BurmaNet News, Feb 4, 2004

[editor at burmanet.org]

Feb 4, 2004 Issue # 2417


INSIDE BURMA
Irrawaddy: Junta Slams Broadcasters
BBC Monitor: Burmese newspaper criticizes reporting by BBC, other
broadcasters
DVB: NLD held meeting despite SPDC’s harassments
Xinhua: Myanmar to formally launch e-procurement system
Xinhua: Myanmar strengthens agricultural research activities
AP: Massive upgrade of Myanmar's main airport to finish by end of 2005

ON THE BORDER
Shan: Third force presents revised roadmap

DRUGS
Shan: Prices soaring at harvest season

BUSINESS / MONEY
Xinhua: Build Thai factories in Myanmar for mutual benefit

REGIONAL
AFP: Smugglers challenge Asia-wide effort to curb bird flu spread

OPINION / OTHER
BI: Small Arms Smuggling In Southeast Asia: The Lifeblood Of Burma’s
Insurgency

REPORT:
TNI/BCN: "Drugs and Conflict in Burma (Myanmar) -- Dilemmas for Policy
Responses."



INSIDE BURMA
___________________________________

Feb 4, Irrawaddy
Junta Slams Broadcasters - Kyaw Zwa Moe

Burma’s state-owned media today attacked foreign broadcasting stations for
threatening national unity.

"The media of neo-colonialist countries have been airing lies and
slanderous accusations against Myanmar [Burma] to transgress her
independence and sovereignty," reads an article in The New Light of
Myanmar, a state-run newspaper.

The article said that western countries use the British Broadcasting
Cooperation (BBC) and Voice of America (VOA) to broadcast rumors in order
to destroy Burma. It also mentioned that All India Radio (AIR) aired
rumors about Burma’s pro-democracy movement in 1988.

In addition to the BBC and VOA, two short-wave radio stations,
Washington-based Radio Free Asia (RFA) and Oslo-based Democratic Voice of
Burma (DVB), also broadcast daily news, educational articles and dramas
which can be heard in Burma.

Burmese rely on foreign broadcasts to get information about Burma and
other countries, since the military government exerts tight control over
flow of information.

Today’s article also accuses the BBC and VOA of airing false information
to provoke unrest in 1988. It names Christopher Gunness, the BBC
corespondent who filed stories about the pro-democracy demonstrations from
inside Burma in 1988, as one of the "slanderers."

Gunness reported cases of female students being raped in prison after
being detained for political activities.

The state-run newspaper said Gunness’s report was "a big lie and an
instigation to destroy the unity between the State and the national
people."

Gunness said in an interview with The Irrawaddy last year: "I have no
doubt at all that the women I met had been raped." He added that he
received confirmation about the incidents from "several unimpeachable
sources."
____________________________

Feb 4, BBC Monitor
Burmese newspaper criticizes reporting by BBC, other broadcasters

Source: The New Light of Myanmar, Rangoon in English 4 Feb 04

A Burmese newspaper has said the media of "neo-colonialist" countries have
been airing "lies and slanderous accusations" against Burma concerning
such issues as human rights, forced labour and child labour. It cites BBC
reports and says both the BBC and Voice of America are continuing to air
"rumours and lies" which harm Burma and also its relations with ASEAN. It
reports the resignation of BBC Chairman Gavyn Davies and Director-General
Greg Dyke following the Hutton inquiry, saying the BBC was attempting
manipulation through "big lies". The following is the text of an article
by Kyai Phyu under the "Hailing the 57th Anniversary Union Day" rubric
entitled: "Foreign broadcasting stations harming the national unity",
published in English by Burmese newspaper The New Light of Myanmar on 4
February

Chairman of the Myanmar Burma Education Committee Prime Minister General
Khin Nyunt delivered an address at the conclusion of the Special Refresher
Course No 4 for University and College Teachers at the Central Institute
of Civil Service (Phaunggyi) in Yangon Rangoon Division on 30 January
2004. He said: "It is encouraging to see the fruits of success as Myanmar
Burma is promoting constructive relations and cooperation with the
international community, neighbouring countries and regional countries."

"However, some big western countries are still putting pressure on Myanmar
on various pretexts. Previously, they accused Myanmar of violating human
rights, and forced labour. Now, it is found that they have changed their
course and start to open a new page on the accusation of child soldiers.
Myanmar is trying to rebut their accusations by providing accurate data
systematically."

