BurmaNet News, June 24, 2004

[Editor]

June 24, 2004, Issue # 2503

INSIDE BURMA
Xinhua: Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence ought to be upheld
continuously
Xinhua: More anti-govt armed members surrender in Myanmar
DVB: NLD banned from building office in Burma

ON THE BORDER
The Daily Star: Rohingya Population Puzzle: Trespassing dwarfs repatriation

BUSINESS / MONEY
Japan Economic Newswire: Thailand accuses of EU of double standard on ASEM
enlargement
The Nation: Bimstec protocol set to be signed tomorrow
Xinhua: China's Chongqing, Sichuan to hold trade exhibition in Myanmar

REGIONAL
Mizzima News: Indian delegation arrives in Burma

INTERNATIONAL
Inter Press Service: New reasons for optimism in Burma, says UN official
Statement before the House Committee on International Relations: United
States Interests and Foreign Policy Priorities in South Asia
U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing: ASEAN Meetings/ Economic
Issues/ Terrorism/ Discussion of Burma

ANOUNCEMENT
Survey Invitation



INSIDE BURMA

______________________________________

June 24, Xinhua
Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence ought to be upheld continuously -
Zhang Yunfei

Myanmar Foreign Minister U Win Aung has urged all countries in the world
at present time to uphold continuously the Five Principles of Peaceful
Coexistence to promote the establishment of a new international order.

U Win Aung made the call in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on the eve
of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Five Principles
initiated by China, India and Myanmar in the " Joint Declaration of China
and Indian Premiers" and "Joint Declaration of China and Myanmar Premiers"
respectively on June 28 and 29, 1954.

In the interview, U Win Aung spoke highly of the historical and realistic
significance of the Five Principles --mutual respect for sovereignty and
territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each
other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful
coexistence.

With the end of the Second World War, movements of national independence
and liberation flourished in Asia and other regions in the would, he said,
stressing that newly independent nations demanded the establishment of new
patterns of international relations based on equality to maintain their
national sovereignty and develop their economies.

He pointed out that the joint introduction of the extremely important Five
Principles by China, India and Myanmar was just to demonstrate to the
world that by acting in accordance with the Five Principles, they could
have good-friendly relations.

He stressed that the Five Principles, accepted by the 1955 Bandung
Conference, have gradually become the fundamental norms universally
acknowledged by the international community and that they do not tolerate
destruction.

Speaking of the realistic significance of the Five Principles, U Win Aung
pointed out that over the past five decades, the world has experienced a
massive change in the aspects of politics, science and technology,
military affairs and economy.

He specially pinpointed that amid the modern world transforming from
two-polar system to multi-polar one, it is necessary for all nations to
attach more importance to the adherence to the Five Principles.

He said that the essence of the Five Principles is that countries, no
matter big and small, must mutually respect the possession of sovereignty
which should be recognized, adding that possession of sovereignty means
having the rights to choose freely and to safeguard it, the rights to
prevent one's own country, nationality and characteristics from being
destroyed.

He criticized some countries' other interpretations for the national
sovereignty which is regarded as secondary to "borderless world," citing
that some big nations used their strength and unscrupulously took
unilateral action on weak countries for many times in the past five
decades.

In accordance with the UN Charter and the Five Principles of Peaceful
Coexistence, it is necessary from the beginning to respect the sovereignty
among nations, he noted.

U Win Aung particularly stressed in the interview that although 50 years
have passed, the Five Principles still have strong vitality which should
be appreciated and carried on in dealing with international relations.

______________________________________

June 24, Xinhua
More anti-govt armed members surrender in Myanmar

A total of 27 more members from some anti-government armed groups in
Myanmar surrendered to the government forces in April and May, official
newspaper The New Light of Myanmar reported Thursday.

These members, who "exchanged arms for peace" with the government during
the two months, include those from the Kayin National Union (KNU), Shan
United Revolutionary Army (SURA), Chin National Army (CNA), Arakan
Liberation Party (ALP), Kayinni and Mon armed groups.

