BurmaNet News: August 12 2003

[editor at burmanet.org]

August 12 2003 Issue #2304

INSIDE BURMA
AFP: Myanmar launches furious attack on US push for Aung San Suu Kyi release

ON THE BORDER
NMG: Refugee Camp under tight securities

MONEY
AP: Thailand is biggest importer of Myanmar goods: report

REGIONAL
Hindu: Indian External Affairs Minister says Myanmar should be part of
South Asian Union

INTERNATIONAL
AFP: UN envoy to do utmost to win Myanmar junta's support for Thai "road map"
Statesman: World Inherits Asia’s Buddha Relics

EDITORIALS
Mizzima: Aung San Suu Kyi would be freed and expelled

STATEMENTS
BCUK: Why won't Europe help Burma?


INSIDE BURMA

Agence France Presse   August 11, 2003 Monday
Myanmar launches furious attack on US push for Aung San Suu Kyi release

YANGON:  Myanmar launched a furious attack on the United States Monday
over its campaign to free opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, saying it
was trying to destabilise the country and install a puppet regime.

A commentary in the state media accused the United States of funding
dissident groups based in Thailand and India in "acts to provide
assistance to the national traitors of Myanmar in order to destabilize a
small nation."

The United States and some European nations were "perpetrating in
collusion with high intensity to pave the way for their puppet government
to rule the nation in order to serve their self-interest," said the New
Light of Myanmar. "The acts of the persons, who are like the maggots in
the flesh under the influence of personality cult, are designed to support
a group of persons to grab power," it said in a reference to Aung San Suu
Kyi's opposition party.

In the latest of several broadsides against tough new US sanctions aimed
at securing Aung San Suu Kyi's release, the ruling junta's number-three
Khin Nyunt also said the measures would only further impoverish the
population.

"Some Western powers in collusion with some elements who are opposed to
the public interest, imposed economic sanctions on Myanmar in the name of
human rights and democracy with every intention of leading the people to
miserable conditions," he said in a speech reported in the state press.

Aung San Suu Kyi was taken into custody on May 30 when her convoy was
ambushed by a pro-junta gang during a political tour of northern Myanmar,
in clashes which dissidents said left dozens dead.

Ignoring intense international criticism, the military government rolled
out a crackdown on her National League for Democracy (NLD) which has left
its entire leadership in detention and all its offices closed.

Foreign pressure on isolated Myanmar grew late last month when the United
States imposed tough new sanctions, including a ban on all imports worth
about 356 million dollars annually.

The sanctions legislation also authorises the US president to aid Myanmar
democracy activists, freezes the regime's financial assets in US banks and
property in the United States, and widens a visa ban on Myanmar officials.

Canada and the European Union have also introduced tighter sanctions on
Myanmar while its largest donor Japan has suspended new economic aid.
Myanmar was already the target of sanctions over its refusal to accept the
results of 1990 elections which the NLD won in a landslide.

Despite this week's angry rhetoric, Myanmar's Foreign Minister Win Aung
has said he is considering a "road map" towards democratic change and Aung
San Suu Kyi's release proposed by neighbouring Thailand.

United Nations envoy to Myanmar Razali Ismail said after a meeting with
Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai in Bangkok Monday that he
would do everything he can to persuade the ruling generals to accept the
initiative.

"This is an effort by Thailand which is qualified to do this as a friend
and a neighbour to try to persuade the government to see this is the way
out," he said.


ON THE BORDER

Network Media Group   August 11, 2003
Refugee Camp under tight securities

Thai local security forces were stepping up regulations for the visitors
to go inside the camp and also issued new regulations for the refugees on
August 7 while the officials met the refugees from Mae Khong Khar Refugee
Camp near Mae Sariang in northern Thailand, one refugee said.

This new regulation was formulated soon after Burmese anti-government
organizations such as Karen National Union- KNU, All Burma Students
Democratic Front- ABSDF and Network for Democracy and Development- NDD
along with other groups were told on July 18 not to stay in Mae Sariang
and they were forced to go settle inside the Refugee Camp.