The national brethren have achieved success in building foundations to
develop the nation with Union Spirit since the Tatmadaw Defence Services
government's assumption of the state power. But the road that the Tatmadaw
had marched to achieve the sound foundations was not smooth. It had to
face a lot of hardships and difficulties to reach this point. It had to
face the pressures and oppressions from inside and outside the nation. The
media of neo-colonialist countries have been airing lies and slanderous
accusations against Myanmar to transgress her independence and
sovereignty.

The BBC and the VOA Voice of America aired slanders with sinister schemes
for the breaking out of the 1988 unrest. One of the slanders was that BBC
correspondent Christopher Gunness held a sham interview in which the
interviewees said that they who had taken part in the unrest in March,
were arrested and sexually assaulted. With the help of some unscrupulous
persons, he created the interview in which the so-called students cried
and sobbed most emotionally while answering the questions of the
interviewer. The programme was aired by the BBC at 8.45 p.m. local time on
6 August 1988. It was a big lie and an instigation to destroy the unity
between the state and the national people.

But the girl who took part in the sham interview sent letters to the
dailies in Myanmar by themselves on 23 August 1989, revealing that she did
not participate in the unrest and was never arrested by the authorities;
that she took part in the interview only at the request. The two radio
stations' shameless attempts to transgress Myanmar independence and
sovereignty were exposed.

During the 1988 unrest, the two radio stations, without adhering to the
journalism codes of conduct, continued to air rumours and lies to harm the
interest of Myanmar and her people. As the anarchy reigned over the nation
during the time, the entire people of Myanmar had nobody to rely on.

The national independence, sovereignty, unity and union were on the verge
of an abyss. In this regard, the Tatmadaw had to take over the state
duties in accord with its national political role - to perpetuate the
independence and sovereignty.

As things did not come their way, the neo-colonialists floated rumours
through BBC, VOA and AIR All India Radio under their control to destroy
Myanmar. They were trying to make the matters worse by exaggerating the
news reports on the Tatmadaw actions to solve the problems as necessary
for the restoration of peace and stability of the nation and the rule of
law. The slanders to divide the Tatmadaw and the people had caused fear
and public alarm. Some students arrived at the border through the
connections of some members opposing the government.

In reality, it was the conspiracy of the foreign radio stations and
internal anti-government elements to destroy the nation. It can also be
said the political conspiracy of the leftists and rightists from inside
and outside the country to grab power through short cut, with democracy as
an excuse.

Thus, we need to be aware of the scheme of the radio stations under the
control of the colonialists to destroy the nation, and to weaken the unity
of the national brethren and their Union Spirit. Later, they continued to
float slanderous news reports to discredit and ostracize Myanmar. They are
still trying to interfere in the internal affairs of Myanmar.

The BBC, the VOA and the AIR are airing almost daily the news reports and
articles and interviews with the so-called academics to prevent foreign
businesses and investment from coming to Myanmar. They are also floating
slanders to disturb the international aids for the Tatmadaw government's
anti-narcotic drive, while exaggerating the nation's drug problem.

Everyday, they went on floating instigative news reports since the early
1999 to realize their scheme - the eruption of the four 9s unrest in 1999.
They were shamelessly saying that cafes, shops and restaurants in Myanmar
were closed for fear of the eruption of the four 9s unrest; that the
religious buildings were deserted; and that soldiers were stationed at
important places for national security. In reality, there were no
disturbances and all the business and other activities were in normal
situation in Myanmar. Public places and religious edifices were packed
with people. There were no soldiers on the roads. All those incidents were
the acts of the colonialists attempting to cause doubts among the national
races and destroy the national unity, using the radio stations under their
control as tools to realize their sinister aims.

We all must have firm Union Spirit and political awareness. We can prove
with a lot of evidence that the radio stations are airing news reports and
articles that are against our national development. They are trying to
destroy the peace and understanding and drive a wedge between the
government and the armed groups that have returned to the legal fold.

Time and again, the radio stations are distributing false information
concerning the womenfolk of Myanmar to divide their unity and discredit
them. The team led by Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe of the Myanmar National
Committee for Women's Affairs and the Myanmar National Working Committee
for Women's Affairs have been touring the states and divisions to organize
and educate the local young women from being deceived into accepting the
wrong vision and believing the instigation.

These radio stations are also trying to destroy the friendly relations
between Myanmar and her neighbours and to break up the ASEAN Association
of Southeast Asian Nations unity. They are working in accord with the wish
of their colonial masters who do not want to see flourishing of friendship
among the nations and who want to destroy regional peace and unity.

