BurmaNet News: November 5, 2003

[editor at burmanet.org]

November 5, 2003 Issue #2362

INSIDE BURMA
AFP: UN envoy visits notorious Myanmar jail, expects to see Suu Kyi
AFP: Indian VP departs Myanmar after relationship-warming visit
Narinjara: Muslim Leaders are called up to help the “Road Map”

ON THE BORDER
TPR: BT10 Million Offered for ‘Long-Necked’ Padaung Tribe

DRUGS
Xinhua: Thailand, Myanmar brewing better cooperation in fight against drugs
SHAN: UN agency figure spurned by locals
SHAN: Green Shans emulate rich hilltribes

GUNS
SHAN: Karen rebels scramble to outdo themselves

REGIONAL
TPR: Suu Kyi ‘Not on Agenda’ of Pagan Lesdership Meeting: Thai Foreign
Minister
BP: Thailand to Form Joint Tourism Promotion with Laos, Cambodia, Burma

INTERNATIONAL
Nation: Jackson seeks to up pressure on Burma

OPINION / OTHER
NLM: Joint Statement Issued on Indian Vice-President’s Visit to Burma


----INSIDE BURMA----

Agence France Presse   November 5, 2003
UN envoy visits notorious Myanmar jail, expects to see Suu Kyi

UN rights envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro on Wednesday visited Yangon's
notorious Insein jail to meet political prisoners, and said he expected to
be allowed to see democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Pinheiro, who is on a mission to investigate several alleged human rights
abuses in the military-run state, also said his talks Tuesday with
Myanmar's Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt were positive.

"It was a very good exchange... he exposed to me several aspects of the
present (political) process," he told reporters late Tuesday.

"I also had the opportunity to share several aspects of my report... and
proposed ways to promote and implement basic human rights," he said,
referring to his damning findings on rights abuses in Myanmar.

Pinheiro said Khin Nyunt, the powerful chief of military intelligence who
announced a planned "roadmap" to democracy after being appointed premier
in August, was "very attentive" and took notes during the meeting.

Asked whether he would be allowed to see Aung San Suu Kyi, who is being
held under house arrest, he said the authorities had been "very
cooperative" and that he should have "no difficulties".

Pinheiro would be only the second outsider to visit the 58-year-old Nobel
peace laureate since May 30 when she was arrested after her convoy was
ambushed by a pro-junta gang in northern Myanmar.

UN envoy Razali Ismail saw her early last month but did not shed much
light on the incident which reportedly left dozens of people dead, and
observers hope that during his six-day mission Pinheiro can clarify what
happened.

The Brazilian academic said he expected to spend the whole day at Insein,
Myanmar's most notorious prison which is just north of Yangon, and that he
had good access to prisoners he requested to see.

"The authorities were very cooperative... I did not encounter any
difficulty having access to the people I need to meet," he said.

Pinheiro cut short his last trip to Myanmar in March after finding
surveillance equipment in a room used for "confidential" interviews with
political prisoners.

The envoy has said one of his top priorities is to secure the release of
some 1,200 to 1,300 political prisoners being held in Myanmar's jails.

Several hundred were freed after a dialogue between the junta and the
opposition began three years ago, but the releases have virtually stopped
and the junta has largely ignored Pinheiro's priority list of 200
prisoners.


Agence France Presse   November 5, 2003
Indian VP departs Myanmar after relationship-warming visit

Indian Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat departed Myanmar Wednesday
after a five-day visit which the official press said had strengthened ties
between the neighbours.

Shekhawat departed from the northern city of Mandalay where he addressed
an Indian traders' council, said an official at the Indian embassy. On
Tuesday he flew to the ancient capital of Bagan to tour the famed temple
complex there.

"The friendship between the two neighbours has been raised to new heights
with the current visit of the Indian vice-president," the official New
Light of Myanmar said.

During the visit, the highest-level mission by an Indian leader to the
military-run state in 16 years, Shekhawat held talks with Myanmar's leader
Senior General Than Shwe.

