BurmaNet News: March 18 2003

[editor at burmanet.org]

March 18 2003 Issue #2197

INSIDE BURMA

DVB: Interview with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Part 1
DVB: Interview with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Part 2
AFP: UN rights envoy to arrive in Myanmar Wednesday
Irrawaddy: Junta bans historian’s articles
IMNA: USDA train villagers to lie to international institutions
Wired: Internet censorship and Burma: Does the end justify the means?

GUNS

Kao Wao: Mon State at war

REGIONAL

Irrawaddy: Burmese Muslim refugees fear war in Iraq
Voice of Vietnam: Vietnamese leader welcomes ‘fruitful’ visit, bids
Burmese leader farewell
VNA: Vietnam, Burmese leaders affirm ties in joint communiqué
AFP: Trade to top agenda on Bangladesh PM’s landmark visit to Myanmar
Independent: Khaleda leaves for Myanmar tomorrow

INSIDE BURMA

Democratic Voice of Burma March 14 2003

Interview with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi – Part I

The DVB managed to interview the Burmese democratic leader, Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi today. We asked her about the political stalemate, international
blockades and the deteriorating standard of living of Burmese people.
DVB’s Htet Aung Kyaw interviewed her:

Q: Mr Pinheiro is visiting Burma soon. What do you have to say about human
rights situation in Burma?

A: I have to say that in the current situation in Burma, there is no
guarantee of basic human rights.

Q: We have heard that Mr Pinheiro [UN special human rights envoy to Burma]
is going to Burma soon and he is also meeting you. Are you expecting
anything particular from his trip?

A: We will only know when we talk to Mr Pinheiro. I don’t think that his
single trip like this will improve human rights situation in Burma.

Q: Mr Pinheiro is also going to handle the political prisoners issue in
this trip. As far as we know, they haven’t released political prisoners
since November. What do you have to say about this?

A: We have been saying it since the beginning that the speed of the
releases of political prisoners is very slow. We have been saying it for
ages, for years in fact - to release all political prisoners
unconditionally.

Q: Now, they not only haven’t released political prisoners, but also
arresting more political activists including U Sai Myo Lwin and NLD
members. What do you have to comment on that?

A: It is also connected to political issues because they are accused of
plotting to distribute leaflets, as far as I understand. In fact,
according to basic democratic human rights, everyone has to have the right
to distribute leaflets on their political thoughts and aims freely if they
are not intending to hurt other people.

Q: People are saying that the arrests and the slowness of the release of
political prisoners are causing frictions between you [the NLD] and the
military government. What do you have to say about it?

A: I don’t think so. You can have a dialogue whenever you like and under
any circumstance if you have the desire to do so. We have never said that
we would discuss [with the authorities] only when all political prisoners
are released. We have never said that we will not have a dialogue if they
arrest more political activists either. The reason is the arrests and
re-arrests of political prisoners are political problems. We want the
dialogue to discuss these problems.

Q: In connection with the dialogue, I want to go on to the matter relating
to Mr. Razali. There is news that he wants to come to Burma but [he
postponed the trip because] the situation between you and the military
government is not good. How can you explain the situation between you and
the military government?

A: As far as we understand, the postponement of Mr Razali’s trip is to do
with the request of the authorities here due to the inconveniences they
are facing. Why they are feeling so, it is nothing to do with us.

Q; We have heard you say recently that the confidence building stage has
ended between the current government and you. What is the current
situation?

A: If I have to pick up the subject of the condition of the confidence
building, both sides have agreed when they released me [from house arrest]
that confidence building stage has ended and we should go on to an
advanced level. But we [the NLD] believe that we haven’t been able to go
further to another stage. The confidence building stage should not take a
long time. If I have to say with the help of an example, confidence
building is like testing the water before you swim. How long do you test
the water? If you want to swim, you need to go in the water. If you are
testing water for a long time, that means you don’t want to swim.

Q: Some people think that the SPDC want the guarantee for amnesty for what
they have done previously before they have a dialogue. What do you have to
say to that?

A: This is the matter to be discussed in the dialogue. From our part, we
have said very honestly and openly that we don’t have the desire for
revenge or oppression. We have to do things for the good of everyone with
give-and-take [reciprocally] and march forward. We have understood it
thus.

Q: On the one hand, the SPDC is dragging its feet. What kinds of methods
are you trying to make them come closer to the table for the dialogue?

A: We have always been trying with many methods. In fact, as the dialogue
is possible only when the two sides agree to do so, whatever we try to do,
the other side needs to make the effort too. What I mean by the desire is
– if the other side understands the situation and has good intention for
the nation, they will desire it. We have been trying to do our best so
that people will love their country.