The acts of the BBC Chairman of the Board of Governors Mr Gavyn Davies and
BBC Director-General Greg Dyke to broadcast false information on the death
of armed inspector David Kelly and the Iraqi WMD weapons of mass
destruction were revealed. sentence as published So, they had to resign
from their posts in embarrassment. sentence as published The radio station
is still trying to manipulate the nations with its big lies. It is not
strange that they are trying to transgress Myanmar's independence and
sovereignty with its lies. Thus the acts of the radio stations are against
the endeavours for the flourishing of democracy. Their perpetration will
make a nation further away from the course of democracy.

However, the slanderous news reports, articles, interviews and letters to
the editor are not able to destroy the consolidated unity and strong Union
Spirit of the Myanmar people and disturb the nation's march towards a
peaceful, modern and developed democratic society in the future.
____________________________

Feb 4, Democratic Voice of Burma
NLD held meeting despite SPDC’s harassments

Members of National League for Democracy (NLD) from Meikhtila District,
Mandalay Division in central Burma successfully held a monthly meeting on
1 February despite the harassments by Burma’s military junta, State Peace
and Development Council (SPDC).

The meeting was attended by members from Woon Twin and Thazi townships and
they have been holding the monthly meeting since 1995.

In December 2003, the local military authority chairman summoned NLD
members and pressurised them not to hold the meeting and forced them to
agree with their signatures not to get involved in politics in the future.
But they refused.

‘We are not inciting people to rise up. We are not doing illegal
activities. We are not trying to create problems. We had never had
problems before,’ said Daw Myint Myint Aye, one of the leaders who
organised the meeting.
____________________________

Feb 4, Xinhua
Myanmar to formally launch e-procurement system

Myanmar has taken measures to formally launch an online e-procurement
system in April after its soft launch of the system in late last month,
according to sources at the computer circle.

Under the system, a total of 47 departments and enterprises of government
ministries will handle purchase of goods and services as well as tender
sales and quotations.

The project is being undertaken by the Myanmar Computer Company and Ace
Data Systems in cooperation with the ministries of defense, energy,
forestry, mines, industry-1 and industry-2, and electric power.

The e-procurement system stands as one of a series of projects involving
the e-National Task Force.

Along with the e-procurement project, there are also six other
e-government projects having been or being introduced. They are
e-passport, e-visa, e-certification authority, smart card, smart school
and trade e-data interchange.

Myanmar attaches importance to developing human resources to computerize
government activities. Besides having some trained IT experts to work in
e-government projects, the country is also receiving assistance under
e-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) programs.

Being one of the signatories to the e-ASEAN Framework Agreement initiated
at the ASEAN Summit held in Singapore in 2000, Myanmar has formed the
e-National Task Force to support the IT development.

With the aim of boosting the country's software industry, the first ever
Myanmar ICT Park in Yangon was established in January 2002, followed by
the setting up of the second one in the second largest city of Mandalay in
August 2003.

Meanwhile, Myanmar signed a series of memorandums of understanding last
year with companies from Malaysia and Thailand and an ASEAN organization
on ICT development.
____________________________

Feb 4, Xinhua
Myanmar strengthens agricultural research activities

Myanmar has added a new agricultural department under the Ministry of
Agriculture and Irrigation to strengthen research activities in the
sector, according to the latest disclosure of the ministry.

The department, established on Jan. 27 with agricultural experts, is based
at Pinmana, northern Mandalay division where the country's famous Yezin
Agricultural University is located.

Meanwhile, a review project, funded by the United Nations Development
Program and the Asian Development Bank and executed by the Food and
Agriculture Organization, is underway on the development of Myanmar's
agricultural sector.

It aimed at identifying investment requirements, setting strategic goals,
collecting statistics for seeking international aid and foreign
investment, and maintaining sustainable development in the sector.

During the project period which lasts until the end of March, expert
groups, made up of both foreign's and local's, are making research and
studying the present situation of the country's agricultural sector, its
technical conditions, effectiveness of public and private institutions,
allocation of state budget for the sector and infrastructure and social
investment relatively.

Future plans and appropriate strategies for establishing basic framework
for future investment will also be worked out to maintain development pace
in the agricultural  aspects.

Myanmar has carried out its third agricultural census since October under
the guidelines adopted by the FAO. The census, which covered 272 of the
country's 324 townships, is believed to help plan a number of agricultural
projects.

With a population of 52.4 million, Myanmar stands as a country with
agriculture as the backbone of its economy and with 65 percent of its
labor force being engaged in agricultural production. Its agricultural
output accounts for 42 percent of the country's gross domestic product and
its export value represents 28.3 percent of the total.
____________________________

Feb 4, Associated Press
Massive upgrade of Myanmar's main airport to finish by end of 2005

Impoverished, military-controlled Myanmar will finish a massive upgrade of
its main international airport by the end of 2005 with help from Japanese
and Singaporean companies, according to a magazine released Wednesday.