Indian and Myanmar officials also signed an agreement on visa exemptions
for officials and diplomats, and a memorandum of understanding between
Myanmar's education ministry and India's human resource development
ministry.

"The discussions between the leaders of Myanmar and India have confirmed
the demonstrated will of the two nations to live together in weak and woe
and to foster closer ties in the years ahead," the New Light said.

Ties between the two countries have been strained in the past,
particularly since India gave sanctuary to exiles following the military's
1988 coup.


Narinjara News   November 5, 2003
Muslim Leaders are called up to help the “Road Map”

Maung Daw:  Five Muslim Leaders from Arakan State are called upon by the
SPDC (the ruling State Peace and Development Council), to rouse support
for the SPDC’s Road Map and to gain votes for the SPDC backed Political
Party, if there were election to be held.

The secret instruction was given to the Muslim Leaders by the regional
Military Intelligence (MI), according to Maung Daw resident who is close
to the MI.  It is part of the preparation for the election by the central
authority of SPDC.

Three Muslim Leaders are U Anna War, U Kyaw Thein and U Aung Naing.  Other
two leaders’ names have not been disclosed, yet.  These leaders are
secretly moving among the Muslim communities in Sittwe (Akyab), Buthi
Daung, and Maung Daw regions.

The higher Intelligence Authority issues directives to the local branches
to help the Muslim leaders in their travels between the regions.  SPDC
promises the Muslims that they will receive National Identity Card and
they will get recognition as another “race” of Burma.

According to Kaladan press, on the 20th of September, Assistant Minister
of Agriculture and Irrigation, Major General Khin Maung, together with
President of Rangoon Division of Union Solidarity and Development
Association (USDA, the government sponsored NGO) and other officials,
visited Maung Daw and met the community leaders including 12 Muslims to
urge to support the “Road Map.”

He promised that in return Muslims would be issued National Identity Card
and guaranteed the peaceful living within Burma,

It has been said in the Arakan State that the SPDC will realise the Road
Map by themselves without the help of the opposition forces lead by Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi, and there have been some pushes for organising
attendance for the National Convention to help in drawing up the
Constitution and to win the consequent election.


----ON THE BORDER----

Thai Press Reports   November 5, 2003
BT10 MILLION OFFERED FOR 'LONG-NECKED' PADAUNG TRIBE

Section: General News - A businessman has offered Bt10 million to purchase
members of the Padaung tribe - famous for their 'long-necked women' -
based in this northern province of Mae Hong Son, in the hope of tapping
into vast tourism revenue, the head of the tribe revealed today.

Mr. Thulae, aged 40, said that a group of businesspeople from the southern
resort province of Phuket had contacted him with an offer of purchasing
3-5 Padaung families based in Mae Hong Son and taking them to Phuket to be
shown to tourists there. A sum of Bt5-10 billion was offered, he said.

After discussions, members of the tribe had spoken favourably of the
offer, noting that their present income in Mae Hong Son was low, as tour
companies were reluctant to pay foreign tourists to see them.

At present, around 20 Padaung families live in Mae Hong Son, earning their
incomes from the sale of souvenirs and from tourists who pay to look at
their traditional costume, which includes the wearing of several brass
rings round the necks of women, producing the famous 'long necks'.

Mr. Thulae said that some of the Padaung families would travel to Phuket,
where they had been promised Bt200 from every foreign tourist who paid to
look at them, with the tour companies paying them on a monthly basis.

But the plans look set to be thwarted by Mae Hong Son provincial governor,
Mr. Suphot Laowansiri, who said today that the Padaung had to remain in
Mae Hong Son, as they were war refugees who would be returned to Myanmar
once the situation there had improved. The province has set aside a
special area for the Padaung tribe, with soldiers and volunteers ensuring
that they do not escape from the province.