They also turned in a total of 151 rounds of arms and ammunition among
others, the report said.

Of these armed groups, the KNU is the largest one fighting the government
for more than five decades. Meanwhile, renewed peace talks were held in
February between the government and the KNU. Despite reaching no formal
peace agreement yet, the talks are expected to continue at an unidentified
date.

Official statistics show that up to now, 17 anti-government armed groups
have initiated ceasefire agreements with the government since Myanmar
introduced a policy of national reconciliation in 1989.

______________________________________

June 22, DVB
NLD banned from building office in Burma

The local authorities at Minbu, Magwe Division in central Burma have
banned the National League for Democracy (NLD) from constructing an office
building.

Members of Minbu Township NLD applied the permit to build an office on a
plot of land and the permit was granted to them in July 2001.

When the members bought bamboos, timber and other materials needed for the
construction, the township’s municipal department barred them from
building the office.

The ban is still maintained by the current local authority chairman U Soe
Myint, according to the local residents.



ON THE BORDER

______________________________________

June 24, The Daily Star
Rohingya Population Puzzle: Trespassing dwarfs repatriation - Julfikar Ali
Manik

Thirteen years ago some 250,877 refugees from Myanmar braved the Arakanese
forests, hills and the Naff river to take shelter in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh, with support from the United Nations, stood by their side
despite its own population and poverty problems.

Then, since 1992 to date, Bangladesh has sent back 236,490 Rohingya
refugees to Myanmar. So, population in the Rohingya refugee camps is now
supposed to be thin -- 19,841 including the children born here.

But, in reality, there are still over 200,000 Rohingyas living in and
around Cox's Bazar, as illegal immigration remains almost unchallenged in
the bordering coastal region. This astonishing figure was disclosed by
Rohingya Refugee Repatriation Commission (RRRC) and backed up unofficially
by district officials, border security force and police.

"Trespassing from Myanmar is a big headache for us. In the last six
months, in this upazila alone, there had been 70 to 80 cases against 300
to 400 Burmese trespassers," says second officer of Teknaf Police Station,
Ataur Rahman.

These trespassers have set up floating settlements in different places all
over the Cox's Bazar district, including the beach town itself. One can
find their settlements also in the other two hill districts and a few in
Chittagong.

According to several sources in Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and police, the
Rohingya influx has been continuing for years due to oppression of Myanmar
government on them. "When any Rohingya leaves Burma, the Nasaka (Myanmar
border force) don't stop them. But, they don't allow them to return home.
It's also very rare for a trespasser wanting to return to Myanmar," says a
BDR source, adding, "It all makes for the continuously inflating number of
illegal Rohingya immigrants."

There is no official record of the real number of illegal Rohingya
immigrants due to absence of census, while the United Nations High
Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) remains totally silent on the issue.
Despite repeated attempts, the Cox's Bazar UNHCR office refused to talk,
with a staff saying, "We won't discuss the issue."

Back in 2001, former Rohingya Refugee Repatriation Commissioner joint
secretary Borhanuddin Ahmed in a report to the government said, outside
the registered refugees, there were over 150,000 Rohingya interlopers in
Cox's Bazar. Although his report created a stir, no step was taken to
address the problem. Now district officials say the number of intruders
from Myanmar has exceeded two lakh.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of bordering Teknaf, Matinul Haque, says,
"Local people say there are over 50,000 Rohingyas in Teknaf."

Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Saifuddin Ahmed adds, "Some put the
figure at one lakh. Some say it's even higher. But, about a year ago, the
DC office with the help of UNOs and union parishad chairmen of Cox's Bazar
found there were 28,300 illegal Rohingyas in the district."

A source at the DC office however rejected the number, saying, "There was
no survey or basis to credit the figure. There're nearly 11,000 Rohingyas
living on a playground in front of Teknaf Upazila Parishad (UP) office
alone. That's not any official camp. And such illegal camps are everywhere
in the district."

The Daily Star correspondent visited Teknaf and Ukhia and found many small
settlements of Rohingya squatters there.