Yangon International Airport is being renovated and expanded by the
Construction Ministry, along with the private Myanmar company Asia World,
Japan's Taisei company and Singapore architectural consulting firm CPG,
the weekly journal 7-Days reported.

The project will cost more than US$36 million, the magazine said.

Said to have been Southeast Asia's largest airport when it opened in the
late 1950s, the main airport in this resource-rich former British colony -
now known more for its repressive government and languishing economy - is
currently small and backward, and handles little traffic.

Myanmar did little to encourage visitors after a 1962 military coup
installed an isolationist, semi-socialist regime. The junta that took
power in 1988 has tried to boost tourism - but that industry is weak,
partly because many Western governments and human rights groups discourage
travel here due to the government's refusal to allow democracy.

The terminal will be able to handle 2,000 passengers at a time, roughly
the capacity of four Boeing 747s, 7-Days said.

Construction began in 2002 and is scheduled to be completed by December
2005, it said.

The government's Construction Ministry has been lengthening the main
runway to 2,575 meters (8,500 feet) from 2,455 meters (8,100 feet), and
widening it to 120 meters (400 feet) from 60 meters (200 feet).

Japan's Taisei Company began airport renovation work in 1987, but it was
suspended a year later after the latest junta took charge by violently
suppressing mass pro-democracy demonstrations.

It resumed work in 1998, and in 2001 finished strengthening the existing
runway and putting in lighting and navigation systems.


ON THE BORDER
_____________________________________

Feb 4, Shan
Third force presents revised roadmap
In a radical departure from its previous stand pronounced in September
last year, the non-Burman nationalities, collectively considered the third
force in Burma's messy politics, have publicly rejected prime minister
Khin Nyunt's 7-point roadmap in exchange for its own updated one, also
consisting of 7-points.

The Third Ethnic Nationalities Seminar, held 28 January - 2 February at
Lawkhila, opposite Tak province, categorically spurned the program
announced by Gen Khin Nyunt on 30 August as "deceitful schemes to
perpetuate the military dictatorship legally as they would not lead to
democratization and establishment of a federal union."

Instead, a "Project for Establishment of a Federal Union" had been decided
by 61 delegates and observers from 25 groups:

To hold the tripartite dialogue "at the earliest date"

To form an interim government made up "proportionally" from the three
parties concerned: the military, representatives elected in 1990 polls and
the ethnic nationalities

To convene a "legitimate" National Convention

To form various commissions to draft constitutions of the union and the
constituent states

To hold national referenda for adoption of the said draft constitutions

To hold elections

To convene both federal and state legislatures where winning parties are
to form federal and state governments.

The seminar also formed a policy-making body, "Ethnic Nationalities
Council", composed of 10 representatives from various organizations.

National United Front 3
United Nationalities League for Democracy  2
Karenni National Progress Party 1
Restoration Council of Shan State 1
Shan Democratic Union 1
National Unity Party of Arakan 1
Kachin National Organization 1

The Ethnic Nationalities Solidarity and Cooperation Committee (ENSCC) that
was formed in 2001 as a working body would continue its existence, says
the statement issued yesterday.

Also included in the calls are nationwide ceasefire and release of all
political prisoners especially Aung San Suu Kyi, among others.

The first seminar was convened in 1997 and the second in 2001, when the
ENSCC was elected.

The ENSCC's original roadmap was adopted during its last year's meeting,
29 August-2 September, as an attempt "to improve and fill out what has
already been proposed."

Related report: Third force offers third roadmap, 5 September 2003

For further information please see below.

Statement by Third Ethnic Nationality Seminar

(1)  The Third Ethnic Nationality Seminar was successfully held from
January 28, 2004 to February 2, 2004 at Law-hkee-la Camp in Kawthoolei.
Sixty one delegates and observers from the ethnic nationality alliances,
parties and organizations attended the Seminar and participated in free
and frank discussions.

(2)  The Ethnic Nationalities Solidarity and Cooperation Committee (ENSCC)
submitted its report covering two years of its activities and the various
alliances, parties and organizations submitted papers expounding views and
opinions on “Tripartite Dialogue” and “Solidarity of the Ethnic
Nationalities.”

(3)  The Seminar agreed to firmly uphold the aims and objects of agreement
reached at the First Ethnic Nationality Seminar in “Mae-the-raw-ta” in
1997, being the resolution of political problems of the Union of Burma
through tripartite dialogue and establishment of a genuine Federal Union

(4)  We resolve to collectively oppose the SPDC military clique’s 7-stage
“road map” and the attempt to reconvene its National Convention,
temporarily suspended in 1996, as they are deceitful schemes to perpetuate
the military dictatorship legally and as they would not lead to
democratization and establishment of a federal union.

