BurmaNet News, May 7, 2004

[Editor]

May 7, 2004, Issue # 2472

‘Heaping the pressure on George Bush is a new voice on the maltreatment of
Iraqi prisoners. "We all are extremely shocked, "declares a "regime
statement" from the government of Myanmar, "about the recent violations of
human rights in the Middle East where the conqueror blatantly violates and
humiliates ... prisoners and citizens. Myanmar urges the US to abide by
the international convention on human rights..." Knowing so little of your
land for obvious reasons, Marina tells a nameless spokeswoman at the
Burmese embassy, we had no clue you were such gifted ironists’
	- Matthew Norman, Diary, Guardian, May 7, 2004


INSIDE BURMA
Kaowao: Mon to Join In National Convention
Irrawaddy: “Game Over” if NC Proceedings Not Changed, Says Ethnic Leader

ON THE BORDER
S.H.A.N.: Maehongson chief goes to Taunggyi
Kaladan: Re-open an Old Transit Point between Burma-Bangladesh Border

DRUGS
Thai Press Reports: Drugs Officials Warn Of Narcotics Amassed At The Border

BUSINESS / MONEY
Economic Times: Rendezvous
Narinjara: No more foreign tourists in Arakan

REGIONAL
Xinhua: India to provide more educational aid to Myanmar

OPINION
Mizzima: Is Beijing's Road to Rangoon Paved With Impediments?
Burma Issues: KNU Cease-Fire Talks

INSIDE BURMA
_____________________________________

May 7, Kaowao News
Mon to Join In National Convention

Sangkhlaburi – New Mon State Party voted to attend the upcoming National
Convention sponsored by Burmese military regime.

According to a source from the NMSP, two third of its Central Committee
members had decided for the party to participate at the convention which
will be held very soon in May.

A Central Committee member said, “It was a tough political debate.  16
delegates voted in favour against 8.  We decided to attend at last because
this may be an option for further dialogue and we will demand the freedom
of expression and change of some principles”.

The public opinions vary among the Mons.  Urban based politicians in Mon
State, Burma reacted with disagreement over the NMSP’s decision to
attending the NC.  “The NMSP should stands with other ethnic and
democratic alliances”, said a member of the Mon National Democratic Front
in Moulmein who spoke under condition of anonymity.

In March, politicians and community leaders from various areas in Burma
and overseas discussed with the NMSP leaders how to prepare for the
junta’s National Convention and Road Map.  The New Mon State Party
sponsored the Mon National Affairs Seminar in eastern Ye and over 100
participants met for five days from March 14 to 18 to set up work plans
including the junta’s convention.

After an invitation by Burma's Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt, the NMSP
in December 2003 reluctantly gave a list of 5 members delegation led by
Nai Chan Toi and General Aung Nai to join the convention.  However, this
Central Committee meeting, held at the Party’s Headquarters and ended on
May 4, debated on the critical issue and finally voted to examine the
junta’s Road Map.

_____________________________________

May 7, Irrawaddy
“Game Over” if NC Proceedings Not Changed, Says Ethnic Leader - Kyaw Zwa Moe

Some ethnic organizations based in Rangoon have reaffirmed that they will
not attend the National Convention unless the military government changes
its proceedings, said an ethnic leader today.

“The game is over,” said Hkun Htun Oo, chairman of the Shan Nationalities
League for Democracy, or SNLD, when asked what will happen if the junta
doesn’t change the convention’s proceedings and objectives. He spoke by
telephone from Rangoon.

The junta announced on April 19 that it will hold the upcoming National
Convention in accordance with the previous proceedings and objectives that
were used when it first started in 1993. The objectives include a leading
political role for the military in a future state.

The eight ethnic-based political parties that make up the
Rangoon-headquartered United Nationalities Alliance, or UNA, are sticking
to their policy of tripartite dialogue between ethnic, democratic and
military leaders, said Hkun Htun Oo.

The UNA is composed of Shan, Karen, Chin, Arakan, Mon and Karenni ethnic
groups. It is currently holding discussions on whether to participate in
the National Convention, scheduled to start on May 17. Hkun Htun Oo said
the UNA will announce its decision on the matter in one or two days.

The convention, charged with drafting a new constitution, is part of Prime
Minister Gen Khin Nyunt’s seven-step road map to democracy, unveiled last
August. The convention was suspended in 1996 after the National League for
Democracy walked out, saying its proceedings were undemocratic.

Meanwhile, other ethnic ceasefire groups have taken a different stance,
saying they will participate in the convention.

