BurmaNet News: July 26-8 2003

[editor at burmanet.org]

July 26-8 2003 Issue #2293

INSIDE BURMA

AP: Suu Kyi will not remain in detention long: Myanmar foreign minister
AP: Red Cross: Visit in Myanmar finds Aung San Suu Kyi in good condition
Irrawaddy: Junta shows no sign of compromise
Straits Times: Junta accuses Suu Kyi of plotting coup
AP: Myanmar lays foundation for controversial Bagan tower
Muslim Information Center: SPDC authorities ban Muslims from praying in Burma
Kaladan Press: SPDC attempts to divert people’s attention from Depeyin
Massacre

MONEY

Myanmar Times: Radio sales reflect Rangoon’s city FM popularity
AFP: British tour operator drops Myanmar
Xinhua: More hotels in operation in Myanmar

ON THE BORDER

Chinland Guardian: The eviction of Burmese in Aizawl, Mizoram State of
India, is escalating

REGIONAL

AFP: Thailand to pursue Myanmar ‘road map’ despite junta’s cool response
Channel News Asia: Myanmar rejects Indonesian appeal to allow ASEAN to
mediate in political standoff
New Straits Times: Minister: We’re not pressuring Yangon
AFP: Malaysia warns Myanmar over Suu Kyi

INTERNATIONAl

AP: Razali urges coordination between AEAN and UN over Myanmar
AP: Bush signs Myanmar sanctions

OPINIONS/STATEMENTS

Press Release of Senator McConnell
NDD: Four township NLD members imprisoned for 2 years
Korea Herald: Rethinking trade sanctions
Burma Campaign UK: Abercrombie & Kent drop Burma tours
FT: Letter to the editor

INSIDE BURMA

Associated Press July 28 2003

Suu Kyi will not remain in detention long: Myanmar foreign minister

Amid intense international pressure, military-run Myanmar's foreign
minister indicated Monday that pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi may
be released from detention.

But Foreign Minister Win Aung, visiting Indonesia for talks, did not say
when that might happen.

Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been held in a secret
location since May 30 when her supporters clashed with a pro-junta mob in
northern Myanmar.

When asked whether there was a possibility Suu Kyi would be released, Win
Aung - speaking in Jakarta ahead of a meeting with Indonesian President
Megawati Sukarnoputri - replied: "Of course. She will not remain there for
a long period."

Megawati currently chairs the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian
Nations, of which Myanmar is also a member. The regional grouping is under
pressure to help find a solution to issue.

After the meeting between Megawati and Win Aung, Indonesian Foreign
Minister Hasan Wirayuda told reporters the visitors had recommended that
diplomatic talks over the detention be "quieter" and held "away from the
media glare."

Wirayuda earlier said ASEAN had been hoping that the visit would result in
the release of Suu Kyi.

In Malaysia, the U.N.'s envoy on Myanmar said Monday the world body should
work closely with the ASEAN to end a deadlock between Myanmar's military
rulers and the pro-democracy movement there.

"The United Nations and ASEAN should coordinate their efforts to send
similar signals that Aung San Suu Kyi should be released immediately and
the reconciliation process should move forward," Razali Ismail told The
Associated Press on Monday.

Myanmar has remained defiant in the face of international demands to
release Suu Kyi, refusing to say where she is being held or when she will
be freed.

Last week, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad warned that, as a
last resort, Myanmar could be expelled from ASEAN if Suu Kyi was not
released.

Myanmar, also known as Burma, has sent envoys to several Asian countries,
including Thailand and Japan, to explain Suu Kyi's detention which has
halted a reconciliation process that started in October 2000 with talks
between her and the government. The dialogue made little progress.

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won general elections in
Myanmar in 1990, but was barred by the military from taking power.
_________

Associated Press July 28 2003

Red Cross: Visit in Myanmar finds Aung San Suu Kyi in good condition
By ERICA BULMAN

An international Red Cross official who met with Aung San Suu Kyi said
Monday the detained Myanmar opposition leader was in good health.

"We have been carrying out visits around the country for some time, and it
was only this morning that our people were able to visit her," said
International Committee of the Red Cross spokesman Eros Bosisio. "She was
found to be in good health and unhurt.

"Our head of delegation in Myanmar was able to have a private talk with
her for as long as necessary. She was able to express herself."

Bosisio declined to give further details on the visit for safety reasons
and said the ICRC had no idea when she might be released.

"We have no information on that," Bosisio said. "But of course we will be
making follow-up visits."

Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been detained in a secret
location since May 30, when her supporters clashed with a pro-junta mob in
northern Myanmar.

After her arrest, the military cracked down on her National League for
Democracy party, halting a reconciliation process brokered in October 2000
by Razali Ismail, the U.N.'s special envoy to Myanmar, which is also known
as Burma.

The ICRC has been visiting to check on conditions of all those detained
after the clashes.

Bosisio said so far, the ICRC has registered more than 30 people in visits
since June to prisons in northern Myanmar and near the capital, Yangon.

He said the ICRC had received permission to conduct a three-day visit of
Shwebo prison, northeast of Mandalay, starting July 31 with a team
composed of two ICRC delegates, a translator and a doctor.

"We think that many of the people detained in the May 30 events are being
held there," Bosisio said.

Bosisio said the ICRC had made 230 visits to people detained in Myanmar
since 1999, interviewing some 5,000 people in about 80 detention centers.

