BurmaNet News: January 22 2003

[editor at burmanet.org]

January 22 2003 Issue #2161

INSIDE BURMA

Nation: Yawd Serk willing to testify on drugs trade
DVB: U Tun Myint’s health deteriorating

MONEY

SHAN: Building Salween dam likely next year
Straits Times: SIA to study viability of no-frills carrier in Chiang Mai
Financial Times: India seeks to strengthen ties with Burma
BBC: India and Burma to boost co-operation

ON THE BORDER

Nation: Dissidents to be forced out ahead of Burma talks

REGIONAL

Mizzima: Burmese foreign minister grantee to eliminate Indian insurgent
Nation: Relations with Rangoon: Number of Burmese spies rising
SCMP: Thailand takes a tough line with Myanmarese dissidents
Korea Herald: Myanmar asylum seekers await fate next week

STATEMENTS/OTHER

NCGUB: EU-ASEAN meeting urged to tackle Burma problems
Irrawaddy: Raid on independent journalism

INSIDE BURMA

The Nation January 22 2003

Yawd Serk willing to testify on drugs trade

The Leader of the Shan State Army expressed his willingness yesterday to
cooperate with the United Nations and the international community to
verify that his outfit is not involved in drug trafficking.

Colonel Yawd Serk said he would be willing to testify to an international
court that the SSA was not involved in the lucrative drugs trade, as
Burma's military government has charged.

But he said that he knows where drugs are being produced because of his
group's intelligence-gathering work. "I am willing to take them by the
hand and show them where these drug factories are located," Yawd Serk
said.

The Shan rebel commander said he was bitter at the little credit the world
community had given the SSA for its fight against narcotics in Burma's
Shan State. He maintained that his group's struggle for autonomy would
continue. But, he said, the SSA was willing to enter into cease-fire talks
as long as the army was not required to lay down its arms ahead of the
talks.In an interview with The Nation from one of the SSA's border
outposts, Yawd Serk predicted that heavy fighting between his army and
government troops would move from the Thai-Burmese border to areas deeper
inside Shan State.

"We do not want to be a burden to Thailand," he said.

Yawd Serk said Rangoon was about to mobilise heavy artillery through roads
that had recently been upgraded along the border, stretching from areas
adjacent to Tak's Mae Sot district to his base camps opposite Chiang Rai
province.

"But they can never defeat us. Their hearts are not in it," Yawd Serk said.

The Shan commander said morale in the Burmese military was low with its
troops not believing the cause they were fighting for was worth giving up
their lives.

Many of them are teenage boys who have little understanding about what the
conflict is about, he said.
__________

Democratic Voice of Burma January 21 2003

U Tun Myint’s Health Deteriorating

The chairman of NLD’s Social Welfare, U Ohn Myint told the DVB that the
health condition of U Tun Myint is deteriorating as he is suffering from
urinal problems and needs urgent operation. “U Tun Myint’s situation is
quite critical. He was the Head Administrator of the NLD Head Office. We
don’t know whether he will get an operation but the doctors say that he
should,” said U Ohn Myint.
U Tun Myint was arrested and imprisoned for calling for the release of all
prisoners and a political dialogue. He was arrested at the same time as
the NLD’s MP U Naing Naing, U Aung Shin, a member from Monya, Phyapon
Nilon Oo, U Soe Han and U Sein Kyaw Maung. They were arrested at the end
of 2000 and each sentenced to 21 years in prison. U Ohn Myint also said
that U Soe Han needs urgent operation on his eyes but it is not clear
whether the government is going to pay for the costs:
U Ohn Myint : U Soe Han also has to have operations on his eyes. He has to.
Aye Chan Naing : Does the government pay for the costs of the operations
for political prisoners?
U Ohn Myint : It depends on the case. They would pay for famous people.
But we don’t know what they will do for U Soe Han.
Aye Chan Naing : How about U Tun Myint?
U Ohn Myint : U Tun Myint has the swelling of urinal glands. He needs an
operation, they say.
Aye Chan Naing : If they have to pay for themselves it would cost them in
the hundreds of thousand kyats?
U Ohn Myint : Yes, it’s for sure. It would costs a lot in U Soe Han’s
case. I don’t know what they are going to do about it. If he has to do it,
we will ask the authorities and if they don’t help us, we have to find the
money on our own.
Aye Chan Naing : Now, you have to pay for treatment and the medicines in
hospital..?
U Ohn Myint : We haven’t got any help from the government for ages. I can
say the exact figures. You have to buy your own medicines and you have to
buy everything, from plasters to bandages.
Aye Chan Naing : If a father goes to prison, the whole family would be in
financial difficulties..?
U Ohn Myint : You can’t do anything about it. The government has to pay
for it. They are under detention in custody and it is not easy. They
(prisoners) should be treated by the authorities because they are being
imprisoned by the government.
MONEY