In front of Teknaf UP office, over 1,250 Rohingya families have been
living in a shabby and inhuman environment for the last two years. There
are 41 supervisors, called 'majhi', to look after these squatters. One of
them, Din Mohammad, says, "Most of these Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh
in different times in 1994 to 95 through various border points. In
crossing the border, they did not face any resistance."

Hossain Ahmed, Abul Hashem, Nurul Amin and others in the camp echo the
majhi. They used to squat on isolated small patches in the area. About 18
months ago, the local administration asked them to live in shanties
together in the playground.

Teknaf UNO Matinul Haque explains, "We've been receiving complaints of
criminal activities by these illegal settlers. But, we could not gather
their names or addresses." In late 2002, Haque issued orders barring
Rohingya refugees from renting houses and asked them to stay in the
private land opposite to the UP office.

"This is a make-shift camp. They manage their livelihood. We provide them
with tube-well and sanitary facilities on humanitarian grounds," he points
out.

Elsewhere, in many villages of the upazila, thousands of trespassers are
living in other shanties. Monir Ahmed, who was chairman of Baharchhara
union for five years until 2003, says, "In our union, there are about
7,000 illegal Rohingya immigrants. We've informed the administration
several times but to no avail."

Teknaf upazila BNP President Master Rashid Ahmed, who also represents the
local lawmakers in a local committee to resist smuggling, says,
"Twenty-five to 30 percent of the total population of Teknaf are Rohingya
trespassers. If their immigration continues at the current rate, the
Rohingyas will become the majority population here."

Many of the rickshaw-pullers in Cox's Bazar town are Rohingyas. If they
are asked where they live, they say Cox's Bazar. Then if they are asked
where they have come from, they say Burma.

They have gained the basic language skill in Bangla over the last few
years in their bid to survive. A handful of them even have become fluent
in the local dialect. Locals say, as they look similar to the local
people, they have blended so well with the community that, unless they
admit it themselves, it is hard to guess where they are from.

These illegal immigrants work mainly as labourers. Besides
rickshaw-pulling, they work as lumberjacks, fish in the seas and do other
manual work. As they are willing to work for a lesser wage -- per head Tk
50 to 60 a day-- many of the local influential people, including UP
chairmen and members, and politicians, help them stay.

To enter the country, the Rohingyas mainly use the waterways in Teknaf and
Ukhia. According to the trespassers, they come from Myanmar's bordering
areas of Mongdu, Buchidong, Rachidong, Aikkup, Momra, Chokt etc and enter
Bangladesh's Teknaf, Shabrang, Shah Porir Dwip, Nila, Howaikang, Moyapara,
Jaliapara etc.

They also enter the Chittagong Hill Tracts across the land border.

The unsolicited Rohingya communities in the hills and forests are cutting
down trees indiscriminately, causing an environmental devastation not
detected yet.

Sources in local administration say many of these trespassers also get
involved in criminal activities. "The government must take specific
decision on this matter," says a high official. "We can't push back these
people on humanitarian ground and we can't stop their infiltration due to
lack of border security personnel. We've hosted more than 2.5 lakh
refugees. If we must host more Rohingyas, let it be done in an organised
manner," he remarks.

Cox's Bazar DC Saifuddin Ahmed says BDR and police are regularly arresting
trespassers and lodging cases against them. Many of them are in jail.
"But", he admits, "it's hard to identify who're trespassers and who're
not."



BUSINESS / MONEY

______________________________________

June 24, Japan Economic Newswire
Thailand accuses of EU of double standard on ASEM enlargement

Thailand accused the European Union on Thursday of practicing a double
standard in their dispute over the proposed enlargement of membership in
the Asia-Europe Meeting, or ASEM, to include military-ruled Myanmar.

'While the EU insists that its 10 new members have to be admitted into
ASEM, they refuse to apply the same standard for the Asian side. They pick
and choose our ASEAN new members, not admitting Myanmar,' Thai Foreign
Ministry spokesman Sihasak Phuangketkeow told reporters.

ASEM currently comprises the European Commission and 15 EU member
countries along with 10 Asian countries -- China, Japan, South Korea,
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Vietnam -- the latter seven being members of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations, or ASEAN.