The country's junta came to power in 1988 after crushing a pro-democracy
movement; two years later it annulled the results of a general election
that Suu Kyi's party won. She was put under house arrest from 1989 to 1995
and again from September 2000 until May 2002, when Razali's mediation
helped secure her release.
______

Irrawaddy July 28 2003

Junta Shows No Sign of Compromise

Burma’s military leaders are digging in their heels, and say there are no
plans to release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in the near future.
Fending off pressure from leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations and the international community, the generals have shown no
intention to respond.
Burmese government leaders have also given a cold reception to news of the
Thai government’s "road map" to democracy in Burma.
At a press conference in Rangoon on Saturday, a government spokesperson
said Burma would solve its own problems. Brig-Gen Than Tun said: "We heard
about the road map from media reports but have not been informed about the
details." Than Thun said junta leaders believed solutions for domestic
issues should be sought internally.
In response, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said: "We don’t want
to interfere in Burma’s affairs. But for issues which draw external
concern, Thailand, as a neighbor, wants to make a suggestion. I think once
we have talked over the matter, Burma will understand."
Analysts in the Burmese capital were not surprised to hear of the rebuff
from Rangoon and said that even opposition figures were cautious about
Thailand’s road map. "How can Thailand help [Burma] when there is
deep-seated mistrust?" said Khun Tun Oo, leader of the Shan Nationalities
League for Democracy (SNLD).
Thaksin called on India and China to end Burma’s stalemate, saying that
assistance from Burma’s two biggest neighbors would be of great help.
Thaksin made the remarks after returning from talks at the weekend with
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and the UN special envoy to
Burma, Razali Ismail, in Langkawi, off Malaysia’s east coast.
Observers say the meeting between Thaksin and Razali was significant
because it demonstrated that Bangkok was serious about finding a solution
to Burma’s crisis.
Back in Rangoon, the junta has arrested several opposition members and
activists. At a press briefing, government officials claimed they had
nabbed 12 people, including the editor of a sport journal based in
Rangoon, who were planning an attack on government leaders. These people
have links with rebels along the Thai-Burma border, a junta spokesman
claimed.
But opposition sources in Rangoon said that the latest crackdown signaled
that Rangoon is simply justifying its crackdown on the opposition National
League for Democracy. "There will be more arrests," a western diplomat in
Rangoon said. "The opposition is keeping its head down."
A veteran journalist in Rangoon told The Irrawaddy that while junta
leaders were desperate, they still had a firm hold on power.
But international concern for Suu Kyi—who has already spent eight weeks in
protective custody—continues to mount. Than Tun assured reporters that Suu
Kyi was in perfect health, in fact as "fit as a fiddle", but did not
disclose where she was being detained, because he had no authority to do
so.
Meanwhile, members of Burma’s exiled opposition movement accused the junta
of arresting NLD members and giving them jail terms.
The Thai-based Network for Democracy and Development (NDD) said that Saw
Htee and Kan Htun who are NLD members from Mandalay Division, were
arrested two weeks ago, on the same day the junta announced it had
released 91 detainees from the May 30 ambush.
The NDD also said four NLD members from Sintku Township in Upper Burma,
including Township Chairman Sein Htun and Secretary U San, were each given
two-year jail terms on July 20.
A well-informed source in Rangoon said that military leaders had planned
the first ambush in Sintku, but as Suu Kyi’s motorcade arrived late, the
plan was aborted.
________

Straits Times July 28 2003

Junta accuses Suu Kyi of plotting coup

Yangon links opposition leader directly to attempts to seize power and
stir unrest
and insists it would never give up its rule

YANGON - Myanmar's ruling junta launched a new attack on pro-democracy leader
Aung San Suu Kyi and her party yesterday, accusing them of plotting to
seize power
from the regime and insisting that it would never stand aside.

The comments came a day after the military government announced that it had
 foiled a scheme hatched by rebel and dissident groups to overthrow the
junta by
assassinating its leaders and mounting a campaign of civil unrest.

It said that the campaign involved inciting monks, students, workers and
opposition
parties to rise up against the regime, and was mounted in support of Ms
Suu Kyi's
National League for Democracy (NLD).

It stepped up its rhetoric yesterday, saying that the May 30 violence, which
triggered Ms Suu Kyi's arrest and continuing detention, was the result of the
NLD's 'strategy to plot the downfall of the existing government'.

Eyewitnesses to the clashes say that Ms Suu Kyi and her supporters, who
had been
making a political tour of northern Myanmar, were ambushed by a
pro-government
mob in an incident feared to have left dozens dead.

But in a commentary in the official press, the junta said the May 30 incident
showed that if the NLD seized power, 'the country will be a whirlpool of
anarchy
and civil conflicts'.

Myanmar's military, which has been in power in various guises for the past
four
decades, has long cited the threat of civil strife for its refusal to
stand aside
and introduce democratic reforms.

It said: '(The NLD) made attempts to cause the imposition of international
sanctions on Myanmar, to create civil commotion resulting from economic
hardships, and to make demands to the international community to ostracise
the country.'

In yesterday's commentary, the government ruled out ever standing aside in
favour of the pro-democracy opposition, saying that the only way forward was
for them to work together.

'The true programme for democracy is...accepting the existing Tatmadaw
(military)
government as an ally and joining hands with it,' it said.

Political analysts said the situation now appeared extremely grave for the
NLD
and Ms Suu Kyi, and that she was not likely to be released in the near
future.

However, Malaysia yesterday warned Myanmar to free Ms Suu Kyi or risk
 intervention from other countries or the United Nations.

Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told reporters: 'It is wiser for Myanmar
to listen now.'

'Myanmar need not be isolated, they can be mainstream but it depends on them.

They have to pay heed to the wishes of the international community, including
Asean,' he said on the sidelines of a Malaysia-Thai business forum in
Langkawi.

Thailand's proposed 'roadmap' for democratic reform was a step forward in
trying
to resolve the deadlock, he said.

Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said the roadmap was merely a
'friendly suggestion' and not an interference in Myanmar's affairs.
______

Associated Press July 28 2003

Myanmar lays foundation for controversial Bagan tower

A top Myanmar military leader has laid the foundation for a 60-meter
(198-feet) -high viewing tower in Myanmar's ancient temple city of Bagan
despite concerns from preservation experts of the United Nations.

In a traditional Buddhist ceremony Sunday, the junta's third ranking
leader, Gen. Khin Nyunt, drove a golden stake into the ground, placed a
gem casket there and sprinkled scented water on the foundations, the
official Myanma Ahlin daily reported Monday.

Bagan, which has thousands of 11th and 12th century temples on an
80-square-kilometer (32-square-mile) area in central Myanmar, is the most
important archaeological heritage site in the country, attracting
thousands of tourists.

The tower project has drawn criticism from UNESCO - the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - which says the tower
would be out of scale with the rest of the site, and would detract
visually from the historical monuments.

But tourism chief Khin Maung Latt has defended the tower - intended to
provide tourists with an unfettered view of the historical site - by
saying it would prevent tourists from climbing on fragile pagodas and
stupas and damaging them.

The temples of Bagan, also known as Pagan, are among Southeast Asia's most
important archaeological heritage sites, along with Cambodia's Angkor Wat
and Indonesia's Borobodur.

The cylindrical tower, to be built by a private company near Bagan's golf
course, will be 42 meters (140-feet) wide at its base and will house
observation decks, meeting rooms, offices, souvenir shops and a
restaurant. Construction will take one year.

According to official figures, Bagan attracted more than 75,000 foreign
tourists in 2002-2003, generating US$751,660 in revenue.
______

Muslim Information Center July 28 2003

SPDC authorities ban Muslims from praying in Burma

Since June 14, 2003, ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)
Military Intelligent (MI) officers in Tanessarim division allegedly
ordered Muslim community to close down their Jamaat Khana ( houses where
Muslims make prayers), according to a merchant from inside Burma who spoke
on condition of anonymity.

Chief of the (MI) No.6, Captain Saw Win and police Intelligent Chief U
Thaung Aye of Kaw Thaung Myo (town) ordered to close down two Jamaat
Khanas in Kaw Thaung Myo  as mere persecution against the Muslims, the
merchant said.
One of the closed down Jamaat Khana was in Shwe Pyi Tha village tract
about four miles away from Kaw Thaung and another was on the Aung Thu Kha
street of Kaw Thaung Myo, the merchant said.

Kaw Thaung is opposite Ra Nong of Thailand. Jamaat Khanas are used for
prayers by those who cannot go to far away mosques and these Jamaat Khanas
are, sometimes, used as religious schools for very young children.
_________

Kaladan Press July 26 2003

SPDC Attempts to Divert People's Attention From Depeyin Massacre

On 19 July 2003, the SPDC engineered a riot between Muslim and Buddhist
communities at Pyinmana Town in Mandalay Division of central Burma in
order to divert the people’s attention from the Depeyin massacre,
according to a political analyst.

A riot broke out on 19th July 2003, at Pyinmana after a quarrel between a
shopkeeper and a customer. According to DVB relayed on July 21, the riot
was taken place in front of a monastery and about 30 t0 40 monks joined
the mob. The rioters started beating up the Muslims while throwing stones
at the mosque of the town. Some houses and shops owned by Muslims were
completely destroyed.

Following the unrest, police came to the spot to quell the riot and
arrested Ms. Daw Thet Yi, a Muslim Shopkeeper, and some other people. But
no further arrests were reportedly made and the monks were not even
questioned, a lawyer from Rangoon said to our Kaladan Press.

Most of the people in Pyimana think that the riot was planned by the
authorities, in order to divert the minds of the people, when there was
growing public resentment against the SPDC over the Depeyin massacre, he
further added.

Earlier on 7 July, at around 8:30 pm, a group of United Solidarity and
Development Association (USDA) members had distributed anti-Muslim
pamphlets in Irrawaddy division preaching hatred against the Muslim
population. Now the Muslims in Irrawaddy division are in fear of possible
onslaughts by USDA sponsored terrorists, according to Muslim Information
Center.

It may be mentioned that In February 2001, full-scale communal riots broke
out in several areas of Sittwe, the state capital of Arakan, resulting in
deaths and destruction of Rohingyas’ houses and properties. Disguised
monks took the leading part in the unrest. A dawn- to- dusk curfew had to
be imposed to quell the riot. Since then more humiliating restrictions
have been imposed by the SPDC authorities on the freedom of movement of
the Rohingyas.

 There were outbreaks of SPDC patronized rioting in May and October 2001
in Taungoo, Taunggyi, Pegu and Prome Townships in which the SPDC
intelligent personnel,  in the guise of monks, led the mobs. As a result,
at least 9 Muslims were killed while their properties worth millions of
Dollars were destroyed.
..
It is worth mentioning that ruling military SPDC used to create riot
between Muslim and Buddhist communities, to redirect the people’s
attention from local issues, particularly when the regime faces any
political and financial crisis. The Muslims are made scapegoats as
anti-Muslim sentiment is very strong in the country, lamented an elderly
Rohingya politician.

MONEY

Myanmar Times July 28 2003

RADIO SALES REFLECT RANGOON'S CITY FM POPULARITY

Radio sales in Yangon (Rangoon) have increased sharply in recent weeks in
a trend attributed partly to the growing popularity of Yangon City
Development Committee's City FM station, a survey by Myanmar Times has
found.

"Sales nearly doubled last month, to more than 300 units," Ma Marlar Oo,
the general manager of the Super One supermarket on Bogyoke Aung San Road,
said last week.

The recent surge in sales had followed stronger demand for radios since
early in the year. "The supermarket has sold about 1500 radios during the
last six months, compared to total sales for all last year of about 1000
units," said Ma Marlar Oo.