Q: If the dialogue happened, what would you discuss? Could you tell me
about it in general?

A: It is not right to say them now. In general, we have to discuss all the
problems to do with the country.

Q; What many people are interested in is – in the dialogue, whether you
would discuss about the results of the election [May 1990]


A: You have to discuss about it. It is the main concern of the country.
You can’t omit this by not discussing about it.

Q: Yesterday, the EU said something about the emergence of the dialogue.
Before, the US and UN also said about it. How useful and successful are
the international pressures on the SPDC for the political dialogue?

A: The reason the international community wants the dialogue is because it
understands [the importance of dialogue]. The dialogue method is not only
good for Burma but also for the whole world. Whatever the problem, it has
to be solved by means of dialogue, all responsible people understand it.
Therefore, I believe that the desire for the dialogue by the international
community is suitable for human civilisation.
___________

Democratic Voice of Burma March 15 2003

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Interview – Part II

The DVB managed to interview the Burmese democratic leader, Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi. We asked her about the political stalemate, international
blockades and the deteriorating standard of living of Burmese people.
DVB’s Htet Aung Kyaw interviewed her.

Q: Recently, when you met another fellow Nobel Prize winner, you said that
the international community should uphold the sanctions on the SPDC. Could
you explain to us about that?

A: These foreign sanctions and tourism matters are policy matters. I have
talked about them when I was released. We have said that we have no change
of policy until there is a dialogue.

Q: When it comes to humanitarian aid, it is the same as before?

A: We have said about it before too. We don’t say that people should not
give humanitarian helps. It depends on how you give them. There must be
accountability, transparency, independent monitoring. And there must be
open scrutiny from the outside. There must be the rights from the outside
to freely check and scrutinise the projects and helps provided.

Q: Currently, the living condition of the people [of Burma] is quite bad
due to the banking crisis, we have heard. What do you have to say in
general?

A: We see that the difficulties are increasing day by day. Nobody knows
exactly why the bank crisis started to this day. It is due to lack of
transparency. They are unable to say why the crucial crisis of the country
has happened and unable to examine it and it is a great loss to our
country.

Q: Some people are saying that the bank crisis is starting now and the
people are very poor and there could be some upheavals like 8888 uprising.
What is the assessment of the present political situation by the NLD?

A: The people of the country really want change but they are severely
intimidated and oppressed. They are hoping in fear that there would be
some change. Our belief is if you want something you must not only hoping
for it, but work for it with your own method. Therefore, we are in
politics. We need changes in this country. We are working with our own
methods, beliefs and standpoints.

Q: During your trips, in Arakan State for example, the people came out to
see you despite the prohibitions. You talk about some political parties
.

A: They [political parties and leaders] have to stand on the side of the
people. They should follow the people, when it is rights to do so and they
should lead them when it is right to do so. They have to take risk for the
people.

Q: You have now taken several trips around the country. If you have to
review them, how would you compare the current political awareness and the
support for the NLD among the people to the time of 1990 [General
Elections]?

A: After the elections, I was under house arrest and I am unable to say
what the support was like. But if I have to say the differences between
the situations of the people before the arrest, the early part of 1989 and
recent trips, I see that the desire of the people are becoming deeper.
Compared to 1989, their desire for change has become deeper. The support
of the people is becoming deeper, especially the support of the youth is
increasing.

Q:Do you have special things to say to young people you meet during your
trips?

A: I have many worries for the youth. They are not receiving valuable
education. Our education system has many needs and the youth are not very
satisfied with it. But their spirits are very encouraging. They understand
the need for change. They are mentally strong. Even though no one taught
them, they understand with their human thoughts what a country and a human
community should be like. These are very encouraging.

Q: We have seen that women and youth are formed on their own in the
formation of the NLD. Many youth are also joining the NLD. Why do they
join the NLD and with what kind of interest?

A: Young people are interested in the NLD. We have been trying to help
them take part in the activities. But there is no political freedom in
this country and their activities are very limited.

Q: You talked about the support for youth’s education and social welfare.
You are ready to work [cooperate] with the authority. How are you going to
do that?

A: You can work together in many areas. The main thing is you need the
desire to work together. If you don’t have the desire, you won’t be able
to work together in any area.

Q: These could be done only after the dialogues?

A: I see that even before the dialogue, if it is necessary for the nation,
we should work together.