Thai authorities who were taking responsibility for refugee camp explained
the new regulation to refugee camp authorities and in turn, camp
authorities would have to explain to refugees who were living in their
camp.

Among this new regulations, all type of vehicles want to go inside the
camp will now need a permit from township administration officer before
they enter the camp.

Apart from this, license registration numbers, color, model and bills of
all motor cycles and vehicles own by some organizations and NGOs have to
report to the camp security authorities.

The arrest of six members of Karen Women Organization on July 29 made
clear that authorities do not want any anti-government activists to stay
in Mae Sariang.

In a similar scenario, security measures had been stepped up in Karenni
refugee camps all around the border by Thai officials, and some reports
said the arrest of activists in Mae Hong Song and all the offices of
Burmese organizations had to stay secretly.

Thai authorities were keep patrolling around Mae Siriang city in order to
implement their new policy on Burmese anti-government organizations. Some
monasteries were also under daily surveillance of Thai military to
differentiate the monks who are Burmese or Karen or Thai.


MONEY

Associated Press Worldstream   August 12, 2003
Thailand is biggest importer of Myanmar goods: report

YANGON: Thailand bought US$63 million worth of goods from Myanmar in June,
a 56 percent drop compared to the same month last year, a business journal
reported.

However, it is still Myanmar's biggest export market, the August issue of
the semi-government Business Tank magazine said.

Most of Myanmar's imports in June came from Singapore - worth US$67, a 50
percent increase compared to US$38 million in June 2002, it said.

The June exports to Thailand accounted for 32 percent of Myanmar's total
exports, the Business Tank said. It said goods worth US$142 million were
exported to Thailand in June 2002.

The drop this year was due to decline of gas sales, which is the biggest
export item to Thailand followed by teak and rubies, the report said.

Singapore used to be Myanmar's biggest export market until Thailand
started buying gas in 2000-2001. It is mostly carried by pipelines
operated by TotalFinaElf of France and Britain's Premier Oil.

Most of Myanmar's imports from Singapore comprise textiles followed by
lubricants, oil and diesel, the Business Tank said.


REGIONAL

The Hindu   August 12, 2003
Step-by-Step Approach to Improve Ties with Pak
By: Our Diplomatic Correspondent

The External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, said today that Afghanistan
and Myanmar should be part of a larger economic union with South Asian
nations.

Briefing presspersons today, the External Affairs Ministry spokesman said
that Mr. Sinha had made these remarks during a meeting of the
Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry. Mr. Sinha,
who had referred to the idea of a South Asian Union earlier, felt that a
closer economic partnership involving South Asia should include Myanmar
and Afghanistan as well. Speaking on India's relationship with South Asia,
Mr. Sinha maintained that as a follow-up to the April 18 initiative of the
Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Government had adopted a
step-by-step approach to improving relations with Pakistan.
People-to-people contacts was another dimension of this relationship.

On Sri Lanka, the External Affairs Minister said that New Delhi enjoyed an
excellent relationship'' with Colombo. Mr. Sinha also announced that he
would be travelling to Colombo for a Joint Commission meeting next week.

Referring to Myanmar, the spokesman quoted the Minister as saying that
India wanted an early release of the National League for Democracy (NLD)
leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.


INTERNATIONAL

Agence France Presse   August 11, 2003
UN envoy to do utmost to win Myanmar junta's support for Thai "road map"

BANGKOK: United Nations envoy to Myanmar Razali Ismail said Monday he
would do everything he can to persuade the country's ruling generals to
accept Thailand's "road map" proposal for democratic reforms.

After a meeting with Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, Razali
said it was vital not to alienate the ruling generals with the plan which
is also aimed at securing the release of democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi.

"I will do all I can to make this framework be acceptable," he said. "This
is an effort by Thailand which is qualified to do this as a friend and a
neighbour to try to persuade the government to see this is the way out."
"The issue is how do we do this in such a way that the Myanmar government
would understand that this is not an effort to try to intrude into what
they want to do," he told reporters.