(5)  For peace in the country, the flourishing of democracy, establishment
of a federal system, speedily, and timely emergence of democratic
transition, we decided to implement the “Project for Establishment of a
Federal Union” consisting of the following points.

 (a) To hold, at the earliest date, the tripartite dialogue, as called for
by the UN resolutions annually, since 1994;

 (b) To form an interim government comprising of representatives,
proportionally, of the SPDC military clique, the NLD and other political
parties, victorious in the 1990 elections, and the ethnic nationalities,
based on results of the tripartite dialogue;

 (c) The interim government is to convene a legitimate “National Convention”;

 (d) To form various commissions, with approval of the National
Convention, to draft Constitutions of the Federal Union and the
constituent States;

 (e) To hold national referendum for adoption of the Federal Constitution
and to hold referendum in various constituent States for adoption of
respective State Constitutions;

 (f) To hold elections at national level and state level for the formation
of Federal government and State governments in various States in
accordance with the newly adopted Federal and respective State
Constitutions;

 (g) Subsequent to the elections, the Federal and State parliaments
(legislatures) are to be convened and the respective election-winning
parties are to form the Federal and various State governments;

(6)  In addition to welcoming and supporting involvement of the
international community, including the UN, in the affairs of Burma, we
welcome and support effort by the Thai government for national
reconciliation in the Union of Burma.

(7)  In accordance with requirement of the political situation of Burma,
this Assembly has successfully formed “Ethnic Nationalities Council,” a
basic coalition for proceeding towards “United Ethnic Voice”. In addition,
we decided to continue maintaining the existence of the ENSCC.

(8)  Since complete solution to protracted and multifarious problems
facing the Union of Burma, lasting peace and stability can be gained only
through tripartite dialogue process, demanded by the UN resolutions, this
Seminar calls upon the SPDC military clique to unconditionally cease all
military offensives against the ethnic nationalities, declare nationwide
cease-fire, release all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi, and hold tripartite dialogue, at the earliest date. We solemnly urge
the democratic and ethnic forces, at home and abroad, to unanimously
support and make concerted effort to realize these demands.

Media contact

(1) Raymond Htoo
Tel: 053-611 573, Cell: 01-884 5441
Email: <rphtooms at cscoms.com>

(2) Hkun Okker
Tel: 053-620 260, Cell: 01-950 2158
Email: <hkunbwar at hotmail.com>


DRUGS
_____________________________________

Feb 4, Shan
Prices soaring at harvest season

As the season's opium is being gathered across Shan State, the price
quotes have also been pushing higher indicating, more than a shrinking
supply, an increase in demand, said sources.

"To be sure, the total growing areas in the north have not changed
significantly despite reduced official curb this year as many are still
cowering under brutal suppressions during the past few years," said the
source in the north where the UN office on Drugs and Crimes had reported
last year of a 50% reduction in output. "Most of the farmers have moved to
the Wa region east of the Salween instead. However that does very little
to flatten the market."

The reason was two-fold: the growing external demand of opium's
derivative, heroin, and the continued existence of the refineries despite
official suppression.

"It used to be 280,000-300,000 kyat (roughly $280-300) per viss (1.6 kg)
last year," said a businessman. "But now they are selling it for K 450,000
- 500,000."

Opium prices in southern Shan State have also increased from K 200,000 to
K 250,000-260,000, while in Mongton, eastern Shan State, it is fetching K
320,000, according to traders coming to the border.

Destruction of poppy fields remains token. "On 12 April 2003, a field in
the Wa area was ravaged by the officials in front of foreign observers," a
former Wa officer remembered. "The farmer was given 1,040 old coins
($3,120) as compensation after the visitors had gone."

Both heroin and methamphetamines nowadays are being exported to lower
Burma and China, according to them. "As for India, we heard new factories
are being established on the western border," said a Shan ceasefire
officer. His statement however has yet to be confirmed by independent
sources.

China, according to an a presentation made by Guilhem Fabre, (University
of Le Havre) at the Conference on Drugs and Conflict in Burma, 14-15
December 2003, in Amsterdam, is in the opium-heroin equation, a blackhole.
Official figures place the number of Chinese addicts at 2 million.

Burma's counter-narcotics campaign has been reported by S.H.A.N. in Show
Business: Rangoon's War on Drugs in Shan State, December 2003.


