BurmaNet News: April 9 2003

[editor at burmanet.org]

April 9 2003 Issue #2212

INSIDE BURMA

DVB: Aung San Suu Kyi gets rousing welcome from 35,000 people in Kale
Irrawaddy: Demonstrator still in British Embassy
Kaladan Press: 32 Prisoners handed over after two days of flag meeting
between Nasaka and BDR

DRUGS

DVB: Nine killed in Wa clash with militia unit in Shan State
Xinhua: Police say joint efforts of China, Burma lead to destruction of
drug factory

MONEY

Bangkok Post: Salween is home to new dam row
Xinhua: Myanmar’s imports down sharply in 2002

REGIONAL

Philippine Daily Inquirer: Philippine intelligence warns of militant group
‘bigger’ than Jemaah Islamiyah
Kyodo: Japan urged to redress Myanmar man on ‘wrong’ refugee decision

INTERNATIONAL

Badger Herald: Wisconsin alum remains hostage in Burma

STATEMENTS/MISCELLANEOUS

Congressional Record: Statement in Senate by Senator Russell Feingold
EarthRights International: Caught in the wrong place at the wrong time

INSIDE BURMA

Democratic Voice of Burma April 8 2003

AUNG SAN SUU KYI GETS ROUSING WELCOME FROM 35,000 PEOPLE IN KALE

We have learned that the leader of the democracy movement, Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi, and her party held a mass rally in Kale of Sagaing Division this
morning. People from townships along the Chindwin River had come to Kale
and were waiting for her arrival. National League for Democracy (NLD)
Spokesperson U Lwin, said a large number of people were there in Kale.

Speaking at the rally, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi called for unity and also
urged women to play a role in the efforts for democracy. U Lwin said Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi and her party were welcomed not only by NLD members but
also by members of other parties. U Lwin Over 35,000 to 40,000 people
welcomed them in Kale, which is quite a big city. In addition, there is a
big village near Kale, called Tahan village, which is in Sagaing Division
but inhabited by a large number of Chin people. These Chin nationals
performed Chin traditional dances to welcome her. It was a lively event.
There are NLD members as well as members of the Zomi National Congress in
Kale. In addition, members from many other townships also arrived
beforehand to give her an enthusiastic welcome. What I mean is that people
from about eight townships along the Chindwin River, including Monywa, in
Sagaing Division were there for a welcome. End of recording

That was NLD spokesperson U Lwin who also said the success of Chin State
tour was much more than expected.

DVB Correspondent Khin Maung Soe Win interviews a resident of Kale to
report about the mass rally held there.

Khin Maung Soe Win As soon as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her entourage
reached the plains after successfully touring the highlands of Chin State,
residents of Kale in 15 cars and 30 motorcycles went straight to the base
of the highlands to welcome her. DVB contacted a resident of Kale to
enquire about it.

Unidentified female It was so gratifying and heartwarming. Quite a number
of people welcomed her in front of U Do Htaung's NLD elected
representative from Kale-1 constituency home. But, she could not stop. She
told the people to follow her to Kale because she had no time to stop
there. She said she had not slept for three days and nights because of
frequent car problems and that too many places still remain to be covered.
So, we followed her.

DVB Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's speech, which lasted a little over 30 minutes,
was delivered in front of Dr Thein Win's NLD elected representative from
Kale-2 constituency residence on Bogyoke Street. This was what Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi said.

Unidentified female She said she was happy and thankful for the love and
respect people had shown her. She was also quite frank about some things
that made her unhappy with the government. She said democracy once
attained must be maintained with discipline and only then would democracy
be a success. If the people who maintained democracy were irresponsible
then the democracy attained would be worthless in essence. She said there
was nothing she could do without the support from the people. She then
asked the people to tell her openly whether they were afraid. When the
people said, "Yes, we are afraid," she said it was natural to be afraid
but it would not help achieve anything. She said people must try to be
free from fear. It was not possible for her and her colleagues to succeed
if they had to walk alone in front without the people following them.