She said most of the radios were capable of receiving shortwave broadcasts
and the increase in sales showed that more people were interested in
international events.

Ko Thein Maung, who sells radios at a footpath stall on Maha Bandoola
Road, said sales had risen steadily since City FM began broadcasting in
late 2001.

Ko Thein Maung said he was selling about 30 FM radios a day. However, this
was down from about 100 FM radios a day at the end of last year, said Ko
Thein Maung, who has been selling Chinese-made radios and cassette-players
for nine years.

He said average daily sales of shortwave radios had increased from four to
about ten since the start of July.

Ko Thein Maung said there were an increasing number of Yangon residents
who relied on the broadcast media for the latest news and information.

"In previous years only adults aged 50 or over were interested in
listening to the radio, but today it is common even among young people in
Yangon," he said.

U Kyaw Swar Oo, the manager of the Ever Fine Store on Anawrahta Road, said
radio sales had increased last month to about 30 a day, up from a daily
average of about five since the start of the year.

About 75 per cent of those buying shortwave radios are aged over 40, he
said. (passage omitted)

City FM increased its broadcasts by two hours to 14 a day from the start
of this month.
____________-

Agence France Presse July 28 2003

British tour operator drops Myanmar

An upmarket British tour operator said Monday it will no longer promote
trips to Myanmar, following an appeal from the British government for a
travel boycott of the military-run Southeast Asian nation.

"We won't be actively promoting Myanmar as such until further notice,"
said a spokeswoman for Abercrombie and Kent, adding that Myanmar would be
dropped from its next brochure, due out this autumn.

Customers enquiring about Myanmar will be offered tours to other Southeast
Asian destinations, though "if someone calls up and absolutely insists on
going, we will make bookings for them," she said.

In a strongly-worded letter to the Association of British Travel Agents
earlier this month, the Foreign Office appealed to British tour operators
to stop arranging holidays to Myanmar.

There were "compelling reasons" not to take a holiday there, including
human rights abuses and the economic and political benefits reaped by the
junta from tourists, said junior foreign minister Mike O'Brien.

Abercrombie and Kent said only a "handful" of its customers went to
Myanmar. Its current catalog offered a 12-day "Mysteries of Myanmar" tour
for up to 3,130 pounds (4,430 euros, 5,075 dollars) per person.

Its announcement Monday was welcomed by Burma Campaign UK, a group that
supports Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize winning leader of
Myanmar's democracy movement.

"This is excellent news," said Anna Roberts, its campaigns officer, who
added in a statement that it would "isolate" other tour operators, which
she named as Orient Express, Carnival Cruises and Noble Caledonia.

"We will be stepping up pressure on them to withdraw as well," she said.

Myanmar, formally known as Burma, was a British colony until its
independence in 1948, and the British government has been at the forefront
of diplomatic efforts to isolate its military regime led by General Than
Shwe.
__________

Xinhua News Agency July 28 2003

More hotels in operation in Myanmar

There are 537 hotels with nearly 9, 000 staff in operation in Myanmar and
37 more new hotels are under construction, the local Myanmar Times
reported Monday.

Quoting an official of the Myanmar Voyage International Tourism Company,
the report said there are also 540 travel companies with a total work
force of 8,734 running tourism business in the country.

Of the 217,212 foreign tourists drawn in 2002, 64,862 were from
English-speaking countries, it added.

However, the report stressed the need for developing more human resources
in the sector and building more international airports with increased
domestic flight destinations.

The report cited a fact comparing that aircraft landed at Changi Airport
in Singapore 3,434 times a week, but international carriers landed at
Yangon and Mandalay international airports only 59 times a week.

The main factors restraining the development of the country's tourism
sector are seen as the existence of respective backward infrastructure in
the sector such as transport, communications and accommodation as well as
the Western sanctions and so on.

According to official statistics, since Myanmar opened to foreign
investment in late 1988, such contracted investment in the sector of
hotels and tourism amounted to 1.06 billion US dollars as of the end of
2002.

The country has set a short-term target of absorbing 500,000 foreign
tourists annually.

ON THE BORDER

Chinland Guardian July 26 2003

The eviction of Burmese in Aizawl, Mizoram State of India, is escalating
By Salai Za Ceu Lian

Thousands of Burmese citizens taking shelters in Aizawl, the capital of
Mizoram State of India are under a massive threat of eviction, which is on
the move now from their local homes.  The reason leading them to be
forcedly evicted from their locality as a whole for their being a citizen
of Burma was due to a rape of minor 9th year old local girl committed by
Burmese national ,33-year old Vanlalchhanga , the son of the owner of
hotel located in Chamary Veng. As a result, the local people had destroyed
the hotel instantly.

The most powerful Youth body known as Young Mizo Association (YMA) from
four branches such as Chanmary, Zarkawt, Dawrpi and electric together made
an appealed to the Police SP, to immediately arrest all Burmese people. If
not, this local youth body would take all necessary action instantly,
mentioned in their appeal.

Due to the growing angers and hatreds against the Burmese citizens, a
group of more than 30 Mizo mobs in the Chanmari block had badly beaten up
an innocent 6 Burmese youth on the night of 20th July, 03, while coming
home from the church late at night. Beside this, youth from Tedim tribe of
Chin State of Burma, who are taking a walk in the city of Aizawl during
the day, had been beaten up and humiliated by the angry local mobs.

While talking to the CG news correspondent based in Aizawl regarding this
recent most expulsion against the Burmese people, he said, “ the basic
reason for angers of the local people against the Burmese people and their
anti-slogan against the people of Burma is a result of a long extreme
dislike and not just this rape case. More serious case last year, Vaipa
killed a 12th year old girl after he raped her in the block called the
Saron Veng. However, the so-called MHIP a group of Mizo Women, who now
loudly raise their voice, had no voice against such tragic and
reprehensible act committed against a little girl that time. Therefore, it
is a pure reflection of the jealousy and hatreds against the Burmese
people existed in the general public of the local people, he added

 The anti-rally against the Burmese citizens is taking place in the Aizawl
city and the protesters carried their placards during their procession
which included the points such as ,” We do not want Burmese in the
Chamary block, the rapist must be given lifelong imprisonment and he
should be handed over to the hand of women.