Shan Herald Agency for News January 22 2003

Environment
Building Salween dam likely next year

A representative of the Wa-connected Thai firm disclosed to S.H.A.N.
yesterday that construction of the megadam on the Shan State's part of the
Salween is expected to be constructed by the next year.

"Things don't move that fast," said the businessman from Thai Sawad
Company, who did not care to be identified, in response to news about dam
construction materials to be moved across the border to Tasarng, 160 km
from Chiangmai's Chiangdao District, next week.

He explained the MDX, the company that had signed the agreement with
Rangoon last month, would be inviting tenders from construction firms one
of which would be accepted by the end of the year. "In the meantime, we
have been contracted to build a road from Tasarng to the dam site, about
15 km long," he said.

Asked where he thought the funds would come, he replied he had no idea.
"We concluded the agreement for the road construction on Monday (20
January). Normally we expected a 20% advance payment for our expenses. But
the MDX said it would be able to pay us only 5%".

Thai Sawad, whose managing director, Somkid Onman "Sia Ord" is reputed as
being close to drug fugitive Wei Hsuehgang of the United Wa State Army, is
due to ship materials that included cement, steel wires and fuel for road
and drainage construction next Monday (27 January).

Meanwhile, the Thailand-based MDX, chaired by former minister Dr Subin
Pinkayan, is reported to be concerned about the possible counteraction
from the Shan State Army that is known to be active in the area. "They are
not going to get any loans if the group says no to the project," he said.

The SSA spokeswoman, Khurhsen Heng-awn, previously told S.H.A.N. the
people affected by the project would have to be asked whether or not they
wanted the dam.

A meeting in 1999 of Shan monks and representatives from several
organizations had already resolved to oppose the project, according to Sao
Seng Suk, spokesperson for the Shan Democratic Union, the umbrella
organization of Shan groups in exile.
___________

Straits Times January 22 2003

SIA to study viability of no-frills carrier in Chiang Mai
By Nicholas Fang

SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) will carry out a detailed study on the viability
of setting up a no-frills carrier to be based in Thailand's northern city
of Chiang Mai, a senior government official said.

Transport Minister Yeo Cheow Tong said Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong had
discussed the proposed budget carrier with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra at an informal summit earlier this month.

Mr Thaksin had earlier invited Singapore to jointly set up a budget
airline to be based in Chiang Mai to promote the area as an aviation hub
linking China, Laos and Myanmar. When asked if the proposed carrier would
be a government-driven initiative or if SIA would be taking the lead, Mr
Yeo said: 'As PM Goh has said, this is going to be a commercial project,
and therefore SIA will be driving it.

'We have kept SIA informed about what has happened and they will be
conducting a detailed study in Thailand. I think they should be going up
soon,' he added, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a shipping
security conference yesterday,.

He also said the project had to make commercial sense before it takes off.
'It must be commercially viable, if not in the short term, then at least
in the long term.'

When contacted yesterday, an SIA spokesman said the flag carrier is
considering various possibilities concerning Chiang Mai.

'If and when we make any further statement on this matter will depend on
the outcome of our studies,' the spokesman said.

Separately, SIA chairman Koh Boon Hwee said yesterday that the airline
industry would bounce back rapidly from a short war in Iraq but that 'all
bets are off' if a conflict there became drawn out.

A Reuters report yesterday quoted him as saying that flights between
Europe and Asia would be disrupted by a conflict in the Middle East.

'There will be disruptions obviously because Iraqi airspace is actually
fairly important between Asia and Europe.

'But the industry will suffer just by the sentiment of people towards
travelling less,' he was quoted as saying.