DVB Although there was no visible interference by authorities, members of
No 17 regional military intelligence unit climbed atop a fire engine and
videotaped the people. In addition, they also demanded and took away the
name list of young people who had been providing security for Daw Aung Suu
Kyi.

There are many military units in Kale, and the Military Operations Command
there had issued an order asking military families to buy food for two
days and restricting them to go out.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her entourage were welcomed with traditional Chin
dances in Kale. End of recording Passage omitted.
________

Irrawaddy April 9 2003

Demonstrator Still in British Embassy
By Taw Taw

British diplomatic officials and representatives of the military junta are
continuing to work together to reach an agreement on the fate of a Burmese
student who took refuge at the British Embassy in Rangoon after staging a
peaceful protest on Friday, according to sources close to the situation.
"He [the student] is still in the embassy," said Zaw Naing Oo, General
Secretary of the Democratic Party for New Society (DPNS), a Burmese exile
group based in Thailand.
Zaw Naing Oo added that British diplomats in Rangoon might release a
statement on the matter soon. On Monday, however, British Embassy
spokeswoman Anne Macro said, "Nothing has changed since last Friday."
The protest at issue took place in front of the British embassy in
downtown Rangoon on Friday morning. The demonstrators demanded that the
regime release political prisoners and hold talks with the opposition.
When the police arrived, the student demonstrator took refuge inside the
embassy. Security forces arrested his companion, who is believed to be a
local monk.
Burmese authorities have suggested the protesters could be linked to a
small bomb blast that occurred about two kilometers from the British
Embassy on March 27. One municipal worker was reportedly killed and three
others injured in the explosion. The junta issued a statement last Friday
saying that having the demonstrator inside the embassy could compromise
the security of the building.
A Burmese government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told
the Associated Press on Monday that "the suspect is believed to be an
important link to the recent terrorist bomb incident in Yangon".
Burmese charged with holding similar protests have faced prison terms of
seven to fourteen years.
In August 2002, law student Thet Naung Soe held a solo protest in front of
Rangoon City Hall. He was arrested and sentenced to 14 years. In a 2001
case, a retired university professor, Salai Hutn Than, was arrested for
holding a one-man protest against military rule at the same location. He
received a seven-year sentence.
_________

Kaladan Press April 9 2003

32 PRISONERS HANDED OVER AFTER TWO DAYS OF FLAG
MEETING BETWEEN NASAKA AND BDR

32 prisoners of both countries were handed over between Nasaka (Burma
border security force) and Bangladesh Rifle (BDR){Bangladesh border
security force} after two days of flag meeting between Nasaka and BDR at
Teknaf (a border town of Bangladesh), according to our correspondent.

A 10 members delegation led by BDR Sector Commander of Chittagong Col.
Mahmud Hasan from Bangladesh side and 27 members delegation led by Nasaka
Director of Arakan Western area Col. Aung Ngwe have participated in the
meeting held from April 7 to 8 at a Hotel of Teknaf, he further added.

In the flag meeting they discussed about border trade (legal and illegal),
Rohingya refugee repatriation and other related issues of both countries
regarding to the recently visit of both Prime Ministers, source said.

The result of yesterday meeting was known that the 20 Burmese prisoners
from Bangladesh and 12 Bangladeshi prisoners from Burma were handed over
to each delegation and no more results were known of the meeting until
writing of this news, source further added.

Some of the handed over Bangladeshi prisoners are: 1). Abdur Rashid Shahin
(Gazipur Dist.), 2). Bashat Karim (Shah Purir Dip), 3). Zahed Hossaian
(Shah Purir Dip), 4). Naserul Haq (Shah Purir Dip), 5). Saifur Rahman
(Naikong Chari), 6). Abu Taleb (Ramu) 7). Maung Than
Maung (Cox’s Bazar), 8). Ilias (Teknaf) and 9). Habib Ullah (Teknaf),
according to The Daily Ajker Desh Bidesh.