Razali is the architect of an earlier national reconciliation initiative
which began in October 2000 when he persuaded the military government to
hold historic talks with Aung San Suu Kyi.

After failing to make any headway for many months, the Razali initiative
collapsed completely in May when the National League for Democracy (NLD)
leader was taken into custody after her supporters were mobbed by a
pro-junta gang.

The Myanmar junta has resisted intense international calls for Aung San
Suu Kyi's release, raising concerns among its Southeast Asian neighbours
who fear the entire region will be brought into disrepute by its
intransigence.

Thailand, which is particularly concerned about a flood of illegal
migrants from Myanmar as tough new US sanctions bite into its economy, has
floated the "road map" as a way out of the crisis.

Razali said that the United Nations would work together with Thailand on
its proposal. Most of the details of the scheme are being kept secret but
it will include an international forum to brainstorm solutions for
Myanmar.

"There will be coordination by all parties and the Thai foreign minister
has told me that he would want to discuss much more with us and also with
other parties so that it becomes eventually something quite acceptable to
the relevant parties," he said.

Surakiart said that China, which is Myanmar's main international sponsor
and trading partner, had given its in-principle approval to the scheme and
would continue to be closely consulted.

Despite a cool public response to the proposal by the Myanmar junta which
said it preferred to handle its own problems, Surakiart said his
counterpart Win Aung had assured him it was under serious consideration.

"(He) told me that the road map is being considered by the leadership and
they need more time to look at it, and I said to him that I understood
because it is a very complicated matter," he said.

"The main point is really to lay down steps which should be made as and
pratical as possible and acceptable to the Myanmar people which will lead
to realistic national reconciliation."
____________

The Statesman (India)   August 12, 2003
World Inherits Asia’s Buddha Relics

Sudeshna Sarkar in Kathmandu Aug. 11. - More than 2500 years after his
death, the Buddha will appear again in Kushinagar, the city in Uttar
Pradesh where he breathed his last en route to the UNO. In an unparalleled
gesture, three countries have yielded their most prized Buddhist relics -
12 bones of Gautama Buddha - so that they can be preserved together in the
United Nations Headquarters in New York. The motive: to bring these
hallowed treasures under one roof at a venue where they can be revered by
devotees from all over the world. Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar have
agreed to make the gesture after the UN General Assembly had in December
1999 adopted a resolution giving international recognition to Vesak Day.
It is the night of the full moon in May in which when the Buddha was born,
attained enlightenment and passed away. Buddhists consider it their most
sacred day. On 7 May 2001, a train of monks began an epic pilgrimage with
the relics, that has already covered 23 countries as diverse as Mexico and
Austria, Kenya and Italy. The monks will reach Lumbini, birthplace of the
Enlightened One, tomorrow. The day after they move to Kushinagar, where
the relic will be displayed at a Thai temple. The next day the procession
leaves for Bangkok from where the monks will fly for New York. The Buddha,
born into a kshatriya royal family in Nepal in 563 BC, renounced his
kingdom Kapilavastu to found one of the world's major religions. Legend
has it that after the Buddha's death, his bones were interred in eight
ancient cities. Emperor Ashoka is said to have attacked these cities and
removed the relics. He divided the bones into 84,000 pieces and emissaries
took them to different lands. The most famous among them were his son
Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra, who went to Sri Lanka. At the UN, the
relic will finally become common inheritance for devotees all over the
world. "When he was alive, the Buddha preached peace. Now the teachings
will be reinforced through his presence in spirit," said Bhikshu Nanda
Sthabir, a monk at Munibihar monastery in Bhaktapur, where the relic was
kept for four days when it was viewed by over 30,000 people. A Thai monk
escorting the divine bones narrates an interesting tale: "Last year we
were going to Los Angeles from Mexico City. Post-9/11, the authorities
frowned at the bones, saying we could fly with them only if we carried a
death certificate of their owner! Then, inexplicably, they changed their
mind. It was the Buddha's doing."