----DRUGS----

Xinhua General News Service   November 5, 2003
Thailand, Myanmar brewing better cooperation in fight against drugs

BANGKOK, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) --Thailand and Myanmar's military were currently
drafting plans to improve cooperation in fight against drugs, local press
on Wednesday quoted Thai military resources as saying.

The brewed cooperation plan was aimed to crack down drug-related illegal
activities in the border region of northern Thailand and southeastern
Myanmar.

The two sides were also expected to join hands to develop local economy of
some 20 villages of ethnic groups on the Myanmar side, Thailand's Third
Army chief Picharnmeth Muangmanee was quoted by Bangkok Post as saying.

The Third Army was in charge of security issues along the Thai-Myanmar
border.

Ethnic villagers would be taught to grow substitute plants and Thailand
would also help them to find the market, according to Picharnmeth.

Coordinated border controls were also proposed by the plan. Military
groups from the two countries were planned to respectively patrol 20
villages on each side of the border in tandem and keep contact with
radios.

In this way, the two sides could improve their efforts to fight drug
factories and trafficking in the region.

The plan was expected to be adopted at the Regional Border Committee
meeting that will be held on Dec. 16 to 19 at northern Thai province
Chiang Rai, some 1000 kilometers north of Bangkok.

Under the cooperation of Myanmar, the Thai soldiers recently seized a
total of 9.7 million methamphetamine pills buried in the border area,
according to Bangkok Post.


Shan Herald Agency for News   November 5, 2003
UN agency figure spurned by locals
By Hawkeye

The figure, 100 hectares (250 acres), given for the Shan township in the
Upper Triangle, where Burma's Shan State meets China and Laos in the June
UN report, was rejected by both farmers and the local ceasefire group
members alike who were interviewed by S.H.A.N. recently.

"The people from the UN (Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention)
only came to interview the farmers along the motor roads," said a
lieutenant from Sai Leun's National Democratic Alliance Army - Eastern
Shan State, better known as the Mongla group. "They did not take time
enough to look beyond the immediate vicinity."

Farmers interviewed by S.H.A.N. were unanimous that little or no "real
information" was volunteered to the UNODC fact-finders. "How do we know we
can trust them?" questioned one rhetorically. "Tell them the truth today
and, who knows, the Burmese armymen will be swarming over the hills and
valleys to destroy our fields tomorrow, while telling us they don't want
to do it but..."

S.H.A.N. who travelled from Mongla, opposite China's Daluo, along the
northern part of the Namlwe, a tributary of the Mekong, last month, on a
four-wheeled truck interviewed a number of farmers in Taping and Mawn
Hsarmtao tracts, most of whom are Loila and Palaung, ethnic relatives of
Wa.

There are 30 villages in Mawn Hsarmtao with approximately 1,800 households
and 6 Palaung villages with some 500 households in Taping, where S.H.A.N.
passed through. "All of us are growing poppies at least half an acre each,
70% of us doing two crops each season," said an influential source from
Mawn Hsamtao. "It means people in our tract alone cultivate something like
a thousand acres with each acre producing about 5 viss (1 viss = 1.6 kg)."

The lieutenant, who is a native of Mongma, near Mongla, admitted the
existence of poppy fields. "Both the Burmese and our own leaders are
propagating the evils of opium and its derivative, heroin, every year, he
explained. "But as neither is helping them, the people go on raising
poppies. What we can do is only that they be discreet and keep their
fields out of travelers' sight."

A Kengtung businessman who had accompanied S.H.A.N. from Mongla to Taparn
in the east, some 200 km, cocluded that poppy cultivation in the whole
area north of the Namlwe must be extensive. "What we saw in Mawn Hsarmtao
and Taping was just a tip of the iceberg," he said.

Mongla had declared itself and the areas under its control, designated as
Special Region #4 by Rangoon, drug free in 1997. It earned about 80
million yuan ($9.6 million) each year from tourism. However, as Mongla
became 'dry' following stiff restrictions by China imposed on tourists
last July, the NDAA officers admitted it was getting more difficult to
preserve its clean image.