DRUGS

Democratic Voice of Burma April 8 2003

NINE KILLED IN WA CLASH WITH MILITIA UNIT IN SHAN STATE

We have learned that Wa troops who have cease-fire agreement with the SPDC
State Peace and Development Council clashed with members of a people's
militia unit, resulting in the deaths of five militiamen and four
villagers.

The battle took place in Mong Htaw-Mong Hta region of Mong Ton Township in
eastern Shan State when Wa soldiers of the Third Battalion in 171st
Military Region attacked the heroin refinery camp operated by a militia
unit headed by U Janu. The militia leader, without the approval of the Wa,
had been operating the refinery camp for some years now.

The battle which killed five militiamen and four villagers and seriously
wounded one Wa soldier lasted for about 20 minutes. Wa soldiers were
reported to have rounded up the rest of the militiamen and confiscated the
opium.

According to news sources from the China-Burma border, Wa soldiers, the
local SPDC Army unit, and the militia have often been at loggerheads with
each other over narcotic drugs but this was the first time that they had
actually fought each other.
_________

Xinhua News Agency April 9 2003

Police say joint efforts of China, Burma lead to destruction of drug factory

Kunming, 9 April: A drug processing factory in Myanmar Burma was destroyed
recently by the joint efforts of China and Myanmar, said a police
spokesman in southwest China's Yunnan Province at a press conference
Tuesday 8 April .

The authority of Myanmar's Shan state sent troops to assault the factory
on 30 March, the spokesman said. After a battle, the troops confiscated
13.5 kilograms of heroin, 111.3 kilograms of morphine and 341.2 kilograms
of opium, along with tools for drug-making and weapons.

Chinese police have sent observers to the site of the demolished factory,
said the spokesman.

Sources said the factory is located in a jungle some 10 kilometres from
the Myanmar-Thailand border in the Shan state.

The action, based on information provided by Chinese police in February,
is another success of cooperation between China and Myanmar in the
crack-down on drug trafficking, said the spokesman.

It is the result of the earnest implementation of a memo signed by China
and Myanmar and also follows a ministerial meeting held by China, Myanmar,
Laos and Thailand on the anti-drug campaign in Beijing in 2001, the
spokesman said.

The factory is the biggest one busted by the joint efforts of China and
Myanmar, according to the spokesman.

MONEY

Bangkok Post April 9 2003

SALWEEN IS HOME TO NEW DAM ROW
By KULTIDA SAMABUDDHI

Sittiporn Rattanopas is fully aware of the problems facing the massive
Salween dam project in an area of Burma which is home to ethnic groups
fighting the Rangoon government.

The governor of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand has PTT
Plc's failure to complete its gas pipeline from Burma on schedule as an
example. The pipeline ran into fierce opposition from human rights
activists and environmentalists, and PTT Plc and its partners, global
petrochemical giants Unocal and Total, were condemned worldwide for
providing criminal support to a Rangoon regime accused of using forced
labour, of forcibly relocating entire villages, of rape and ethnic
cleansing in pushing ahead with the pipeline.

Obstacles are unavoidable when investing in Burma, Mr Sittiporn said. But
these obstacles did not negate the benefits of the dams, which would have
a combined capacity of over 5,000 megawatts of hydroelectricity available
at a cost of 90 satang per unit. This compares with 1.80 to two baht per
unit for petroleum and coal-generated energy. I have promised myself to
see the Salween hydroelectric project realised while I am the Egat
governor,'' the energy chief declared. The project is so huge that I might
not have another opportunity to be part of it.''

Three hydropower dams are planned for the Salween. Egat has sought cabinet
approval to develop two dams, the Upper and Lower Salween dams, at an
estimated cost of 200 billion baht, while MDX Plc, a Thai construction
outfit, has begun work on a 3,600-megawatt dam near Ta Sang in Burma's
Shan state.

MDX executives say Ta Sang dam would be the largest hydropower dam in
Southeast Asia. It also would be the first dam built on the 2,800km
Salween.

Egat's 4,500MW Upper and 800MW Lower Salween dams are located adjacent to
Mae Sariang district in Mae Hong Son province, where the river forms a
natural 130km section of the border.