Q: The people are bearing the brunt of the economic crisis and some are
still supporting you. What do you have to say to them, the voters how they
should coordinate with the NLD and the like?

A: As for me, I even don’t want to say that they should support or join
the NLD. During my Arakan trip, I told them plainly. If they want our
works to be successful and work for the nation, firstly, they must not
support unfair deeds and don’t say that it’s fair. Don’t do bad things and
don’t say that bad is good. I told them to start with the two. If they do
the two, the changes will come sooner.
___________

Agence France Presse March 18 2003

UN rights envoy to arrive in Myanmar Wednesday

UN human rights envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro was to arrive in Myanmar on
Wednesday for a week-long mission, the UN said on Tuesday, a fortnight
after he called for recognition of the changes taking place in the
military-ruled state.

The UN expert will probe the human rights situation, including what is
happening with political prisoners, and look at developments in the
administration of justice and basic political freedoms during his March
19-26 visit, a statement said.

He will also discuss with Myanmar authorities his proposal for an
independent assessment of allegations of human rights violations in ethnic
minority areas, including Shan State in northeast Myanmar.

Shan State is a sensitive region for Yangon due to simmering ethnic
rebellions.

It will be the UN special rapporteur's fifth visit to the country since
assuming his UN post in 2000, and follows an invitation by the government.

The trip coincides with the opening week of the annual six-week session of
the UN Human Rights Commission to which Pinheiro will present his
preliminary observations on his return.

Earlier this month, in an interview with the semi-official weekly Myanmar
Times, the Brazilian academic urged the international community to drop
its high expectations for transition in Myanmar and recognise the changes
taking place.

"It is time to take stock of, acknowledge and evaluate the ongoing effects
of incremental change which have taken place," the newspaper quoted him as
saying in a report to be presented to the UN Commission.

Pinheiro also reiterated his call for countries to engage and not isolate
the country.

Western governments have imposed a raft of sanctions on Myanmar in efforts
to put pressure on the military rulers to make concessions to the
democratic opposition led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

Last November, Pinheiro said in his meetings with top junta leaders in
Yangon he had emphasised his top priority was the release of some
1,200-1,300 political prisoners.
_________

Irrawaddy March 18 2003

Junta Bans Historian’s Articles
By Kyaw Zwa Moe

Articles from a respected Burmese historian have been prohibited from
being published in local magazines, sources in Rangoon said today. In
addition, the Burmese government’s Press Scrutiny Board (PSB) is
continuing to impose a news blackout on business reporting amidst the
country’s ongoing private banking crisis.
Pieces written by historian Dr Than Tun have been banned from Klaya, a
Rangoon-based monthly magazine, after he refuted comments made by the
military government in reference to the discovery of white elephants
having a positive affect on the economy. White elephants have long been
considered a treasured, even sacred, sign of good fortune.
"There is no connection between white elephants and the development of the
country. Elephants are animals whether they are white or black," Dr Than
Tun told the Washington-based Radio Free Asia (Burmese Service) last
month. He says that there is no reason for anyone to pay respect to an
elephant.
In the past two years, the military regime has discovered three white
elephants in western Burma’s Arakan State and has insisted their discovery
is an omen for peace and prosperity.
Than Tun’s regular contributions to Klaya magazine are mostly about the
affairs and administration of the Burmese dynasty in the 18th century.
Some say his articles may have contained facts relevant to the present
situation, and the current regime, which PSB officials found too
sensitive. Speaking today from his home in Rangoon, Than Tun said he was
not sure why his articles have been banned.
Meanwhile, newspapers and journals are still being blocked from reporting
on Burma’s continuing private banking crisis. A weekly journal editor told
The Irrawaddy that editors and journalists had been told not to write
about the issue since the crisis began in February.
"So far magazines and journals haven’t been allowed to run any stories
about the financial crisis, and the PSB has closely scrutinized each
journal for reports on the issue," he said.
The bank crisis has caused anxiety among customers who have rushed to
banks to withdraw their savings. With a shortage of currency, banks have
since imposed withdrawal limits and junta leaders were concerned that
media reports would fuel the panic.
But the journal editor says the blackout has only resulted in more rumors
and what the country now needs is more transparency.
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said recently that without transparency
in Burma the real reasons behind the crisis remained unclear, therefore,
no one had the information needed to help find a solution.
"Our job is to provide people with true and accurate information on events
that happen around the country," the editor said. "But as journalists we
can’t do that because of government interference."
Last year the Paris-based Reporters sans Frontières listed Burma’s
military regime as one of the world’s worst violators of press freedoms.
_____________

Independent Mon News Agency February 27 2003

USDA TRAIN VILLAGERS TO LIE TO INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

The Burmese authorities have started conducting training courses in Mon
State on how to answer and deceive an investigative team sent in by the
international institutions.