Five delegates of the Kachin Independence Organization, or KIO, are
currently in Rangoon ready to attend the convention, according to Col Gun
Maw, vice-general secretary of the KIO. However, he added that the KIO has
some proposals concerning provisions to be included in the constitution,
such as ethnic rights and the formation of a federal union, which it will
submit to the junta.

“I think we can compromise on our demands [with the military leaders],”
Col Gun Maw told The Irrawaddy this afternoon by telephone from Rangoon.
He confirmed that next Friday, the KIO delegation will travel to the
convention, to be held in Nyaung Hnapin village, 32 km north of Rangoon in
Hmawbi Township.

Another ceasefire group, the New Mon State Party, or NMSP, decided
yesterday that it will also participate in the assembly. The organization
has appointed five delegates to attend.

According to the junta, all 17 ceasefire groups that have reached
agreements with the government since 1989 have agreed to take part in the
convention.


ON THE BORDER
_____________________________________


7 May, Shan Herald Agency for News
Maehongson chief goes to Taunggyi

Hopes to open border

An 18-men delegation led by Maehongson governor left for Mandalay
yesterday, 6 May, with the aim to discuss with Burmese authorities how the
border between Maehongson and Burma's Shan-Kayah areas could be opened
soon, said sources from Maehongson. His destination is Taunggyi, the Shan
State's capital.

Among the delegation were chiefs of districts whose administrative areas
adjoin Burma's Kayah (Karenni) and Shan states, provincial heads of
police, customs and immigration as well as the president of the provincial
chamber of commerce, Somchai Siddhisantikul. The team flew into Burma by
Air Mandalay.

Separate workshops entitled Asean Economic Cooperation have already been
organized by Maehongson commerce department, to be held in Mandalay (7
May) and Taunggyi (9 May), according to the tentative programme received
by S.H.A.N. today. The delegation is scheduled to be back on Tuesday, 11
May.

"The main objective of the trip is to reach a successful agreement on the
opening of the Hueypheung (Thai side) - Namonlong (Burma side), which has
long been one of Mr Supoj's avowed aims since he took office," said a
military source who wished to remain anonymous.

Meanwhile, the third batch of used automobiles, 15 of them, had crossed
into Burma on 5 May. Altogether more than 50 trucks have been allowed to
move across the border since February. Negotiations for the removal had
taken almost half a year.

Meanwhile, sources across the border reported that Col Win Myint, Deputy
Commander of the Taunggyi-based Eastern Region Command, had toured areas
opposite Muang district of Maehongson, 22-30 April. He was entertained by
Col Mahaja, former Mong Tai Army officer and President of Shan State South
Company throughout his stay, they said.

_____________________________________

May 7, Kaladan News
Re-open an Old Transit Point between Burma-Bangladesh Border

Teknaf: Burma- Bangladesh old transit point Ngakura-Nhila is going to be
re-opened after 2 years and 8 months closed, according to our source.

On 3rd of May 2004, the Bangladeshi local people sought the co-operation
from Deputy Communication Minister of Bangladesh Al-haj Salauddin Ahmed
(MP) and higher authorities to re-open the said transit point as to stop
illegal border trades and to control national revenue, he further added.

This transit point was set up in 1980 after mass exodus of Rohingya
refugees in 1978 and after bilateral talks between Gen. Ne Win, the former
dictator of Burma and Gen. Ziaur Rahman, the former President of
Bangladesh.

In September 2001, the SPDC authorities had stopped this transit point and
started it a little bit later but the Bangladesh authorities closed it
again for more than 2 years while the other 2 transit points from
“Taungbro-Balukhali” and “Maungdaw-Teknaf” were continued. From all the
transit points, people from both countries could visit into each country
for every 8 hours.

When asked a border trader in Teknaf, he said, “Though the Rohingya people
have less access than Rakhaing people for border trade in Arakan, both
people need to re-open this transit point, like Bangladesh bordering
people earning money for supporting their families through transit points
as most of them depend on border trade, fishing and agriculture.”


DRUGS
_____________________________________

May 6, Thai Press Reports
Drugs Officials Warn Of Narcotics Amassed At The Border

Narcotics suppression officials based in the northern city of Chiang Mai
warned yesterday that despite the government's strict law enforcement
policies, drugs producers were stockpiling huge quantities of drugs at the
border and were changing their transportation routes into the kingdom.

Mr. Phitaya Jinawat, Director of the Northern Office of the Narcotics
Control Board, said that Rangoon's conciliatory policies towards minority
groups across the border from Thailand were sending drugs producers in a
panicked rush to get their products over into Thai territory.