Now the eviction of Burmese citizens for their being a foreigners have
been jointly carried out by the joint actions of Young Mizo Association
(YMA), Joint Action Committee (JAC) , Village Council (VC)  and Mizo Women
Joint Groups (MHIP).

Despite the midst of such extremely disastrous circumstance Burmese people
are now facing, they are so grateful to the have received heartfelt
compassion from Pu R Thangmawia, leader of ZORO, for generously giving
them accommodation, which could harbour more than 500 Burmese people.

Now as the condition get worse and no protection for them, the people of
Burma in Mizoram state are in urgent need of the sympathy of Local people.
They are also in badly needed of the attention and intervention from
international community to the ongoing eviction, which is embarrassing
them.

REGIONAL

Agence France Presse July 28 2003

Thailand to pursue Myanmar "road map" despite junta's cool response

Thailand intends to pursue its "road map" proposal aimed at securing the
release of Myanmar's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi despite a cool
response from the junta, premier Thaksin Shinawatra said Monday.

Thaksin said Thailand would continue discussions with regional nations on
its plan for an international forum to brainstorm a way out of the crisis
that erupted after Aung San Suu Kyi was taken into detention on May 30.

"We are doing it because we are concerned, we want Myanmar to solve its
problems so that the country will be able to develop," he told reporters,
insisting that Thailand was not interfering in Myanmar's domestic affairs.

"I know Myanmar is trying to solve its problems by itself but the problems
are not able to be solved by them alone," he said after arriving from
Malaysia where he held talks with his counterpart Mahathir Mohamad.

Myanmar's Deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung Win said Sunday that the
regime had not received any details of the Thai proposal which was
unveiled last week at a meeting of Asian and European foreign ministers in
Bali.

"But Myanmar's policy continues to be that it would rather solve its own
problems from within," he said, suggesting intervention would not be
welcome.

Thaksin, who has also offered to act as a mediator between the junta and
the international community over the issue, said that while meeting
Mahathir on the resort island of Langkawi he also held talks with UN envoy
to Myanmar Razali Ismail who supported the "road map" idea.

Outrage over Suu Kyi's situation deepened Sunday when Malaysia warned
Myanmar to free the Nobel peace laureate or risk intervention from the
United Nations or other countries.

"It is wiser for Myanmar to listen now," Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar
said. "This is in the context of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian
Nations), it is within our grasp, we can manage it and handle it.

"But if nothing happens, then we are concerned by the possibility that
other countries, other regional organisations including the United
Nations, may come in to decide their fate, then it will be more
difficult."

Mahathir has warned that Myanmar could be expelled from ASEAN as a last
resort if it fails to release Aung San Suu Kyi, who was taken into custody
after political violence in the country's north on May 30.

Thaksin said Mahathir had told him he did not want to see that happen.

"He said he does not want that, but he was disappointed with Myanmar's
efforts," he said.

Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said Thailand would be ready to
hand details of the roadmap to Myanmar this Thursday when its Foreign
Minister Win Aung visits Bangkok.
_________-

Channel News Asia July 28 2003

Myanmar rejects Indonesian appeal to allow ASEAN to mediate in political
standoff

A defiant Myanmar has rejected Indonesia's appeal to allow an ASEAN
delegation into the country to help mediate in the political standoff
there.

Myanmar's Foreign Minister, Win Aung, who is in Jakarta, said
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be released but only after a
cooling-down period.

Mr Win Aung who is also the military government's special envoy met his
Indonesian counterpart Hasan Wirajuda who is also the current chairman of
ASEAN.

ASEAN had recently broke from tradition by pressurising fellow member
Myanmar to release Aung San Suu Kyi but that is not going to happen any
time soon.

"It's not a delay, Madam. It's the time. We are waiting. We are cooling
down, cooling down period. Let us see, cooling down period means we're
working for everything to be normal. Sometimes, when the heat is on, we
need to cool down and maybe the time will come when it is cool down," said
Mr Win Aung at a news conference.

When asked how long will Myanmar continue to detain Ms Suu Kyi, he said:
"It depends on the heat, how hot it is. If the heat is not so hot, it will
cool down fast, if the heat is so hot, let us wait for a bit."

Myanmar's military government has accused Ms Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy of systematically plotting to topple the regime.

But Minister Win Aung who also met with President Megawati Sukarnoputri
would not say what he considered to be an acceptable solution to the
stalemate.

No one other than a United Nations Envoy has recently seen Ms Suu Kyi
since May's violent clashes.

"She's well looked-after. We are trying our bes," said Mr Win Aung.

ASEAN is eager to play a role in the stand-off. But Myanmar stone-walled a
plan by Indonesia to send a ministerial delegation to the country.

Hasan Wirajuda, Indonesia's Foreign Minister said: "I can say, assure you
that, yes, ASEAN would continuously engage Myanmar. Myanmar has the trust
to us, to ASEAN, and to Indonesia as Chairman of ASEAN, to do that."

Myanmar said any ASEAN intervention should not set a precedent for
meddling in the country's internal affairs.

Myanmar was also clearly miffed by the Malaysian Prime Minister's threat
to expel Myanmar from ASEAN with Minister Win Aung telling reporters it
was not the way to talk.

Despite all the international and ASEAN pressure, it is back to square one
for now.