He was speaking at an event organised by the International Herald Tribune.
_________

Financial Times January 22 2003

India seeks to strengthen ties with Burma
By EDWARD LUCE

India is pushing aggressively to strengthen ties with neighbouring Burma
to counteract China's growing defence ties with the military regime.

U Win Aung, Burma's foreign minister, yesterday became the most senior
official of the military regime to visit India since 1987.

Mr Aung, who yesterday held talks with Atal Behari Vajpayee, India's prime
minister, agreed to boost co-operation between the two countries in joint
energy exploration, the development of road and port facilities and
defence ties. Indian officials say stronger ties with Burma will also help
offset deteriorating relations with neighbouring Bangladesh. India accuses
Khaleda Zia's government, which includes the support of Islamists, of
sponsoring Jihadi groups. New Delhi also accuses Dhaka of boosting ties
with Pakistan's intelligence agency.

India says Burma's poor record on democracy is no bar to stronger
relations. "Close relations with Burma work for India on a number of
levels including balancing China's growing strategic reach and providing
an alternative to Bangladesh," said J.N. Dixit, a former Indian foreign
secretary.

India wants to boost trade with the Asean countries of south-east Asia and
has received Burma's backing for an annual summit between New Delhi and
the Asean leaders. India is also working with Burma to construct a road
linking its Himalayan north-eastern territories to Thailand. It is also
building a port in Sittwe, on the Burma coast, to increase maritime trade.

Rangoon has cracked down on the minority insurgency groups that are
seeking independence or greater autonomy in India's north-east and which
have operated freely from Burma. Bangladesh is believed to continue
funding these groups.

India's two leading state-owned energy companies, ONGC and Gail, are
conducting gas exploration work off Burma's coast and are expected to
agree to onshore exploration in the near future. Bangladesh, which has
huge gas reserves, has prevaricated for years over whether to build a gas
pipeline to India.
__________

British Broadcasting Corporation January 21 2003

India and Burma to boost co-operation

The Indian and Burmese Governments have agreed to hold regular
consultations and to co-operate in counter-terrorism efforts.

The agreement was signed by the Burmese Foreign Minister, Win Aung - the
first senior leader to visit Delhi since 1987 - and his Indian
counterpart, Yashwant Sinha.

Both sides also agreed to increase co-operation in the energy and
transport fields.

The Indian Foreign Ministry said the possibilities for exploration of
onshore oil and gas reserves by India were also discussed.

Mr Aung said Burma was now ready to open its doors to trade and investment.

Mr Aung is on a six-day visit to India, where he is scheduled to meet with
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vapayee and Finance Minister, Jaswant Singh.

ON THE BORDER

The Nation January 22 2003

Dissidents to be forced out ahead of Burma talks
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee

At least seven Burmese dissidents will be deported from Thailand today in
a bid to clear the western border areas of anti-Rangoon groups before a
visit to Burma by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra next month, police
said yesterday.

A court in Kanchanaburi province's Thong Pha Phum district yesterday ruled
on the deportation of the seven dissidents who were arrested on Monday for
illegal entry and overstay in the Kingdom.

The dissidents are said to belong to Sangkhla Buri-based opposition groups
the Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS), National League for
Democracy-Liberated Area (NLD-LA), All Burma Students' Democratic Front
(ABSDF), Dawei Women's Union (DWU) and Myeik-Dawei United Front (MDUF).
Police confiscated around Bt349,000 from the DPNS, two computers from the
ABSDF and documents from the other groups. The money and equipment will be
returned to them promptly if the authorities find nothing illegal, police
said.

A member of NLD-LA, Ma Nan Nechi Oo, who is said to own a house in
Sangkhla Buri, was sentenced to 48 days in prison on the of charge of
sheltering illegal immigrants, who were fined Bt4,000 each.Sangkhla Buri
district police said local police, together with Division 9 of the Royal
Thai Army, would continue the crackdown on illegal immigrants from
Burma.Dissident groups in the district claim the crackdown is aimed at
appeasing Burma's military junta before Thaksin's visit to Rangoon on
February 9-10.

Thaksin wants to clear the western border in order to pave the way for
joint investment projects on infrastructure with the junta, such as a
proposed road from Kanchanaburi to Burma's Tavoy seaport, they said.

The western border is home to more than 100,000 refugees and dissidents
who fled the conflict at home more than a decade ago.