The Asian side insists all 10 ASEAN members be allowed to join ASEM in
return for membership of the European Union's 10 new members, while the
European Union says it can only participate in future ASEM meetings if all
25 of its members are admitted as ASEM members and if Myanmar is kept out.

Sihasak said the EU stance of tying Myanmar's membership in ASEM to the
release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the delivery of
promised political reform has sunk the ASEM process into stagnation.

'The ongoing stagnation of the ASEM process is not caused by the Asian
position. The stance of the EU does not contribute toward a solution for
our problem,' he said.

The spokesman also accused the European Union of going back on its word
over the admission procedure, saying it was the Europeans themselves who
stated in 1996 when the ASEM was founded that the grouping is not a
bloc-to-bloc forum.

However, Sihasak said the Asian side remains hopeful that their leaders
will be able to meet with the European counterparts for an ASEM summit in
Hanoi in October.

'Their (EU) stance is not flexible. But still Asia is hopeful. We want the
talks. If both sides see the importance of ASEM process, we are ready to
explore all avenues to have the meetings,' he said.

Kitti Wasinondh, director general of Foreign Ministry's ASEAN Department,
said he expects that Vietnam, as the host of the planned ASEM summit,
would raise the issue during an annual meeting to be held next Thursday in
Jakarta between ASEAN foreign ministers and their counterparts from China,
Japan and South Korea.

The 15 EU members that are also ASEM members are Austria, Belgium,
Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

The Asian bloc wants to admit Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, while the
European bloc seeks ASEM membership for Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic
and Slovenia.

______________________________________

June 24, The Nation
Bimstec protocol set to be signed tomorrow, Achara Pongvutitham

The Commerce Ministry will tomorrow host a protocol signing ceremony for
the Bangladesh, India, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic
Cooperation (Bimstec) Agreement.

India, Burma, Sri Lanka and Thailand, as well as Bhutan and Nepal,
originally signed the regional free-trade agreement (FTA) at a February
meeting in Phuket. Bangladesh, however, held off signing over fears that
opening its markets would harm its domestic economy.

At that time Bangladesh demanded compensation for any revenue lost as a
result of opening its markets, and asked that such a condition be included
in the FTA framework. This request was declined.

Officials said the protocol would be signed in order to bring Bangladesh
into the FTA. Commerce Minister Watana Muangsook, together with Burmese
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs U Kyaw Thu and ambassadors from the
other five countries, will sign the protocol tomorrow.

The seven nations are attempting to prompt economic integration between
South and Southeast Asia.

Free-trade negotiations are expected to begin next month and wrap up by
December of next year, to ensure the FTA's projected implementation in
July 2006.

______________________________________

June 24, Xinhua
China's Chongqing, Sichuan to hold trade exhibition in Myanmar

A trade exhibition of China's Chongqing and Sichuan will be held at the
Yangon Trade Center here from June 29 to July 1 to introduce their export
commodities, said organizers at a press conference Thursday.

China's Chongqing and Sichuan Export Commodities Exhibition 2004 is
sponsored by the Chongqing Municipal People's Government and Sichuan
Provincial People's Government, and organized by the China Council for the
Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) of Chongqing and the CCPIT of
Sichuan.

Exhibits will cover locomotive, motorcycle, light truck, electric
equipment, paper and textile equipment, farming apparatus and accessories,
laminate flooring, household appliances, telecommunication facilities,
medicine, agro-related chemicals and food.

The bilateral economic and trade relations between China and Myanmar have
continued to develop in recent years. According to official statistics,
the bilateral trade, including the border trade, exceeded 1 billion US
dollars in 2003.

China has proposed to strive for a bilateral trade volume of 1. 5 billion
by 2005.

Other figures also indicate that China has so far injected over 64 million
dollars into Myanmar in over 10 projects, ranking the 15th in the line-up
of Myanmar's foreign investment.