A training course took place at Yong-Dong village in Mudon Township on
February 16, organized by the Township Peace and Development Council
(TPDC).   The trainees are taught on how to direct an international team
during its investigation into rural areas so as to steer them away from
incriminating evidence which could tarnish Myanmar’s image to the
international community, a local source said.

Over a hundred members of United Solidarity and Development Association
(USDA) attended the course run by military officials in uniform. The
course contains communication methods on how to interact with members of
Amnesty International and other INGOs.

Officials from the Women Affairs Committee from MuDon Township lectured
young members not to tell the truth about forced labor and human rights
abuses that have occurred in their areas, said Min Win, a trainee from the
village.

“We are told not to tell the truth about forced labor to international
organizations”, he added.  “It’s a course on how to lie to people who ask
questions.”

The officials forced young boys and girls to attend the training course
despite the will of local Mon people.  Mi Yin Mon, a teenage girl said “I
was so disgusted with the training which instructs us  not to tell the
truth about the abuses that we have suffered for years.”

The political wing of the State Peace and Development Council, USDA, is
also known for its counter attack against democratic leader Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy and agitating discontent to
discriminate and commit violence against ethnic and religious groups.

GUNS

Kao Wao March 1 2003

Mon State at war

The Burmese Army is using local civilians for portering in its operations
against Mon guerrillas in Southern Mon State while enforcing a ban on the
sale of batteries and medicine at local shops.

The Burmese Army LIB No. 273 ordered village headmen in northern Ye Phyu
Township to provide people from their villages to carry ammunition and
equipment in a military operation against Mon rebels, an escaped porter
said last week.

The man from Lok Zaing Village who just returned from portering said three
persons from each Htan JaNu, Kreik KaDin, Lok Zaing, Rot Ta Mah and Dide
Tu villages were forced at gunpoint to carry heavy equipment for the
Burmese soldiers.

“Major Kyaw Soe arrested us and ordered us to porter.  We do not have
enough food and sleep, and they don’t give us mosquito nets either,” said
the porter who asked not to be identified for security reasons.

The LIB No. 273 severely punishes porters who try to escape by beating
them with a gun or fined 10,000.00 Kyat (Burmese currency) for punishment.

The Burmese army recently arrested men, women, and Buddhist monks as well
as children for portering in southern Ye in their military operation
against the Mon in the area.

According to local villagers, the army is also banning local people from
buying medicines and batteries so as to cut off products from the rebel
groups.  Traders and shopkeepers will be severely punished and fined if
they sell their products. Consequently, people who are sick are unable to
buy medicines due to the ban on the selling of products in the rural
areas.

Villagers are unable to listen to news from the radio broadcast because
they cannot buy the batteries, another local source said.

Local farmers are required to ask for permission to enter their own farms.
 The army has villagers buy a pass-ticket for Kyat 100.00 per each trip. 
Another local Burmese army LIB 282 issued an order instructing local
farmers to take only two kilos of rice to their farms and banning them
from sleeping over night on the farm.  No one is allowed to fish in the
late evening. If found they will be labeled as supporting the rebels and
will be dealt with severely.

Nai Ba who just arrived to the border area said many villagers have now
left homes in an attempt to find employment, as they could not live and
work safely in the their villages.  The Burmese army defined their area as
the black area (free-fire zone) which is opposed by some Mon armed groups
who are seeking to control part of it.

The Burmese army is searching for the Mon guerrillas led by Nai Bin and
Nai Hlong, an armed group which split from the Mon National Liberation
Army of the New Mon State Party after the cease-fire agreement.  After the
cease-fire with the regime in 1995, some fighters left the party to fight
against the Burmese army in southern Mon State of Burma.
___________

Wired March 18 2003

Internet censorship and Burma: Does the End Justify the Means?
By Patrick Di Justo

If you can read this, you're probably not in Myanmar.

That country's military junta has blocked Internet access to Wired News,
as well as to most porn sites and to the website of the Free Burma
Coalition.

If you're in China or Saudi Arabia, you'll have a hard time viewing
anti-government websites and Internet porn. And if you're surfing the Net
from one of 40 percent of the libraries or schools in the United States,
don't expect access to websites hosted on Tripod or Geocities.