At the same time, drugs producers were shifting their transportation
routes towards Tak and Uttradit Provinces, he warned.

A meeting was held yesterday with Tak officials in order to thrash out
measures to address the problem.

The urgency of the issue was highlighted by a recent poll of residents of
10 provinces in the northern region, who said that methamphetamines were
beginning to pour into the country again, after several months of hiatus
following the government's war on drugs last year.


BUSINESS / MONEY
_____________________________________

May 6, The Economic Times
Rendezvous - Ranjeni A Singh

Myanmar contiunes to remain one of the most mysterious and undiscovered
destinations in the world.

To unrevel its secrets and improve tourist infow, especially from India,
Myanmar Airways International started its operations to/from India this
March 16. In the short span of a little over a month, the airlines has
been growing steadily. Myanmar Airways International managing director
Gerard de Vaz speaks to Ranjeni A Singh about the airlines' future plans.

Future plans: At this point of time Myanmar Airways International flies
only from Delhi three times a week. The potential is great and both the
countries have a lot to offer to each other. MAI is here to offer its
excellent services and increase the traffic between the two countries. I
at this point of time can say that the future is bright, prosperous and
extremely healthy for MAI in India.

Operations: With three weekly flights a week from Delhi to Yangon, MAI
provides excellent connections to Bangkok. The flight departs from Delhi
every Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday. The timings of the flights are such
that it provides a full business or a leisure day for the passenger. MAI
has an all Boeing fleet with excellent cockpit & cabin crew who make the
journey most enjoyable and hospitable.

India-Myanmar passenger traffic: The breakup of leisure and business
travel. Since we have just started operations in the country, it is rather
premature for us to give the traffic breakup, however, MAI will have a
right mix of traffic.

Mynamar is an exotic destination which has a great amount to offer, its
pristine beauty, culture and heritage are its pillars. Our excellent
connection onwards to Bangkok has always been a major traffic puller for
the business and leisure traveller.

The southeast traditionally has been a leisure market, but of late places
like Bangkok, Singapore, Kula Lumpur are becoming business hubs for the
Asia Pacific. Therefore, the mix of traffic will be leisure, comprising of
honeymooners, frequent visitors, groups etc and business travellers.

Marketing plans: Promotional activities undertaken/ planned by Myanmar
Airlines. We launched our services in India on March16 with a launch event
in Delhi. It has been just over a month and it gives me great pleasure to
say that the results so far have been most promising. As a part of our
promotional plan, we will be taking both the event and the media route. We
have a mega roadshow in Delhi on April 30, where Myanmar as a destination
will promoted through its various services (tour operators, hotels, other
travel services). We will be carrying out direct marketing campaigns with
the travellers and with the agents, we are also looking at media trips so
that the destination is well talked about in the media. On the whole we
are aggressively going to promote Myanmar as a destination

Transit visitors: Myanmar is a great destination, which needs to be
explored and visited. MAI offers great connections not only to Mynamar but
onward to Thailand and gives allows passengers to stop overnight in
Myanmar and go onward to Singapore & Malaysia. MAI offers the utmost in
safety, modern comforts and professionalism combined with a genuine warmth
and friendliness of our in-flight service. Timely arrivals and departures
are the hallmarks of our service.

______________________________

May 7, Narinjara News
No more foreign tourists in Arakan

Akyab: Even though there have been an increase in the number of foreign
tourists to Burma, the numbers are dwindling in Arakan, said an anonymous
travel agent.

The reason is due to the transport problems and the tourists are not
allowed to use the roads that cross the mountain ranges dividing Burma
proper and Arakan.  Tourists have to get a permit from the Home Ministry
or the Intelligence Agency to use the road to go to Arakan.  Otherwise the
tourists would be refused entry at the Arakan Ann Nasaka Gate 25.

To get a flight to Arakan is not an easy task, tickets are hard to get. 
At Akyab Airport there is only one luggage transport vehicle and one has
to wait for approximately an hour to get your luggage.

Despite governmental propaganda portraying Mrauk-Oo and Nagapli as places
for tourists, there are no provisions to get to these places ready for the
tourists.

“There is a big discrepancy between Pagan and Mrauk-Oo in infrastructures
for tourism.  The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) used so much
money to get Pagan tourist friendly, that there is almost nothing in
Mrauk-Oo,” said a Mrauk-Oo local.

According to the Department of Tourism there were 37,627 foreign tourists
who visited Burma between the 1st of January and the 8th of March 2004. 
But less than a thousand tourists visited Arakan during the same period of
time.