Shan Herald Agency for News   November 5, 2003
Green Shans emulate rich hilltribes

Many Shans in Mongkok, a sub-township northeast of Monghsat, opposite
Chiangmai and Chiangrai provinces, have begun to engage in poppy
cultivation this season, inspired by the growing prosperity of the
neighboring hilltribes, according to sources from Monghsat.

"Three of the 8 Shan villages where I live have already started," said a
52-year old Shan to S.H.A.N. on 18 October.

Monghsat is a township where Shans appear to be a distinct minority.
"Everywhere we look, Akha and Lahu, protected both by their militia
leaders and the Burmese military, are getting rich while we keep sinking
low."

Two of the most prominent militia chieftains in the area are Ja Seubo of
Nampan in the neighboring township of Monghpyak, whose influence extends
beyond the artificial borders into Monghsat, and Ja Ngoi of Punako, whose
refineries are reputedly protected by the local army units. Others less
known are Ja Bo of Wankawng, Ja Saw of Pongzoy and Yawna of Monghai (also
in Monghpyak).

The Shan valley-dwellers were further encouraged by the speech of the
township officer U Ni Myint, who visited Mongkok on 12 July.

"Officially, poppy cultivation is illegal," he was quoted by a villager
who was present at the meeting. "However, as the government is as yet not
in a position to support you, my advice is that you keep your fields way
out of sight."

However, the "rookie" farmers went into despair, when in early October, an
8-men delegation of police and drug officials visited Mongkok and ordered
the local people to grow other crops instead. "We were warned by the
officers that they would be back in a few months, and if they were to find
any more poppy fields in the area, we would face punishment."

The Shans were duly consoled by their neighbors. "It's nothing new. They
have been telling us the same thing each year and we're used to it," they
cheered the unhappy Shans. "All we have to find are gifts of chicken, wine
and cash for them and a few plots of land where we will grow poppies for
them to destroy as the video cameras record the event."

According to The New Light of Myanmar, 30 January, Monghsat is already
poppy free.

On 7 October, Burma's drug enforcement agency, the Central Committee for
Drug Abuse Control, took the decision for significant reduction of opium
production and threatened effective punishments for officials who failed
in their tasks.

Poppy fields in Monghsat produce about 3 viss (4.8 kg) of opium.


----GUNS----

Shan Herald Agency for News   November 4, 2003
War: Karen rebels scramble to outdo themselves

According to the latest disclosure from the Karen National Liberation
Army, the armed wing of the Karen National Union, the number of clashes
with the Burma Army and its allies had markedly increased to almost 3
clashes killing 2 and wounding 4 per day during the period 13 September -
19 October.

Before it was 1 clash 2 casualties per day. (Karen rebels release battle
news, SHAN, 28 August 2003)

The sharp rise was due to Rangoon's offensive that began on 5 August and
ended on 20 October, with the Karen claiming to have inflicted more than
300 casualities to the junta forces. (Junta troops call off Karen
offensive, S.H.A.N., 21 October 2003)

The Hmawbi-based Military Operations Command #4 had pulled off to its rear
positions "to lick its wounds," according to Karen Spokesman Saw Sarky,
leaving Light Infantry Battalion 703 to hold the front. "The 703rd is in
dire conditions suffering casualties almost daily," he declared.
"Retreating enemy shldiers are also being ambushed almost daily."

On 31 October, two patrols from the KNLA's 6th Brigade ambushed the
pro-Rangoon Democratic Karen Buddhist Army's 907th Battalion trying to
rejoin its units near Waley, opposite Tak's Phobpra district. "Both
intercepted radio messages and local sources confirmed the renegades
suffered 6 dead and 13 wounded," said Saw Sarky. "Among the dead was a
captain and lieutenant."

The rebels also claimed to have captured one 60mm mortar and one 57m
recoilless rifle among others.