A preliminary study by Japan's Electric Power Development Co Ltd in the
early 1990s identified five potential dam sites. Egat opted for the two
border locations because it was thought it would be much easier to seek
investment funds from financial institutions.

Investors and financial institutions would probably be reluctant to invest
in the projects if they were located on Burmese soil,'' Mr Sittiporn said.
They might also be uncomfortable dealing directly with the military junta.
The projects would be more attractive if the Thai government were a
co-investor.''

Mr Sittiporn is determined to have the dams go ahead after they were put
on hold almost a decade ago because of tighter funding at Egat.

He pledged soon after his appointment in October to also push ahead with
the Asean Power Grid project, which calls for a transmission network
linking the region's power sources. These sources include the immense
hydropower potential of Burma, northern Laos and southern China and the
substantial fossil fuel reserves of Malaysia and Indonesia. The network
would facilitate power exchanges and energy trading among Asean member
countries.

The dream of the Asean Power Grid cannot be realised without the Upper and
Lower Salween dams,'' Mr Sittiporn said, adding that he had persuaded
Asean leaders attending a conference of major power producers in Japan in
November to support the power grid.

He then travelled to Rangoon, where he secured backing for the project
from the head of Burma's Electric Power Department. He also accompanied
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to the Greater Mekong Sub-region Summit
in Cambodia in November, where he again promoted the power grid.

Mr Sittiporn also has tried to convince Pongthep Thepkanchana, the energy
minister, the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Energy
Committee of the merits of the scheme. Egat is tying its push for the
Salween dams to the Asean Power Grid.

Mr Sittiporn expects construction of the dams to begin in 2007 and
electricity generation to start in 2012. He said Egat was prepared to buy
the entire electricity output for onward sale to Malaysia and Indonesia,
which are forecast to become net importers of electricity by 2010.

He said Egat was prepared to fund the entire project if there were
financial constraints on Burma _ We may have to put up the money first
through our capital or by issuing bonds.'' He said Egat had allocated 30
to 40 billion baht for investment in the project.

Energy Minister Pongthep announced in January that he would ask the
Finance Ministry to consider investing in the project. Negotiations with
the Burmese government are the next step.

Mr Thaksin declared his support for the dams after visiting Burma in
February. He also announced during a visit to the Egat headquarters that
the Salween dams were essential elements in plans by eight Asean members
to develop a power grid, and they should go ahead despite the concerns
about the possible environmental and social impact.

These concerns have been voiced by senators, environmentalists, human
rights activists and advocates of ethnic groups based in Thailand and
Burma.

And the early indications are this could well be one of the more
interesting anti-development campaigns to date. The project involves so
many different issues _ from Thailand-Burma relations to ethnic cleansing,
forced labour and rape, to the assault on the environment.

Burma's opposition National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi
and 69 Thai and Burmese NGOs submitted a letter in December to Kraisak
Choonhavan, chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, demanding
that the government scrap the project.

The Salween dams are large-scale projects which will have major impacts on
communities in the area,'' the letter read. Whether the dams are built in
Shan state or on the Thai-Burmese border, they will involve human rights
violations. Up until now, Thai politicians, Egat and private companies
have claimed that the Salween River Basin is not populated. In fact, over
10 million people of 13 different ethnicities are living in the basin and
relying on the river, which is one of the richest river ecosystems in the
world.''

Salween Watch, a Chiang Mai-based non-governmental organisation, reported
recently that over 300,000 Shan and other ethnic people had been forced to
relocate from central Shan state to make way for MDX's Ta Sang dam.

Sai Sai, a Tai villager who takes refuge in Thailand and works as a
volunteer for an NGO, pleaded with the Thai government to stop taking
advantage of Burma's lack of democracy and its disregard for human rights
and the environment for its own benefit.

Bangkok's decision to go ahead with the Upper and Lower Salween dams will
lead to further hardship for a huge number of ethnic people, similar to
those who have been relocated to make way for or forced to work without
pay on MDX's Ta Sang dam, he said. These ethnic people will have no choice
but to take refuge in Thailand,'' Sai Sai said.