The National Security Council announced recently that Thailand would no
longer welcome any displaced persons from neighbouring countries and would
force them back home as soon as authorities found them.

Meanwhile Britain's Lord David Alton and US Republican Congressman Joe
Pitts of Pennsylvania yesterday visited the Mae La refugee camp in Tak
province, where more than 35,000 refugees, mostly ethnic Karen, have taken
shelter.

A source at the border said the two were on a mission to gather
information on how Burmese citizens were suffering in refugee camps.

The source quoted Alton as saying to refugees in the camp that he was
concerned about forced repatriation by Thai authorities.


REGIONAL

Mizzima January 22 2003

Burmese Foreign Minister Grantee to eliminate Indian insurgent

The Visiting Foreign Minister of Burma U Win Aung  assured India that  his
Government would not allow The North east Indian militants to operate it's
soil.  His assurance came following a discussion with the Indian Prime
Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee yesterday.
During a marathon meeting with the Prime Minister ,The Burmese Foreign
Minister also assured that "Myanmar Government" would take all possible
steps in dismantling the camps of the North East ultras.
It may be recalled that several militant organisations of the north east
india including National socialist Council of Nagaland -Khaplang (NSCN-K)
have set up a good number of camps in bordering areas of Burma from which
they have have been fomenting problem in the north east india.
Highly-placed official sources told this correspondent that both India and
Burma have agreed to intensify joint patrolling along the international
border to contain the activities of the militant groups." The Burmese
foreign minister has agreed to put pressure on the militants camps so that
they could vacate as early as possible",the sources added.
The NSCN-K has been imparting training over 1000 guerrillas of the north
east India in Burmese soil which has irked the Indian Home Ministry .The
self-styled Revenue minister Z Angami recently claimed that his
organisation has been providing armed training to the ultras of the north
east India .This matter was also raised in the discussion and the Burmese
foreign minister assured India to take an early step in this regard.
The foreign minister also agreed to boost trade with India by setting up
of a joint business council.
___________

The Nation January 22 2003

RELATIONS WITH RANGOON: Number of Burmese spies rising

A growing number of Burmese spies have infiltrated Thailand, blending in
with illegal foreign workers and posing problems for local residents and
the nation's security, according to an official report and intelligence
sources.

The report was prepared for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to use in
upcoming talks when he visits Rangoon, from February 9-10.

It said Thailand's lax visa regulations for visitors from neighbouring
countries such as Burma, Laos and Cambodia, have made it difficult for
police to deal with the problem of illegal workers. The report
incorporated input from the Interior Ministry, Foreign Ministry and Labour
Ministry.

According to the report, some 305,185 Burmese were granted permission to
work in Thailand last year, but academic researchers estimate that over a
million Burmese work illegally in Thailand.

Thai military and intelligence sources have said the number of illegal
workers in the country could pose as a serious threat to the nation's
security.

So far, no serious efforts havebeen made to address the pro-blem.

Police have conducted raids on foreign workers, including Burmese
dissidents, followed by fines and deportation.

But the problem seems never ending, said one intelligence officer, adding
that the government appeared to be clueless as to what to do.

The Interior Ministry suggested in the report that the short-term goal
should be for Thailand to reduce the demand for foreign labour,
specifically Burmese workers, and urged the government to strengthen
border security.

The Interior Ministry also suggested that a labour accord with Burma be
made at the government-to-government level.

The report called on the government to strengthen communitiesand villages
along the border by incorporating them into the security scheme and
turning theminto "eyes and ears" for the authorities.

Official sources said Thaksin is planning to touch on the subject during
his visit to Burma, while Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchai-yudh,
who will be visiting Rangoon in late February, will discuss thematter with
the Burmese in more detail.

The Foreign Ministry suggested in the report that the premier request
Rangoon to assign a labour attache to its embassy in Bangkok.

The ministry also wants Burmese authorities to shorten the process for
receiving returnees at the Mae Sot-Myawaddy Friendship Bridge - and take
"illegals" back at least once a week.

The two sides agreed last year to set up reception stations, starting with
one in Myawaddy, to process the returnees.

Thaksin came to office two years ago vowing to improve bilateral ties with
Burma and neighbouring countries.

But two years later, fundamental problems such as drug trafficking, border
fighting, overlapping border claims, refugees and illegal foreign workers
remain.