"We are willing to negotiate for a peaceful settlement," he continued,
claiming support for the ENSCC roadmap. (Third force offers third roadmap,
S.H.A.N., 5 September 2003) "But if the enemy is bent on continued
aggression against our people, it will be time to show the enemy that in
war, not only the common foot soldiers and low ranking officers suffer,
but also their high commanders who are hiding behind their front line
troops whom they are using as cannon fodder. We are going to bring the war
to them."

He promised to hit only military and economic targets. "We have profound
respect for innocent civilian life," he stressed.

According to several sources, Rangoon is preparing a fresh offensive
against the Karens, bringing spare troops from other areas. (Troops from
Shan State march to Karen front, S.H.A.N., 24 October 2003)


----REGIONAL----

Thai Press Reports   November 5, 2003
Suu Kyi ‘Not on Agenda’ of Pagan Lesdership Meeting: Foreign Minister

Section: General News - The release of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San
Suu Kyi will not be on the agenda of the upcoming four-nation leadership
meeting in the former Myanmar capital of Pagan, Foreign Minister Surakiart
Sathirathai confirmed yesterday.

Instead, he said, the meeting - an initiative of Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra - would focus on broad economic issues, and the generation of
additional incomes for the sub-regional population.

Stressing that the November 12 meeting would focus on affairs that
concerned all four nations - Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia - he
said that the discussions were not aimed at talking with Myanmar's leaders
on the issue of Suu Kyi.

"As far as the issue of Aung San Suu Kyi is concerned, Thailand's stance
is already clear - we want to see the release of Aung San Suu Kyi as soon
as possible. If Myanmar has procedures that it must follow, the country
should start the ball rolling itself", he said.

"As Rangoon has told the prime minister, it has already allowed Aung San
Suu Kyi to return home. She is no longer in confinement. The Myanmar
military junta has given us our word that it will follow the country's
national reconciliation plan, or 'road map'", he stated.

The meeting is due to take place on 12 November in Pagan, following a
meeting between foreign ministers of all four nations in the Myanmar
capital of Rangoon on 10 November.

Asked if discussions on the issue of Suu Kyi would take place away from
the main discussion table, Mr. Surakiart conceded that the matter might be
raised during a dinner among the four leaders, depending on whether or not
the atmosphere seemed appropriate.

Mr. Surakiart noted that in the past several meetings had already taken
place at a senior official level, with various frameworks already drawn
up. The upcoming meeting was in order to determine whether these
frameworks agreed upon by the four foreign ministers would also find
acceptance with the four national leaders, he said. The Pagan meeting will
see the launch of the Pagan Declaration on economic cooperation
strategies, detailing areas in which the four countries will pledge future
cooperation. These will include the facilitation of border trade and the
elimination of obstacles to the cross-border transportation of goods.
Other key areas will include agriculture, industry, tourism,
communications links and assistance in the development of human resources.

Mr. Surakiart noted that the broad framework for such cooperation was
already agreed upon during a ministerial meeting last August.


Bangkok Post, Thailand   November 5, 2003
Thailand to Form Joint Tourism Promotion with Laos, Cambodia, Burma
By Nondhanada Intarakomalyasut

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has signed an agreement with the
national tourism boards of Laos, Cambodia and Burma to jointly promote
tourism in overseas market.

It is the first time that the four countries have agreed to jointly
promote tourism as a group. Before, these types of arrangements had been
made on a bilateral basis.

According to Phornsiri Manoharn, the TAT deputy governor for marketing,
the first project under the pact is to market a package trip called
Pilgrim Tour, which includes visits to ancient cities and temples in the
four countries.

Two areas have been chosen from each country to participate in the
programme. The selected areas include Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, Sawannakhet,
Luang Prabang, Phnom Penh, Siam Reap, Pagan and Mandalay.

The four national tourism boards will be responsible for promoting the
programme through their overseas roadshows and trade shows, she said.

The package will be sold through private travel agents in each country.

Mrs Phornsiri believes that the pact will help strengthen the marketing
strategy for the countries' tourism industries.