Senator Kraisak said the project would exacerbate the problem of illegal
labour and refugees. There are already more than four million Burmese
immigrants living illegally in Thailand.

He also warned that the government would come in for international
condemnation if it decided to do business with the Burmese military junta.

The government should scrap the project for the sake of the nation's
image.'' he said. Do not repeat past governments' mistakes of developing
the Thai-Burmese gas pipeline project.''

Environmentalists, most of whom are based in Chiang Mai province, say the
Upper and Lower Salween dams would cause major damage to the river's rich
biodiversity and the lush forest of the Salween river basin. The dams
would be much larger than the Bhumibhol dam in nearby Tak province.

The Salween river originates high in the Tibetan mountains, flows through
China's Yunnan province into Burma, and then forms the border between
Thailand and Burma before emptying into the Andaman sea. It is Southeast
Asia's second largest river, after the Mekong, and the world's 26th
longest.

A preliminary study by the Chiang Mai-based NGO, Southeast Asia Rivers
Network, found the dams' reservoirs would divide the Salween wildlife
sanctuary and national park on Thailand's western border, arguably
Southeast Asia's most fertile forest. The report said the forest was a
habitat to several rare animal and plant species common to the area.

Supakit Nantaworakarn, an independent energy researcher, also argued
against the dams on energy grounds, claiming they were superfluous to the
nation's needs.

Due to the economic situation in Thailand, the power demand has slowed
significantly,'' he said. Thailand currently has power reserves of around
40%, which makes the project implementation absolutely nonsensical.''

Mr Supakit did not take up the matter of Egat planning to sell the
electricity generated by the dams to Malaysia and Indonesia.

Mr Sittiporn accepted the point that there was currently enough
electricity but claimed that without the dams, Thailand would lose a cheap
source of energy and users would pay more for power.

About 20,000 rai of pristine forest in Thailand would be lost to the dams
if the project goes ahead, he said. How much forest would be flooded in
Burma cannot be determined until field surveys and an environmental impact
assessment are carried out after an agreement is reached by the Thai and
Burmese governments.

The Egat governor said an agreement with Burma on the Salween project
would probably come later this year.

He said he had tried to allay environmentalists' fears by promising that
Egat would not hesitate to cancel the project if studies by reliable
bodies showed the social and environmental damage would be too severe. We
are not such an obstinate agency.''

Environmentalists do not look mollified. Many are gearing up for the
battle to protect the Salween and the ethnic groups whose lives depend on
it despite their already busy agendas, made up of, among other things, the
opposition to blasting of reefs along the Mekong river to widen and deepen
the navigation channel.

They promise to form a broad coalition of groups from Thailand and abroad,
ushering in just the latest chapter of protest against dam building in
Thailand.
_________

Xinhua News Agency April 9 2003

Myanmar's imports down sharply in 2002

Myanmar's imports went down by 22.5 percent to  2,294.5 million US dollars
in 2002 from 2,961.27 million in 2001, according to the latest data of the
Central Statistical Organization.

Meanwhile, the country's exports during the year went up by 21. 68 percent
to 2,982.13 million dollars from 2,450.67 million in 2001.

Despite declination by 2.5 percent in its total foreign trade during 2002
which was registered at 5,276.63 million dollars compared with 2001, it
struck a favorable balance of trade during the year with 687.63 million
dollars against the trade deficit of 510.6 million dollars produced in the
previous year.

Meanwhile, during 2002, the import value of consumer goods, intermediate
goods and capital goods respectively accounted for 38. 89 percent, 36.82
percent and 24.29 percent of the total imports.

Sectorally speaking, over the year, Myanmar's private sector took up 78.26
percent of the total import value and 55.15 percent of the total export
value.

During 2002, Myanmar's bilateral trade with foreign countries was lined up
as with Thailand (1,252.04 million dollars), China ( 840.98 million),
Singapore (761.01 million), India (440.13 million) , Malaysia (368.81
million), Japan (298.27 million) and Republic of Korea (170.72 million).

Regionally speaking, the country's bilateral trade with members of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) totaled 2, 521.72 million
dollars over the year, accounting for 47.8 percent of Myanmar's total
foreign trade.

Of the total with the ASEAN members, that with Thailand also registered
the highest volume, followed by that with Singapore, Malaysia and
Indonesia.

The statistics also show that Myanmar's income from customs duties totaled
 749.58 million dollars with that gained through import under normal trade
taking up 96.6 percent of the total. The minor rest was fetched through
border trade.

REGIONAL

Philippine Daily Inquirer April 9 2003

Philippine intelligence warns of militant group "bigger" than Jemaah
Islamiyah

Text of report by TJ Burgonio, Inquirer News Service entitled: "Cops warn
vs bigger Islamic militant group" carried in English by Philippine
newspaper Philippine Daily Inquirer web site on 9 April

Much has been said about the militant group Jemaah Islamiyah JI , but
there is a larger alliance of jihadist (holy war-oriented) organizations
in Southeast Asia, an intelligence report has concluded.

The JI and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front are part of the alliance
called the Rabitatul Mujahidin (RM) as received or League of Mujahidins.
RM is an umbrella group of several Islamic militant organizations in the
region, police intelligence officials alleged.

Established in 1999, it is composed of the Singapore's JI, the
Philippines' MILF, Indonesia's Laskar Jundullah and Majelis Mujahidin
Indonesia Indonesian Mujahidin Council , Malaysia's Kumpulan Militan
Malaysia and other groups in Thailand and Burma.

Abu Bakar Bashir and Riduan Isamuddin, alleged spiritual leader and
operations chief of the JI, respectively, formed the alliance with the aim
of establishing an Islamic state in the region by cooperating financially
and militarily, according to the report.

This creation of the RM "was apparently prompted by Bashir's failure to
induce these groups to join the JI as an organization because of their own
respective political agenda," the report said.

The JI has been accused of plotting to establish a pan-Islamic state
across the region, including southern Philippines. It has been blamed for
the 12 October, 2002 bombing of a nightclub in the Indonesian island of
Bali, which killed nearly 200 people, mostly tourists.

But the MILF, which spun off from the Moro National Liberation Front after
the latter forged a peace accord with the government in 1996, strongly
denied having any links to any terrorist organizations.

"Charges that the MILF is a member of the Al-Qa'idah or the Jemaah
Islamiyah or terrorist organizations are an old issue," MILF spokesperson
Eid Kabalu said in a phone interview.
_________

Kyodo News Service April 9 2003

Japan urged to redress Myanmar man on 'wrong' refugee decision

The Tokyo District Court ordered the state Wednesday to pay 9.5 million
yen in damages to a Myanmar man for his suffering at first being denied
refugee status, saying the state's initial decision was a misjudgment.

In the ruling for the 30-year-old Myanmar man, the court said the
government failed to thoroughly study his case, and made the wrong
decision in not recognizing him as a refugee in 1998. The government
rescinded its decision last year.

The man, who came to Japan in March 1998 and sought to become a refugee
here, was seeking 11.77 million yen in the damages suit.

Presiding Judge Masayuki Fujiyama underscored the state's duty to conduct
in-depth investigations into a refugee applicant, and it is inappropriate
to reject an applicant's claim without doing so and based on a superficial
probe.

In Wednesday's ruling, the court also validated the man's explanations and
recognized his physical and psychological suffering while in detention for
nine months from June 1998, after he was denied refugee status, and the
period until March last year when he was recognized as a refugee.

According to the ruling, the man, who now resides in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward,
belongs to an ethnic minority and escaped oppression in Myanmar. He
applied for refugee status in Japan, citing persecution from his homeland,
but was denied.

Following that, he filed a lawsuit urging the decision be revoked. Just
before the suit was to be concluded in March last year, the Justice
Ministry retracted its earlier decision and granted him refugee status,
saying the facts about his case had become known during the court process.

The man then switched his lawsuit to one seeking state redress for his
suffering.

Following the ruling, the man said he was pleased with the ruling, and one
of his lawyers called the ruling a breakthrough that clearly marks for the
first time that the burden of proof lies with both the refugee applicant
and the state.

But the ministry's immigration bureau expressed regret at the decision and
said it will study the ruling before considering whether to appeal.

INTERNATIONAL

Badger Herald April 9 2003

Wisconsin alum remains hostage in Burma
by Jamie Cohen

A University of Wisconsin alum has remained a prisoner of the government
in Burma for more than a year, and his daughter spoke to UW students
Tuesday night to raise awareness of his plight in attempts to free him.
Mai Tun Than addressed the University of Wisconsin branch of Amnesty
International Tuesday evening to speak about her father, Dr. Salai Tun
Than, who was arrested in late 2001 for handing out copies of a petition
demanding political reforms in Burma.
Burma has only one political party, the Socialist Party. Dr. Than was an
active member, but he was not admired because he founded the Myanmar
Integrated Rural Development Association (MIRDA) in 1993. This firm
focused on rural development in Myanmar, Burma.
While living with his cousins in the hill region of southwest Burma in
1988, Dr. Than realized how "lousy and underdeveloped" the land was. He
requested government aid and when he was denied, tried to garner funds on
his own. He worked as a volunteer with his older daughter, son and some of
his students to develop the area.
While away from the project one evening, soldiers invaded his firm and
destroyed the churches of Dr. Than's ethnic group with a different
religion from his. The soldiers wanted to create conflict among similar
interest groups.
After the invasion of Myanmar, Dr. Than tried to organize a protest
against the government. This led to his arrest Nov. 29, 2001, after he
distributed a petition calling for multi-party general elections within
one year under an interim civilian government, with unconditional transfer
of power to the victor.
He was jailed in the Insein Prison in a solitary cell with only a bowl
since he was not permitted a restroom privilege. Later, he moved to a
bigger room with other inmates, but he missed books because he was not
allowed to read. He spent most of his days praying.
Mai secretly visited her father while in Burma to get her U.S. visa last
September. She noticed Dr. Than's eyes had deteriorated and organized
surgery for him through the International Red Cross. Mai visited her
father in the hospital but had to take precautions when traveling through
Customs. Instead of flying directly home from Burma, she stopped in
Thailand to avoid arrest.
Although Mai said she is bothered by her father's treatment, she is
grateful as well.
"His condition is much better than other prisoners. Other prisoners are
deprived of sleep, beaten, tortured and interrogated at all times of the
day," Than said. She said her father has not been tortured.
Mai thanked everyone who is making an effort to help her father, including
the University of Wisconsin.
She is hopeful that there will be a government change in Burma soon.
"The conditions keep getting worse and worse. Banks do not work anymore.
Many are jobless and can't survive themselves. It is the time of
darkness," Mai said.
The university has generated three petitions in Dr. Than's favor, and
groups in Belgium, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and California are actively
working on his case as well.
Dr. Than earned a Ph.D. in agronomy from the University of Wisconsin in
1959 and has taught at the Institute of Agriculture in Burma

STATEMENTS

Statement in Senate by Senator Russell Feingold
April 8, 2003, Posted in Congressional Record

HUMAN RIGHTS IN BURMA

Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I am deeply disappointed in the human rights
record of Burma. Throughout my time in the Senate, I have consistently
been critical of political and human rights abuses in Burma. I have been
deeply troubled by reports, confirmed by the U.S. Department of State,
that Burmese soldiers have systematically raped Shan women on a massive
scale. I am also concerned about repeated charges of forced labor, the
suppression of civil liberties, and widespread political repression.
Recent events in Burma only serve to heighten my concern.

I am concerned by the recent decision by United Nations human rights envoy
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, to suspend his missions to Burma after finding a
hidden listening device in a room where he was interviewing political
prisoners. The incident raises very serious concerns about the depth of
Burma's commitment to improving conditions within its borders. I am also
concerned about the case of Dr. Salai Tun Than, an alumnus of the
University of Wisconsin-Madison, who was arrested and sentenced in
November 2001 after conducting a solitary protest of political conditions
in front of Rangoon City Hall.