BUSINESS / MONEY
_____________________________________

Feb 4, Xinhua
Build Thai factories in Myanmar for mutual benefit

Myanmar Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt has anticipated Thai factories
to be established in his country for mutual benefit under the economic
cooperation strategy (ECS) of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand.

"If factories and mills in Thailand are moved to and set up in Myanmar, it
will not only create jobs in Myanmar but also benefit much both nations
economically and socially," Khin Nyunt told a coordination meeting here on
Tuesday on Myanmar-Thai economic cooperation involving in the four
country's ECS, official newspaper The New Light of Myanmar reported
Wednesday.

Khin Nyunt disclosed that the two countries have also agreed to effect
that Thailand will provide aid to Myanmar to the most possible degree for
development of transport, industrial and infrastructure sectors and
economic development.

Under the Myanmar-Thai cooperation covered by the four-country strategy,
three special industrial zones will be set up in three border areas in
Myanmar beginning early this year. These are Myawaddy and Pha Ann in Kayin
state and Mawlamyine in Mon state opposite to Thailand.

The Thai side will take the responsibility for building factories and
marketing the products from there and arrangements are also being made to
establish economic development zones at Tachilek, Kyaing Tong, Dawei,
Myeik and Kawthaung.

The four countries held an ECS summit in Myanmar's ancient city of Bagan
in November last year, aiming to fully harness their huge economic
potential to promote spontaneous and sustainable economic development by
transforming the border areas of the four countries into zones of durable
peace and stability as well as economic growth.

Myanmar has so far established 18 industrial zones.


REGIONAL
____________________________

Feb 4, Agence France Presse
Smugglers challenge Asia-wide effort to curb bird flu spread

Smugglers are undermining international efforts to stamp out bird flu by
trafficking illegal live poultry that threaten to spread the disease to
areas so far unaffected by the scourge.

The problem is worrying agriculture and customs officials so much that
they have stepped up border checks throughout the region to halt the
illicit trade.

Most affected Asian countries have banned the import and export of live
and slaughtered poultry to prevent the movement of potentially infected
chickens and ducks across borders.

But recent arrests at checkpoints of people trying to beat the ban and
smuggle live poultry between countries is causing headaches for the United
Nations World Health Organisation (WHO) and Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO), which are leading the fight against the disease.

"There is a very heavy uncontrolled movement (of animals) between borders
in some (Asian) countries," said Hans Wagner, the FAO's senior animal
production and health officer in Asia.

"A large number of animals are being moved across borders without
appropriate control ... this is a well-known fact and it's a worry for the
FAO."

With the death toll to the H5N1 flu strain at 13 and with 10 nations now
reporting outbreaks, the need to control the spread becomes more urgent
each day.

But Wagner said smuggling -- especially across the borders of Vietnam,
Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and China -- was hampering any chance of
beating the disease.

"These are what we call 'green borders' -- they are not tightly
controlled," Wagner said. "The movement of animals here is a concern not
just for avian flu, but also for other diseases.

"It is very possible that smuggling is a source for spreading the flu."

In Vietnam, which with nine fatalities to the flu is the worst affected by
the outbreak, authorities said the smuggling of meat and fruit from China
has increased dramatically in the past year.

But the chances of stopping the trade are limited as the many havens for
smuggling along its extensive land borders with China, Laos and Cambodia
are poorly controlled by a customs department that is notoriously corrupt.

Most nations, however, are heeding FAO and WHO calls to act and have
tightened up their border controls.

Cambodia, which has been battling chicken and egg smuggling from
neighbouring Vietnam, is on high alert.

On January 20 authorities detained 10 people in the southern province of
Ta Keo for importing more than 150,000 duck eggs from Vietnam.

Taiwan, which has managed by and large to control an outbreak of the
milder H5N2 flu, Monday tightened security against smugglers after the
deadly H5N1 strain was found in ducks smuggled from mainland China in
December.

Coastguards increased patrols around the island and several island groups
off the Chinese mainland and some 8,000 poultry and pig farmers were
vaccinated against human flu, to prevent it mutating with bird flu
strains.

India, though free of the disease, has deployed hundreds of soldiers to
its border with Myanmar.

While no cases of avian flu have been reported in Myanmar, officials said
they were worried some poultry could be smuggled through the country from
neighbouring Thailand, one of the nations worst-hit by the virus.

In Hong Kong, authorities have beefed up security along its border with
China as the latest figures from the government showed a 15 percent jump
in illegal slaughtered poultry imports last year.

The Customs and Excise Department siezed 29,266 kilograms (64,380 pounds)
of chilled or frozen poultry compared with 1,749 kilograms in 2002.