The main targets are European tourists and Buddhists throughout the world.

The tour package will be introduced at the International Travel Berlin
exhibition in Germany in March.

Currently, the four countries are developing facilities and creating land
and air linkage to facilitate the programme, Mrs Phornsiri said.

Other details and the cost of the package have yet to be finalised.


----INTERNATIONAL----

The Nation (Thailand)   November 6, 2003
Jackson seeks to up pressure on Burma
By Nantiya Tangwisutijit

High-profile US civil rights leader the Reverend Jesse Jackson yesterday
called for increased pressure to be applied on Burma's military junta and
appealed to the Thai government to treat refugees humanely.

Jackson made his calls after visiting the Ban Kwai displaced persons camp,
about three kilometres from the Burmese border in the northern province of
Mae Hong Son.

He is in Thailand as part of an international human-rights and peace
campaign.

"They [the refugees] have the natural right to live in Burma in peace and
have the international right to be here [in Thailand] while the former
option is not yet possible," Jackson said prior to his trip as he spoke at
the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand on Tuesday.

The 18,256 residents of the camp, mainly belonging to the Karenni ethnic
minority, have fled their homes in Burma due to brutal repression by the
country's ruling junta.

The Thai government plans to close down all the refugee camps in the
country, amid strong concerns from human-rights groups that repatriating
them could put the refugees' lives in danger as political unrest in Burma
continues.

Jackson called on the world community to "apply more economic and
diplomatic pressure" on the generals who rule Burma to compel them to stop
the repression that causes refugees to flee to Thailand and other
neighbouring countries.

The veteran rights campaigner also commented on Thailand's role after it
received Major Non-Nato Ally status from Washington last month, saying
that he hoped the Thai government would not trade off the needs of its
people to the war in Iraq.

"We spend too much money on war [while] our children need education so
they will not end up becoming child labour," he said.

Jackson's visit to Thailand was arranged by the International Peace
Foundation, which is organising a "peace summit" of political leaders and
Nobel Prize winners in Thailand from this month until April next year.

The Nation Channel (TTV 1) will broadcast Jackson's exclusive interview
with Nation Group editor-in-chief Suthichai Yoon tomorrow at 10pm.



----OPINION / OTHER----

The New Light of Myanmar, Rangoon   November 5, 2003
Joint Statement Issued on Indian Vice-President’s Visit to Burma

Text of "Joint Statement" of the vice-president of the Republic of India,
Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, issued in Rangoon on 4 November carried in
English by Burmese newspaper The New Light of Myanmar on 5 November

Joint Statement on the visit to Myanmar (Burma) by H.E. Mr Bhairon Singh
Shekhawat, vice-president of the Republic of India

1. At the invitation of Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development
Council (SPDC) of the Union of Myanmar (Burma), Vice-Senior General Maung
Aye, H.E. Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, vice-president of the Republic of
India paid a four-day official visit to Myanmar from 2 to 5 November 2003.
The vice-president of India, H.E. Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, was
accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising H.E. Mr Digvijay Singh,
minister of state for external affairs, H.E. Mr Anil Kumar, member of
parliament (RS), H.E. Mr B.J. Panda, member of parliament (RS), H.E. Mr K.
Sibal, foreign secretary, H.E. Mr Anil Kuma, secretary to vice-president,
H.E. Mr R.K. Bhatia, ambassador of India to Myanmar and other senior
officials.

2. The vice-president of India and members of his entourage were accorded
a warm welcome by the government and the people of Myanmar, reflecting the
traditionally friendly ties between the two countries.

3. During his stay in Myanmar, Vice-President H.E. Mr Bhairon Singh
Shekhawat was received by the chairman of the State Peace and Development
Council, Senior General Than Shwe, and the two leaders had a friendly
exchange of views on matters of mutual interest.

4. The vice-chairman of SPDC, Vice-Senior General Maung Aye and
Vice-President H.E. Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat held discussions on a wide
range of bilateral, regional and international issues.