The University of Toronto's Internet Censorship Explorer permits anyone
with a Web browser to test the limits of certain national and
organizational Internet-blocking schemes. Users simply enter a target URL
and a country into a search field on the Censorship Explorer's website.
The software then scans the ports of available servers in that country,
looking for open ones. By using the foreign computer as a proxy server,
ICE then attempts to visit the target URL from behind that country's
firewall. The result is either the visible website or a "page blocked"
message is then returned to the user.

Project director Ronald Diebert knows that by using port-scanning
technology, he's operating in a gray area.

"Network security administrators often look upon port scanning as surface
evidence of malicious hacking," he said. "However, port scanning alone is
not a crime in Canada or the United States."

His use of proxy servers is a bit more controversial, he said. "We do not
have explicit prior permission to use the computers. However, we are
assuming that if a port is left open, it is intended to be used as a proxy
and is configured as such."

Computer security professionals, though, do not look kindly at that
assumption.

"This to me is no different than hacking," said Jon Asdourian, a computer
forensics examiner with Stroz-Friedberg. "They're obviously using
resources that would not normally be available. Using someone else's
resources without their knowledge is abhorrent to us."

Richard Mason, director of the Maguire Center for Ethics at Southern
Methodist University, said that the issue is murky. "They're asking an
ethical question of censorship within a country, which is a good thing. On
the other hand there's an element of deception to it."

Diebert defends the project as being for the greater good. "We do not
intend to use these tools to damage or steal data, or reveal information
about system vulnerabilities. Our aim is to empirically study Internet
content filtering, and this is the only way it can be done without
partners on the ground."

Diebert has written a six-point statement of principles that all his
researchers must follow. They are absolutely forbidden to damage the proxy
servers they find open. Deibert has also let the computer administrators
at the University of Toronto know about the project.

"I feel strongly about the value of this type of research," Diebert said.
"Uncovering censorship and surveillance practices is fair game."

Using ICE, Diebert and his team have discovered that pornography and
government criticism are the subjects most frequently blocked by
non-democratic countries. China's blocking techniques keep out everything
from Playboy.com to Friends of Falun Gong to the Dalai Lama's website.

Chinese officials insist such techniques do not amount to censorship.

"We don't have censorship of the Internet," said Larry Wu, second
secretary for Science and Technology at the Embassy of the People's
Republic of China in Washington. "Generally, the Chinese government is for
the full exchange of information. We have full freedom of speech, freedom
of the press. However, we have our own understanding of what is a
limitation of the freedom of speech. So we do use techniques to block
certain websites, as well as we try to block spam."

Nail Al-Jubier, a spokesperson for the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, admits that his government regulates Internet access.

"The overwhelming number of blocked sites are pornography," Al-Jubier
said. "Some websites that are deemed un-Islamic -- those that promote
violence -- are blocked because of the standards of the community. Some
parents don't want their children going online if these are the things
they can see."

Al-Jubier denies that Saudi Arabia blocks sites deemed politically
objectionable, but admits that sometimes mistakes happen. "One time Fox
News was blocked and we didn't know why, but we manually unblocked (it)."

He added that Saudi citizens who want to avoid the government Net
censorship can always dial up through America Online to Bahrain or Dubai.

Diebert has plans to modify his Internet Censorship Explorer so it
operates as a distributed computing-type project, like SETI at Home, that
would let Internet users worldwide search for and find available proxy
servers in target countries. He plans to keep ICE running "as long as
there is Internet censorship and surveillance worldwide."