EDITORIALS

 Mizzima News   August 12, 2003
Aung San Suu Kyi would be freed and expelled
 By U Thaung

Bombs are exploded in many towns in Burma. Arrests are made effectively.
The Military Intelligence torture chambers are busy. As a result the
Burmese military have obtained many confessions stating that the bomb
blasts are instructed by Aung San Suu Kyi who was imprisoned two months
ago.

In this atmosphere the Bangok Post on August 8 printed the news that,
"Imprisoned Burmese national leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would be freed on
or about August 22." The Post seems to be correct and accurate, but before
the Post could continue digging up the details of the release plan, higher
Thai Military leaders denied the report.

For the educated Burmese journalist, the news seems to be true and
authentic. The Burmese Army way of crushing their enemy is to mill until
they disappear and vanish completely. For the trio of military dictators
of the Burma Army, Aung San Suu Kyi is their ultimate enemy and a terribly
strong witness of their crimes against humanity. They are scared like hell
and madder than the maddest dogs.

They had been writing scripts to eliminate the Lady for a long, long time.
Now they have created a scenario for her and have planned bomb blasts and
confessions to conduct the trial as a High Treason case. The penalty for
treason of Burma's Penal Code, section 121-124, is death or
transportation.

It is a great scary script to put Aung San Suu Kyi at a military tribunal
and expel her from the country. She would be transported to the border at
the Burma-Thai Regional Meeting on August 22 and freed.

Burma's very, very good neighbor the Thai Government is trying their best
to help Burma achieve a democratic rule would certainly help the plot. The
Thai Government will not only gladly grant political asylum to Suu, but
also facilitate her pro-democracy talk at the Burmese National Convention
for writing a constitution sponsored by the Thai Government Road Map.

It is a conspiracy, co-authored by the Thai Prime Minister, the Defense
Minister and the Foreign Minister. It is a pity that a talkative
Lieutenant General uttered the part that he was to handle to the Bangkok
Post reporter Wassana Nauam.

Unfortunately, their strategy is exposed now. Will they excute their plot?
What the three Burmese military dictators and their Thai associates will
do to stage this atrocious script remains to be seen soon.

Some might say that this scenario is impossible and that the international
community could not accept such rubbish. They should watch the current
Burmese drama on the stage and study why the United Nations, the U.S.
Government, the European Union, and Japan could do nothing for the freedom
of the Lady. If she were expelled, certainly a loud yell would arise from
the world's civilized nations. But the Burmese thugs and their cronies
from Thai government never listen in  such retorts.


STATEMENTS

The Independent   August 12, 2003
John Jackson: Why won't Europe help Burma?
From a speech by the director of the Burma Campaign UK, delivered outside
Parliament

At eight minutes past eight, on August 8 1988, a remarkable event in the
history of political struggle took place.

A year before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the tragedy of Tiananmen Square
and the release of Nelson Mandela, the people of Burma took to the streets
in their millions, calling for an end to three decades of military
dictatorship. Thousands of unarmed civilians were massacred by the army,
troops even entering Rangoon General Hospital to finish of those not yet
dead and any medical staff who tried to protect them. The true number of
those who died will never be known.

Burma's non-violent revolution was born out of the cold and disciplined
violence of its military against its own people. The emergence of San Suu
Kyi as the leader of Burma's pro-democracy movement is due in large part
to 8/8/88 and its legacy.

Just as Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress called for
sanctions against apartheid, Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for
Democracy, the winners of Burma's 1990 election, have called for economic
sanctions against the junta. But Europe stands by, wringing its hands,
watching and waiting. America is the only country to apply tough sanctions
against the regime. The EU merely bans the generals from having holidays
in Europe and freezes the negligible assets they might hold in European
banks. It's pathetic.

We are stepping up pressure for Britain not to wait for Europe, but to
take action now. We will push for the UN Security Council to impose
legally binding sanctions against the Generals in Rangoon to force Burma's
Asian neighbours to push the military towards reform.

It is because of the 8/8/88 uprising that this movement exists, and it is
because of this movement that Burma will be free.