As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I will continue to
monitor human rights in Burma, as I have on human rights all over the
world. Finally, I would like to offer my praise for students at several
University of Wisconsin campuses who are working to highlight conditions
in Burma. I am impressed by their dedication and heartened by their
commitment to justice and freedom for the Burmese people.
---

EarthRights International April 8 2003

Caught in the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time
By EarthRights International

Being in the wrong place at the wrong time in Burma can land you not only
in jail, but also on the road carrying supplies for the Burmese military. 
Two prisoners, who we will call Aung Naing and Tin Oo, recently escaped
while carrying heavy loads to the frontlines.  They described their plight
to EarthRights International.

Both men’s stories start innocently enough.  Aung Naing went to get his
motorcycle fixed at a nearby shop; Tin Oo visited a jewelry shop to try to
do some business.  While visiting these locations, the sites were raided
for drugs.  They were arrested along with everyone else who happened to be
there.

Innocence is not enough for the Burmese authorities, however.  Innocent or
guilty, what you need is bribe money. “They released twenty to thirty
people after money negotiations”, said Aung Naing.  He was sentenced to
five years in prison.

Tin Oo did not have bribe money either:

When I arrived at the police station, they asked me for 500,000 kyat.  I
did not have that much money, so I gave the police all I had—100,000 
kyat.  They took the money but did not let me go.  Later, they told me to
pay 400,000 kyat to have my urine tested.  If I could pay this amount of
money, they would say that I did not have any trace of drugs.  Because I
could not pay, they said that my urine test was positive.  And then they
put me in jail.

Tin Oo was sentenced to eleven years in prison—five years for a “positive”
urine test and six years for the drugs found at the site; it did not
matter that Tin Oo did not own or even live at the site.

This kind of arbitrary arrest is not unusual in Burma.  “According to the
law, if they find drugs in any area, they can arrest people who live
within fifty feet of that area,” said Tin Oo.  Aung Naing explained the
authorities’ eagerness to make drug arrests:

To get a promotion, police in the area have to bring twenty cases every
month and if they do not have enough cases, they arrest people on the road
or people who quarrel with each other.  The police can change a simple
case into a drug case. They do this to get money and in order to have more
cases in the area. Some children quarreled and the police charged them for
using drugs.  Police arrested my uncle when he traveled on the train after
they put heroine in his bag.  This has happened to many people, and they
could not refuse.

Prison conditions for the men were very poor.  “Because we did not have
good food, we were not healthy, and many people were sick.  In the prison,
people died almost every day.  Most of people died of TB and lung
disease.”  Prison officials, however, made sure that international
agencies did not find out what was really happening: “Sometimes the ICRC
(International Committee of the Red Cross) visited the prison and before
they came, the head of the prison taught us to say good things to them. 
We had to tell the ICRC that we had good food, like we have meat three
times a week, but we did not get fed any meat and didn’t have good health.
 If we told the truth, prison officials frightened us.”

After years in prison, both men were conscripted to porter for the
military.  They had to carry heavy bags of rice, backpacks, and
ammunition. Conditions were no better than in prison: “I saw the soldiers
shout at the prisoner porters. . . . Soldiers beat most of the porters
because they could not carry the heavy things.  Porters were threatened by
soldiers that if they could not carry the load, they would be shot dead.”

In recent years, to avoid accusations of forced labor, the military
government has used more prisoners as if they were a legitimate labor
force.  The use of “prisoners” like Aung Naing and Tin Oo shows how the
regime continues to prevent meaningful reforms to eradicate forced labor. 
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi recently told the International Labour Organization
that prison labor is an especially serious area of concern.  EarthRights
International (ERI) and many other organizations have documented the
Burmese military’s practice of forced labor including the use of prisoners
for years.  ERI continues to call on the military to recognize the rule of
law and improve its human rights record.