REGIONAL

Irrawaddy March 18 2003

Burmese Muslims Refugees Fear War In Iraq
By Naw Seng

Clouds of uncertainty hang over the heads of Burmese Muslims residing in
the Middle East, as war in Iraq enters the eleventh hour, according to
Bangkok-based Rohingya businessmen.
They say Rohingya’s, Burma’s largest Muslim group, are concerned about
their livelihoods after several Rohingya owned enterprises in the United
Arab Emirates (UAE) have already closed due to the looming war.
Owners say they fear their businesses will be heavily restricted in the
region once war breaks out, making bank transfers as well as importing and
exporting goods difficult.
One Rohingya man in Bangkok involved in a seafood business in the UAE
capital of Dubai said today that he has been unable to speak with his
partner there since Washington announced yesterday that diplomatic
attempts to halt the impending war had ended. "We couldn’t even contact
him, because he left the office in fear of the war."
Other Burmese citizens working in Saudi Arabia and the UAE say that if the
war has a negative impact on the economy of the Middle East their jobs may
be in jeopardy. This is especially troubling, they say, as they still
cannot return home due to the religious repression carried out by the
Burmese regime in Arakan State, where most Rohingya live.
Thet Lwin Oo, of the Muslim Agency for News, says over the last couple of
years countries like Saudi Arabia have been less inclined to accept
Rohingya refugees, and that if they lose their jobs they might be forced
out of the region. "Burmese authorities also won’t accept Rohingya from
Arab countries, however, they really want to go back."
A Rohingya Relief Organization worker in Bangkok, Bo Lu, however,
disagreed saying he doubted there was much desire to return home. "They
have nowhere to go back to," said Bo Lu today.
They would face imprisonment or hefty fines for illegally leaving Burma if
they tried to return home now, says Bo Lu. He added that they might try to
return to neighboring countries of Burma in hopes of sneaking back across
the porous border unnoticed.
Muslim leaders in Rangoon said they were unaware of problems faced by
Rohingya in the Middle East, saying contact between the two groups is
difficult.
According to the Rohingya Relief Organization, nearly 500,000 Burmese
Rohingya have sought shelter in Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia,
over the past two decades.
______________

Voice of Vietnam March 17 2003

Vietnamese leader welcomes "fruitful" visit, bids Burmese leader farewell

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh received visiting Chairman of the
State Peace and Development Council of Myanmar Burma Senior Gen Than Shwe
in Hanoi Monday. The two leaders lauded the fine development of bilateral
friendship and multifaceted cooperation. They agreed to further promote
cooperation to contribute to consolidating solidarity and cooperation
within ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the interests of
the two peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in
the region and the world.

The same day, Senior Gen Than Shwe concluded his official visit to
Vietnam. Speaking at the farewell ceremony, President Tran Duc Luong said
that Vietnam and Myanmar Burma have been and will always be close friends
and support each other in construction and development. Senior Gen Than
Shwe highlighted the fruitful results of his visit to Vietnam. He said, "I
hope that following the visit, our commitments will become true. There
will be more exchanges of senior delegations between the two countries to
further promote bilateral relations. Myanmar pledges to effectively carry
out signed agreements."

Earlier during talks between State President Tran Duc Luong and Senior Gen
Than Shwe, the two leaders agreed to work together to boost bilateral
cooperation, particularly in economics, trade, agriculture and forestry,
health and education, true to their close political bonds. Mr Luong
underscored Vietnam's consistent policy of promoting friendship and
cooperation with Myanmar, both in a bilateral context as well as in the
context of ASEAN.

Meanwhile, General Than Shwe hoped for further expansion of friendship and
mutually beneficial cooperation with Vietnam. He praised Vietnam's open
external policy and international integration, and said these policies
have significantly enhanced the nation's role in the region and
international community.

The two leaders emphasized their resolve to press ahead with the
implementation of agreements, especially in economics, trade, agriculture,
forestry, health care and education. They emphasized their active interest
in the sub-Mekong region cooperative projects, to ensure the interests of
all Mekong River countries...
_________________

VNA News Agency March 17 2003

VIETNAM, BURMESE LEADERS AFFIRM TIES IN JOINT COMMUNIQUE

In a joint communique issued at the end of Burmese leader Gen Than Shwe's
three-day visit, Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong welcomed Burma's
development and voiced support for the Burmese government and people's
moves to uphold territorial integrity and national unification, political
stability and a constant growth rate, which contributed to regional and
world peace, cooperation and development. The Burmese leader in turn
lauded Vietnam's socioecononomic progress and independent and open foreign
policy, noting contribution to regional and world stability through
multilateral and diversified international ties. The leaders affirmed
their economic ties and agreed to enhance trade and investment and
security cooperation. Burma also voiced support for Vietnam's early entry
into the WTO. Text of report in English of "Excerpt of Vietnam-Burma joint
communique issued in Hanoi on 17 March"; carried by Vietnamese news agency
VNA web site on the same date:

Hanoi, 17 March: A joint Vietnam-Myanmar Burma communique was issued in
Hanoi on Monday 17 March at the end of a three-day official visit to
Vietnam by Senior Gen Than Shwe, chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council. The communique says:

"During the visit, Chairman Senior Gen Than Shwe held talks with President
Tran Duc Luong, paid a courtesy visit to Party General Secretary Nong Duc
Manh and met with Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and National Assembly
Chairman Nguyen Van An. Chairman Senior Gen Than Shwe paid a floral
tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum and visited some
economic and cultural establishments in Hanoi.

"The talks between President Tran Duc Luong and Chairman Senior Gen Than
Shwe took place in an atmosphere of friendship, mutual understanding and
trust. The Vietnamese delegation to the talks also included Vu Khoan,
deputy prime minister; Nguyen Dy Nien, foreign minister; Nguyen Van Chien,
chairman-director of the Presidential Office; Le Huy Ngo, minister of
agriculture and rural development; Truong Dinh Tuyen, minister of trade;
Hoang Trung Hai, minister of industry; Tran Thi Trung Chien, minister of
public health; Pham Quang Khon, Vietnamese ambassador to Myanmar; Nguyen
Van Thanh, assistant to the state president; Le Cong Phung, deputy foreign
minister; Nguyen Van Rinh, permanent deputy minister of national defence;
Nguyen Khanh Toan, permanent deputy minister of public security; and
Nguyen Viet Thang, deputy minister of fisheries. The Myanmar delegation to
the talks included all official members of the mission accompanying
Chairman Senior Gen Than Shwe.

"The two heads of state informed each other about the recent situation in
their respective countries and exchanged views on directions and measures
to boost the friendly and cooperative ties for mutual benefits between the
two countries as well as international and regional issues of common
concern.

"Chairman Senior Gen Than Shwe informed the Vietnamese president of
Myanmar's progress in politics, economy and social development, especially
achievements recorded in establishing peace and stability as well as in
developing the economy. Chairman Than Shwe also reiterated Myanmar's
independent and positive foreign policy. Chairman Than Shwe stressed that
Myanmar attached importance to maintaining friendship with all countries
in the world, particularly neighbouring countries in the spirit of
goodwill, friendship and mutual understanding on the basis of five
principles of peaceful co-existence, particularly principles on mutual
trust, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other,
non-interference into internal affairs of the other country, and
settlement of disputes through peaceful means.

"President Tran Duc Luong warmly congratulated Chairman Senior Gen Than
Shwe for the socioeconomic achievements obtained by the Myanmar people
under his leadership in the past years. President Luong renewed Vietnam's
support for the Myanmar government and people's efforts in maintaining
territorial integrity and national unification, unity and national
reconciliation, and political stability, and in building a country at a
constant growth rate, thus contributing to peace, stability, cooperation
and development in Southeast Asia and the world at large.

"Chairman Senior Gen Than Shwe expressed his delight to witness important
achievements recorded by the Vietnamese people under the leadership of the
Communist Party of Vietnam. He expressed his belief that Vietnam would
obtain more and greater achievements in realizing socioeconomic
development targets set for the coming years, thus helping raise Vietnam's
prestige and position in the region and the world.

"Chairman Than Shwe highly valued Vietnam's foreign policy of
independence, self-reliance, openness and multilateralization and
diversification of international ties, and its active international
integration efforts, noting that this open policy has contributed
positively to peace and stability in the region and the world as a whole.

"The two heads of state expressed satisfaction that since President
Luong's visit to Myanmar last May, the two countries' economic and
commercial ties have yielded considerable developments. Agreements reached
by the two leaders during the visit have since been carrying out
effectively step by step. The two leaders appreciated these positive
steps, underlining the two countries should further bilateral economic,
investment and trade ties on a par with their political ties and
potential.

"The two sides reiterated the importance of bilateral economic ties,
particularly the promotion of investment and trade between the two
countries. To this end, the two sides agreed to make full use of existing
bilateral cooperative mechanisms, especially the Joint Committee for
Bilateral Cooperation and the Sub-committee for Trade. The two sides also
agreed on closer cooperation in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and
concerned sectors, and energy.

"The two sides agreed to continue promoting cooperative relations in
security by strengthening exchanges of information and cooperation in
fighting terrorism and preventing terrorist activities targeted to their
respective Governments. In this spirit, the two heads of state welcomed
the two sides' consideration of an early signing of an agreement between
the two countries on anti-crimes.

"The two sides held that the two countries should further their
cooperation bilaterally as well as within the ASEAN Association of
Southeast Asian Nations framework with an aim of consolidating solidarity
and boosting cooperation to cope with challenges and to raise the ASEAN's
role and position in the region and the world. They also agreed to boost
cooperation in other regional and international political and economic
forums.

"The two sides acknowledged that Vietnam's admission to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) and its integration into the world's economy would play
an important role in the development of a sustainable and prosperous
economy in Vietnam and the region. In this spirit, Myanmar supports
Vietnam's early joining the WTO.