Thai and Burmese troops have clashed twice in the past two years, and sent
bilateral ties to some of the lowest ebbs in decades.
________

South China Morning Post January 22 2003

Thailand takes a tough line with Myanmarese dissidents Pro-democracy
supporters fear they are being forced from a land of sanctuary
By William Barnes

The Thai government is again cracking down on Myanmarese dissidents again.
But this time it appears to mean business.

Opposition offices are being closed, activists harassed and landlords told
not to rent properties to dissidents. Since last month, holders of
Myanmarese passports have been dropped from the list of visitors entitled
to automatic entry. There are reports that Thai embassies in neighbouring
countries are refusing to grant visas.

Pro-democracy supporters fear that they are being pushed out of Thailand,
a country that has been a sanctuary for them for decades. This could have
dramatic consequences for the anti-military movement, which feeds off
information and support passed through Thailand.

"The Thais are being clever," said one aid worker. "It is being done
incrementally so that there is no big international outcry, but all the
Burmese Myanmarese who are working to have a democratic country are
extremely worried. This could be the beginning of the end here."

Since Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra came to power in 2001, he has
made strenuous efforts to resolve historically prickly relations with
Myanmar. The anticipated spinoffs would include a reduction in the massive
volume of drugs spilling over the border, an end to regular border spats,
the return of refugees and potentially a slew of business deals with the
underdeveloped neighbour.

Despite the continuing flow of drugs, particularly amphetamines, to the
Thai market, and the continuingborder clashes, Mr Thaksin appears
satisfied that core relations with a fellow member of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations are improving.

Thai governments have threatened many times to act against Myanmar
dissidents and also ethnic rebels, who have historically been seen as a
buffer against a troublesome neighbour. But previous administrations
lacked the will and the unity to carry through a hawkish policy that would
benefit an unfriendly regime and upset the West.

However, Mr Thaksin rules a powerful civilian government stacked with
ministers drawn from the business elite. They have little sympathy for the
Myanmarese dissidents. Unlike previous leaders, Mr Thaksin has the power
to ensure his words are followed.

He is keen to unite Asian countries, no matter what their political
makeup, to counter the United States and the growing unity of the European
Union. Thus there is limited space in this world view for awkward
anti-government groups.

When Myanmar's military massacred anti-military protesters in 1988, the
Thai government offered temporary asylum to fleeing students.

Just a month later, the then foreign minister, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, led
a business delegation to Yangon. It left having secured lucrative logging
and fishing deals from the cash-strapped Myanmarese government.

The latest edition of the Thai-language Manager Weekly reports that Mr
Chavalit, now a deputy prime minister, has helped design the current of
turning "enemies into friends".

In the same way that relations with China have been boosted, ties with
Myanmar were being strengthened, the paper said. The Thai-Myanmar Cultural
and Economic Association was established last May.

Surasak Nananukul, a Thai government adviser on trade and investment, said
business deals - all of them on a "win-win basis" - would help bind ties.

---------
Korea Herald January 22 2003

MYANMAR ASYLUM SEEKERS AWAIT FATE NEXT WEEK

The government's interagency panel will convene again Jan. 29 to decide
whether to grant refugee status to three Myanmar dissidents, the Justice
Ministry said yesterday.

During its latest meeting last month, the panel, led by the vice justice
minister, shelved its decision on whether to recognize the three asylum
seekers, citing the need to confirm their past activities against the
military-ruled government in Myanmar. They are all known to be members of
the National League for Democracy, the Southeast Asian country's
opposition party led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

In last month's session, the panel granted a Congo dissident refugee
status, who became only the second foreign asylum seeker accepted by the
Seoul government. It set a precedent in 2001 when an Ethiopian man was
officially recognized as a refugee.

STATEMENTS/OTHER

National Coalition Government of the Union January 22 2003

EU-ASEAN Meeting Urged to Tackle Burma Problems


The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) expects
the upcoming EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Brussels on 27-28 January to
be addressing issues concerning Burma.  This is because ongoing human
rights violations, such as forced labor, political repression, and mass
rape as a political weapon, the exodus of refugees, the influx of drugs
into neighboring countries, the growth of HIV/AIDS, and other
socioeconomic problems in Burma are a major concern not only of the
Burmese people but also for the international community, including the
European Union and other ASEAN members.

The statement issued by the National League for Democracy earlier this
month summed up the lack of progress in the talks with Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi and the political restrictions in place, including the continuing
detention of political prisoners.  Under the circumstances and despite the
much appreciated efforts of the UN Special Envoy Sri Razali Ismail to
achieve national reconciliation and restore democracy in Burma, there is a
real danger of the talks breaking down.

The NCGUB is confident the European Union will be raising these issues
with the SPDC and initiating appropriate action as stated in its Common
Position in October 2002 that "The Council is prepared to continue to
react proportionately to developments in Burma/Myanmar, either positive or
negative."  NCGUB also hopes that ASEAN members will be actively
persuading SPDC to hold serious talks with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to resolve
national issues since problems in Burma are an impediment to the economic
growth of ASEAN and the main issue that obstruct the development of
EU-ASEAN relations.

The EU-ASEAN ministerial meeting is an opportune occasion and the NCGUB is
confident that member states in the two regional blocs will be exploring
ways to end the injustices and resolve problems in Burma.
____________

Irrawaddy January 22 2003

Raid on Independent Journalism (On-line Editorial)
After police raided the malaysiakini offices in Kuala Lumpur on Monday,
Editor Steven Gan was interrogated and may face charges of sedition. On
Jan 19, a 12-man team from the Dang Wangi district police station seized
15 CPUs and four servers in an investigation into a complaint of alleged
sedition.
The reason for the crackdown, according to local security officials, was a
letter published on-line which contained "false allegations" about the
government’s preferential treatment of ethnic Malays. Police were acting
on a complaint lodged by the youth wing of the United Malays Nationalist
Organization (UNMO), part of Malaysia’s ruling coalition.
Steven Gan refused to disclose the identity of the letter-writer, citing
the reader’s right to freedom of expression, as well as journalistic
ethics relating to the confidentiality of sources.
Observers are concerned that if sedition charges go ahead and malaysiakini
is found guilty, Gan could be fined or imprisoned for three years.
The good news is malaysiakini resumed its operation 10 hours after the
site was temporarily disabled following the police seizure. In the past
two days, we have witnessed solidarity among journalists and press freedom
activists in the region who have strongly condemned the raid and demanded
Malaysian authorities respect press freedom.
It is essential that press freedom groups and journalists in the region
keep an eye on the heavy-handed attitudes of authoritarian rulers in Asia.
While police dared to raid the malaysiakini office, in the face of
Malaysia’s earnest bid to develop its own "Silicon Valley" in Asia,
authorities elsewhere in the region are applying more sophisticated
methods of controlling the press.
Under the pretext of "national security", journalists around the region
and around the globe have been facing continuous intimidation, censorship
and blatant threats from authorities, who use Sept 11 as justification for
infringements on freedom.
In Burma, where talented journalists and reporters have little chance to
show their skills and express any freedom, the junta controls all media
through capricious licensing requirements. With hollow talk on e-business
and e-communications, web sites must still be screened and approved by
authorities, and access to the Internet is restricted to a small few who
can afford it.
According to the Paris-based media watchdog, Reporters Sans Frontieres
(RSF), at least 16 journalists are currently in prison in Burma. "Burma is
one of the countries of the world where the government has used a very
large spectrum of mechanisms and policies to oppress journalists and
suppress freedom of expression," the RSF said.
Many journalists working in Burma have complained of increasing pressure
from Burma’s press censorship board. Recently, some journalists have left
Burma because they can no longer write or express what they feel they
should.
Burma’s rulers continue to exercise their PR muscle through the newspapers
they control. Indeed, if you want to hear about Burma’s all-rosy economy
with inflated growth rates, talk of "progress" on national reconciliation,
a "new era" in 2003 and the generals on their never-ending inspection
trips of government projects we suggest you read the Myanmar Times.
Run by an Australian, Ross Dunkley, the paper has become a colorful
mouthpiece of the ruling junta. Dunkley has become an apologist for the
junta, sweeping the real news of what’s going on in Burma under the
carpet. It is shameful that Dunkley continues to serve one of the most
repressive governments on earth, while still claiming to fight for press
freedom.
While we salute the courageous efforts of staff members at malaysiakini
who have been strong in the face of efforts to siphon independent
journalism, we are astonished to see such a lack of commitment to free
expression and journalistic ethics at the Myanmar Times.