REGIONAL
______________________________


May 6, Xinhua News Agency
India to provide more educational aid to Myanmar

Yangon: India will provide more aid for Myanmar's education and human
resources development sectors during the current 2004-05 fiscal year which
began in April, signifying a growth in their bilateral cooperation, said a
latest report of the local Myanmar Times.

The additional aid in terms of scholarship with a quota set for 150 was
offered by India to Myanmar for officials from various ministries, the
Indian Embassy was quoted as saying.

The scholarship quota was up from 134 in the two previous fiscal years, it
said.

According to the sources, India's cooperation with Myanmar in the fields
aims to transfer its technology and skills to Myanmar personnel or
organizations engaged in productive sector.

It added that the scholarship provides training in diplomacy, mass
communications, and urban and industrial development.

Myanmar and India signed in November last year a memorandum of
understanding on cooperation in human resources development.

OPINION
_____________________________________

May 7, Mizzima News
Is Beijing's Road to Rangoon Paved With Impediments? - Kanbawza Win

The Burmese regime has shown that it can use the Thai Prime Minister,
Thaksin Shinawatra, to promote its own interests without regard for
Thailand or its other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
partners.

The ASEAN have accepted the Burmese military regime into its fold, even at
the expense of disrupting the Asia Europe Ministerial Meetings (ASEM).
Burma vetoed the “Bangkok Process” by withdrawing from the second
scheduled meeting.

This seems to suggest that either the Burmese generals, who have track
records of broken promises, are uncomfortable at the prospect of answering
questions likely to be posed by representatives of the seventeen states
participating in the Bangkok meetings.


For full text please see:
http://www.mizzima.com/archives/news-in-2004/news-in-may/07-may04-06.htm

_____________________________________

May 7, Burma Issues
KNU Cease-Fire Talks: Negotiating a Return to The “Legal Fold” and the
Fate of Mllions Of Karens - C. Guinard

Should the Karen National Union (KNU) give the SPDC Generals the benefit
of the doubt?

That is the question on the mind of every actor involved directly or
indirectly in the armed struggle for self-determination the KNU has been
waging for more than fifty-five years. Following three rounds of “peace”
talks held by General Khin Nyunt, Prime Minister of the SPDC (State Peace
and Development Council), and a KNU delegation led by General Bo Mya, Vice
Chairman of the rebel group, thousands of voices of Karen people, living
inside Burma and in exile, as well as activists, oppositions groups,
democratic organizations, and ethnic groups are starting to express their
concerns, doubts, fears and criticisms over the process. But among all
this skepticism, many people are also sharing their hope for a brighter
future for Karen and all people living in Burma.

The political deadlock has gone on too long. Too many innocent civilians
have been killed, tortured, extorted
 Too many families have been forced
to flee their villages after seeing them torched by SPDC troops
 Too many
children are still starving and in urgent need of education and
healthcare. These are the reasons why, after more than fifty-five years of
conflict, Karen people are praying for a peaceful resolution which will
allow them to return to their land but also to regain their dignity.

Two rounds of talks already took place in Rangoon in December 2003 and
January 2004. During those talks, both parties agreed on a “gentlemen’s”
ceasefire agreement and started discussing issues such as territory
demarcations and the return of internally-displaced Karen. Unfortunately,
the third round of talks in late February in Moulmein ended after only two
days. During the meeting, KNU troops from the 3rd Brigade attacked a Burma
Army outpost forty miles away, delaying and jeopardizing further
negotiations.
Now, once again, distrust, uncertainty and criticism are on the rise


Both parties, as well as Karen people and activists, must realize that
violence and tensions may not decrease significantly even with several
rounds of negotiations. With pragmatism, time and good faith, the SPDC and
the KNU have to find common solutions to past conflicts in order to
negotiate a coherent and lasting settlement. That is the only way out for
one of the longest intra-state conflicts in modern history. Even Winston
Churchill, a man known more for his prowess in war than in peace, asserted
that “courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what
it takes to sit down and listen.” The next round of talks has been
scheduled to happen in May. The SPDC and the KNU will have to sit down and
listen to each other. It is a question of necessity. We have to give the
Generals the benefit of the doubt, to at least try something other than
fighting...

The KNU has discussed the possibility of a cease-fire under certain
pre-conditions several times in the past ten years. But negotiations
always failed, creating more hatred between both parties and more reprisal
against Karen people. So what is the context of the current talks? Why
does the KNU seem more ready than ever to negotiate peace? What are the
benefits and risks Karen people will face if such a settlement is reached?