Myanmar is scheduled to host ASEAN meetings in 2006. Sources say the US
may boycott the meeting altogether if Myanmar's regime remains defiant.
_________

New Straits Times July 28 2003

Ministers: We're not pressuring Yangon
By Ramlan Said; Abdul Razak Ahmad

LANGKAWI, Sun. - Asean's call for the immediate release of Aung San Suu
Kyi should not be viewed as pressure that could lead to Myanmar "falling
off the cliff" and into isolation, foreign ministers of Malaysia and
Thailand said today.

Both ministers affirmed their commitment to seeking a solution within
the regional grouping's framework, but emphasised that Yangon must listen
to the wishes of the international community and release the National
League for Democracy leader.

This was because Myanmar would be faced with even bigger pressure if the
matter was taken to the United Nations Security Council, which could lead
to a resolution.

"I think it is wiser for Myanmar to listen while the problem is still in
the context of Asean and within its grasp.

"Because if nothing happens, we are concerned over the possibility that
other countries and regional organisations may come in to decide on the
matter and this would make things much more difficult," said Datuk Seri
Syed Hamid Albar on the continued detention of Suu Kyi.

He said it would be much better for Myanmar to work with Asean in
seeking a solution to the problem.

Syed Hamid and his Thai counterpart Surakiart Sathirathai were speaking
after the opening of the two-day Malaysia-Thailand Technology and Business
Partnership Dialogue at a hotel here.

They were asked about the repeated call by Asean during a special
meeting held this week without Myanmar, for Yangon to free Suu Kyi
immediately.

Surakiart, when asked about recent statements by Myanmar junta leaders
that they were being pushed too far, said it was not true.

"No, all we are trying to do is to pull them back in the spirit of
Asean."

Syed Hamid also denied suggestions that the pressure being applied on
Myanmar could push it into isolation.

"How can it be that we want to put them on the edge and see them falling
off?

"That is not our intention ...Myanmar is very far from the 'cliff'. We
just want them to get back on track, that's all."

Syed Hamid was also asked on Thailand's proposal for Myanmar's leaders
to sit down with key Western countries and their Asian neighbours to
hammer out a plan for a democratic transition - a so-called diplomatic
'roadmap'.

"The roadmap has not been discussed at the Asean level, so Thailand is
testing the ground. If it is acceptable among us, then we can proceed to
see whether it is acceptable to Myanmar.

"Myanmar need not be isolated, but it all depends on them, because
Asean's bottom line remains that Suu Kyi should be released and the
reconciliation process should recommence."
________

 Agence France Presse July 27 2003

Malaysia warns Myanmar over Suu Kyi

LANGKAWI, Malaysia, July 27 (AFP) - Malaysia warned Myanmar Sunday to free
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi or risk intervention from the United
Nations or other countries.

"It is wiser for Myanmar to listen now," Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar
told reporters.

"This is in the context of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations),
it is within our grasp, we can manage it and handle it.

"But if nothing happens, then we are concerned by the possibility that
other countries, other regional organisations including the United Nations,
may come in to decide their fate, then it will be more difficult."

"Myanmar need not be isolated, they can be mainstream but it depends on
them. They have to pay heed to the wishes of the international community,
including ASEAN," Syed Hamid said on the sidelines of a Malaysia-Thai
business
forum here.

Thailand's proposed "roadmap" for democratic reform was a step forward in
trying to resolve the deadlock, he said.

"It depends very much on Myanmar's acceptance of it, how they perceive it,
but ASEAN's bottom line is that Aung San Suu Kyi should be released and the
reconcilition process should commence," he said.

Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said the roadmap was merely a
"friendly suggestion" for Myanmar to work towards national reconcialiation
and
not an interference in its affairs.

"This is not considered as intervention in the domestic affairs of
Myanmar," he said.

"It's not like we, an outsider, working on something and asking them to
accept it. It's basically producing a draft, a dummy of a roadmap rather, for
them to comment on."

He said Thailand had so far only exchanged views on the roadmap with
Myanmar and had not submitted any formal document.

"Right now, we are putting on paper a comprehensive framework," he said.
"The release of Aung San Suu Kyi is the first step."

He said his Myanmar counterpart Win Aung was "receptive" to the fact that
Thailand was working on the roadmap during talks last week in Bali but "he
would have to consult his leadership."

If Myanmar is interested, Thailand will submit the document, he said,
adding that he would raise the matter with Win Aung during an economic
meeting
in Bangkok on Thursday.

In Yangon on Saturday, however, Deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung Win
reacted coolly to Thailand's roadmap.

"We haven't received any of the details, we only know what we read in the
newspapers," he told reporters. "But Myanmar's policy continues to be that it
would rather solve its own problems from within."

INTERNATIONAL

Associated Press July 28 2003

Razali urges coordination between ASEAN and U.N. over Myanmar
By JASBANT SINGH

The U.N.'s envoy on Myanmar said Monday the global body should work
closely with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to try to end a
deadlock between Myanmar's military rulers and Aung San Suu Kyi's
pro-democracy movement.

Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been detained in a secret
location since May 30 when her supporters clashed with a pro-junta mob in
northern Myanmar.

After her arrest, the military cracked down on her National League for
Democracy party, halting a reconciliation process brokered in October 2000
by the U.N.'s special envoy to Myanmar, Razali Ismail.

"The United Nations and ASEAN should coordinate their efforts to send
similar signals that Aung San Suu Kyi should be released immediately and
the reconciliation process should move forward," Razali told The
Associated Press on Monday.

The NLD won national elections in 1990, but was denied the chance to rule
because the military refused to relinquish power.

Razali, a Malaysian diplomat who has led international efforts to end the
long-running standoff between Myanmar's ruling junta and the NLD, is the
only person who has been allowed to see Suu Kyi since she was detained.