"We do checks on smuggling activities all the time, and we have now
stepped up our efforts in checking on cargoes," said customs spokesman
Richard Law.


OPINION / OTHER
_____________________________________

Feb 4, Burma Issues Newletter, Volume 14, Number 1, January 2004
Small Arms Smuggling In Southeast Asia: The Lifeblood Of Burma’s
Insurgency - by C Guinard

On January 2, 2004, a Bangladesh Rifle Border Patrol operation seized a
haul of small arms and light weapons on the Bangladesh-Burma border. The
weapons included 32 anti-tank mines, 6 rocket launchers, 10 rocket
launcher cells chargers, 18 grenade firing bomb chargers, landmines and
other equipment. These weapons were seized by the border patrol after a
fire fight erupted with gunmen suspected to have links with Arakanese
rebels in Burma. It was the first illegal shipment of weapons intercepted
by the BDR for the year 2004. And it was only the 2nd of January


Reported seizures in Burma’s neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh and
Thailand may provide an idea of the size of illicit arms trade in the
region but these are likely to be just the tip of the iceberg. The
question of illicit arms trafficking has been a decades-long problem for
Southeast Asia. Weapons are essential equipment for criminal traffickers
but also insurgent groups. Where there is a demand, there is always
supply. In Burma, a huge number of ethnic minorities has been fighting for
independence for more than 40 years. Small arms smuggling has fed the long
and ongoing crisis in Burma. Despite cease-fire agreements negotiated with
many ethnic rebel groups, no disarmament has been undertaken leading to a
huge availability of small arms in ethnic areas. Such situations plunge
Burma into a continuous cycle of violence and instability which always
threatens these fragile “peace” negotiations. What are the solutions to
break this vicious circle? Arms smuggling feeds insurgency and insurgency
pushes forwards arms smuggling in Burma.

To understand the dynamics of the illicit arms market in Burma and to
offer practical solutions, it is necessary to analyse in which context
this criminal traffic was established and determine who are the actors
involved in this illicit trade which threatens southeast Asia’s regional
stability and human security.

According to the 1997 report by a United Nations Panel of Governmental
Experts1, small arms are military-style weapons that are designated for
personal use such as revolvers or assault rifles, while light weapons are
conventional weapons that can be handled by several people working as
crew. Small arms represent many advantages for insurgent and/or
trafficking groups. They are light, affordable, easily transported,
durable and simple to maintain. They are also perfectly suited to the
guerrilla tactics of these groups such as hit and run attacks.

In Burma, there are two categories of groups purchasing small arms: the
resistance groups such as the Karen National Union (KNU) or the Karenni
National Progressive Party and the drug-trafficking groups such as the
United Wa State Army (UWSA) or the remnants of Khun Sa’s Mong Tai Army.
The first category has been fighting the Burmese regime for decades.
Progressively, they have lost a lot of territory and some of their main
sources of income such as teak forest or gem mining. For these groups
finding arms and ammunitions cheaply is crucial. Today, they can only
afford second-hand weapons. For the second category, money is less of an
issue. Making huge profit from selling drugs, those groups are financially
capable of being well-equipped but they are also restrained by the type of
weapons sold on the black market. Until the 1990’s, the arms sales were
mainly motivated by political interests. Since the fall of KNU
headquarters in Manerplaw in 1995, political motivation seems to have been
replaced by economic ones. Ethnic armies such as the UWSA who enjoy heroin
profits and a bigger purchasing power are replacing resistance groups such
as the Karen.

Considering these two categories of small arms purchasers in Burma, a
focus is needed on the specific supply networks that provide those
weapons. Beside the black market, the most important source of weapons for
any insurgent group has always been its opponent. Weapons can be seized
during insurgent operations such as ambushes, stolen from government
arsenals, or given by defectors. But this method presents some
disadvantages. It is quite hazardous for the military strength of one
group to depend only on battle victories. Thus, insurgent and trafficking
groups diversified their sources by purchasing their weapons on the
regional black market. To these groups satisfaction, Southeast Asia has a
thriving and highly well-organised trade in contraband arms, with
bordering Thailand as the major transit country.