"The two sides were of the same view that together with the fruitful
results of the official visit to Myanmar by Vietnamese President Tran Duc
Luong last May, the official visit by Chairman Senior Gen Than Shwe would
promote the traditional relationship and comprehensive cooperation between
Vietnam and Myanmar for the benefits of both peoples and for peace,
cooperation and development in the region and the world."
_________

Agence France Presse March 18 2003

Trade to top agenda on Bangladesh PM's landmark visit to Myanmar

BYLINE: NADEEM QADIR

DATELINE: DHAKA, March 18

BODY:
Bilateral trade will top the agenda during a landmark visit to Myanmar by
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia starting Wednesday, a foreign
ministry spokesman said.

The visit is aimed at strengthening ties between Bangladesh and its
eastern neighbour, the spokesman said.

"The entire gamut of bilateral relations existing between the two
neighbouring countries will be reviewed and areas of tangible economic
cooperation will be identified," he added. Zia is scheduled to inaugurate
the Bangladesh trade fair at the Yangon Trade Centre and address Myanmar's
business community.

The prime minister, due to leave for Myanmar on Wednesday on the three-day
official visit, will be the first Bangladeshi premier to visit the eastern
neighbour in a decade.

The trip comes at the invitation of Senior General Than Shwe.

Zia's entourage would include Foreign Minister Morshed Khan,
Communications Minister Nazmul Huda and Commerce Minister Amir Khasru
Mahmud Chowdhury, the spokesman said.

Myanmar junta leader Than Shwe, who was in Dhaka in December, was the
first leader of Myanmar's junta to visit Bangladesh since the 1988 coup in
Yangon. He is the military commander-in-chief, prime minister and defence
minister.

Some 100 Bangladeshi organisations are expected to participate in the
one-week trade fair.

The neighbours have a small amount of bilateral trade, with Myanmar
exporting timber, maize, rice and fish and Bangladesh selling fertiliser,
cement and medicine.

According to available statistics during the fiscal year 2001-2002,
Bangladesh imported goods worth about 16.94 million dollars, while exports
to Myanmar were worth 2.39 million dollars.

Commerce ministry sources said some agreements were likely to be signed
during the visit that would help boost bilateral trade as well as redress
the trade imbalance.

Bangladesh is increasingly pursuing a "look east" foreign policy and is
talking to Myanmar about the possibility of building a direct road link
between the neighbours.

Officials hope the highway would link cash-strapped Bangladesh to the
economic giants of Southeast Asia and eventually connect it to China, a
major economic and military aid donor for Dhaka.

Last month a shipping service was launched between Bangladesh and Myanmar,
the first legal sea link since Dhaka won independence from Pakistan in
1971.

Both are members of BIMSTEC, an economic forum which also groups India,
Sri Lanka and Thailand.

During Than Shwe's visit to Dhaka, Bangladesh and Myanmar pledged to boost
bilateral ties to overcome the economic challenges faced by both
countries.

Relations were strained in the early 1990s when about 250,000 Rohingya
Muslims flooded into Bangladesh from Myanmar, claiming atrocities by the
junta.

Ties have improved since then, with the repatriation of most of the
refugees under a United Nations agreement, but more than 20,000 still live
in camps in Bangladesh.
__________

The Independent March 18 2003

Khaleda leaves for Myanmar tomorrow, THE INDEPENDENT

Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia leaves Dhaka for Yangon tomorrow
(Wednesday) for a three-day official visit to Myanmar for expanding
cooperation between the two neighbours in all fields.

She is paying the visit at the invitation of Myanmar Premier Senior
General Than Shwe, who is also the Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC) of his country. Than Shwe visited Bangladesh
last December.

According to an official announcement yesterday, the two Prime Ministers
will hold talks tomorrow at the Myanmar National Parliament Building
Pyithu Hiuttaw.

During the talks, the entire gamut of bilateral relations existing between
the two neighboring countries would be reviewed and areas of tangible
economic cooperation identified, the announcement said.

Establishing road link between Dhaka and Yangon and improved bilateral
trade ties are likely to dominate the talks, sources said.

Some memorandum of understanding (MoU) and agreements on coastal shipping
and expansion of bilateral trade are expected to be signed during the
Prime Minister's visit.

Bilateral trade between the two countries is now heavily in favour of
Myanmar. In 2001-2002 fiscal, Bangladesh's import from Myanmar stood at
US$ 18 million while export earning from Myanmar was only US$ 2.5 million.

The Prime Minister will lead a 50-member delegation that includes Foreign
Minister M. Morshed Khan, Communication Minister Barrister Nazmul Huda,
Commerce Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and senior officials of the
government.

A 16-member business delegation and a cultural team will also accompany
the Prime Minister.