Suu Kyi's arrest has prompted intense pressure on Myanmar, including the
threat of international sanctions and an unusually strong stand from
ASEAN, which stepped outside its core policy of not commenting on member
countries' internal affairs to urge the junta to immediately release Suu
Kyi.

During talks with Razali on Monday, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
urged the United Nations to persuade Myanmar's other neighbors, such as
China and India, to play a bigger role in ending the deadlock.

Razali said his discussion with Thaksin had been "very useful" but didn't
mention if they had discussed Thailand's "road map" - a plan announced
last week that proposes bringing together "like minded" countries and
groups within Myanmar.

Razali said he would stay in close touch with Thailand's Foreign Minister
Surakiart Sathirathai, and would soon travel to Jakarta for talks with
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Wirayuda.

Myanmar Foreign Minister Win Aung was in Jakarta, scheduled to hold talks
with Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri and Wirayuda later Monday.

Indonesia currently holds the chair of ASEAN, which groups Brunei,
Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore,
Thailand and Vietnam. The group is expected to send a delegation to
Myanmar soon to try to end the deadlock.
_________

Associated Press July 28 2003

Bush signs Myanmar sanctions

 President Bush has signed a measure imposing new sanctions on Myanmar
(mee-an-MAWR') following the jailing of a Nobel Peace prize-winning
dissident there.
What's called the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act was passed by Congress
earlier this month. It would ban the import of goods from Myanmar -- which
is also known as Burma -- and would freeze the government's assets in the
United States.
In June, Myanmar's military rulers re-arrested Aung San Suu Kyi (ahng sahn
soo chee) and cracked down on the pro-democracy movement she leads.
White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan says the bill "sends a clear
message" to the Myanmar regime -- that its "continued oppression of its
people is unacceptable and cannot be allowed to stand."

OPINIONS/STATEMENTS

Press Release of Senator McConnell

President Bush Signs McConnell Legislation Imposing Sanctions On Burma

*McConnell says: "With the stroke of his pen, the President sent a message
to the entire world" Monday, July 28, 2003

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) joined President
George W. Bush in the Oval Office today as the President signed
McConnell's legislation imposing a United States import ban on goods
manufactured in Burma due to that country's atrocious human rights record.

The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act, drafted by McConnell,
overwhelmingly passed the Senate on July 16, 2003.

"With the stroke of his pen, the President sent a message to the entire
world that we must support democracy and freedom in Burma," said Senator
McConnell.

"While I am extremely pleased the bill has become law, I remain deeply
troubled by the continued detention of Burmese democracy leader Aung San
Suu Kyi and other democrats. The ruling regime must release Suu Kyi and
all others they have wrongly detained - and they must do so now."

McConnell added, "The signing of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act
today is a step forward in the ongoing struggle against the repressive and
illegitimate rule in Burma."
_________

Network for Democracy and Development July 28 2003

Four township NLD members imprisoned for 2 years
Three from Mandalay on trial

Network for Democracy and Development (NDD) strongly condemns the SPDC
military regime for arrests and giving jail terms to NLD members and
strongly urges the SPDC to release all NLD members and democracy activists
who were detained before and after the May 30 Massacre.

NDD has learnt that the vice chairman U Saw Htee and Secretary U Kan Htun
of Mandalay Division NLD were arrested on the same day when SPDC announced
that 91 detainees from Depayin Massacre had been released on July 18.
Furthermore, Mandaly Division NLD financier U Ko Gyi, father of Kyaw Soe
Lin who drove the car of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during Depeyin trip was also
arrested on July 23 after meeting his son at Khamti prison. These three
NLD members were put on trial at Chanaye Thazan township court.

Besides these arrests, four NLD members from Sintku township, including
chairman U Sein Htun and secretary U San were given 2 years jail terms
each on July 20. Other two members were U Hla Shwe and Ko Thet Naing.

"We strongly condemn on the arrests and imprisonment to these NLD members.
SPDC shows its motive that they don't want to enter into the way of
National reconciliation", said Kyaw Kyaw, chairperson of NDD.

"At this situation, international community including Thailand should give
strong pressure rather then to help the Junta", Kyaw Kyaw continued.

After the government-backed thugs attacked the motorcade of Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi and U Tin Oo who were on their organizing trip in upper Burma on
May 30, Junta launched a widespread crack down on NLD and arrested numbers
of NLD members all over Burma. Key leaders of NLD including Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi and U Tin Oo were also imprisoned.
____________