This widespread availability of small arms in the region is mainly the
result of two distinct factors. First, Southeast Asia has been the scene
of various inter or intra-State armed conflicts. Fighting within Burma,
Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam has created the conditions for arms smuggling.
During the 1960’s, Thailand, which enjoys a central geographical location
in the region, became the preferred transit route to Cambodia for sending
Chinese arms to the Khmer Rouge, and US arms to other anti-Vietnamese
factions. The arms supply networks started to be organised, involving Thai
businessmen, members of the Thai army and police. Because of the lack of
strict custom regulations, some of these intermediaries started to smuggle
weapons from the Cambodian border through Thailand to sell them to ethnic
insurgent groups in Burma where the demand was growing and potential
profit high. Today, the traffic routes remain the same. Networks have been
established for decades. Vietnam and Cambodia inherited some two million
firearms and 150,000 tonnes of ammunition after the US withdrawal in 1975.
One estimate puts the number of small arms currently in circulation in
Cambodia at 500,000 to 1 million units. With this massive number of
available weapons and existing networks, the small arms black market has
flourished in all southeast-Asia with Thailand as the key transit centre
and Cambodia the main supplier of small arms.

The second factor which helps small arms smuggling to proliferate in the
region is the current lack of strict custom control in ASEAN countries and
ineffective or unenforced law. The porous borders between Cambodia,
Thailand and Burma provide the perfect environment for arms smugglers to
operate relatively easily from one country to another. Besides, those in
charge of countering the illicit trade, whether members of the military,
police or customs officials, are often involved in the illicit trade.
Involvement of Thai army officials at every level as well as police
officers has been repeatedly reported by national and international news2.
In exchange for money, they offer protection to traffickers or turn a
blind eye on the illegal shipments. They may act as middle men in the
transaction or be directly involved in selling weapons embezzled from
military stocks. By diverting large portions of legal weapons into the
illegal market each year, those officers are making substantial profits
which are then laundered through the buying of positions of power in
governments and political parties.

A combination of national and regional responses is needed to reduce the
illicit trade of small arms in the region. Most of the small arms smuggled
inside Burma are recycled weapons from former conflicts. Despite UN and
national efforts to implement disarmament programs in Cambodia, the
surrealistic size of arms catchments is simply overwhelming. Effective
measures to manage post conflict disarmament must be implemented for the
creation of a lasting peace. The disarmament process must always remain on
the agenda of any actors involved in the peace process, because arms left
over from a past conflict will feed again another insurgency as well as
criminal activities. ASEAN is struggling with this problem of traditional
disarmament but also with weak law enforcement, it is in the area of law
enforcement where much cooperation is needed. Despite ASEAN’s
soft-regionalism policy, the development of a regional convention on
illicit trafficking of small arms would certainly complement similar
efforts made at the UN level. Marking small arms during production in
order to trace their origin and movement would also be an efficient
measure to implement.

Finally, ASEAN countries and especially Thailand should first recognise
the reality of the problem and start to actively fight corruption in their
official ranks. In February 2002, Thai Defence Minister General Chavalit
Yongchaiyudh simply dismissed the allegation published by Time Magazine2
that Thailand was a hub for smuggling illegal weapons. By declaring “It is
not true that our Army personnel are involved in the smuggling of illegal
weapons” (The Nation, 6 Feb 02), he dishonoured all the people in Burma
who died under the fire of a weapon smuggled from Thailand. And, they were
many
.

Endnotes
1 Report by the Panel of Governmental Experts on Small Arms, United
Nations General Assembly Document A/52/298/, 27 August 1997.
2 Guns and Money by Mageswary Ramakrishnan, Time Asia. 11 February 2002.
____________________________

REPORT

Transnational Institute (TNI), Burma Centre Netherlands (BCN)
"Drugs and Conflict in Burma (Myanmar) -- Dilemmas for Policy Responses"

[The following report (provided as a link) is a summary of the recent
conference "Drugs and Conflict in Burma (Myanmar)," organized jointly by
the Transnational Institute (TNI) and the Burma Centre Netherlands (BCN). 
The two-day conference was held in Amsterdam in December and was attended
by villagers from ceasefire regions, exile groups, international drug
experts, representatives from European Ministries and development NGOs.

TNI and BCN presented their report "Drugs and Conflict in Burma (Myanmar)
-- Dilemmas for Policy Responses."  The report, based on a September 2003
research mission, calls for a more
humane approach to drug control "by simultaneously easing of drug control
deadline pressures and increased international humanitarian aid efforts."

You can use the links below or copy paset the url in your browser window
-- Ed]

<ahref="www.burmanet.org/TNI_final_report_.doc>TNI Report on "Drugs and
Conflict in Burma (Myanmar) -- Dilemmas for Policy Responses"</a>

www.burmanet.org/TNI_final_report_.doc

For more information contact: Nikolas Win Myint
Media and Information Officer
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Myanmar Country Office

11(A) Malikha Road, Mayangone Township, Yangon, Myanmar
Tel: +95-1-666903, 650271, 660556 660538, 660398
Fax: +95-1-651334  email: nikolas.win.myint at unodc.org
___________________________