REGIONAL

______________________________________

June 24, Mizzima News
Indian delegation arrives in Burma- Surajit Khaund

In a rare gesture of good will, a 25-member delegation from northeast
India left for Burma yesterday taking with them a message of peace and the
intent to strengthen the relation among the people living in the two
countries.   The delegation, which started its journey yesterday from the
Indian border town of Moreh, will stay 20 days in Burma. During their stay
in Burma the members will meet people from various walks of life.
According to the tour programme, the delegates will visit Kabaw Valley,
Tamu, Mandalay, Saging Division and Rangoon. They intend to present
cultural shows in various locations together with local people.  This is
the first time such a large team is visiting Burma by road, covering the
countries large cities. The Burmese government cleared the necessary
visiting permits last month.  "We want to share first-hand information
with the Burmese people. So we decided to travel by road instead of by
air," said team leader, Indra Singh by telephone just before the group's
departure.  The 25-member delegation comprising of artists, traders,
writers, Kuki, Naga and Manipuri people will conclude their visit at the
China-Burma border. Singh further said that there are hundreds of Indians
living in various places in Burma who are keen to share their views with
the people of the northeast India.   Asked why the tour was organized, he
said that the visit would further strengthen relations among the people of
Burma and India.   "(The governments of) India and Burma, of late, have
developed relations but the people of both countries are still unaware (of
each other) and hence the visit is a move to create an awareness among the
people," he added.  Kuki, Naga and Manipuri delegation members are
expected to present their respective cultural programmes in Kabaw Valley,
Saging Division and Mandalay.   "This is a new beginning with an eye to
bring closer the Burmese people because we are very much attached to them,
" Singh said. Asked whether they would be facing any problem related to
insurgency in some areas, the team leader replied that they were not
expecting any trouble and the visit was purely a friendship tour.  The
delegation visiting Burma under the name of the "Indo-Myanmar Friendship
Organization" seems to have opened a new chapter at a time when people of
different parts of world are fighting each other. A similar Burmese group
is likely to visit northeast India in the next two three months.




INTERNATIONAL

______________________________________

24 June, Inter Press Service
New reasons for optimism in Burma, says UN official - Gustavo Capdevila

GENEVA, June 22—The erratic process of democratization in Burma has
accelerated, given some “interesting” new signals, says Brazilian jurist
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, special rapporteur of the United Nations Commission
on Human Rights on the situation in this country, also known as Myanmar.

Pinheiro, who on June 1 had said he was “disappointed with the lack of
cooperation” from the military government, told IPS that he found “some
interesting new changes” in the National Convention process, which the
junta convened to draw up a new constitution.

Since the National Convention got under way on May 17, Pinheiro has been
following the events through reports from the region and in the press,
because the Burmese government refused to authorize the May 31-Jun.13
visit to Rangoon that the UN Commission had asked the rapporteur to make.

In his latest public communiqué, dated June 1, Pinheiro criticized the
military junta saying “necessary steps have not been taken to ensure
minimum democratic conditions” to reconvene the National Convention
sessions.

Without the participation of the National League of Democracy (NLD), the
leading opposition force which won 80 percent of the vote in the 1990
elections, and without the participation of other political parties, the
process is not “genuinely free, transparent (or) inclusive,” Pinheiro said
at the time.

‘Some interesting developments’

But the special rapporteur now believes that the National Convention has
seen “some interesting developments”, such as the participation of ethnic
groups—as many as 400. The representatives of those communities have been
given the opportunity to distribute their documents and present their
ideas to the assembly, he said.

Pinheiro, who has visited the country of 49 million people seven times as
envoy of the UN Commission on Human Rights, has always reacted cautiously
to the military junta's announcements of democratizing measures.

His stance contrasted with the more accommodating attitude of former
Malaysian diplomat Razali Ismail, special representative of UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan for tracking the evolution of Burma's
political situation.

Reasons for optimism

But now it is Pinheiro who is finding reasons for optimism. “I am seeing
that both on the government and NLD sides there is a space” for loosening
their tense relationship, he said.

He added that he will follow the process and “this week will continue
contacts with the Burmese authorities with sights on a future visit”.