Korea Herald July 28 2003

Rethinking trade sanctions
By Jeffrey D. Sachs

 The U.S. Congress has voted almost unanimously (418 to 2 in the House of
Representatives and 94 to 1 in the Senate) to tighten trade and financial
sanctions against Myanmar, whose despotic regime harasses and repeatedly
imprisons the country's rightful leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. She won the
presidential election in 1990 but the military prevented her from taking
power. But sanctions are the wrong approach, for international
marginalization hurts ordinary citizens far more than it hurts
dictatorial regimes. It's time to curtail the use of economic sanctions
and to make them better targeted at despots. The most famous sanctions in
recent history were those imposed on South Africa during the apartheid
era. Much of the world community stopped trading with South Africa, and
stopped making investments in South African-based enterprises. Those
sanctions did, it seems, help speed the demise of that barbaric system.
But one great success does not negate the many failures. Moreover, it is
quite possible that the world community could have supported the
overthrow of apartheid in other ways. Of course, sanctions can be
effective in hurting the economy of the target country. Economic
development in today's global economy depends on each country being
integrated into the worldwide network of production, trade, and
investment. A national economy that is excluded by sanctions is likely to
stagnate or even collapse. Thus, the South African economy experienced an
absolute decline in per capita output during the years of widespread
sanctions. But sanctions were not the only reason for decline. Political
unrest also devastated the economy, as did a fall in world gold prices
that coincided with the anti-apartheid movement in the final years.
Still, South Africa was hurt badly by sanctions, and the same has been
true for many other countries. Cuba bears a heavy economic burden today
not only as a result of its own internal economic mistakes but also
because of the barriers to trade and investment imposed by the U.S. since
the 1960's. Haiti went into an economic tailspin when America imposed
sanctions in the 1990's, ostensibly to re-establish democracy. Even
today, the U.S. blocks aid for Haiti because some right-wing U.S.
Congressmen are intent on toppling President Aristide, whom they abhor.
Iraq and North Korea have likewise been battered by sanctions. In Iraq
during the 1990's, millions of children suffered repeated illnesses and
vast numbers died because international sanctions contributed to ruining
the country's economy. North Korea's economy utterly collapsed in the
1990's, leading to widespread famine. Once again, this results from a
combination of North Korea's political despotism, atrocious economic
policy, and international sanctions. Myanmar has already paid an
extremely high price for its isolation. International organizations have
cut back or eliminated their work in the country, and much bilateral
foreign aid has been eliminated, too. One result is that HIV/AIDS has run
rampant, and the country has received almost no help in getting the
epidemic under control. Myanmar's HIV/AIDS crisis is now by far Southeast
Asia's worst. Although sanctions clearly create suffering in many places,
how often have they achieved the desired goal? In Myanmar, Iraq, North
Korea, and Cuba, despotic regimes not only survived the imposition of
sanctions, but became more despotic. These regimes were able to blame
foreigners for domestic hardships, even when it was their own policy
mistakes and human rights abuses that caused the crises. Indeed,
sanctions weaken an economy and public health, but do not necessarily
make it more likely that a despotic regime will collapse. Sanctions
purportedly undermine the regime by causing widespread unrest and by
reducing the government's power base and tax collections. But sanctions
also weaken the ability of the private sector to finance an opposition,
tend to cut off the domestic opposition from international sources of
support, and reduce, rather than increase, international awareness of the
abuses taking place. Some additional effects are even more pernicious.
When legal means of business are outlawed, illegal means become more
attractive. Many countries under sanction, such as Myanmar, become
sources of global illegal trafficking in drugs, arms, money laundering,
and forced labor. Drug trafficking or other illegal activities can
overtake the whole government, turning it from despotism to international
organized crime. Does this mean that the world should do nothing about
despotic regimes? There is no easy answer, but to the extent that it is
possible to weaken a government without weakening an economy, such steps
should be taken. For example, so-called "smart sanctions'' focus more
narrowly on the political leadership. Smart sanctions include denial of
international travel privileges to despots and their families, and
subjecting those despots to the risk of international prosecution.
Leaders can thus be made prisoners in their own countries. Smart
sanctions can also specifically target the trade in military goods,
cutting off despotic regimes' armed forces. Moreover, foreign aid can be
shifted away from government towards non-governmental organizations,
strengthening the civil societies in such countries. It is easy to vote
against Mynamar's government, but it is harder to foster political
change. Starving Myanmar's economy is unlikely to help, but it is certain
to deepen the suffering of its people. Of course, countries that embrace
the use of sanctions do not intend this, but that does not lessen their
responsibility for the outcome. Jeffrey D. Sachs is professor of
economics and director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University.
___________

Burma Campaign UK July 28 2003

ABERCROMBIE & KENT DROP BURMA TOURS

The Burma Campaign UK today welcomed news that luxury travel firm
Abercrombie & Kent is to stop operating tours to Burma at the end of this
year. The company has been on a 'dirty list' of companies in Burma
published by the Burma Campaign UK.lo

"This is excellent news," said Anna Roberts, Campaigns Officer at the
Burma Campaign UK. "Abercrombie and Kent were one of the last significant
tour operators left in Burma. It further isolates Orient Express, Carnival
Cruises and Noble Caledonia. We will be stepping up pressure on them to
withdraw as well."

Earlier this month the British government wrote to travel companies asking
them to stop tours to Burma. Abercrombie & Kent are the first travel
company to respond to the government's request.

Burma, ruled by one of the most brutal military dictatorships in the
world, is the subject of a tourist boycott following calls by Aung San Suu
Kyi, leader of Burma's democracy movement, for tourists to stay away.
Tourism provides the generals with an important source of foreign
currency, and slave labour has been widely used to build tourist
infrastructure.

Earlier this year Kuoni and Travelsphere announced they are also ending
tours to Burma.

For more information contact Anna Roberts on 020 7281 7377, or Mark
Farmaner, Media Officer, on 020 7281 7377, mobile 07941 239 640.
To contact Abercrombie & Kent call Charlotte Fraser on 0207 259 1116.
__________

Financial Times July 26 2003

BURMA TRADE BAN NEEDS ONE SIGNATURE

From Prof Robert Howse

Sir, Your editorial "Free Suu Kyi now" (July 23) states that " the US
Congress is moving towards" a ban on trade with Burma. In fact, both
houses of Congress have given final approval to such legislation, in each
case in a virtually unanimous vote. This leaves only the final step of
presidential signature on the bill.

The ban does not violate US obligations under the WTO treaties, contrary
to what you suggest may be the case. The United States could rely on the
public morals and other exceptions in the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade. Moreover, economic measures against Burma have been endorsed and
recommended by the International Labour Organization, a multilateral body
in which both the US and Burma participate. This provides a further basis
in international law for US action.

If Burma were to take the matter to WTO dispute settlement, not only would
it probably lose but the regime's human rights record would also be
subject to detailed consideration by an impartial international tribunal.
Those who seek freedom and democracy for Burma would probably gain more
from such an exercise, ironically, than the country's ruling junta.

Robert Howse
Professor of Law
University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA