BurmaNet News: March 17 2003

[editor at burmanet.org]

March 17 2003 Issue #2196

INSIDE BURMA

Boston Globe: Within Burma’s outward smiles, winces of pain
Mizzima: SPDC fails to take action against rapist in Kachin State
Narinjara: A tale of the confiscation of rice paddies

DRUGS

BBC: Warlord denies Thai PM plot

GUNS

DVB: Two Russian-made fighters arrive at southeast base, company opens office

REGIONAL

AFP: Myanmar junta leader leaves Vietnam after official visit
Xinhua: Trade data between Bangladesh, Myanmar likely to change
Kaladan: Facing an uncertain future: The refugees in Bangladesh and India

INSIDE BURMA

Boston Globe March 16 2003

WITHIN BURMA'S OUTWARD SMILES, WINCES OF PAIN
By Rafael D. Frankel

RANGOON, Burma - Ivy grows outside apartment walls, most buildings are
cracked, and the sidewalks in this once-elegant capital are crumbling.
Still, Rangoon is sprouting luxury hotels, high-rise office buildings, and
its fair share of upscale nightclubs.

Burma is a country of contradictions, but the signs that it is
deteriorating are not all visible. Instead, they lie in the frayed fabric
of a nation coming apart at the seams, falling behind in its economic,
educational, and health care status.

   Except for the short bananas sold on street corners for a few cents
apiece, life here contrasts sharply with some other Southeast Asian
capitals.

In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and in Hanoi - both bouncing back from decades of
conflict - motorbikes buzz around, carrying their busy drivers to and from
work.

In Rangoon, the streets are clogged with 20-year-old cars running on spare
parts and spewing black exhaust. The military junta that runs Burma and
that refers to the nation as Myanmar, has outlawed motorcycles in the city
and has raised taxes on cars so high that only the rich can afford new
vehicles.

Burma, as one Western expatriate put it recently, "is an undeveloping
country."

According to the United Nations, more than 35 percent of Burmese children
suffer from malnutrition in what was once called the Rice Bowl of Asia.
The health-care and education systems are in shambles, threatening to
produce an entire generation in which ignorance and disease are the norm
rather than the exception.

It is hard to determine exactly why the Burmese are no longer getting
enough to eat. "It's nearly impossible to get the true story," said a
Western diplomat, who like others here spoke only on condition of
anonymity. "You cross-reference your facts and the things that match up
three or four times you call the truth."

So goes information dissemination in a totalitarian country.

Most likely, a combination of uneven distribution and overexporting has
increased by more than 100 percent the prices for staples such as rice and
cooking oil, the diplomat said. "The poorest could face an increasingly
difficult situation," he reported.

Meanwhile, only half of Burma's children complete Grade 5 because of gross
underfunding by the government and an ingrained bribery system. Although
school is supposed to be free, some teachers ask parents for "donations."

In addition, the younger generation is not keeping pace in learning
English. When visitors need directions or are curious about current
events, it is Burmese at least older than 40, who studied under the
remnants of the English colonial system, who can speak with foreigners.

The effects of the education system are being felt in several ways. For
example, there are no qualified architects or engineers to build the
military's pet-project bridges over the Irrawaddy River; Chinese and
Europeans are recruited instead.

In addition, there are no doctors coming up to take the place of those who
are retiring, no small problem for a country where HIV infects almost
500,000 people, according to the United Nations, and is spreading rapidly.
And with endemic cholera and tuberculosis, a public health crisis exists
from which there is no discernible escape, a local doctor said.

Pinched by a government-mandated 25-cent consultation fee, the relatively
few young Burmese doctors are cutcorners - and endangering their patients
- by reusing syringes, the doctor said.

With myriad ills afflicting Burma, the people would be forgiven if they
sank into societal depression. Nevertheless, as with all Southeast Asian
countries, a gentle smile is still the rule.

"The Burmese are the most charming oppressed people in the world,"
American author Jeff Greenwald said after a recent visit.
______________

Mizzima March 17 2003

SPDC fails to take action against rapist in Kachin State

According to locals, a young Kachin girl from Li Su was raped and killed
by a Chinese gold trader in Shwe Maw, a gold-digging area situated in
Myitkyina Township in Kachin State. Reportedly, local SPDC authorities
have not yet taken any action with regard to this incident.
The rapist is reported to have left a bundle of 3-lakh kyats on the girl’s
corpse. The girl was only 20 years old and had been working for a
Chinese-owned gold digging business.
Licenses for gold digging along the Irrawady were issued and sold by the
SPDC-controlled Northern Star Company from 2001. Many gold digging plots
are occupied and run by Chinese, employing local people at Dong Fang Shwe
Maw, La Pha Shwe Maw, and Mali Yang Zup Shwe Maw.
_____________

Narinjara News March 15 2003

The tale of the confiscation of rice paddies

 The Burmese military regime, SPDC, have ordered the realization of three
tinns (bushels) of rice from each acre of the land confiscated for the
use of the military, in the western Burma, according to our
correspondent.

On the other hand the junta has been realizing twelve tinns (bushels) of
rice from each acre of the civilian owned paddy fields.  Worse, in
Maungdaw Township, in Rakhine State, the Nasaka security forces have been
engaged in realizing the three bushels of rice from the villagers in the
nearby area instead of from their own fields.  In this township there are
1,140 acres of paddy land confiscated for the use of the Nasaka security
forces in the name of support for the upkeep of the family members of the
junta’s military guards.  In that way a total of 3,420 bushels of rice
have been forcefully taken away from the local rice farmers.

Our correspondent quoting a village leader said that the amount of rice so
appropriated has again been sold to the villagers of the junta-constructed
model villages in the area including Ngaraing-chaung village tract, at the
price of three thousand kyat for a bushel.  The price of a bushel of rice
in the open market is three thousand and five hundred kyat.  While the
security forces including members of the Burmese Army buy the same bushel
of rice from the growers at only three hundred and fifty kyat a bushel.

All the rice so forcefully realized from the rice growers are now stored
in big silos built in the battalion headquarters and Nasaka areas.  Though
the rice was supposed to be ‘sold’ to the Agriculture Produce Corporation
the law enforcing agencies have been storing the confiscated rice for
their future consumption.  It may be mentioned that, all the law
enforcement personnel in Rakhine State receive rations from the junta, and
the rice stored in this way is in excess of the existing rules, alleged
the village leader.

DRUGS

British Broadcasting Corporation March 17 2003
Warlord denies Thai PM plot
By Larry Jagan

In a press statement released in Rangoon on Monday, the authorities
dismissed the claims as groundless rumours.
The leader of Burma's Wa, Bao Yuxiang, also told the BBC that he was not
behind any assassination plans, and that he endorsed Mr Thaksin's campaign
to end the drugs trade.
Over the past two weeks there have been frequent press reports that drug
barons have placed a $2m bounty on Mr Thaksin's head because of his
campaign against drug dealers which started at the beginning of February
The Wa have been one of the main growers of opium poppies on Burma's
border with Thailand.
But Bao Yuxiang has reacted angrily to reports in the Thai press that he
is behind a plot to kill the Thai prime minister.
From his base in Pangshang he told the BBC on Monday, through one of his
assistants, that these charges were groundless and that the Wa did not
have the capacity to carry out such an operation.
He went on to say that it was not necessary for the Wa to contemplate any
such action either, as they were not involved in the production or
trafficking of drugs.
Any individuals who were, were definitely not associated with the United
Wa State Army, he fumed.
'Rumours'
The Wa leader said anyone that was caught using drugs or involved in their
trafficking in Wa administered areas faced the death penalty. Many were
executed last year, he said.
The Burmese Government has also quickly come out in support of the Wa
leader, endorsing Bao Yuxiang's view that the allegations are groundless
rumours, and accusing senior Thai Government officials of whipping up the
rumours for their own political purposes.
The Burmese Government has been trying desperately to convince the
international community that they are serious about ending drug production
inside Burma.
Diplomats, foreign businessmen and journalists have all been taken around
Shan state in the past few months on trips organised by the government to
show the results of Project Destiny, the campaign launched by Rangoon last
year to end opium production by the year 2005.
When travelling extensively throughout Shan state, there is little
evidence of poppy cultivation, and instead there are many
crop-substitution projects being established throughout the region.
UN officials in Rangoon who closely monitor poppy production believe the
military government is on target to eliminate poppy production.
Unfortunately the level of methamphetamine production in Burma remains
high, despite the successful campaign to stop poppy cultivation.
UN officials believe Burma produces more than 1bn synthetic tablets every
year, most of which cross the border into Thailand.
This narcotics trade has been a major irritant in bilateral relations
between Bangkok and Rangoon over the last few years.
Just when ties were beginning to improve - after Mr Thaksin meeting with
senior General Than Shwe last month - Rangoon is strongly hinting that
official backing for the rumours about Bao Yuxiang are endangering future
relations.

GUNS

Democratic Voice of Burma March 15 2003

Two Russian-made fighters arrive at southeast base, company opens office

It has been learned that two MIG-29 fighter jets purchased from Russia
arrived at Mergui Air Force Base in Tenasserim Division early yesterday
morning. A source close to the military told DVB Democratic Voice of Burma
that the jets arrived early in the morning about 0430 2200 gmt 13 March
under cover of darkness and piloted by four Russian airmen.

The same source also said Col Tin Tun Aung, the commandant of Mergui Air
Force Base, and the head of the engineering department signed the
documents and accepted the fighter jets after carefully inspecting them in
detail. But it is not clearly known whether the two aircraft were sent
from Shande Air force Base in Meiktila or directly from Russia.

According to news reports received earlier, six of the 10 MIG-29 aircrafts
purchased from Russia have already arrived Shande Air Force Base and some
will be sent to strategic airbases, including Mergui. Furthermore, the
remaining four fighter jets are expected to arrive in Burma soon.

The SPDC State Peace and Development Council bought the 10 MIG 29 fighter
jets, worth more than 130m US dollars, from Russia and have also requested
assistance to build a nuclear reactor. In the meantime, Living Colour
magazine, which is managed and published by the son of Gen Khin Nyunt,
chief of the Office of Military Intelligence and SPDC Secretary-1 , has
reported that the Russian company that owned the MIG-29 fighter jet
manufacturing company has already opened a branch office at Kandawgyi
Hotel in Rangoon.

Living Colour magazine also stated an unusual report that the Russian
company is making preparations to build an agriculture equipment
manufacturing plant and claimed that huge joint venture activities would
emerge soon.

REGIONAL

Agence France Presse March 17 2003

Myanmar junta leader leaves Vietnam after official visit


Myanmar's military leader Senior General Than Shwe left Vietnam Monday
after a three-day visit to strengthen bilateral relations with the
communist country.

Than Shwe headed for home after meeting with Vietnamese Communist Party
General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, a foreign ministry official said.

The junta head held talks with President Tran Duc Luong and Prime Minister
Phan Van Khai on Saturday and with Vietnam's National Assembly chairman
Nguyen Van An on Sunday.

The talks focused on promoting economic and trade ties and co-operation.

Last year trade between the two countries stood at 12 million dollars but
they are hoping it will increase to 30 million dollars by 2005.

Vietnam and Myanmar, both authoritarian regimes and targets of Western
criticism over their human rights records, retain close political links.

The visit was Than Shwe's third to the communist nation. He was last here
in 1998 for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
______________

Xinhua News Agency March 17 2003

Trade data between Bangladesh, Myanmar likely to change

The trade statistics of Bangladesh with Myanmar will come under change
once the proposed agreements on account trade and direct shipping services
are signed between the two countries, reported the New Nation Monday.

Myanmar's real exports to Bangladesh in 2002 stood at 171 million US
dollars, but the export value was officially reported as only at 16.94
million dollars.

Bangladesh's exports to Myanmar appeared to be over 50 million dollars in
the same period, while the official statistics referred it to mere 2.39
million dollars.

This is because most Myanmar's exports to Bangladesh come through
Singapore thus treated as Singapore's exports. Moreover, the bulk of these
transactions on both sides take place through informal exchange of money.

These anomalies in the trading are expected to disappear gradually once
the proposed account trade and direct shipping agreements are signed
during Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's three-day official visit to
Myanmar beginning on March 19.

As to the direct shipping services, which is part of Bangladesh 's
eastward move initiated in search for more trade gains and economic
development, it will be between Bangladesh and Myanmar in the first phase,
and then be extended with Thailand in the next phase.
_____________

Kaladan News March 17 2003

FACING AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE:
The refugees in Bangladesh & India

During 1991-92, nearly 300,000 Rohingya Muslims sought refuge in
Bangladesh from persecution by the army in Burma. Since then, the bulk of
them have been repatriated, but new influxes are happening
occasionally, as the situation was not improved at all in Arakan. The
Burmese junta has not yet restored citizenship of the Rohingyas also
breaking the promise they have given to Bangladesh earlier. About 20,000
refugees remain in camps under difficult conditions.

 The conditions in the refugee camps are particularly appalling. The UNHCR
has provided the refugees with dry rations, clothes and fuel for cooking
but field findings suggest that the refugees do not consider these
adequate for their needs. Nor are camp conditions particularly healthy.
They lived in congested spaces with limited water and sanitary services,
and access to education has been restricted. Almost 60 per cent of
children and 53per cent of adults were reportedly suffering from chronic
malnutrition, exposing them to disease and hampering their physical and
mental development. The refugees’ movement has been restricted and they
have not been allowed to seek employment or engage in any activities
outside the camps. Furthermore, it was not until mid 1996 that formal
schooling was allowed in some camps. The Bangladesh Government has always
insisted that this offer of asylum was temporary and has encouraged an
immediate return to Burma. However, the refugees are reluctant as forced
labor and the violation of rights is still common in Burma, and until
conditions improved to guarantee a return in safely and dignity. The
UNHCR has suggested they should be settled temporarily, because the
Burmese authorities are unwilling to accept their return and donors are
unwilling to fund the Rohingya operation indefinitely. To date,
Bangladesh Government has refused to allow the refugees to move out of
their camps. Implications for policy are: I). To help the refugees make
and informed choice about their situation, they should be provided with
credible information on conditions in Burma, particularly in the Arakan
State. 2). Camp authorities should not take any action that coerces
refugees to “volunteer” for repatriation and the UNHCR should ensure that
the voluntary nature of repatriation is respected. 3). Donors should not
insist on solutions that ultimately compromise refugee protection,
according to C.R. Abrar, Insights 44. The local press reports that as
many as 200,000 Rohingya are living illegally in slums or villages in the
southern region of Bangladesh. They are surviving as undocumented
migrants without any protection from UNHCR nor humanitarian assistance.
The Bangladesh authorities refer to them as “ economic migrants” or
“illegal immigrants” and don’t allow any relief for fear of creating a
pull-factor. During the year 2002, 283 refugees repatriated from
Bangladesh with UNHCR assistance. UNHCR provided the returnees cash and
housing grants, as well as some commodities. The WFP gave them six months
of food rations. Late in the year 2001, UNHCR offices in Burma and
Bangladesh held a series of meetings with Burmese authorities to review
the repatriation process, which, according to UNHCR, has been impeded by
technical difficulties during the past few years. As a result of the
meetings, Burma agreed to accelerate the return of some 5,000 Rohingya
refugees that it had previously” approved” for return. Most Rohingya
refugees in Bangladesh, however, refuse to return to Burma.   At present,
the slow pace repatriation of the Rohingya refugees are being done every
week so that the fate of the remaining refugees still is hanging in the
balance. But the Burma military junta leaders promise
of taking back the refugees while General Than Shwe paid a visit to Dhaka
last December.  Presence of large number of refugees for along time some
social problems have also arisen. So, Bangladesh government expected that
all Rohingya refugees could be repatriated by June 2003.  refugees from
Burma in Bangladesh can be divided into 3 categories: 1). Rohingya
refugees in 2 refugee camps (nearly 20,000), 2). Rohingya  refugees
outside the camps in the southern part of Bangladesh (200,000), and 3).
Rakhine urban refugees case loaded in Dhaka (50). The Rakhine Buddhists
are also neglected ethnic group in Burma. The Burma regime has always
attempted to forcibly assimilate them. They are also subjected to forced
labor. They tightly controlled and taxed. Whereas very few Rakhine
refugees came to Bangladesh, many left Arakan State to search for income
opportunities in the urban centers of central Burma and, whenever
possible, on to Thailand and Malaysia. About 50 Rakhine political
activists have been recognized by UNHCR as urban refugees in Dhaka.
Assistance from UNHCR was curtailed in 1998 and most survive in
substandard condition.  Burma’s borders with India and Bangladesh have
received much less international attention than the
Thailand – Burma border. A major reason is the difficult access to
refugees in these border areas due to policies of the host governments.
However, out-flows of refugees from Burma to India and Bangladesh are no
less significant. More than 50,000 mostly Chin refugees have fled to
India. In their host countries--- whether in India 0r Bangladesh---- most
of these 250,000 people are not recognized as “refugees” but labeled as
“economic immigrants”. The root causes behind this forced
migration are ignored in order to keep out-flow in visible and to deprive
these refugees from protection and assistance. Meanwhile, the two host
governments are engaging in negotiation with the military regime in
Rangoon to enhance cooperation and improved
economic ties.

A few hundred who came to New Delhi to seek UNHCR protection, the vast
majority have taken shelter in Mizoram State and a small number in the
Southern part of Manipur State. Chin refugees in Mezoram State have no
camp to accommodate even the most vulnerable and they have joined the
local labor market, in the weaving industry, on road construction sites.
As undocumented migrants, their situation is very precarious.
India does not allow UNHCR to exercise its protection mandate in Mizoram
State where access is also denied to most outsiders. As a result Chin
refugees receive little or no assistance. About 800 Burmese refugees and
their relatives are facing persecution in New Delhi. Even though most of
them have been recognized by the UNHCR as “ persons of concerns, ”their
situation in Delhi is also uncertain. But, UNHCR has provided them with a
small monthly subsistence allowance and even less for dependents. Now,
UNHCR has been threatening to cut this financial assistance in order to
promote self-reliance. Lack of education, employment opportunities and
working experience make their lives miserable, according to Chris Lewa,
Forum-Asia, Bankok.
The western border of Burma and the refugees in India and Bangladesh
deserve more attention from the International Community, whether for
capacity building, humanitarian assistance or advocacy.