In August, 2003, newly appointed Prime Minister Khin Nyunt announced a
seven-step “Road Map” for national reconciliation, the first step of which
was to reconvene the National Convention to draft a new constitution. Many
argue that the SPDC wants Karen participation in this process only because
it will help the world to forget that Aung San Suu Kyi is still under
house arrest following the Depayin event in May, 2003, and that her party,
the National League for Democracy, has been steadily repressed since that
time. The SPDC thus seems to need the KNU’s participation to give any
credibility to its “Road Map”, so its first step is to negotiate a
ceasefire with the KNU. With such an agreement, and the elimination of
most of the counter-insurgency in border areas, the SPDC can pretend to
the world that its “Road Map” is not just another farce. Solely in terms
of changing the SPDC’s international image, this strategy might be
successful. If the international community answers by lifting sanctions,
the SPDC will be in a better position than ever to ascend to the highly
respected position of ASEAN presidency in 2006, as it scheduled to do.

Besides the international strategizing that may be behind this latest
move, some also suggest that the SPDC is once again conducting a
calculated “divide and rule” policy and that reaching a ceasefire
agreement with the KNU would be a fatal blow to Burma’s Thai-based
opposition groups. Indeed, it would certainly change the configuration of
power along the border and foment splits within the KNU. Many KNU officers
admitted not even being aware of the first round of talks when it took
place in Rangoon. Such communications problems may lead to serious
divisions within KNU leadership. In addition, many worry that the SPDC is
also applying its 1992 strategy of converting political issues into
economic ones by including a set of economic concessions in the ceasefire
agreement, as they did years ago in negotiations with the Kachin
Independence Organization and the New Mon State Party. But the KNU is not
blind to this issue: KNU Secretary General Mahn Sha said recently that the
SPDC “destroyed democracy groups, and now they have turned their sights on
destroying the ethnic groups as well.”(“Borderlines Friends”,Irrawaddy,Feb
2004)

So is the current situation so desperate for the KNU? The KNU may have no
choice but to come to the bargaining table. Their aim, once again, is to
stop a civil war and improve the lives of millions of Karen. This, it
would seem, is reason for hope, not despair! However, it is true that the
KNU is facing more difficulties than ever. The group has lost territory
steadily in recent decades, and seen declines in its funds, and also in
its artillery supply. In addition, the Thai buffer zone policy has been
officially abandoned by the current Thai government. Thai Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra is keen to increase border trade, tourism and
investment with Thailand’s poor neighbor. For that reason, the Thai
government and some Thai businessmen are increasing pressure on the KNU to
demilitarize the border region. With the end of the insurgency in Karen
State, business and border trade could start and benefits could soon be
reaped by both Burma and Thailand.

In this regional context, the KNU may have no choice but to negotiate a
ceasefire. However, since the SPDC also needs this participation for its
international image, the KNU may be in a position to negotiate a fair and
balanced agreement, despite doubts. To reach such an agreement, the KNU
would have to elaborate a systematic plan with clear issues to settle and
fair solutions on offer. Such issues as territorial demarcation, return of
internally displaced persons (IDP’s), landmines clearance, release of
Karen political prisoners and a final political settlement must all be
addressed. To achieve a fair settlement, the KNU has to be united and must
increase information-sharing about the whole process within its own ranks,
and also with all Karen. Participation is needed at every level so that
the KNU can take into consideration the opinions and concerns of all Karen
people. The KNU must be in solidarity with its people, from the grassroots
communities living in remote areas in Karen State to the ones living in
exile in foreign countries. All these voices must be heard in order to
ensure that the ceasefire is understood, integrated and respected.
Education of the grassroots communities and IDPs is now critical, as these
will be the first people to face the consequences, good or bad, of the
ceasefire. They need to know what this deal is all about, they need to
trust their leaders and be sure that there will be no more fighting and no
more abuse of villagers. With such awareness and participation, and
guarantees concerning the elimination of landmines and human rights
abuses, IDP’s may be able to stop living in fear and settle again,
refugees may accept being repatriated, and the KNU avoid becoming an
economic pawn for the SPDC. A peaceful environment in Karen State with no
more fighting and killing may then become a reality.

“There is nothing glamorous, naïve, or idealistic about peace. Peace is
not a dream; it is hard work. We must choose to walk the path of peace and
persevere even when our prospects for success look dim.” This quote is
from Dr. Oscar Arias, former President of Costa Rica and 1987 Nobel Peace
Laureate for the Esquipulas Peace Plan in Central America. It reminds us
that military means will never truly solve any conflicts. When some
safeguards are implemented, peace negotiation is the solution, even
though, like all worthwhile things, it is hard work.