5. The vice-chairman of SPDC and the vice-president of India apprised each
other of recent developments in their countries. The Myanmar side informed
the Indian side of the seven-step road map for transition to democracy.
The vice-chairman of SPDC expressed Myanmar's desire to work with India
for closer economic relations and to maintain peace and stability on their
common border. The vice-president of India expressed support for the
national reconciliation process and progress in the transition to
democracy in Myanmar.

6. While reviewing the development of friendly relations between the two
countries, both leaders expressed satisfaction at the progress in various
sectors in recent years. They expressed their determination to enhance
these relations by exploring further possibilities in economic, trade,
education, culture and technical cooperation. The Myanmar side conveyed
deep appreciation for the training fellowships provided by India to more
than 300 Myanmar nationals. The two sides reviewed progress on several
developmental projects considered important for building long-term
linkages between the two countries. They reaffirmed the target of 1bn US
dollars of bilateral trade by the year 2006.

7. The vice-chairman of SPDC Vice-Senior General Maung Aye expressed the
deep gratitude of the Government of Myanmar to the Government of India for
the extension of a credit line of 25m dollars to Myanmar. During the
visit, the two sides signed the agreement on visa exemption for official
and diplomatic passport holders and Memorandum of Understanding between
the Ministry of Education, Government of the Union of Myanmar and the
Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

8. The vice-president and the vice-chairman of SPDC shared the view that
terrorism in all its forms and manifestations was unacceptable. They
agreed that no cause justifies terrorism. The two leaders informed each
other of measures enacted and implemented in their countries to fight
terrorism. They committed themselves to strengthening bilateral mechanisms
and to considering additional ways to intensify efforts to prevent,
counter and suppress the activities of terrorist groups and to cooperate
in this regard. The two sides reiterated their firm commitment to ensure
that their common border remains one of peace, stability and tranquillity.

9. The two sides expressed their support for the Non-Aligned Movement
which had a vital role to play for promoting peace, development and a more
equitable world economic order.

10. Recent progress in strengthening defence cooperation was reviewed and
satisfaction was expressed at the regular exchange of visits involving the
three services, including sports teams, as well as the first ever goodwill
visit to Myanmar of the Indian naval vessels in December 2002. The two
sides agreed that such exchanges as well as training programmes of Myanmar
personnel in Indian institutions should be stepped up in future.

11. The two sides shared the view that the United Nations reform process
should be expedited. Myanmar informed the Indian side of its willingness
to support the aspiration of India to become a permanent member of the
United Nations Security Council when the issue comes up.

12. The two sides agreed to work jointly to strengthen regional
cooperation, including in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations),
the BIMST-EC and the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, where both countries are
actively involved. The two sides also agreed to ensure timely progress in
implementation of the Trilateral Highway Project.

13. The vice-president addressed a luncheon meeting hosted by the Union of
Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry. He also paid a
visit to the University of Yangon (Rangoon) where he unveiled the bust of
Mahatma Gandhi. The vice-president also visited the ancient capitals of
Bagan (Pagan) and Mandalay and other places of interest. He addressed and
interacted with the persons of Indian origin and the non-resident Indians
in Yangon and Mandalay.

14. A special booklet entitled " Focus on India-Myanmar Relations",
specially produced by the Embassy of India, Yangon to mark the visit of
the vice-president, was released during the visit.

15. H.E. Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat renewed the invitation of the
president of India to the chairman of the State Peace and Development
Council Senior General Than Shwe to pay an official visit to India. The
invitation was accepted with pleasure.

16. Vice-Senior General Maung Aye conveyed to the vice-president of India
the cordial invitation of the chairman of the State Peace and Development
Council extended to the president of India, Dr A.P.J. Kalam, to pay an
official visit to Myanmar. Vice-president agreed with pleasure to convey
the invitation.

17. The delegation of India thanked the government and people of Myanmar
for the warm and friendly reception and gracious hospitality accorded to
the delegation.

Yangon, 4 November 2003.