements: that the foreign ministers of the two countries would
officially meet at least once a year to discuss bilateral issues in the
two capitals, and that there would be promotion in the fields including
arts, culture, scientific research, media and tourism development.
The Burmese junta leader reached Dhaka on a two-day official visit at
10.40 am.  Four air force fighter planes guarded the specially chartered
plane carrying the guests.  Bangladeshi prime minister welcomed the
distinguished guests at the VVIP tarmac.  A smartly turned out contingent
of members of the air force, armed force and navy gave a guard of honour
to the prime ministers.
Among the 55 member delegation are the wife of the Burmese junta leader,
two daughters, secretary 1 of SPDC junta, and other higher officials. 
From the airport the Burmese delegation went to the National Mausoleum at
Savar Nabinagar and paid homage to the martyrs of the liberation war of
Bangladesh.  The junta leader also planted a medicinal plant there. He
attended a banquet at Bangabhavan hosted by the Bangladeshi prime
minister.
In the evening the two heads of state held a formal bilateral talk at the
Prime Minister's Office.  At a press conference held later in the office
of the foreign minister the foreign secretary Shamser Mabin Chowdhury said
that the talks was held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere.  The visit,
he hoped, would strengthen the historical and friendly relations of the
two countries.
The secretary said that Madame Zia remembered the state visit of the late
Bangladeshi president Ziaur Rahman, her deceased husband, in July 1977. 
The Burmese leader remembered the late president with a deep sense of
honour and mentioned him as a great leader in the region.  This was the
first official visit of a high-ranking leader of Burma in the last sixteen
years.  The Burmese leader gave assurance to keep "Burma's door" always
open to the bilateral trade, and increased trade and economic activities
with Bangladesh.
The Bangladeshi Prime Minister proposed poverty alleviation, development,
rule of law, establishment of a corruption-free society and other related
fields of development.  She also stressed on her government's deep
commitment to develop friendly relations with the neighbours and the world
at large.  She said that the trade has made headway, but there was a need
for changing the accounting system for the trade.  She   also requested
for extending visa to the Bangladeshi businessmen for up to six months and
to facilitate travelling up to Sittwe with a border pass.
The Burmese leader also said that his government is firmly resolved to
establish democracy.  He also mentioned about the presence of an interim
arrangement in this regard.  He expressed his satisfaction at the measures
taken by the Bangladeshi government concerning the (Burmese) separatists
and thanked her for the measures taken.
To the proposal of the repatriation of the Rohingyas he agreed to take
measures to repatriate them soon through agreement by discussion.  At the
end the prime minister of Bangladesh accepted the invitation of the
Burmese junta leader to visit Burma.
Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh to a question said that most of the
Rohingya refugees have returned while the rest few would be soon
repatriated through bilateral discussions between the two countries.  But
he did not mention any time frame for when would the repatriation take
place.  He also assured that the Burmese side have given clearance for
five thousand Rohingya refugees out of the 22,000 remaining in the camps.
To another question he said that the proposed road link with Burma is not
related to the Asian Highway.  But he said that Bangladesh wants to get
linked with ASEAN by establishing road links with Burma.
Bangladesh hoped to benefit from the proposed road link as it would open
up trade up to the ASEAN countries and China through Burma.
For repatriation of Bangladeshi prisoners in Burma he said that, there
were four prisoners there while two have already been repatriated.
The Burmese junta leader would call on the President of Bangladesh, Iaz
Uddin Ahmed, this afternoon and join a lunch party hosted in his honour. 
Besides this the trade ministers of the two countries will meet today. 
The Burmese prime minister leaves for home this evening.

INTERNATIONAL

Irrawaddy December 18 2002

International Migrant Day Recognized
By Naw Seng and Tony Broadmoor

As the fifth anniversary of International Migrant Day is being celebrated
all over the world today through a variety of photo exhibitions, panel
discussions and public information drives, Burmese migrants continue to
flow into Thailand due to forced labor, food shortages and a decaying
economy.
Neither Burma nor Thailand, which is home to over one million Burmese
migrant workers, are holding ceremonies to mark the day, which was
established five years ago and first recognized by the UN in 2000.
The Kuala Lumpur-based Burmese Migrant Forum is holding a special session
today to look at Burmese migrants in Malaysia, Burma’s internal situation
as well as the status of migrants along the Thai-Malaysia border. Similar
programs are being held in The Philippines, Spain, Israel, The UK and
Nepal.
Groups of villagers from Burma’s Tenasserim Division, however, recently
fled to Thailand due to forced portering by the Burmese military,
according to villagers from Mayan Chaung Village in Tenasserim Division.
According to a report by the BBC Burmese service, this recent influx
suggests continued forced labor as well as portering in rural areas. One
villager said they must porter for soldiers every two weeks.
Sources from Thailand opposite Burma's Shan State said migrant arrivals
have been on the rise. One man estimated that over 200 people have been
coming in each month, the majority being in their youth—including
graduated students.
A corn farmer from southern Shan State, who recently came to Thailand
said, "We can't survive due to the authority's taxes and extortion."
Farmers in Burma’s Mon State have also been fleeing to Thailand after
flooding wiped out their rice crops. They reportedly left not only due to
a lack of food but also because they could not supply the government with
rice rations.
Analysts say, thousands of other Burmese migrants will be heading to
Thailand in the coming months due to soaring commodity prices, rampant
unemployment and massive flooding. And on Monday of this week, more than
95 Burmese workers were arrested in Thailand's Tak Province, while being
smuggled to Bangkok.
In 1997, Filipino and Asian migrant organizations began celebrating and
promoting December 18th as International Migrant Day. This day was chosen
because the UN adopted the International Convention on the Protection of
the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families on
December 18, 1990.

STATEMENTS

U.S. Department of State December 17 2002

Excerpt: Cooperation with US Anti-Narcotics Efforts

Daily Press Briefing
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Washington, DC

TRANSCRIPT:
  QUESTION: This morning, the Burmese Government announced that they had been
  told by the United States that the administration would not certify them as
  cooperating fully with international and US efforts to combat narcotics
  production. First of all, can you confirm it and maybe give us some
details of
  where exactly the Burmese were judged to be deficient?

  MR. BOUCHER: No, I can't give you that. The announcement, I would say, is
  premature at best. We're going to be looking at the decisions involved,
make
  final determinations in the next several months. The question that some
have
  raised of removing Burma from what's called the Majors List is not under
  discussion and it's not being recommended or looked at. Also, we're not
  considering any bilateral narcotics assistance for Burma.

  The issue that has to be decided, because the law has changed and this
list is
  being compiled and done differently than in previous years, is whether
Burma
  has failed demonstrably, is the language of the law. Based on specific
  objectives given to Burma to make substantial efforts to adhere to
  international counternarcotics agreements and to take the counternarcotics
  measures specified in US law. And so that's an issue we'll be looking at
with
  Burma and others over the next several months.

  QUESTION: I mean, have you any idea why the Burmese have got the impression
  that they've been -- that they've kind of --

  MR. BOUCHER: I don't know if we've had any conversations with them about
it as
  we go forward with this process. We often do contact governments and try to
  understand what they've done or they haven't done. So they may have
formed an
  impression from some conversations. But, as I said, we have a final
  determination to make over the next several months about whether or not
they
  failed demonstrably to cooperate.