The strategy of the Brazilian jurist is to insist to the military junta
that it would benefit them to have their views included in his report to
the UN.

Sources from the international human rights arena believe the pressure
from Pinheiro could create a division in the Burmese government, which has
already shown signs of internal differences in the way it treats the NLD,
despite intransigence on the continued house arrest of the party's leader,
Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace laureate.

The Pinheiro report is to be presented in late July for inclusion in the
documents for the next UN General Assembly in September.

Best interests

“I'm saying to the Myanmar government that it is in its best interest for
me to hear directly the things that I am learning outside the country,” he
said.

When the rapporteur mentions information he receives on Burma, he is
referring to the ongoing contacts in recent weeks in Bangkok with
ambassadors and civil society groups from the region.

Pinheiro paid a courtesy call to Rangoon's ambassador in London and hopes
to meet this week with junta's chief diplomat assigned to the
international agencies in Geneva.

“I think it is important that the report include not only my evaluation
but also the government's points of view, which would be reflected in an
honest way in the document,” he said.

The report could be more complete and detailed if he were allowed to visit
Burma. Otherwise, the text will be based entirely on second-hand
information, “which I don't believe is in the country's best interest”, he
said.

Burma's military junta has held power since 1992, and the national
legislature has been suspended since 1988. Since achieving independence in
1948, the country has experienced a series of authoritarian governments.

______________________________________

June 22, Statement before the House Committee on International Relations
United States Interests and Foreign Policy Priorities in South Asia -
Christina B. Rocca

With the newly elected government taking office in India, we are
continuing cooperation on regional and bilateral issues. In January 2004,
we announced our Next Steps in Strategic Partnership (NSSP), an initiative
designed to deepen our U.S.-India relationship. Expanded cooperation under
the NSSP on civilian nuclear activities, civilian space programs, high
technology trade, and an expanded dialogue on missile defense will bring
significant economic benefits to both sides, and improve security in South
Asia and beyond. The United States and India share a fundamental
commitment to democracy. We hope to work more closely together to promote
democracy, especially in problematic countries like Burma.

______________________________________

June 23, U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing
ASEAN Meetings/ Economic Issues/ Terrorism/ Discussion of Burma - Richard
Boucher

TRANSCRIPT:
QUESTION:  With the Secretary going to the ASEAN, the Asian meetings next
week,
what is it that the United States hopes to achieve?  How much of a focus
do you
want to put on the war on terrorism and on Burma?  Or are you focusing
more on
trade issues?

MR. BOUCHER:  The ASEAN meetings next week is the ASEAN regional forum and
the
post-ministerial conferences that we have with partners in that region.
Obviously, a lot of our interaction with ASEAN and with people -- with
countries in the region is economic and we'll be talking about economic
issues
with many of them.

But to a great extent, this meeting is focused on security issues in the
region, on issues like terrorism, issues like the security of trade, issues
like the cooperation that we have with partners against terrorism in
training,
law enforcement, intelligence sharing.  So in the past, that's been major
subjects of the meetings and I expect that to be a major subject of these
meetings.

QUESTION:  And how much on Burma?

MR. BOUCHER:  I would expect a considerable discussion on Burma.  I don't
know
if I can quantify it.  Sorry.



ANOUNCEMENT

______________________________________

Invitation to participate in a survey on IT Policies to apply in the
Future Burma

Dear friends of Burma,
I am a McNair Scholar from Indiana University Bloomington and doing this
survey as part of my research entitled ‘Research Analysis on Information
Technology  Policies Around the World: Policies to Apply in the Future
Burma’.

The results from this survey will be helpful for my research in exploring
what  kind of policies will be suitable and feasible for Burma to pursue.
I guarantee that your identity, your names, you comments and answers will
remain anonymous and will not be shared.

If you are interested, please visit the following website.
http://mypage.iu.edu/~zhtut/research/

Kindly let me know if you have any questions. And thanks for your time.

Sincerely,
Zaw Win Htut
McNair Scholars Program
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana, USA
Email: zhtut at indiana.edu